of interest...

I’ve been a passionate follower of OU recruiting on this Board since 2001 and seen a lot of heartbreak recruiting losses. I can’t explain it, but the Vandagriff decommitment still has me so pissed off that I don’t even care to read the weekly Scoop. In fact, it has left me virtually disinterested in following OU recruiting on a frequent basis. I still love the Corner and all my Scoop brethren, but I find myself steering away from every recruit update. It’s crazy. I don’t know if it’s temporary or I’ve just completely decided that following recruiting throughout the year is pointless. It’s like blowing off the first 3 quarters of an NBA game because it’s only worth watching the last 2 minutes. Has anyone else experienced this? I’m telling you, it’s so untypical of what I have enjoyed every day for almost 20 years.

I’ve narrowed it down to either: 1) the early signing period kind of spoils NSD, so everything is anti-climatic; 2) commitments seem truly meaningless with these kids today, so what’s the point; or 3) I guess I subconsciously would rather read one of @Wufee stories than read about how some kid played us for a year and then give us the middle finger in the end.

Maybe Wufee will start his own forum board and save me the $10.00 a month.

The main reason he chose Oregon just left for USC! CB coach Dante Williams

We have all heard the expression “coaching for you job!”

Time now to introduce a new phrase “recruiting for your job.”

2019 results were not good:

• OU = twelve 4* or better players
• Top 5 = twenty 4* or better players
• Bedenbaugh = Five 4* players
• Rest of OU staff = seven 4* players

No way to sugarcoat this.

Time to get our thumb out of if we are serious about taking the next step!

A surprising 15-4 lead is now 33-15 Baylor!! A freaking 29-0 run what wonderful value we could probably buy some recruits with that wasted money

Is negotiating with TV networks about a sitcom about his life lol. Might be leaving ESPN and sec network.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-College/2020/02/11.aspx

Login to view embedded media is it that hard not to be a piece of shit? Jesus christ

Football
Men’s basketball
Softball
Don’t care.

Has won a championship, under their current name and city, throw it up!!

Did he sign today and if so with who?

Remember kids, if you work hard, have a defined plan for recruiting, peg your position needs, and pay players a LOT of money, you too can have a successful recruiting season

Wow. Up a whole $1 million from last year.

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It's been trending this way since Alfred Collins chose not to hit up Oklahoma for an unofficial visit earlier this month but I got some word this morning that this race is all but over.

I know it's not a huge surprise but just don't want anyone to be left hanging on this.

And yes, I hope to bring you some better news as the day goes on but I'd guess the announcement of Reggie Grimes signing is going to be the only movement on Wednesday.

Now we talkin'....as someone from NorCali I can tell you this was a very, very good hire. Arizona and Cali are places where there are a large number of talented players, and this guy will get his share. It is pretty obvious that OU won't and can't play the cheating game that the SEC does, so this makes a lot of sense. California, and emerging Arizona are areas that produce some great athletes. Pretty excited for this hire guys, and Murray as well. BOOM.

Guys,

We got a tip a little while ago that Jamar Cain might be leaving ASU to join OU's staff and we've been chasing that the last 30 minutes or so. Now this.

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It appears Lincoln has found his man to replace Ruffin. We've been researching this guy. It's a really good hire. And he's already recruited well for Edwards at ASU.

Over the past several years it feels as though the overall state of athletics has almost hit an apathetic position where by just doing enough is acceptable. There are outliers like gymnastics and football has always been the big dog but several coaches have been around long enough in major sports and not produced that he seems more content with running a clean program than a successful one. Interested to hear the board’s opinion as college sports is not for the faint of heart if you want to consistently play with the big boys.

Not even saying I think Viney should be the guy. But if he is, here are some reasons and some logic that play into the decision.

“To be honest I wouldn’t be the player I am right now without Chip,” cornerback Zack Sanchez said. “He has helped me tremendously on and off the field. He has helped me mature as a man and get me through tough situations.


“I never had a mentor besides my pops. It was a blessing he got here my second year. Who knows where I would be right now? He took me under his wing. He made me a better player and better young man. He has been the biggest part of my improvement than anybody else.


“I wish I could be 17 years old and be recruited by him. He’s going to bring so much energy. He just brings a different feeling to playing defensive back.”

From my 2015 (!) story on Viney back in the day day at Sooners Illustrated.

https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma/Article/Man-behind-the-scenes-Chip-Viney-105239611/

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“Personally, he has meant a lot to me,” junior defensive back Steven Parker said. “Just throughout the program, he has done a lot. Grabbing some of the freshmen guys and working them out and things like that.


“Him doing his part and making sure we’re ready even if we’re just watching film. We can always ask him a question. He’s one of those guys, knows a lot about the game, he’s played it. Somebody we can always go to man-to-man about anything.”

From my pre-Sugar Bowl story as Viney was about to leave for Nevada, again back in the day day at Sooners Illustrated.

https://247sports.com/college/oklah...r-Chip-Vineys-opportunity-at-Nevada-74935821/

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Why Viney? Because you don't leave a full-time gig like CBs coach at Nevada to be a recruiting guy again without thinking you're gonna get taken care of later. OU didn't make the move last year and went with Roy Manning after letting go of Kerry Cooks.

If you don't pull the trigger now with Viney, it's time for Chip to walk, right? This would be a third season of just waiting in the wings. That's rough. #GirlDad gotta make that money, too.

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So you're OU, and you know Ruffin McNeill is gone. Your first choice is Joey McGuire. No doubt in my mind that McGuire was the priority. Couldn't make the $$$ work without making everything lose balance among the rest of the assistant salaries.

OK, option two is Craig Kuligowski. A little older than you'd like, but he has the relationship with Alex Grinch and Brian Odom.

You test him out, nope, just doesn't work. So now you start sending Roy Manning out onto the road to look at OLB/DE prospects to get him ready to make the switch because there's nobody else outside right now that you'd rather have.

Viney has been on the road the last couple of weeks, you feel good about what he has been doing. Even been on the road w/ Manning trying to land your mega-recruit in Alfred Collins, so there's clearly some trust there.

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You know he can recruit, and you know he's gonna go all-out to recruit as a full-time coach who can be on the road. No more of this just being out there until a coach is hired. Now he's that coach, and he's going to show you why he should be the guy.

The salary won't upset the rest of the staff so the balance is there. The respect is there. Viney has been crucial for on-campus recruiting, even now.

He has the DB background. He'd have Will Johnson as a nice defensive grad assistant addition for next couple of years. You still have Grinch there to oversee things.

As great of a job as Roy Manning did at CBs, you know he'd kill it at OLB. That's his bread and butter. Guys like Nik Bonitto, David Ugowegbu and Joseph Wete would take off under his guidance.

You want a recruiting-oriented staff, done and and done.

Boneman's note: Since Viney has come back to OU, I've been told no every single time about talking to him. Two years straight of sorry, not happening. It's hard for me to try to get inside his head b/c don't know where he's at w/o talking to him face-to-face since 2016.

Again, not sure if Viney should be the guy. But you could make the case that you wanna take a chance on some young guys and start building your own coaching tree rep, DeMarco Murray and Viney a pretty good place to start.

Yea, yea..late to the party...I know. I love these type of shows...cant stop watching. Anymore type of shows like this?

I wonder how the reunion will be when Clay comes back to visit?

I hate to admit it, but I'm sitting here enjoying a Miller High Life. Good stuff. I know my man @Eddie_Rado loves his Natty Lights, but IMO, you can't beat Miller. In fact, I do believe I'll have another.

baylor is about to start throwing big cash at recruits again

David Smoak is very well connected at Baylor and have no reason to doubt his reporting. But he's reporting that McGuire will stay with the Bears. OU will move on to other candidates now and we'll be keeping our ears to the ground to see what develops from here. We don't have any immediate names to throw out there at this time. We'll just keep letting you guys know as we find out where this is headed.

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STORY: Ruffin McNeill leaving OU

Oklahoma announces Ruffin McNeill will step away temporarily from football to return home to Noth Carolina to help care for his 85 year old father.

"This was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make," said McNeill. "But in the end, being near my dad was a necessary choice. Right now I need to be a son again and I need to help my brother and other family members take care of my dad, who is battling significant health issues. This is not retirement for me. I still want to coach in some form or fashion. But right now that can't be the case. My focus needs to be on my dad back in North Carolina."

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Lincoln Riley on McNeill's announcement:

"Ruffin means so much to me and to my family, and his family means so much to him," said Riley. "I know his decision to leave OU was a very difficult one, but was one he felt he had to make.

"We go back a long, long way. Hard to believe we've been together 15 of the last 17 years. I certainly owe him for helping shape me as a football coach, but I'll always be more appreciative of the impact he had on shaping me as a person. He's as genuine as it gets. I'm incredibly grateful for his mentorship and friendship, and for everything he's done for me and my family. We wish him, his wife Erlene and their family the best of luck as they return home."