Got a prediction from Sam Spiegelman to the good guys with 60% confidence.
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CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney said this week he thinks a lack of uniformity will lead to a complete restructuring in college athletics at some point. In particular, he sees the larger, more prominent Power 5 schools forming their own division in football.

"I think there's going to be a complete blowup ... especially in football, and there needs to be," Swinney told ESPN. "I think eventually there will be some type of break and another division. Right now, you got everybody in one group, and it's not feasible. Alabama has different problems than Middle Tennessee, but we're trying to make them all the same and it's just not. I think you'll have 40 or 50 teams and a commissioner and here are the rules."

Swinney said the current system is a "mess" and that it's hard to get anything accomplished as college athletics continue to evolve and change in the new world of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness.

"There's so much bureaucracy and you can't get anything done in a real-time manner. It's frustrating," Swinney said. "The communication is not good and the rules are outdated. Again, there have been a lot of positives when it comes to the scholarships. But you've got all these people voting on things, and it's just not apples to apples."

Login to view embedded media Not to be a bedwetter, but I’m going to go ahead and assume he ends up at A&M via Buzzbee

Can anyone tell me where to buy this shirt I looked on Oklahomas fanatics site and struck out, would appreciate any help! BOOMER!

Reported by TFB in their free notes today. It’s the same type of role that Miguel Chavis was in at Clemson.

Looking for some feedback here, as the sun sets and we enjoy the fruits of a beautiful Brent Venables victory, what will be your favorite part of watching TBOW PAC-12 after dark games? For me it’s going to be laughing my ass off as I watch ELITE athletes like Raleek Brown fair catch kickoff’s in the third quarter of a 35-31 shootout against schools like Oregon St. and Fresno St. I can’t decide between that or the classic no show loss against a school like Arizona.

Per Hayes around 2pm this afternoon .. probably ATM 💰 💰💰 ...

From getting a visit to not even getting a visit and now he knows where he wants to go 😂 ... man this stuff moves fast when big money is being thrown around.

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Listened to the Pod. Let’s get this handled, SW to was/is/always will be complete dog shit. If you spent your anniversary, birthday, or weekday or weekend dinner there, you disgust me.

Rinse and repeat for you Red Lobster fans.

We all knew it was a long shot. Hopefully he doesn’t cancel our visit.

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OU TAPS ALTIUS TO BUILD BEST-IN-CLASS NIL PROGRAM​

NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department has announced a new partnership with Altius Sports Partners to incorporate the firm's NIL launch platform in developing the school's own unique and comprehensive approach to empower its nearly 600 student-athletes. Altius will employ long-term strategic planning, departmental initiatives and customized educational support advancing all internal and external Sooners stakeholders through the evolving NIL space.
Among the key elements of the partnership with Altius are educational workshops for OU student-athletes, coaches and staff centered on marketing, branding, financial literacy and recruiting, among other important factors of NIL. Additionally, services from Altius will include enhancement of departmental initiatives, engagement with internal and external constituents on NIL, tapping into OU's deep roster of alumni who have gone on to compete across professional sports and the Olympics, as well as capitalizing on other important industry developments to help OU stay ahead of the curve."
"Our commitment to the overall student-athlete experience at Oklahoma includes leveraging NIL opportunities, and teaming with Altius underscores that commitment," said OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "Altius supports several preeminent schools, and we are excited to utilize the company's expertise and resources to help us establish the best and most comprehensive strategy to keep us positioned for success in this space."

"Our commitment to the overall student-athlete experience at Oklahoma includes leveraging NIL opportunities, and teaming with Altius underscores that commitment."
Joe Castiglione

Click to expand...

An official partner of leading collegiate athletic departments and sports properties, Altius specializes in developing and managing programs around crucial issues related to NIL. Through its expertise, wide range of services and intellectual resources, the firm's approach includes developing strategic vision and cohesive planning to help stakeholders navigate structural change and build sustained success across the collegiate landscape.
"Oklahoma has a long-standing tradition of excellence and achievement across its many athletics programs," said Andrew Donovan, Altius Vice President of Collegiate Partnerships. "We are thrilled to lock arms with the Sooners to develop and implement a long-term strategy that meets and exceeds the Oklahoma standard and positions all OU stakeholders for success in the new era of collegiate athletics."
The partnership with Altius represents the latest effort by OU Athletics in the ever-evolving NIL space. In December 2021, OU launched OU Exchange, a free service to student-athletes and businesses which allows NIL transactions.
The University of Oklahoma is a destination where excellence is the norm – in both athletics competition and the classroom. The Sooners have claimed 39 national championships and are riding a streak of seven consecutive years with at least one team national title (excluding the COVID-canceled spring 2020 season). The school has also produced 10 Big 12 Male or Female Athletes of the Year over the last nine years. The Learfield IMG College Director's Cup recognizes overall program excellence in intercollegiate athletics departments. Evidence of OU's commitment to success is 18 top-25 finishes in the last 23 years. During the fall 2022 semester, OU student-athletes posted a 3.19 cumulative GPA, tying the school-record figure they set in the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. It marked a school-record 20th consecutive semester of a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Supported by operational leadership and a best-in-class client services team, the Altius cross-disciplinary network of partners and advisory team members includes:

• John Entz, 14-time Emmy winner and former President of Production at Fox Sports, SVP at MLB Network and producer at ESPN.
• Gabe Feldman, Director of the Tulane Sports Law Program, Associate Provost for NCAA Compliance and Co-Director of Tulane Center for Sport.
• Renie Anderson, CRO and EVP, Partnerships at the NFL.
• David Carter, Executive Director of the USC Sports Business Institute, and a professor of sports business at USC's Marshall School of Business.
• Jené Elzie, former Pac-12 athlete and current Chief Growth Officer for Athletes First Partners, sister company of Athletes First, the nation's largest NFL talent agency.
• Oliver Luck, sports business leader and former Commissioner of the XFL, EVP for Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships for the NCAA, and Athletic Director at West Virginia.
• Michael O'Hara Lynch, former global head of sponsorship marketing at Visa, Inc. and global head of consulting at Nielson Sports, currently partner in 3 Emerald Marketing.
• Jessica Mendoza, former Pac-12 athlete and Olympic gold medalist is a broadcaster for ESPN.
• Kenneth Shropshire, CEO of the Global Sport Institute, and professor at Arizona State.
• Malcolm Turner, sports business executive and former Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director at Vanderbilt and President of the NBA G League.

---

About Altius Sports Partners
Altius is a leading firm that delivers consulting, strategic planning, compliance support and education to its clients. An official partner of leading collegiate athletic departments and sports properties, Altius provides strategic solutions on topics ranging from NIL to the shifting landscape of employment and media rights within college athletics. The firm currently represents athletics departments at Arizona, Duke, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Mississippi State, Northwestern, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Purdue, South Carolina, USC, Tennessee, Texas, Villanova, Virginia, and Washington. The firm has also partnered with Women Leaders in College Sports. Providing all stakeholders – athletics departments, coaches, and college athletes – with resources they need to thrive in the new age of college athletics, Altius leverages its deep reservoir of sports business sophistication to help those impacted to prepare and excel. We have built a team of cross-disciplinary leaders to reach higher levels of education, higher access to opportunities and higher standards of excellence.

Been waiting a while for this one!!

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Abraham Lincoln once said: “If you don’t vote for @Grimlock72 I will attack you with the north.”

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If Kelvin Sampson were still the head coach at OU, would the program have a national title by now? If so, how many?
Phenomenal coaching job this year at Houston.

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Coach says do it.

Watching the women and they showed Toby Keith on the tv with a shiner.

That Sooner History thread has me thinking, what are some of the funniest replies you guys have ever seen on this forum. Mines of course was a reply by @newb2019 that I can't repost but I definitely have it saved😂 and my guy @IYELLALOT always comes through with the laughs.
Any of you guys have some funny replies that you remember?

Alright, let's get this thing started...

*We'll start with some of what was teased in Monday's pod (that's still just weird to type) and that is Oklahoma's situation with Waco (Texas) Rivals250 running back Tre Wisner.

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You all heard most of what Wisner himself had to say in our interview that @Eddie_Rado has already posted here.

But what was even more telling was a conversation with his mother, Angie, on Sunday.

"I've told him and his dad that they can go on some visits, I've got to let his dad go some other places with them but any visit to Oklahoma, I'm going to," Wisner stated.

"Oklahoma is No. 1 for me."

Now, in her words Wisner made it clear that the choice would be her son's but she leaves no bones about what she wants her son to do.

"I want him at Oklahoma," she said. "From the old staff to the new one, I just like what they do. I thought it would change from the old stuff but it hasn't at all."

**I've had a chance to speak with few sources about the rumors swirling around Arlington (Texas) Martin Rivals100 cornerback Javien Toviano. The big-time defender was fairly glowing, though somewhat subdued, in his comments about Oklahoma on Sunday.

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However rumors began to swirl of a report that Oklahoma hasn't spoken to Toviano in a month. While I can't verify the exact timeline of that, it's pretty clear that things have gotten a bit more quiet.

My gut tells me that's got more to do with Toviano than Oklahoma. For whatever reason it seems as though he just struggles to move beyond the Sooners previous staff and his relationship with Roy Manning.

That said, I do not feel that Oklahoma is giving up on the chase so much as making sure they've got other options they are working hard on.

***So big news for the Sooners is the arrival of five-star Jayden Wayne on Friday with the rest of the Ford Sports Performance (FSP) group coming in from the great Northwest, I'll add the full list to the visitor list thread shortly but I wanted to highlight some of the bigger names who are expected.

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https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2023/jayden-wayne-255860

A few guys to really keep an eye on as far as offers are Presley - who Jay Valai offered while at Alabama, as well as 2024 cornerback Jason Brown. Both are elite prospects that could further bond Oklahoma to a program that also has linemen like...

Login to view embedded media Wooo boy.

Since he became LSU's head coach, Brian Kelly's had a couple of awkward moments...the faking of a southern accent at a public event and a creepy commitment video.

Now it appears he could be envisioning himself as the "savior" of the LSU football program...resembling the "Touchdown Jesus" image at Notre Dame.

Anybody care to make guesses?

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Please, oysters, beer whatever. No thanks I’ve been to Sugars.

And gotta hope to get that Quad I win back, somehow.


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I think I got 'em.

Football
Brent Venables - Six years, $7 million that will increase by $100K each February
Jeff Lebby - Three years, $1.8 million per that will increase by $100K each February
DeMarco Murray - Two years, $400K per ($50K raise)
Cale Gundy - Two years, $610K per ($10K raise)
Joe Jon Finley - No extension (2024), $520K per ($10K raise)
Bill Bedenbaugh - Two years, $820K per ($10K raise)

Ted Roof - Three years, $1.1 million that will increase by by $50K each February
Todd Bates - Three years, $440K to $665K to $715K
Miguel Chavis - Two years, $600K per
Jay Valai - Two years, $610K to $700K
Brandon Hall - Two years, $300K per

Jerry Schmidt - Two years, $650K per
Thad Turnipseed - Two years, $350K per

Basketball
Porter Moser - Extended through June 2028.
Jennie Baranczyk - Extended through June 2027; $50K raise.

So the biggest news is probably the most simple to report, and that news is that Oklahoma is expected to host the nation's No. 2 overall prospect, Allen, Texas defensive end David Hicks.

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As we've discussed, Hicks was visiting Miami last weekend but that he, and his father, would immediately plan to turn around and head to Norman feels like a huge indicator of where Oklahoma is. I'm not putting in a forecast yet but I'm more confident than ever in where the Sooners stand.

Texas A&M is a true contender and can't be overlooked but as we've been saying for a month or so now, it feels like that's where the battle could come down built largely on he, and his father's, connection with Todd Bates.

I've not yet confirmed that he has made it to Norman but am still checking.

UPDATE: Almost the moment that this was posted Hicks hit me back and told me 'I couldn't go today', not sure what changed the plans but I'll add a new note at the bottom to make up for the change of this info...

**The latest visitor to hit Norman last weekend was Garland (Texas) Naaman Forest two-way standout Markis Deal.

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Deal, who was initially offered as an offensive lineman and has built a relationship with Bill Bedenbaugh, had his first chance, along with his father, to spend some time around Oklahoma's new defensive tackles coach, and co-defensive coordinator, Todd Bates.

"I liked it, (I) spent a lot of time getting to know Coach Bates. I'm glad I was able to get up there and meet the new staff," Deal said. "I talked with coach Bates and coach Bedenbaugh, they're both recruiting either side of the ball."

Deal, who many feel prefers defensive line, says that while the two may argue over his talents, he's comfortable either way.

"I'm just glad to have an opportunity to play whichever," he said.

***As a quick note, I wanted to clarify that Jaquaize Pettaway was unable to make it to Norman due to a late change in his schedule.

One time that he might be coming? How about for a BBQ event that several, including Mikal Harrison-Pilot, have been invited to on June 3. Keep an eye on that as the Sooners figure to put together another big-time event that could host a number of key visitors.

****(Late Addition) I know some have wondered how big this weekend could be if it didn't produce any commitments and you all know I'm a bottom line guy so I get the question. However, talking to people one position in particular has people excited about the next few months...

"The spring and summer is going to be huge for offensive line commitments" one well-placed source said.

One name that keeps coming up is Cayden Green who the Sooners have a lot of cause for confidence with. A couple of others to keep an eye on according to some conversations are Payton Kirkland, Knijeah Harris, Jaydon Chatman, Markis Deal, and Samson Okunlola.

And honoring Baker.

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