why
- Thread starter OUnabomber
- Start date
Yes the million dollar question. Rewarding mediocrity sends what message to the players & fans exactly? Then show zero progress against teams that are not all that powerful. How can it be so obvious and yet largely ignored by LR ?
The 48-point output was the highest scored by Texas in the history of the heated rivalry. Oklahoma currently ranks 96th nationally in total defense, allowing 421.2 yards a game, and 125th in red-zone defense: In 21 chances, opponents had scored 21 times (18 touchdowns and three field goals).
Texas entered the annual game with Oklahoma after scoring only 10 offensive points in a win against Kansas State. The Longhorns ranked 79th nationally in total offense and 73rd in scoring offense, but piled up 501 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per play. Not counting a one-play possession to end the first half, Texas scored on its first five possessions and built a 45-24 lead. When the Sooners stormed back to tie late in the fourth quarter, the Longhorns moved 52 yards in nine plays for the winning field goal.
Texas entered the annual game with Oklahoma after scoring only 10 offensive points in a win against Kansas State. The Longhorns ranked 79th nationally in total offense and 73rd in scoring offense, but piled up 501 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per play. Not counting a one-play possession to end the first half, Texas scored on its first five possessions and built a 45-24 lead. When the Sooners stormed back to tie late in the fourth quarter, the Longhorns moved 52 yards in nine plays for the winning field goal.
Yes I understand that, but we sucked last year to. As a matter of fact, we haven't been good on D in a very long time. I personally think Riley should have recognized this and pulled the trigger a long time ago. Maybe now that Boren is gone does that make a difference???
The new President is very result
based. Especially with employees earning over $1 million/yr. I’ll leave it at that.
UPDATE (10:23 p.m.): According to John Hoover of 107.7 The Franchise, the call to oust Mike Stoops was made by OU president James Gallogly. As much as I’m in favor of the decision, this doesn’t seem particularly healthy.
Turns out my guess was spot on, according to a great source. Presidential level. https://t.co/BHyMg9OuSI
— John E. Hoover (@johnehoover) October 8, 2018
Also, it looks like Ruffin McNeill is going to be the interim DC.
Sources: #Sooners will name Ruffin McNeill interim defensive coordinator. (VIP) https://t.co/NDhXB2Sd2y
— Brandon Drumm (@BrandonDrumm247) October 8, 2018
MORE FROM CRIMSON AND CREAM MACHINE
Turns out my guess was spot on, according to a great source. Presidential level. https://t.co/BHyMg9OuSI
— John E. Hoover (@johnehoover) October 8, 2018
Also, it looks like Ruffin McNeill is going to be the interim DC.
Sources: #Sooners will name Ruffin McNeill interim defensive coordinator. (VIP) https://t.co/NDhXB2Sd2y
— Brandon Drumm (@BrandonDrumm247) October 8, 2018
MORE FROM CRIMSON AND CREAM MACHINE
I don't doubt this one bit. Firing Stoops just didn't seem like something Riley would do especially mid season.
Boren was a Politician...Prez. G is a Business Man...He 'Took Care of Business'...
Note To Self: (Learn to Spell & Pronounce New Prez's Name...Looks as though he is going to be 'In The News' quite a lot, going forward!)
Last edited:
Well, word is Riley wanted Mikey gone after last year, but ended up they worked out a deal to give him another chance. Some are saying it's cuz Mikey literally couldn't find another job to land at. If that's the case, then why the hell did OU extend his contract and give him a damn raise?? It's not like they had to fear the guy leaving to go elsewhere. Just stupidity.
The whole situation before the season sounds like brother Bob doing a sales job keeping Mikey in the fold. The raise and contract extension leaves one to scratch the noggin. Bob must have really done the car salesman smoothing to give Mikey more dollars. He certainly did not earn it last year.
This probably all goes back to Bob hiring his brother. If it didn't work then OU would be in a very sticky situation.
I think you are missing something here. Both Joe and Lincoln are great friends with Bob. Joe worked with Bob for 18 years. Lincoln owes his job to Bob Stoops. The pressure on both of them to fire Mike had to be huge. What President Gallogly did was take the responsibility for doing the dirty deed thus taking it off of the shoulders of both Joe and Lincoln.
I think that was a very healthy thing. Also there is the issue of both Bob and Mike being part of the discussion with the Gallogly.
Every one wanted Mike to be fired or leave the OU program on his own. No one ever thought of the difficulty of firing Mike. I think you have to be a neandethal to not think about the difficulty of doing this. Gallogly had no skin in the game and him making the decision is a good thing not a bad thing.
All these rumors that "powerful people", OU president James Gallogly, were opposed to Mike's firing yada yada yada make interesting msg board chaff but the truth is it was Coach LR's decision. Book it.
I don't think I've seen anything about Gallogly being opposed to it
I think you are closer to reality than any other point of view. Lincoln takes his daily doses of shit from people like us. We have very little impact on the state of play. Big Donors (I mean the very big donors) go to Gallogly. Gallogy pulling the trigger takes the weight off Joe and Lincoln. There is nothing more important at this level than maintaining harmony. The fact was no one could save Mike's job. It was a matter of "when" not "if".
Has there been any news about what Mike is leaving with (cash) as he hits the road? If he gets the remainder of his contract that would be just shy of $3M counting this season’s $980k salary.
Me personally, I don't believe it was a President that made the call. Although I do think that the AD & Res signed off on it. In fact, I think this was all leaked out to give Riley some cover/shade for the decision. Over on the Corner (pay board) there is talk that there was a huge halftime locker room verbal fight that actually got heated that it got physical too. Whether this is all true or not only the players and coaches know.
But he's gone. Which is a good thing. We can only hope that Riley can make good hiring decisions. As he has a big one to make. I'm pretty sure that his phone is lighting up. Short lists are already being made.
But he's gone. Which is a good thing. We can only hope that Riley can make good hiring decisions. As he has a big one to make. I'm pretty sure that his phone is lighting up. Short lists are already being made.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if true about Mike getting physical w/ fighting w/ a player(s), then he forced the hand of the University and the President did get involved. But I have a feeling that after things settled down following the game, that LR, Bob , and even Mike agreed it was time that he move on. The Prez just officially gave him (LR) cover.
I will see you degenerates friday! I am the bionic man now. My shit expired while I was on con leave and I overextended buying a side by side... had to get my shit in order.
Ahhh ya had forgotten about that! Man I sure hope everything has gone well.
Like you say......he’s gone. That’s really all that matters.
You can be sure that his contract had clauses concerning buyouts with a sub-clause payout in the event of termination due to poor performance.
Don't care about why. It's been corrected. It's history and the Sooners still have a chance to accomplish all of their goals in 2018. I'm looking forward to the remainder with more excitement than I had at the beginning.
Boomer Sooner
You must have more confidence in Ruffin McNeil than I do. I can't really see things changing too much until maybe next year. The players haven't shown they can tackle anyone for years now
One bright spot is the improvement TTech's defense showed back in 2007 or 2008 when Ruffin was the interim DC.
I kind of look at it like it could not be worse with Ruffin than it was with Mike. I just cannot see how the defense could be worse. I don’t think Ruffin is the long term solution but can be a good fit under these very unusual circumstances.
I also don’t think it is being accounted for how a dark cloud has been removed from inside the locker room. If what is being reported is true, it is clear the tension has been building, and the trust was gone. The defense can play “free” and have a functional relationship with their DC; I think most would agree it has been dysfunctional for some time now. It will be interesting to watch...Boomer Sooner!
I don't know much about either personally, but I think it's obvious and well known that Ruffin is a Type B personality while Mike is an ultra Type A. Some people are well suited working for one type and others prefer the opposite. It's definitely a polar opposite swap, so it will be a very interesting psychology test at the very least. Tackling and Xs and Os might not change much, so if that's the problem then I wouldn't anticipate much improvement. If it was just player motivation and management, then Ruffin could make all of the difference.
I am just glad he is gone, the crap defense year after year should have been enough reason to can him.
My main hope now is they have a tremendous opportunity to get this thing corrected and I hope they don't waste it. Time to man up.
My main hope now is they have a tremendous opportunity to get this thing corrected and I hope they don't waste it. Time to man up.
Ruffin was mentioned on the Animal during the pregame saturday. Nobody on there wanted to mention specifics but you could tell they didn't think too highly of the guy. Kinda got the impression they thought it was bordering on incompetent. I personally think our only hope for this season is maybe this firing will inspire them and they will play with an improved passion. Passion and extra effort can go a long way in college football.
Well I'm not exactly thrilled. But of course not many options to looking for a replacement in the middle of a season. Any worthy DC is already employed. Lol I just hope Ruffin can elevate the defense just a little bit. At least let the defense play more aggresive and put some pressue on a QB. The handful of times OU did that against Texas, Ehlinger usually panicked and threw errant passes. After the season let's hope Riley can bring in a bigtime hire.
I think Ruffin and Diaco are place holders who will simplify the D but not much else. Look for LR to go after one of the 2 co-d-coordinators at TOSU and Alabama respectively. Personally, I like Golding at Alabama...Texas roots ( recruiting ). Dusty and Ikard both disputing Hoover and Traber reporting on things. Say it was all LR.
Chapter...Verse...
https://www.oklahoman.com/ou-football-lincoln-riley-says-he-wasnt-pressured-to-fire-mike-stoops/article/561122
https://www.oklahoman.com/ou-football-lincoln-riley-says-he-wasnt-pressured-to-fire-mike-stoops/article/561122
- OU Football: Ruffin McNeillOU Football: Bob DiacoOU Football Update: Changes to DefenseOU Football: Riley on dismissing Stoops
Related Photos
+2
NORMAN — Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said the decision to fire defensive coordinator Mike Stoopswas his alone, and that he didn't face pressure from administration.
"Oh no. Oklahoma doesn't work like that,” Riley said Monday night to a group of almost 40 reporters. “Other places do and that's why they go up and down. At Oklahoma, the people who make the decisions are the people that should make the decisions, and that's why this place has been so good for so long."
There had been speculation that Riley faced pressure from either athletic director Joe Castiglione or university President Jim Gallogly. Riley didn't want to get into the specifics of who he met with before making the decision, but he reaffirmed that it was his.
“Of course you have bosses,” he said. “I have people that I answer to, and I make them aware of big changes or anything going on in the program that we need to. And we have a great, open communication system with our president and that office, with Joe, of course, and his group. But no, this place wouldn't be like it is — you wouldn't see all them banners up over there if that's how this place is run.”
Oklahoma officially announced Stoops' dismissal Monday morning. Ruffin McNeill will fill in as interim defensive coordinator.
Riley downplays Bolton halftime situation
OU senior linebacker Curtis Bolton was seen walking out of Cotton Bowl Stadium at halftime Saturday against Texas, according to a Fox 25 photographer. Riley was asked Monday night about the situation.
“Blown out of proportion a little bit,” Riley said. “Sometimes guys get emotional and have to remove themselves from the situation a little bit. That's a heated game. That's a heated locker room. Curtis has been a warrior for us all year. He's one of our emotional leaders no question, wears his heart on his sleeve like some of our guys do.”
Bolton was reportedly yelling, and teammates had to stop him before he got too far, according to the account. Bolton hasn't been available to address the situation, but he tweeted after the game.
“I ain't ever quitting on this team, I think me being here for five years shows that. Leave all that rumor talk for the barbershop.”
Bolton was back on the field for OU's first defensive series of the second half. Oklahoma gave up 48 points to Texas on Saturday, prompting Stoops' dismissal.
Bolton tweeted again Monday evening: “People will make up a whole story for some views, some of y'all reporters make me sick.”
Riley downplayed the blow up.
“I've never had an OU-Texas game where there wasn't emotional outbursts at halftime,” Riley said. “Hell, I was one of them. That's college football. I've been in locker rooms we've been up 35-0 and had emotional outbursts. I mean, that's reality inside the ropes as opposed to outside the ropes.”
Bolton leads the Sooners with 75 tackles.
Radley-Hiles takes Twitter shot
While most Oklahoma players have expressed gratitude for Stoops in the wake of his firing, freshman defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles tweeted a different take Tuesday night.
"It's different when you love the coach you playin for," Radley-Hiles tweeted. "Happy birthday OG, @RuffinMcNeill."
The tweet, sent at 6:48 p.m. Tuesday, has been deleted.
OU defensive captain Kenneth Murray, right around the time of Radley-Hiles' tweet, talked about how much Stoops meant to him.
"He gave me a shot when nobody else gave me a shot," Murray said. "You don't start as a true freshman every day. Every freshman in the country doesn't come in and just start. He believed in me a lot from the jump. For that I'm forever grateful and forever thankful.
"He's a great guy, a great coach and I love him to death.
Last edited:
Can't read the entire article I'm not a subscriber. But hard to know for 100% certain what happened behind the scenes. Even if LR had gotten pressure, he certainly wouldn't throw his AD and President under the bus like that.
Ours is not to reason why, ours is to now move on to a much more positive place about OU football.
I have a great feeling that our defensive recruiting will make a great leap forward in the 2020 class
I have a great feeling that our defensive recruiting will make a great leap forward in the 2020 class
Similar threads
