1. 9 Conference Championships, and 1 MNC is delivering on his promise. As much as I would like? Of course not. But we got close again this year and are on an upward trend from the last few. Perspective: Stoops has had a better run at OU than Spurrier did at Florida. If in 1998, you'd said we'd hire a guy to pull off what Spurrier was doing at Florida, I'd have taken it in a heartbeat.
2. At least we agree on the "OU is tending up" thing
. Just not sure how that leads to the doom & gloom you espouse for our future.
3. I believe TCU and Baylor have reached their heights already. They had multiple Top 10 /Top 15 seasons, they've been at their jobs for 8 and 15 years, I think they've taken their programs as high as they can go. Which is very high and very commendable.
But they've both blown opportunities for more when talented enough for better.
Examples:
- the 2 biggest bowls Briles has taken Baylor to. They were upset and severely out-coached in both.
- TCU blowing a huge lead against Baylor in 2014 that cost them a spot in the CF playoff.
For all their success and Top 10 teams, Patterson has 1/2 a Big XII Title and Briles has 1.5. Remember, TCU was a perennial Top 10 program BEFORE they entered the Big XII. He hasn't gotten them further 4 years later.
4. I do think you misunderstand me. I do have my concerns for the future. I'm not sure Mike Stoops can maintain a great defense and our sheer talent (i.e. recruiting) MUST improve. We've basically had 15th-ish ranked classes for too long. I'd like to see that back in the Top 10 regularly, but we were NEVER a consistent Top 5 class under Stoops. I think maybe we had 1 Top 5 class in Stoops tenure? We were more like 6-8 ranked class in our best years.
The biggest difference between you and I seems to be that I see us trending upward and see it as a positive thing, and you see us trending upward and see doom on the horizon.
That and the whole where Bob Stoops ranks in the echelon of current coaches, obviously. But, just because I think he's a great coach, doesn't mean that I think he's perfect or don't have my concerns for the future.