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Getafix

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  1.  

    Mike at Night: Late night Thursday recruiting notes

    Mike Roach

     

    Spoiler

    Mike at Night: Late night Thursday recruiting notes

    Mike Roach
     

    — I reached out to a source near four-star offensive lineman Kam Dewberry. Texas went in home with the Atascocita mauler tonight as the Longhorns try to close on one of several offensive line targets on their board. I was told the visit went "very well", and this source said the end of this recruitment will be an "interesting outcome." Texas saved Steve Sarkisian's one in-home opportunity for next week. Dewberry released a Top 3 today with Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M. With the upheaval at Oklahoma and the uncertainty about where Bill Bedenbaugh will land, the belief is that Dewberry will have to land at Texas or Texas A&M. Texas will keep pushing here as they try to assemble talent on the offensive line in the 2022 class.

    — The Longhorns went out to Louisiana this week to see four-star St. James (LA.) Shazz Preston. With the wide receiver board in somewhat of a crisis mode following the losses of Evan Stewart and Matthew Golden, the push to get Preston will be important. LSU remains a strong contender, but Tigers' wide receiver coach Mickey Joseph has been rumored to be headed to Nebraska to fill their wide receiver position. Texas is pushing Preston to let him know how much opportunity he would have to play immediately and how much he's needed in the class. It seems like there's still some work to be done here, but Texas coaches aren't giving in.

    — Coaches on the road give the staff the ability to find new names and evaluate new targets. Jeff Banks stopped by New Caney High School today. The Houston-area program is home to 2023 running back Kedrick Reescano, and I was told the Texas staff showed quite a bit of interest in the four-star running back. Reescano ran for 1945 yards and 25 touchdowns this year and is emerging as a top running back candidate. I'm told that Steve Sarkisian and Stan Drayton are expected to stop by next week and there's a belief from those at New Caney that Reescano could pick up an offer from the Longhorns soon.

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 2
  2. Cross posting Drumm's Drivel.

    DrummBeat: What we are hearing on coaching search Thusday, December 2nd| A "what if" staff| Recruiting notes

    Brandon Drumm

     

     

    Spoiler

     

    DrummBeat: What we are hearing on coaching search Thusday, December 2nd| A "what if" staff| Recruiting notes

    Brandon Drumm

    Reminder: “What we are hearing” isn’t a report, but more of a rumor mill update with some factual reporting being mixed into it. We want you all aware of the buzz we hear, but know that some of this is our feeling on the situation and nothing more.

    With that in mind, here is Thursday, December 2nd version of “What we are hearing” in the latest Sooners football head coach search:

    *** We have talked to Georgia DC Dan Lanning for the last few days, and for good reason. We have tried to keep the rumors that we have heard ( from a credible source) to be reasonable, too (unless it's the Dabo Swinney rumor or the Bob Stoops ones that I have been laughing at myself over still ... And yes, I still hear the Swinney stuff from usual credible folks, so welcome to the insanity that is the coaching search world).

    With Lanning, we noted that he is a Kansas City guy. Why does that matter, you ask? Well, because he grew up in a region and time where the Big 12 was king and when the Oklahoma Sooners were, as they are still these days, king of the conference. This will be the first time since 2014 that anyone not named OU has won the conference, so Oklahoma is still a big deal in the area that Lanning hails from.

    Lanning also has that pedigree that OU/Joe Castiglione notoriously looks for in a coach, and that is a young, fast-rising star that has the pedigree to be the next big thing. The UGA defensive coordinator has been learning the ropes under the likes of Todd Graham, Nick Saban, Mel Tucker, and Kirby Smart. So, you know he has learned a ton over the last decade or so. Will that be enough to sway Joe C to hire the young SEC coordinator? Maybe. But sources connected around him continued to tell OUinsider, "(OU) really is the holy grail job for him. I know you have heard that from others, but they aren't lying. The Kansas City Chiefs are the one team that could sway him away from -- maybe Alabama too. He just has a respect for OU growing up around that region that would make it a destination job that could last for over a decade with him. He could be Bob Stoops. He could be Kirby or Saban or Dabo. He has that type of personality and ability as a coach. He is ready for it. That is the best I can put it to you."

    Another source went a bit further to inform OUinsider that he had heard that a connection had been made between Lanning and OU over the last 24-48 hours. OUinsider is working to confirm that, but the source said it was more of a round-a-bout contact until very recently when "I believe the higher-ups finally started to touch base."

    Again, this is not something we have confirmed 100%, but in the spirit of 'what we are hearing,' I wanted to give you all a taste of what is being told to me. I can say that the sources I have heard this stuff from are very well-connected in the Lanning stuff, and that is as best as I can get there.

    *** A "What if" Staff ***

    We have also heard that Joe C would love to keep the staff that stayed behind as much intact as they possibly can. This is all in the name of continuity and the fact those coaches are viewed very highly in their circles.

    Offensively, if it is Lanning as the choice at HC, I can see that being the case even more so. One source on that front thinks it would be smart to hire FSU OC/QB coach Kenny Dillingham if Lanning was head coach. They go back to the Memphis days, and when Dillingham was there, the Tigers were the second overall offense in the NCAA.

    I am told that Dillingham and the Memphis staff also met with OU offensive staff that summer to learn from one another. So that connection there would make sense as the staffers know one another if they went that route. Could also make the pitch for Lanning even more effective, in my opinion.

    Defensively, as we reported yesterday, the idea of Lanning being head coach would also make it to where a guy like A&M DB coach TJ Rushing would be one to watch. He and Lanning are close, and Rushing is originally from Pauls Valley and recruits OKPreps very well, much as Dillingham has in the past.

    I also think guys like Drew Hill (director of player personnel), Jamar Cain, and Calvin Thibodeaux would be on the docket to stay in Norman. S&C? Well, how about former OU LB Russell Dennison? Think OU could swing Jerry Schmidt back after what he has done with the Aggies? Would he be interested? Connections there would make that an easy transition if that was the case, but I think it would be a long shot at this time. Remember, this is all hypothetical and a "what if" stuff anyways.

    If Bill Bedenbaugh came back and stayed in Norman like it seems he might want to do in the long run, why wouldn't you finish the offensive staff with former Sooners great and legendary freestyler, Malcolm Kelly?

    This is where we are IF Dan Lanning was the guy, but also know I am probably so far off on how this will all play out to not take this as fact. Just a little fun with some of the buzz we have heard over the last 72-hours, that's all.

    HC - Dan Lanning

    OC - Kenny Dillingham

    DC - Lanning? Someone else, maybe?

    QB- Dillingham

    RB - Demarco Murray

    TE - Joe Jon Finley

    WR - Malcolm Kelly

    OL - Bill Bedenbaugh (could he really be convinced to stay? Some say yes. We will find out soon)

    DL - Calvin Thibodeaux

    DE/OLB - Jamar Cain

    LB - Dan Lanning

    DB - TJ Rushing

    ST - I don't know yet.

    Director of Player Personnel - Drew Hill

    *** Other Names ***

    Yesterday, we said this in regards to Brent Venables after talking to a few well-connected sources, "With BV, some think he may not be as strong of a candidate anymore, but it could also be a deflection due to a lot of buzz in his direction. I can't confirm that, and honestly not sure I buy that either. We are digging still, but as coaching searches typically go, this thing is sending me down a lot of winding roads and chasing a lot of ghosts, as you all would expect."

    The longer this drags out, the longer the sources that told me that stuff on BV seem to be right. Obviously, it's not over until they announce one, or we can confirm a hire from Joe Castiglione and Oklahoma. What we do know is that BV would take the job from the Sooners if offered. Multiple sources have told me that from day one. The Oklahoma head coaching job is one that BV respects and is viewed by him as a "destination job," per several sources that know this situation.

    Regardless, I have also been told on several occasions that BV has yet to be offered the job. Is that truly the case? Again, it's nothing I can confirm 100%, but it's also something that seems very much a possibility the longer this coaching search at OU drags out.

    I am not ready to completely throw BV's name out of the hat because we are dealing with Joe C. He is the mastermind of the shocking hire, and the second you stop talking about a candidate, the second they become one for real. If anyone wants to see how Joe C works, just go look at his men's basketball hires over the years. Always a sleight of hand type of deal, and then a boom hire that shocks folks comes about. I am expecting that here, too.

    With that in mind, we have named Lanning and BV as candidates already. We seem to feel that the announcement will come Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. I don't expect one today, and right now, Friday seems like a possibility, but if one of the coaches is playing on Saturday, a Friday announcement wouldn't be ideal now, would it? I am not discounting that as a chance to happen as one source said, "Friday thru Sunday seems to be the timetable, but if it happens during one of the conference title games, it wouldn't shock me at all. You all (media) can't seem to hold your water and always like to let it leak a bit," the source said. "Plus, anything after Monday is treading into treacherous territory due to NSD and transfer portal stuff. If OU lets it get that far down the tracks, it's a major, major issue and one coaches would look at as a red flag."

    Two other names that I have heard over the last 24-hours might pique the interest of the Sooners fans. One is a coach that I have heard from day one and have written about since the opening happened. That guy is Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell. Fickell has turned Cincinnati into one of the best programs in college football, and he did it while dealing with a G5 schedule and G5 perception.

    The other is a head coach in the Big 12 and a guy that we heard the initial buzz on but scoffed it off early on because he was rumored to have been working with Baylor on a new deal. That is, of course, Dave Aranda. The contract stuff is something that hasn't yet come to light, so his name piques my interest, at the very least.

    Aranda has built powerful defenses at Wisconsin and then at LSU, winning a national title in 2019. Since then, Aranda has continued to build up the Baylor Bears to the point they are playing for the Big 12 Title and in the top 10 with a 10-2 record right now. Not an easy feat at Baylor. A feat that can garner you a fat payday from a program like Oklahoma if Joe chose to go that route.

    *** We will continue to watch this as closely as we can. We don't expect anything tonight, but things could start to heat up a bit starting tomorrow. The university is preparing for things around the football offices and stadium. They started that last night, and the trend continues, so we will pass it on as we get more information. One thing we can tell you is that you are on the downward part of the rollercoaster, and things are starting to move in the direction you all want them to move.

    Now, we wait to see what name comes out of the shuffle and work on confirming it and informing you all of it.

    Stay tuned there.

    *** Recruiting ***

    *** I briefly exchanged texts with the father of 2022 RB Gabe Sawchuk last night. They seemed to love their in-home with Bob Stoops, Cale Gundy and Demarco Murray. Kevin Sawchuk told me, "OU will make the right choice."

    That choice would seem to hint that they have confidence in the head coach hire, along with them retaining Demarco Murray. All in all, that is a great sign and one that should help ease some tension with OU fans there.

    What that means for OU, though? Well, a source in coaching ranks thinks Demarco Murray is "the real deal. That guy is legit, from what I have heard. I know he can recruit his a** off, that's for sure."

    They said if they were in that position, they would retain him "in a heartbeat."

    *** Murray has kept OU in it with four-star RB Jovantae Barnes, but Florida State has made quite the run, I am told. His relationship with the FSU staff and Kenny Dillingham is something to watch moving forward. If Murray is kept on the Sooners staff, that will go a long way, so this one is far from over and could come down to how the hires play out with OU over the next 5-10 days.

    *** Bob Stoops, Cale Gundy and Calvin Thibodeaux were in the home of five-star DL commit and Sooners legacy Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy today at 11 am eastern time. I have yet to speak with the Dindy's about the in-home visit, but they were stoked to have Stoops in their home when I spoke with his father earlier this week.

    UPDATE: Dindy's father texted me and said, "A pleasant visit. Good to meet coach Stoops and see coaches Thib and Gundy. Nothing that gives us any more insight into what our next move will be. Just waiting on the hire."

    They want to be Sooners. This is no secret. I can tell you that Venables and Lanning are two that excite the Dindy's, for obvious reasons,

    More on Dindy when I get it.

    *** Lastly, I was told that OU met with Caleb Williams family again today. It was just a meeting to check in and nothing more, but the OU admin has been putting in the work with Joe Castiglione, Zack Selmon, and Bob Stoops all meeting/talking with them and keeping them updated on things going on outside of the coaching search at this time. This shows the dedication the university has to keep Williams in Norman.

    All good signs there with CW and company.

    Marvin Mims is another player I can tell you is in a wait-and-see mode. He wanted to temper reports of his potential transfer and stopped me at the game last night when I was at the game with my kiddos. We were walking up the stairs to the concession stand at halftime, and he stopped me to just talk a bit and added, "I want to stay at OU. I really do. Just ready to see who the next hire is."

    Mims is a mature as they come. I wouldn't expect a hasty decision either way.

    *** When all this is said and done, I will have a story or two for you all. Let's just say our lives cover this stuff has been insane the last 4-5 days. That is putting it lightly.

     

     

  3. SIAP.

    Drumm's Drivel. 

    DrummBeat: What we are hearing on coaching search Thusday, December 2nd| A "what if" staff| Recruiting notes

    Brandon Drumm

     

    Spoiler

     

    DrummBeat: What we are hearing on coaching search Thusday, December 2nd| A "what if" staff| Recruiting notes

    Brandon Drumm

    Reminder: “What we are hearing” isn’t a report, but more of a rumor mill update with some factual reporting being mixed into it. We want you all aware of the buzz we hear, but know that some of this is our feeling on the situation and nothing more.

    With that in mind, here is Thursday, December 2nd version of “What we are hearing” in the latest Sooners football head coach search:

    *** We have talked to Georgia DC Dan Lanning for the last few days, and for good reason. We have tried to keep the rumors that we have heard ( from a credible source) to be reasonable, too (unless it's the Dabo Swinney rumor or the Bob Stoops ones that I have been laughing at myself over still ... And yes, I still hear the Swinney stuff from usual credible folks, so welcome to the insanity that is the coaching search world).

    With Lanning, we noted that he is a Kansas City guy. Why does that matter, you ask? Well, because he grew up in a region and time where the Big 12 was king and when the Oklahoma Sooners were, as they are still these days, king of the conference. This will be the first time since 2014 that anyone not named OU has won the conference, so Oklahoma is still a big deal in the area that Lanning hails from.

    Lanning also has that pedigree that OU/Joe Castiglione notoriously looks for in a coach, and that is a young, fast-rising star that has the pedigree to be the next big thing. The UGA defensive coordinator has been learning the ropes under the likes of Todd Graham, Nick Saban, Mel Tucker, and Kirby Smart. So, you know he has learned a ton over the last decade or so. Will that be enough to sway Joe C to hire the young SEC coordinator? Maybe. But sources connected around him continued to tell OUinsider, "(OU) really is the holy grail job for him. I know you have heard that from others, but they aren't lying. The Kansas City Chiefs are the one team that could sway him away from -- maybe Alabama too. He just has a respect for OU growing up around that region that would make it a destination job that could last for over a decade with him. He could be Bob Stoops. He could be Kirby or Saban or Dabo. He has that type of personality and ability as a coach. He is ready for it. That is the best I can put it to you."

    Another source went a bit further to inform OUinsider that he had heard that a connection had been made between Lanning and OU over the last 24-48 hours. OUinsider is working to confirm that, but the source said it was more of a round-a-bout contact until very recently when "I believe the higher-ups finally started to touch base."

    Again, this is not something we have confirmed 100%, but in the spirit of 'what we are hearing,' I wanted to give you all a taste of what is being told to me. I can say that the sources I have heard this stuff from are very well-connected in the Lanning stuff, and that is as best as I can get there.

    *** A "What if" Staff ***

    We have also heard that Joe C would love to keep the staff that stayed behind as much intact as they possibly can. This is all in the name of continuity and the fact those coaches are viewed very highly in their circles.

    Offensively, if it is Lanning as the choice at HC, I can see that being the case even more so. One source on that front thinks it would be smart to hire FSU OC/QB coach Kenny Dillingham if Lanning was head coach. They go back to the Memphis days, and when Dillingham was there, the Tigers were the second overall offense in the NCAA.

    I am told that Dillingham and the Memphis staff also met with OU offensive staff that summer to learn from one another. So that connection there would make sense as the staffers know one another if they went that route. Could also make the pitch for Lanning even more effective, in my opinion.

    Defensively, as we reported yesterday, the idea of Lanning being head coach would also make it to where a guy like A&M DB coach TJ Rushing would be one to watch. He and Lanning are close, and Rushing is originally from Pauls Valley and recruits OKPreps very well, much as Dillingham has in the past.

    I also think guys like Drew Hill (director of player personnel), Jamar Cain, and Calvin Thibodeaux would be on the docket to stay in Norman. S&C? Well, how about former OU LB Russell Dennison? Think OU could swing Jerry Schmidt back after what he has done with the Aggies? Would he be interested? Connections there would make that an easy transition if that was the case, but I think it would be a long shot at this time. Remember, this is all hypothetical and a "what if" stuff anyways.

    If Bill Bedenbaugh came back and stayed in Norman like it seems he might want to do in the long run, why wouldn't you finish the offensive staff with former Sooners great and legendary freestyler, Malcolm Kelly?

    This is where we are IF Dan Lanning was the guy, but also know I am probably so far off on how this will all play out to not take this as fact. Just a little fun with some of the buzz we have heard over the last 72-hours, that's all.

    HC - Dan Lanning

    OC - Kenny Dillingham

    DC - Lanning? Someone else, maybe?

    QB- Dillingham

    RB - Demarco Murray

    TE - Joe Jon Finley

    WR - Malcolm Kelly

    OL - Bill Bedenbaugh (could he really be convinced to stay? Some say yes. We will find out soon)

    DL - Calvin Thibodeaux

    DE/OLB - Jamar Cain

    LB - Dan Lanning

    DB - TJ Rushing

    ST - I don't know yet.

    Director of Player Personnel - Drew Hill

    *** Other Names ***

    Yesterday, we said this in regards to Brent Venables after talking to a few well-connected sources, "With BV, some think he may not be as strong of a candidate anymore, but it could also be a deflection due to a lot of buzz in his direction. I can't confirm that, and honestly not sure I buy that either. We are digging still, but as coaching searches typically go, this thing is sending me down a lot of winding roads and chasing a lot of ghosts, as you all would expect."

    The longer this drags out, the longer the sources that told me that stuff on BV seem to be right. Obviously, it's not over until they announce one, or we can confirm a hire from Joe Castiglione and Oklahoma. What we do know is that BV would take the job from the Sooners if offered. Multiple sources have told me that from day one. The Oklahoma head coaching job is one that BV respects and is viewed by him as a "destination job," per several sources that know this situation.

    Regardless, I have also been told on several occasions that BV has yet to be offered the job. Is that truly the case? Again, it's nothing I can confirm 100%, but it's also something that seems very much a possibility the longer this coaching search at OU drags out.

    I am not ready to completely throw BV's name out of the hat because we are dealing with Joe C. He is the mastermind of the shocking hire, and the second you stop talking about a candidate, the second they become one for real. If anyone wants to see how Joe C works, just go look at his men's basketball hires over the years. Always a sleight of hand type of deal, and then a boom hire that shocks folks comes about. I am expecting that here, too.

    With that in mind, we have named Lanning and BV as candidates already. We seem to feel that the announcement will come Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. I don't expect one today, and right now, Friday seems like a possibility, but if one of the coaches is playing on Saturday, a Friday announcement wouldn't be ideal now, would it? I am not discounting that as a chance to happen as one source said, "Friday thru Sunday seems to be the timetable, but if it happens during one of the conference title games, it wouldn't shock me at all. You all (media) can't seem to hold your water and always like to let it leak a bit," the source said. "Plus, anything after Monday is treading into treacherous territory due to NSD and transfer portal stuff. If OU lets it get that far down the tracks, it's a major, major issue and one coaches would look at as a red flag."

    Two other names that I have heard over the last 24-hours might pique the interest of the Sooners fans. One is a coach that I have heard from day one and have written about since the opening happened. That guy is Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell. Fickell has turned Cincinnati into one of the best programs in college football, and he did it while dealing with a G5 schedule and G5 perception.

    The other is a head coach in the Big 12 and a guy that we heard the initial buzz on but scoffed it off early on because he was rumored to have been working with Baylor on a new deal. That is, of course, Dave Aranda. The contract stuff is something that hasn't yet come to light, so his name piques my interest, at the very least.

    Aranda has built powerful defenses at Wisconsin and then at LSU, winning a national title in 2019. Since then, Aranda has continued to build up the Baylor Bears to the point they are playing for the Big 12 Title and in the top 10 with a 10-2 record right now. Not an easy feat at Baylor. A feat that can garner you a fat payday from a program like Oklahoma if Joe chose to go that route.

    *** We will continue to watch this as closely as we can. We don't expect anything tonight, but things could start to heat up a bit starting tomorrow. The university is preparing for things around the football offices and stadium. They started that last night, and the trend continues, so we will pass it on as we get more information. One thing we can tell you is that you are on the downward part of the rollercoaster, and things are starting to move in the direction you all want them to move.

    Now, we wait to see what name comes out of the shuffle and work on confirming it and informing you all of it.

    Stay tuned there.

    *** Recruiting ***

    *** I briefly exchanged texts with the father of 2022 RB Gabe Sawchuk last night. They seemed to love their in-home with Bob Stoops, Cale Gundy and Demarco Murray. Kevin Sawchuk told me, "OU will make the right choice."

    That choice would seem to hint that they have confidence in the head coach hire, along with them retaining Demarco Murray. All in all, that is a great sign and one that should help ease some tension with OU fans there.

    What that means for OU, though? Well, a source in coaching ranks thinks Demarco Murray is "the real deal. That guy is legit, from what I have heard. I know he can recruit his a** off, that's for sure."

    They said if they were in that position, they would retain him "in a heartbeat."

    *** Murray has kept OU in it with four-star RB Jovantae Barnes, but Florida State has made quite the run, I am told. His relationship with the FSU staff and Kenny Dillingham is something to watch moving forward. If Murray is kept on the Sooners staff, that will go a long way, so this one is far from over and could come down to how the hires play out with OU over the next 5-10 days.

    *** Bob Stoops, Cale Gundy and Calvin Thibodeaux were in the home of five-star DL commit and Sooners legacy Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy today at 11 am eastern time. I have yet to speak with the Dindy's about the in-home visit, but they were stoked to have Stoops in their home when I spoke with his father earlier this week.

    UPDATE: Dindy's father texted me and said, "A pleasant visit. Good to meet coach Stoops and see coaches Thib and Gundy. Nothing that gives us any more insight into what our next move will be. Just waiting on the hire."

    They want to be Sooners. This is no secret. I can tell you that Venables and Lanning are two that excite the Dindy's, for obvious reasons,

    More on Dindy when I get it.

    *** Lastly, I was told that OU met with Caleb Williams family again today. It was just a meeting to check in and nothing more, but the OU admin has been putting in the work with Joe Castiglione, Zack Selmon, and Bob Stoops all meeting/talking with them and keeping them updated on things going on outside of the coaching search at this time. This shows the dedication the university has to keep Williams in Norman.

    All good signs there with CW and company.

    Marvin Mims is another player I can tell you is in a wait-and-see mode. He wanted to temper reports of his potential transfer and stopped me at the game last night when I was at the game with my kiddos. We were walking up the stairs to the concession stand at halftime, and he stopped me to just talk a bit and added, "I want to stay at OU. I really do. Just ready to see who the next hire is."

    Mims is a mature as they come. I wouldn't expect a hasty decision either way.

    *** When all this is said and done, I will have a story or two for you all. Let's just say our lives cover this stuff has been insane the last 4-5 days. That is putting it lightly. 

     

     

  4. Cross posting ... OU coaching crap.

    Quick note on what’s going on behind the scenes

    Parker Thune

     

    Spoiler

     

    Quick note on what’s going on behind the scenes

    Parker Thune

     

    Just spoke to a source with inside knowledge, and that source indicated to me that there’s indeed been an effort from within to throw the dogs off the trail. Here’s the skinny.

    I asked about the timeline I was given yesterday that referenced the basketball game as a possible juncture for the announcement, and as it would turn out, admin did indeed tell members of OU’s internal media team to prepare for that as well. But that time frame obviously came and passed with nary a rustle.

    I’m now told that internal media personnel have been given a short list of names, and they’ve been instructed to prepare graphics and other elements for each of the names on that list. The source I spoke with couldn’t disclose the full list to me, but I can tell you that one of the names on it is Dabo Swinney. To be very clear here, I do NOT expect that Swinney is your next OU head coach, but it seems that even within the building, his name is indeed being thrown around in the chicanery.

    For everyone’s sake, I’m going to hold off on sharing the sum of everything I was told over the last few days regarding Brent Venables. Suffice it to say there is a reason why people like Chris Plank and Teddy Lehman, who obviously have roles within the OU athletic department, publicly echoed the sentiment that Venables appeared to be the guy. There’s a reason I said I’d be shocked if the hire wasn’t BV. But I want to see how this all plays out before I expound any further.

    In conclusion, there is a growing belief — as Brandon mentioned earlier — that this job could belong to Dan Lanning when all is said and done. I’ll add that the source with whom I spoke agreed with that assessment. If that is the case and BV isn’t the guy, just know here and now that the subterfuge in this ordeal ran insanely deep. But I’ll be able to share more on that whenever the hire is announced.

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
    • Haha 1
  5.  

    Quick note on what’s going on behind the scenes

    Parker Thune

     

    Spoiler

    Quick note on what’s going on behind the scenes

    Parker Thune

     

    Just spoke to a source with inside knowledge, and that source indicated to me that there’s indeed been an effort from within to throw the dogs off the trail. Here’s the skinny.

    I asked about the timeline I was given yesterday that referenced the basketball game as a possible juncture for the announcement, and as it would turn out, admin did indeed tell members of OU’s internal media team to prepare for that as well. But that time frame obviously came and passed with nary a rustle.

    I’m now told that internal media personnel have been given a short list of names, and they’ve been instructed to prepare graphics and other elements for each of the names on that list. The source I spoke with couldn’t disclose the full list to me, but I can tell you that one of the names on it is Dabo Swinney. To be very clear here, I do NOT expect that Swinney is your next OU head coach, but it seems that even within the building, his name is indeed being thrown around in the chicanery.

    For everyone’s sake, I’m going to hold off on sharing the sum of everything I was told over the last few days regarding Brent Venables. Suffice it to say there is a reason why people like Chris Plank and Teddy Lehman, who obviously have roles within the OU athletic department, publicly echoed the sentiment that Venables appeared to be the guy. There’s a reason I said I’d be shocked if the hire wasn’t BV. But I want to see how this all plays out before I expound any further.

    In conclusion, there is a growing belief — as Brandon mentioned earlier — that this job could belong to Dan Lanning when all is said and done. I’ll add that the source with whom I spoke agreed with that assessment. If that is the case and BV isn’t the guy, just know here and now that the subterfuge in this ordeal ran insanely deep. But I’ll be able to share more on that whenever the hire is announced.

     

     

  6. 18 minutes ago, texasstrong12 said:

    The thought of our media and Patterson together is funny. 

    Patterson might murder somebody like Chip Brown. 

     

    "Well, Gary, we have the ultimate perk for you.  You know how you always wanted to strangle someone every time a DB missed an assignment?

    You can do that.  We're giving a guy a sideline pass.

    Here's his pic.  (It's his best one.)  Have fun."

    image.png.75bbc181ac439de3908eeb4a956453a9.png

     

     

    • Haha 1
  7. Cross posting.

    So about a certain former Big 12 coach ...

    Chip Brown

     

    Spoiler

    So about a certain former Big 12 coach ...

    Chip Brown

    ... Here's what we can say about the rumblings involving former TCU coach Gary Patterson and Texas:

    There's legit smoke but no fire at this point.

    Patterson, a top-notch defensive mind with knowledge of the Big 12, is obviously close with Chris Del Conte, who served as GP's athletic director at TCU. And Patterson's wife, Kelsey, is close with former Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, because Kelsey used to do some work in Dodds' office when she was a student at UT majoring in communications back in the day.

    So, the bottom line is Del Conte knows Patterson well, but Steve Sarkisian doesn't. If there's a role for Patterson, as an analyst or something else, and it works both ways, Sarkisian has a conduit to help make that match happen. Patterson is also drawing interest for other oppportunities. So, as we said, there's legit smoke - and the makings for fire - but there's no fire at this point.

    It could develop or it might not.

    But we've got our eyes on it and will keep you posted.

     

     

  8. So about a certain former Big 12 coach ...

    Chip Brown

     

    Spoiler

    So about a certain former Big 12 coach ...

    Chip Brown

    ... Here's what we can say about the rumblings involving former TCU coach Gary Patterson and Texas:

    There's legit smoke but no fire at this point.

    Patterson, a top-notch defensive mind with knowledge of the Big 12, is obviously close with Chris Del Conte, who served as GP's athletic director at TCU. And Patterson's wife, Kelsey, is close with former Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, because Kelsey used to do some work in Dodds' office when she was a student at UT majoring in communications back in the day.

    So, the bottom line is Del Conte knows Patterson well, but Steve Sarkisian doesn't. If there's a role for Patterson, as an analyst or something else, and it works both ways, Sarkisian has a conduit to help make that match happen. Patterson is also drawing interest for other oppportunities. So, as we said, there's legit smoke - and the makings for fire - but there's no fire at this point.

    It could develop or it might not.

    But we've got our eyes on it and will keep you posted.

     

     

  9. 3 hours ago, South Austin said:

    I would count 2018 as not sucking.  We played for a conference title and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl (fuck off about Georgia not wanting to be there).  That's not sucking by any rational measure.

     

    Why not settle it by asking the expert?

    Mothers Day Mom GIF by 505 Games

     

  10.  

    Tarp's Take: Replacing DeMarvin Leal a group effort in more ways than one

    Tarp

     

    ("However, that's also due to the fact the Aggies will definitely be losing super seniors Micheal Clemons and Jayden Peevy and could be losing another contributor in end Tyree J0hnson.")

     

    Spoiler

    Tarp's Take: Replacing DeMarvin Leal a group effort in more ways than one

    Tarp
     

    Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal announced that he was leaving after this upcoming season for the National Football League. From the time that Leal emerged as starter as a true freshman in College Station, it was pretty apparent that he wouldn't be hanging around after his third season on campus. He was just too big, athletic, and versatile to stay in college for long and he fulfilled his early promise not just by being talented but translating that talent into productivity with his work ethic.

    However, replacing Leal will be a group effort and I don't mean just in terms of the numbers of players that the Aggies will have to plug into his position on the field. That's because Leal played two different positions for A&M as a three tech tackle in addition to a five tech end (about 40% of his snaps this season were on the interior). However, that's also due to the fact the Aggies will definitely be losing super seniors Micheal Clemons and Jayden Peevy and could be losing another contributor in end Tyree J0hnson.

    It's one thing to replace Leal, the strong side end. It's another to replace someone who played two different spots in addition to at least two of his cohorts.

    A&M is well stocked to replace the player via another former five star in Shemar Turner who saw quite a bit of action in the rotation this season. Turner is about the same size, maybe a tad lighter, but his upper body strength enables him to play better than his size. He may not have Leal's bend (which made him a better pass rusher than most players his size) but his get off is probably superior. On the surface, that might make him better fit on the interior (where he played 95% of his snaps in 2021).

    Even so, the Aggies may have more interior guys to throw at the attrition they're facing for 2022 on the interior such as McKinnley Jackson and Isaiah Raikes as well as five star commit Walter Nolan. Leal's clone as a guy who sets the edge in the run game (and isn't just a starter there) is second year player Elijah Jeudy (at least from a physical standpoint). Jeudy barely played in 2021 but he's listed at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds and has both size and the ability to get upfield (not as a pass rusher like Leal but as a bull rusher, taking people on and driving them backwards).

    However, from a next man up standpoint, the guy could be second year player Fadil Diggs who played about 20% of the snaps available to him this season. Diggs is longer than the other guys we've talked about but has a different frame and game. He's leaner and built more like a pass rushing end than run stopper. He might be a better fit as a edge player unless he puts on more weight and would have to win his battles differently than the players who are pushing 300 pounds. Of course, Diggs's situation will be dictated to an extent on whether or not Johnson comes back on the opposite side and if either of the Harris', Jahzion and Donell, can become full time edge players.

    A&M does have a lot of options because they've recruited well up front on defense and in all likelihood Turner will stay inside and Diggs will move into the end spot. In that case, A&M may be lighter than they were in 2021 but that might be better for them in an era where offensive spacing is putting greater challenges on defenses to be able to cover ground and scoring is on the rise.

     

     

  11. 10 minutes ago, texifornia said:

     

    Looks like he's had serious injury issues.  Played in 5 games in 2020.  Missed 7, and then all of 2021.  

     

    Spoiler

    UNC WR Beau Corrales Confirms New Surgery
    ROSS MARTIN Sep 2, 7:16 PM
     

    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- Beau Corrales confirmed on Thursday what his head coach alluded to earlier in the week. He's not going to be ready to play any time soon. The North Carolina super senior wide receiver has undergone another surgery, he announced on Twitter on Thursday evening.

    "A rollercoaster of progress and setbacks this past year left me in need of a 3rd surgery a week out from our first game," Corrales posted in a statement. "It's safe to say that my return for a 5th year isn't going how I had planned, but I am going through this as a reminder that life rarely goes according to plan ...

    "I still have so much to give to this game and I'm still hungrier than ever to get back on the field, but in the meantime, I am grateful and excited to have the opportunity to cheer such a special team on."

    Corrales appeared in five games and made two starts in 2020 before opting to undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia that had plagued him since before the season started. The Georgetown, Texas native missed the last seven games of the season and finished with 13 catches for 238 yards and one touchdown. Corrales, who has totaled 80 receptions for 1,176 yards during his UNC career, decided to use the extra year of eligibility to come back for the 2021 season.

    "I'm not supposed to get into injuries with Beau -- we would have to have medical people do that," Mack Brown said on Monday. "They've told us to stay in our lane. But we do hope to get him back before the season's over."

    In the absence of Corrales, the Tar Heels -- who are tasked with replacing most of its wide receiver production from a year ago -- are expected to start Emery Simmons and Antoine Green in the outside receiver positions in Friday night's season opener at Virginia Tech.

    "Right now we've got Emery Simmons, who is playing great football, with Antoine Green, who is playing great football," UNC offensive coordinator Phil Longo said on Monday. "We have Khafre Brown, Dyami's brother, who's running around. He's probably as fast if not faster in than Dyami. He's definitely a vertical threat."

    Brown has been limited in the preseason by a lower body injury suffered in the spring.

     

     

     

  12.  

    The Insider: Latest on Texas football player evaluations, what's next
    CHIP BROWN

     

     

    Spoiler

    The Insider: Latest on Texas football player evaluations, what's next
    CHIP BROWN

     

    Amid all the recruiting updates coming from our Horns247 hounds Mike Roach and Nick Harris heading into the Dec. 15 early signing period, Steve Sarkisian and his staff have been doing one-on-one player evaluations this week.

    According to a team source, the evaluations have been “a blunt discussion with current players about how the staff views their football futures at Texas.”

    Without going into specifics, we expect more players - on both sides of the ball - (in addition to receiver Al’Vonte Woodard and linebacker Ayodele Adeoye) to be appearing in the transfer portal in the coming days and weeks, or - like junior receiver Kai Money did Wednesday night - posting farewell announcements on social media.


    According to team sources, Sarkisian’s plan coming into the week was to bring in a veteran quarterback from the portal to provide competition and depth for returning QBs Casey Thompson and Hudson Card - as well as two high school recruits.

    Obviously, 4-star 2022 quarterback Maalik Murphy is already committed to Texas.

    The Longhorns were hoping the other 2022 quarterback would be 4-star Devin Brown, the nation’s No. 5-rated signal caller, No. 59 player nationally and No. 1 in the state of Utah, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

    But Brown decided to join the already-overflowing quarterback room at Ohio State, which currently has two redshirt freshmen (C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller) and two true freshmen (Quin Ewers and Kyle McCord) by committing to the Buckeyes on Wednesday.

    As we said, the plan going into the week was to sign two high school quarterback prospects. Whether that remains the plan or not - stay tuned to Mike Roach and Nick Harris for the latest.

    As far as portal quarterbacks, we continue to hear the staff is evaluating a couple who are already in the portal and a few who could end up in the portal.

     

    ***

     

    Steve Sarkisian said two of his top goals for the off-season are to generate a better pass rush and to improve depth on the offensive line.

    To help achieve the first goal, Sarkisian has eight defensive linemen, including four likely edge rushers, committed in the 2022 class.

    On the offensive line, look for Texas to bring in seven to nine new linemen for the 2022 season - a combination of high school recruits and transfers.

    With redshirt sophomore Tyler Johnson’s future in doubt after getting crossways with the coaching staff (Johnson wasn’t even practicing with the team the final month of the season) and with redshirt junior Rafiti Ghirmai walking on Senior Day, signaling his departure, Texas’ O-line numbers could be bare-bones for spring ball without a January infusion of new talent.

    On Wednesday, we heard redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Isaiah Hookfin (6-5, 299), a player the coaching staff would like to have next season, might have an injury that could impact his availability for spring football.

    We are trying to get more details.

    Hookfin, a 2019 signee who picked Texas over Baylor, appeared to be on the rise within the program until a shoulder injury suffered just before the 2020 season ended up requiring season-ending surgery. This season, Hookfin saw action in one game (garbage time against Rice).

    If Hookfin isn’t available for spring football (and Johnson and Ghirmai move on), the current scholarship offensive linemen available for spring ball would be: Jake Majors, Junior Angilau, Andrej Karic, Christian Jones, Logan Parr, Hayden Conner, Jaylen Garth and Max Merril as well as walk-ons Christian Rizzi, Michael Balis and Chad Wolf.

    If you’re counting, that’s eight scholarship linemen and three walk-ons for a total of 11. Sarkisian likes to run the first- and second-team offense on opposite ends of the practice field at the same time. It takes 10 linemen to do that. Preferably, 10 scholarship offensive linemen so plays don’t resemble a fire drill. You get the picture.

    When Sarkisian mentions it’s puzzling Texas only signed two offensive linemen in 2021 (Conner and Merril), what he’s really trying to say is @#?%!!

    When he talks about being surprised at the makeup of the roster from a numbers standpoint, he’s talking about inheriting a roster that had 12 scholarship receivers (half of whom were non-factors and four of whom - Joshua Moore, Woodard, Money and Montrell Estell - have already moved on) and only 14 scholarship offensive linemen in 2021.

    Needless to say, the Longhorns will be desperate to find O-line help in the portal, from early-enrollee freshmen - you name it - (and UT can certainly promise opportunities to compete for starting jobs right away) once the Dec. 15 signing day period is over.

    Make no mistake, beefing up the offensive line is THE biggest roster concern heading into 2022.

     

    ***

     

    Don’t look for Texas to get aggressive in the portal until after the Dec. 15 signing period. Obviously, most all of the focus has been on getting the 2022 recruiting class finalized.

     

    ***

    We’ve heard the murmurs about a potential staff change or two, but nothing confirmed at this point.

    And if anything along those lines is going to happen, it’s not likely to happen until after the Dec. 15 signing period for obvious reasons.

    While some fans might be fixated on guys they think Steve Sarkisian should/could change out, I’ve been told there’s one staff member who could be in the mix for a head-coaching job. We’re not going to go any further on that right now unless the situation heats up or becomes imminent. We’ll keep you posted.

    ***


    The knee injury we reported suffered by redshirt junior linebacker Luke Brockermeyer in the team’s last contact practice of the season - the Tuesday before the Longhorns’ victory over Kansas State - turned out to be a torn ACL.

    It was a brutal way for the team’s second-leading tackler who also posted two interceptions in 2021 to end the season.

    Brockermeyer will wait until after finals to have surgery to repair the knee injury and will miss spring football with a timetable to return for fall camp.

    In the spring, coaches will get a good look at juniors-to-be Jaylan Ford and Devin Richardson at middle linebacker.

    Coaches are waiting on leading tackler DeMarvion Overshown to decide if he’ll stay for a COVID-19 redshirt season in 2022 or enter the NFL Draft. If Overshown returns, Texas will have depth at weak side linebacker with junior-to-be David Gbenda and sophomore-to-be Morice Blackwell returning.

     

    ***

     

    Had an interesting conversation with a high-ranking official at a Big 12 school about Lincoln Riley’s decision to leave Oklahoma for USC.

    The source said, “Brilliant move by Texas taking Oklahoma to the SEC. It’s resulted in the Longhorns taking down their biggest rival. OU will not hire someone as good as Lincoln (Riley). There are only a few in his league.

    “The fallout could make OU a mere shadow of the program Lincoln inherited from Bob Stoops. The new coach will have a much tougher job.”

    All eyes in Norman are on OU freshman quarterback Caleb Williams, who’s waiting to find out who the Sooners’ next coach will be.

    Williams single-handedly turned around a three-touchdown deficit in the Texas game, when he replaced Spencer Rattler (who is now in the transfer portal). Williams completed 62.5 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions while running 72 times for 408 yards (5.7 ypc) and six TDs for the 10-2 Sooners.

    (Williams’ lowlights came against two of the best defenses in the country: Two interceptions in OU’s loss at Baylor, and getting sacked six times in a 37-33 loss at Oklahoma State.)

    So far, the only reaction from Williams about the news of Riley leaving for USC came in a Nov. 28 tweet:

    “I appreciate all the concerns about the situation but I am also happy for Coach Riley, mama Riley, Sloan and Stella for that huge opportunity ahead. That’s all I plan to say right now! #boomer”

    There’s a lot of speculation about Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables possibly returning to OU (where he served as defensive coordinator under Bob Stoops from 1999-2011) with Ole Miss offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, an OU alum, possibly taking over Riley’s offense.

    Venables’ defenses at Clemson have helped win two national titles, and the Tigers are currently second in points allowed per game (15.0) to Georgia (6.9). Ole Miss’ offense is No. 18 nationally in scoring (35.9 points per game) after finishing No. 14 last season (39.2 ppg) under Lebby and head coach Lane Kiffin.

    Would a ticket of Venables and Lebby be enough to keep Caleb Williams in Norman?

    The next coach’s ability to keep and continue to develop Williams could determine if OU remains an elite program or is thrust into rebuild mode.

    Tailgate Trivia: Joe Castiglione, who has been OU’s athletic director since 1998, has only hired coordinators as the Sooners’ head football coach. He hired Stoops, then Florida’s defensive coordinator under Steve Spurrier, in 1999 and then replaced Stoops after the 2016 season with Riley, who was OU’s offensive coordinator.

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
    • Like 1
  13.  

    Mike at Night: New WR target, transfer portal notes

    Mike Roach

     

    Spoiler

    Mike at Night: New WR target, transfer portal notes

    Mike Roach
     

    — Texas is struggling to fill the wide receiver group in this class. A week or two ago, the Longhorns looked like they'd be able to reel in Matthew Golden and still Evan Stewart on the board. Stewart is now gone and Golden told Horns247 he's moving on from Texas. If you want to look at more options at the position, I think Caleb Douglas would be a good place to start. The Fort Bend Hightower wide receiver was committed to USC, but the turnover there caused him to decommit. Douglas is a taller receiver with good length and an ability to go get the ball. I spoke to a coach who used to work with Douglas who told me his strengths are his length and ball skills. Douglas never had a true offseason due to being a three-star kid. He guessed he'd time as a mid 4.5 kid from a speed perspective and he's raw due to his inexperience at the position. I was told he's a high-character kid and great student with an excellent work ethic, and he's a ball-winner in the air. Douglas previously played quarterback previously and transitioned to wide receiver last year. This year he put up 930 yards and 7 touchdowns. Douglas told Horns247 he's been in contact with the staff and feels an offer could be coming soon. We will monitor.

    — I wrote earlier today that there were a few players in the portal I checked with that Texas hadn't reached out to yet. That doesn't mean Texas hasn't been doing their homework. There are a few guys they've been in contact with that I've been asked not to mention right now, and I think there is some concern that portal names could potentially ruin position with high school recruits as we head toward signing day. One other thing I can report is that Texas players have been active in reaching out to others. I was told Bijan Robinson, Xavier Worthy and Casey Thompson hit up several guys in the portal early on. I expect there to be more portal entries after this weekend and another wave after bowl season.

    — Devin Brown ended up choosing Ohio State tonight. As we reported last night, there's a belief there will be more attrition in the Ohio State quarterback room giving him a better chance to compete in the next couple of years. It's obvious that Steve Sarkisian wants to add more depth and competition to the quarterback room along with Maalik Murphy who is expected to sign soon. I'm not sure if that will mean another 2022 quarterback prospect or a transfer portal addition. I don't see them taking just anyone at the position, so it will be fascinating to see what the portal has to offer over the next few months.

     

     

  14. 1 hour ago, SydneyCarton said:

    Is it that he’s a hyper-aggressive alcoholic with gambling and debt issues, the physical and mental stress of which has turned him into a decaying, putrid half-zombie of a man? Because that’s what it looks and seems like…

     

    His expressions in this clip are a goldmine for makers of Halloween masks ... 

     

     

  15.  

    Drumm's dreck.  

    Da latest.

     

    Spoiler

    DrummBeat: What OUinsider is hearing Wednesday evening| Crazy rumors & more!

    Reminder: “What we are hearing” isn’t a report, but more of a rumor mill update with some factual reporting being mixed into it. We want you all aware of the buzz we hear, but know that some of this is our feeling on the situation and nothing more.

    With that in mind, here is Wednesday evening, December 1st version of “What we are hearing” in the latest Sooners football head coach search:

    *** Okay, let's get this thing off before I take the kiddos to OU/Florida game tonight.

    *** First, UGA defensive coordinator Dan Lanning seems real. He really does. I don't really know how to explain it, but over the last two or three hours, I have had sources that are very well-connected to Lanning hint to me that there would be some sort of interest there if the Sooners had any interest in him. If there was a hire of Lanning, I wouldn't be shocked to see coaches like FSU OC/QB coach Kenny Dillingham or A&M DB coach TJ Rushing be in the mix for a spot on his staff. Those two are Memphis guys from years past with Lanning and coaches that have recruited Oklahoma well over the years.

    Again, I am not saying that is happening. Just want to make that clear. I just know those two have strong connections to this area and would be ones to watch as potential staffers if Lanning was the guy. Nothing more than that. Pretty much an educated guess at this point off of a few sources that I have spoken with recently.

    Rushing is originally from Pauls Valley, so an OU job might entice him a bit, but how much? That has yet to even happen due to nothing being done on the Sooners' end. Lanning also has a very, very strong relationship with Caleb Williams and his family. The UGA DC was his lead guy at Georgia and from a source very close to Williams, Lanning "all but had Caleb committed to UGA before a few things went south there."

    So, if Lanning was the hire, he would be big on that front with Caleb Williams. A source told OUinsider, "Man, that would be a good start," the source said about the Lanning hire and how that would affect Caleb Williams' future at OU. "[Lanning] has that energy about him that just resonates and you believe in what he wants you to do and accomplish. Man, he would be good at OU if that happened."

    I have also talked to coaches around the country today to ask what they thought of him and it was "rising star" or "next big thing in college football if he gets the right shot." Coaches don't throw that type of stuff around lightly.

    Right now, it's all buzz. It's not definitive buzz but it's buzz nonetheless and momentum that I hadn't heard with his name much until the last day or so. This afternoon it went to another level, so we will see where it goes from there, but it does sound as if there is at least some minor mutual interest (at the very least) right now and maybe even more than that. Something we are working diligently on to find out.

    *** Brent Venables is seemingly still out recruiting, but I continue to hear more buzz with his name and the Sooners. He has a championship pedigree, like Lanning, but is older and has a deep, deep OU background. All of that makes him the most logical of the candidates and the one we still feel is at the top, if not right near the top.

    Coaches I talk to around the country feel Venables has "the juice and passion to be the guy. Don't know why he has waited this long, but OU is so perfect for him... So perfect."

    Another coach told OUinsider, "He can scheme, he can recruit, he can motivate and he is respected. That is four things you want in a coach outside of discipline and he can do that too. I think he would be big-time in Norman."

    Again, we continue to hear his name and he has been the common denominator here for some time. What I heard last night, what I heard this evening again, and even this afternoon, was something outlandish right now, but I guess not overly crazy... Okay, it's crazy if you force yourself to think of it, but there is some serious buzz with Dabo Swinney and OU right now. He would bring BV with him, too, according to this rumor.

    I don't like even typing all of that because it seems so crazy that I laughed hard when he told me. Thing is, the sources I talked to are normally pretty reliable and they wouldn't just throw that scenario out to me without some sort of seriousness behind it. At least, that is what I think. Still, I find it hard to trust at this time.

    Last night, I spoke with several people, including Parker and a few other media members that heard the same. How far I can take that ridiculous scenario stops here.

    *** Can OU afford Bob Stoops as the head coach? If there is a big announcement tonight and no one worthwhile up for it, why wouldn't Joe C pick Bob Stoops to coach for the next 5-7 years? It seems crazy like the Dabo stuff, I know. But this is a rumor write-up, so we can add it and run with our tails tucked between our legs knowing that the craziness of it all seems, well, crazy.

    Does Bob get the NIL well enough? Times have changed in CFB. Can Bob go with it and does he have the want to, to continue to have to recruit year-round? All questions that are valid in this wild scenario.

    We know he loves OU. More than anyone not named Barry Switzer, so the passion is there, but energy and passion sometimes clash.

    Don't shoot the messenger. I have refused to write about this stuff for days now, but as things keep dragging out, we have to cross every scenario off that we have heard -- including this one.

    *** Lastly, Joe Brady. Is he a surprise guy? Matt Rhule was ruled out (like that pun?), so what about the Panthers OC? I haven't heard much other than one source with knowledge tell me earlier today, "All I know is that his agent has had contact with people. Nothing more than that at this time."

    Who they have had contact with is a great question, but if the Sooners are thinking about Brady as an OC or HC, he would pique the interest of a lot players, most specifically Caleb Williams.

    Not much more on him than this at this time, so I am not sure what else to say there other than file his name away and leave it at that.

     

     

    • Hook 'Em 1
  16.  

    Drumm's latest on the coaching search.

     

    Spoiler

    DrummBeat: What OUinsider is hearing Wednesday evening| Crazy rumors & more!

    Reminder: “What we are hearing” isn’t a report, but more of a rumor mill update with some factual reporting being mixed into it. We want you all aware of the buzz we hear, but know that some of this is our feeling on the situation and nothing more.

    With that in mind, here is Wednesday evening, December 1st version of “What we are hearing” in the latest Sooners football head coach search:

    *** Okay, let's get this thing off before I take the kiddos to OU/Florida game tonight.

    *** First, UGA defensive coordinator Dan Lanning seems real. He really does. I don't really know how to explain it, but over the last two or three hours, I have had sources that are very well-connected to Lanning hint to me that there would be some sort of interest there if the Sooners had any interest in him. If there was a hire of Lanning, I wouldn't be shocked to see coaches like FSU OC/QB coach Kenny Dillingham or A&M DB coach TJ Rushing be in the mix for a spot on his staff. Those two are Memphis guys from years past with Lanning and coaches that have recruited Oklahoma well over the years.

    Again, I am not saying that is happening. Just want to make that clear. I just know those two have strong connections to this area and would be ones to watch as potential staffers if Lanning was the guy. Nothing more than that. Pretty much an educated guess at this point off of a few sources that I have spoken with recently.

    Rushing is originally from Pauls Valley, so an OU job might entice him a bit, but how much? That has yet to even happen due to nothing being done on the Sooners' end. Lanning also has a very, very strong relationship with Caleb Williams and his family. The UGA DC was his lead guy at Georgia and from a source very close to Williams, Lanning "all but had Caleb committed to UGA before a few things went south there."

    So, if Lanning was the hire, he would be big on that front with Caleb Williams. A source told OUinsider, "Man, that would be a good start," the source said about the Lanning hire and how that would affect Caleb Williams' future at OU. "[Lanning] has that energy about him that just resonates and you believe in what he wants you to do and accomplish. Man, he would be good at OU if that happened."

    I have also talked to coaches around the country today to ask what they thought of him and it was "rising star" or "next big thing in college football if he gets the right shot." Coaches don't throw that type of stuff around lightly.

    Right now, it's all buzz. It's not definitive buzz but it's buzz nonetheless and momentum that I hadn't heard with his name much until the last day or so. This afternoon it went to another level, so we will see where it goes from there, but it does sound as if there is at least some minor mutual interest (at the very least) right now and maybe even more than that. Something we are working diligently on to find out.

    *** Brent Venables is seemingly still out recruiting, but I continue to hear more buzz with his name and the Sooners. He has a championship pedigree, like Lanning, but is older and has a deep, deep OU background. All of that makes him the most logical of the candidates and the one we still feel is at the top, if not right near the top.

    Coaches I talk to around the country feel Venables has "the juice and passion to be the guy. Don't know why he has waited this long, but OU is so perfect for him... So perfect."

    Another coach told OUinsider, "He can scheme, he can recruit, he can motivate and he is respected. That is four things you want in a coach outside of discipline and he can do that too. I think he would be big-time in Norman."

    Again, we continue to hear his name and he has been the common denominator here for some time. What I heard last night, what I heard this evening again, and even this afternoon, was something outlandish right now, but I guess not overly crazy... Okay, it's crazy if you force yourself to think of it, but there is some serious buzz with Dabo Swinney and OU right now. He would bring BV with him, too, according to this rumor.

    I don't like even typing all of that because it seems so crazy that I laughed hard when he told me. Thing is, the sources I talked to are normally pretty reliable and they wouldn't just throw that scenario out to me without some sort of seriousness behind it. At least, that is what I think. Still, I find it hard to trust at this time.

    Last night, I spoke with several people, including Parker and a few other media members that heard the same. How far I can take that ridiculous scenario stops here.

    *** Can OU afford Bob Stoops as the head coach? If there is a big announcement tonight and no one worthwhile up for it, why wouldn't Joe C pick Bob Stoops to coach for the next 5-7 years? It seems crazy like the Dabo stuff, I know. But this is a rumor write-up, so we can add it and run with our tails tucked between our legs knowing that the craziness of it all seems, well, crazy.

    Does Bob get the NIL well enough? Times have changed in CFB. Can Bob go with it and does he have the want to, to continue to have to recruit year-round? All questions that are valid in this wild scenario.

    We know he loves OU. More than anyone not named Barry Switzer, so the passion is there, but energy and passion sometimes clash.

    Don't shoot the messenger. I have refused to write about this stuff for days now, but as things keep dragging out, we have to cross every scenario off that we have heard -- including this one.

    *** Lastly, Joe Brady. Is he a surprise guy? Matt Rhule was ruled out (like that pun?), so what about the Panthers OC? I haven't heard much other than one source with knowledge tell me earlier today, "All I know is that his agent has had contact with people. Nothing more than that at this time."

    Who they have had contact with is a great question, but if the Sooners are thinking about Brady as an OC or HC, he would pique the interest of a lot players, most specifically Caleb Williams.

    Not much more on him than this at this time, so I am not sure what else to say there other than file his name away and leave it at that.

     

     

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