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Posted
13 minutes ago, Longboard Horn said:

Rhett Bomar 2.0

The thing is- Adrian Peterson was also getting benefits from Big Red Auto. OU cut loose Bomar (disappointing in development as QB), a backup OL, and kept the star RB. 
 
If Mateer were a disappointment, and this exact story popped up, the AD would cut him loose immediately 

Posted

I had started a series of posts about the misdeeds of Sooner football a few months ago, but stalled out in1982, with Switzer evading jail for DWI and penalties for Insider Trading. How do you describe the malfeasance, shenanigans and felonies (or, as Switzer described it, “the doping, raping and shooting”) of Sooner football in the 1980s? How can it be done justice? You just have to dive in. 
 
First, let’s talk about coaching. Texas had figured out how to use assignment defense to shut down the Sooners wishbone (required comparable athletes, and the Horns had them in the early ‘80s). Switzer made a coaching decision- he was switching to the pro set “I”. He recruited a QB, Aikman, and a RB, Marcus Dupree (he won a bidding war for DuPree’s services). Dupree was an immediate star, but Switzer only got a couple of years out of him (he describes in his book how it was all DuPree’s fault, and also blames the “advisor” from back home- the same guy the Sooners were giving money to to secure DuPree’s commitment. Imagine that- a bought player doesn’t stay bought). 
 
The pro set wasn’t working, mainly because Switzer had no clue how to coach it nor how to find assistants to coach it. They abandoned the “I”, returned to the Wishbone they knew, got Aikman injured running it, and he transferred to UCLA so he could begin his HoF career. 
 
Bosworth, the Boz, was another of Switzer’s stars. Switzer enjoyed all the attention gained from his brashness, until that same brashness attracted too much attention from regulatory bodies, curious about payments and PEDs, at which point the Boz was let go. 
 
But, OU was winning. Texas was down, they really only had to beat Nebraska in the Big 8, and if they didn’t have Miami (coached by Jimmy Johnson, who knew the Sooners all too well), there were few teams that could beat them. They won the MNC in 1985. 
 
They had a lot of talent, enabled by their total no -concern with character. The crimes piled up- an ugly gang rape in the dorm (later, Aikman, who had no respect for Switzer, said he would not let his girlfriend around his teammates), drug dealing by starting QB Charles Thompson, and a shooting of one player by another. 
 
It all came to a head and Switzer resigned. In his book, Switzer says none of that was his fault and he shouldn’t have been pressured to resign. What he doesn’t say- a key assistant coach and running buddy of Switzer, Scott Hill, was arrested and sent to jail for selling cocaine. The university was under pressure to investigate whether Switzer was also dealing in cocaine. By resigning, Switzer avoided having to answer those questions. 
 
How good of a coach was Barry Switzer? I’d say, probably as good as Bobby Collins, another guy with an amazing winning percentage that no other program wanted to hire to coach a rules abiding program. His success was almost entirely a creation based on his willingness to cheat. 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Crap! I forgot to mention- the feds were zeroing in on Thompson for dealing drugs, and interviewed Switzer about him. Switzer got in the phone to Thompson and told him to get rid or hide all the evidence. I’m not a lawyer, but I think this is obstruction? No charges on Switzer, though. 

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Did anyone actually watch the Illinois State game? OU sucks, even more than usual. They have zero playmakers, the OL is terrible, the running game is hot garbage. They were shutout in the 3rd qtr, still passing late in the 4th qtr and played all of their starters until the final whistle. This was against an FCS team. They put up 14 points in the 4th, with a late touchdown, to make the score look presentable. 

 

  • Hook 'Em 5
Posted
7 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Did anyone actually watch the Illinois State game? OU sucks, even more than usual. They have zero playmakers, the OL is terrible, the running game is hot garbage. They were shutout in the 3rd qtr, still passing late in the 4th qtr and played all of their starters until the final whistle. This was against an FCS team. They put up 14 points in the 4th, with a late touchdown, to make the score look presentable. 

damn dude, you weren't kidding about how bad they were running it.

thought i'd look at highlight yards to see how they did there (basically yards that go to the RB vs the OL) they averaged 0.97 per opportunity which is horrible, especially against that level of competition.

for comparison, ISU averaged 5.17 highlight yards per opportunity. Texas averaged 1.58 per opportunity vs tOSU and tOSU averaged 0.45 against the Texas defense. 

OU got "stuffed" (yards gained <=0) at the same rate vs ISU at 19% as tOSU did vs Texas (21%) and got "stopped" (yards gained <=2) at basically the same rate as tOSU (OU = 45%, tOSU = 50% - with the clear difference that the Texas defense >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ill. State defense. 

they basically gave 1/3rd of their carries to dudes and got nothing out of them. 

image.thumb.png.ebc730097aba5f6fc4149cf46572df7e.png

did i need to go this in depth? obv not but fuck those guys, if they can't run for shit vs Ill. State they are going to struggle against basically their entire schedule. 

 

  • Drool 1
Posted
47 minutes ago, Helobious said:

They are going to shit stomp Michigan. Fire up the hype train. 

Any ranked FBS team should be able to throw for nearly 400 yards against an FCS school that went 10-4 the previous year.

To @closetojumping's joy (and prediction), Kanak (their savior at TE) lost a fumble, Barnes ran for nine yards on seven carries, and Ott had one carry and lost three yards. What a good allocation of funds that was lol.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
20 minutes ago, MuellerHorn said:

Any ranked FBS team should be able to throw for nearly 400 yards against an FCS school that went 10-4 the previous year.

To @closetojumping's joy (and prediction), Kanak (their savior at TE) lost a fumble, Barnes ran for nine yards on seven carries, and Ott had one carry and lost three yards. What a good allocation of funds that was lol.

Ott is injured, in the doghouse, or maybe both. He played sparingly and looked like a spare doing it. 

I don't know whose OL is worse - OU's or Alabama's. Alabama's OL was depantsed this past weekend and I'm expecting so see something similar for OU this coming weekend. 

  • Drool 1
Posted
48 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Did anyone actually watch the Illinois State game? OU sucks, even more than usual. They have zero playmakers, the OL is terrible, the running game is hot garbage. They were shutout in the 3rd qtr, still passing late in the 4th qtr and played all of their starters until the final whistle. This was against an FCS team. They put up 14 points in the 4th, with a late touchdown, to make the score look presentable. 

 

I didn't watch but it sure didn't stop all of the national talking heads (that likely didn't watch it either) from talking them up as being the real deal with Mateer.   Dvorchek was actually the first person I've heard say tap the brakes due to the lack of a run game.  Michigan will be interesting. 

Posted
2 minutes ago, Skipper said:

I didn't watch but it sure didn't stop all of the national talking heads (that likely didn't watch it either) from talking them up as being the real deal with Mateer.   Dvorchek was actually the first person I've heard say tap the brakes due to the lack of a run game.  Michigan will be interesting. 

I've been laughing at all of the folks I see across the media and Twitter who are talking about OU positively after this weekend. There is no way any of them watched that game or even bothered reading a box score if they think OU looked good. OU fans, the one who aren't totally in the tank with the sunshine, are handwringing on their boards, right now. 

  • Hook 'Em 4
Posted
7 hours ago, MuellerHorn said:

Any ranked FBS team should be able to throw for nearly 400 yards against an FCS school that went 10-4 the previous year.

To @closetojumping's joy (and prediction), Kanak (their savior at TE) lost a fumble, Barnes ran for nine yards on seven carries, and Ott had one carry and lost three yards. What a good allocation of funds that was lol.

Any ranked FBS team playing an FCS school like Illinois State should’ve had at least 42 points by the mid 3rd quarter and pulling starters beginning with the QB regardless  if this was his first start at his new school or not.   But they got to pump Mateers numbers to make him sound like his a legit threat in the SEC.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
8 hours ago, MuellerHorn said:

Any ranked FBS team should be able to throw for nearly 400 yards against an FCS school that went 10-4 the previous year.

To @closetojumping's joy (and prediction), Kanak (their savior at TE) lost a fumble, Barnes ran for nine yards on seven carries, and Ott had one carry and lost three yards. What a good allocation of funds that was lol.

kanak was their leading receiver to boot lol 

Posted
7 hours ago, Skipper said:

I didn't watch but it sure didn't stop all of the national talking heads (that likely didn't watch it either) from talking them up as being the real deal with Mateer.   Dvorchek was actually the first person I've heard say tap the brakes due to the lack of a run game.  Michigan will be interesting. 

Those two radio guys who come out on the SEC morning show on Mondays were having orgasms over Mateer.  

Posted
On 8/30/2025 at 1:43 PM, ChiTownDoc said:

lol.  Dark times.  Welcome to the club.  

Same club? Let’s tap the brakes.

 

21 hours ago, MuellerHorn said:

Any ranked FBS team should be able to throw for nearly 400 yards against an FCS school that went 10-4 the previous year.

Especially when the QB has to play all 4 quarters. And his WRs were basically uncovered the entire game. 

 

21 hours ago, closetojumping said:

Ott is injured, in the doghouse, or maybe both. He played sparingly and looked like a spare doing it. 

I don't know whose OL is worse - OU's or Alabama's. Alabama's OL was depantsed this past weekend and I'm expecting so see something similar for OU this coming weekend. 

I think Ott is in the doghouse and is being Demarco’d. Hate to see it. 
 

Yeah, OU’s offense punted on a three and out and threw an interception in the third quarter. Nice halftime adjustments. They also went three and out on their first possession of the game and had three plays and fumbled it away on their second. They were 4/10 on third down and 2/3 on 4th. They turned it over on downs once in the 4th. 

Oh, and Mateer’s interception was pretty bad. Thrown behind the receiver, forcing the receiver to perform some cirque du soleil moves in a fruitless effort to prevent the interception.

The national guys who are praising this team did not watch the game. 

Posted
23 hours ago, closetojumping said:

Did anyone actually watch the Illinois State game? OU sucks, even more than usual. They have zero playmakers, the OL is terrible, the running game is hot garbage. They were shutout in the 3rd qtr, still passing late in the 4th qtr and played all of their starters until the final whistle. This was against an FCS team. They put up 14 points in the 4th, with a late touchdown, to make the score look presentable. 

 

Man that run game was awful. Somehow OU's O line looks worse this year. If they played like that again an FCS team, there's no way they can compete in conference. Lefau, Simmons and Hill are going to annihilate them in October. Also, I was not impressed with Mateer. Yeah he threw for all those yards, he was expected to against a scrub team. Deion Burks looks like he's still battling with that injury he got last season so they don't really have and IT guy at WR. LOL I also think Illinois State covered the spread man. 😅 

Posted
13 minutes ago, ChiTownDoc said:

Yeah.  I just know w the Mateer who I saw, you’d have beaten tOSU.  But maybe Jackson Arnold could have too.  

There's no real gotcha there for us. Manning didn't meet the moment and it cost Texas the game. He needs to improve for Texas to make the CFP and perhaps win the whole fucking thing this season. That and Sarkisian not shitting himself in the red zone. Those are the only two issues for Texas as a whole right now. They're important issues, but the Manning issue can fix itself with reps and experience, same as with many green QBs.

This is an OU thread, though. You know that. You guys have a litany of issues that you need to clear up in order to get bowl eligible. I don't think there's anything wrong with Mateer or your defense. Those two things alone aren't good enough to get you guys to 6-6 against that schedule. The OL is an abomination, the RBs are plain as grits, the TEs are a laughingstock, and the WRs are a mash unit. To boot, the majority of your coaching staff sucks and your going to have Venables getting more guys injured during tough midweek practices because he's a meathead. 

Good luck with all of that. 

  • Hook 'Em 8
Posted (edited)

Venables has always had that reputation.  Nothing wrong with it if you aren't pulling a Michigan to get the signals.   Given that plays are now delivered via helmet, not really as much as an issue although like every team I'm sure they are adjusting to signals changing plays at LOS.

Edited by Skipper
Posted
18 minutes ago, Thetexashammer said:

Joel Klatt is suggesting that Burnt Vegetable is stealing signs. Do we have any information on this?

He's always been someone very keyed into the shifts and calls from the opposing offenses.  The debate is whether he's getting that information from in-game and game tape study, or if there's some other extraordinary method ala a Connor Stallions.

Posted (edited)

A Sooner Scoopmoderator noted that Nagy, the personnel GM (that doesn’t report to Venables) was on the sideline for the game Saturday. 😂

When the Sooners decided to “run the program like a pro franchise”, I didn’t guess they were going to choose the Dallas Cowboys as a model. 

Edited by statsman
Posted
6 minutes ago, statsman said:

When the Sooners decided to “run the program like a pro franchise”, I didn’t guess they were going to choose the Dallas Cowboys as a model. 

 

Well it is their closest example, and probably about as far as they could move their trailer. 

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, closetojumping said:

There's no real gotcha there for us. Manning didn't meet the moment and it cost Texas the game. He needs to improve for Texas to make the CFP and perhaps win the whole fucking thing this season. That and Sarkisian not shitting himself in the red zone. Those are the only two issues for Texas as a whole right now. They're important issues, but the Manning issue can fix itself with reps and experience, same as with many green QBs.

This is an OU thread, though. You know that. You guys have a litany of issues that you need to clear up in order to get bowl eligible. I don't think there's anything wrong with Mateer or your defense. Those two things alone aren't good enough to get you guys to 6-6 against that schedule. The OL is an abomination, the RBs are plain as grits, the TEs are a laughingstock, and the WRs are a mash unit. To boot, the majority of your coaching staff sucks and your going to have Venables getting more guys injured during tough midweek practices because he's a meathead. 

Good luck with all of that. 

Made my bet on you guys w Wulaw.  
 

As for OU, Line was UT -10 for Dallas prior to Saturday.  Happy to take bets.  Agree OU has plenty of issues.  I just don’t buy they’re as bad as you all say.  I also don’t think Arch is winning the Heisman this year.  But this is a UT site so you were too high on yourselves and down on your chief rival.  Nothing crazy at all about any of that.  
 

edit:

And BetOnline has Mateer as the leading Heisman candidate per BetOnline.  I also think that’s a huge overreaction   But I’d take him over Arch right now…nothing crazy.  Arch will be better in the long run, obviously   

https://www.secrant.com/sec-football/updated-heisman-trophy-odds---sept-2-2025/119977457/
 

Edited by ChiTownDoc
Posted
1 hour ago, Thetexashammer said:

Joel Klatt is suggesting that Burnt Vegetable is stealing signs. Do we have any information on this?

 

been his rep literally forever, going back to the first time at OU. not only that he is stealing them but that he is/was the best at stealing them. 

Posted
2 hours ago, The Dog said:

 

Just got done with this…. Holy shit does Matter have inconsistent form and constant misses arm side high.

OU OL couldn’t get push vs Ill St and Matter is reckless running the ball. If he keeps this up (which if you watched last years film he will) he will get knocked out of several games this year.

  • Hook 'Em 2
Posted

From OU on3 site. OL shuffling incoming

OU could start two freshmen on the offensive line this Saturday against No. 15 Michigan.

In January, the Sooners brought in two of the most highly-touted freshmen linemen in the country in Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje. And since they arrived on campus, they’ve been impressive. Both competed for starting jobs this preseason camp — Fasusi at left tackle and Fodje at right guard. And both could be the difference versus the Wolverines.

“We’ve been bragging on those guys since they got here in January, every opportunity we could,” coach Brent Venables said on Wednesday during the SEC teleconference. “Only because their physical maturity and mental maturity have stood out, their willingness, their ability to show up every day and work at a high level, pick up the mental challenges of learning a new language, and then being away from home for the first time, they’ve been exceptional in every way.”

Fasusi didn’t play in the season opener versus Illinois State after having a heat-related episode in practice. But he’s expected to return against Michigan and could potentially start with Jacob Sexton likely missing the game due to a knee injury.

“It’ll be good to get Mike back,” Venables said. “He had a really good fall camp.”

As for Fodje, he could also start on Saturday. He came in at right guard in the first quarter and never came back out, playing 56 of Oklahoma’s 72 snaps.

“I thought it was, for a true freshman, that Ryan did some fantastic things,” Venables said. “He whooped and got whooped, lost a few battles as well, which is part of it.”

According to SoonerScoop sources, Fasusi and Fodje have both gotten some first-team reps in practice this week. So has Derek Simmons at right tackle, as he also missed the first game.

It’ll be fascinating to see who takes the first snaps of the game on Saturday. Oklahoma has several options at every position, including even center, as Troy Everett and Jake Maikkula are still battling.

But it’s clear whether they start or not, there’s a good chance both Fasusi and Fodje will play meaningful snaps on Saturday night. That’s a tall task for two true freshmen, but OU feels like they are up for it.

“Both those guys are mature beyond their years,” Venables said. “Have a lot to still learn and a lot of developing still, but we trust those guys. They’re going to strain, they’re going to compete, they’re going to respond. They’re going to show up ready to play.”

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
4 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

From OU on3 site. OL shuffling incoming

OU could start two freshmen on the offensive line this Saturday against No. 15 Michigan.

In January, the Sooners brought in two of the most highly-touted freshmen linemen in the country in Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje. And since they arrived on campus, they’ve been impressive. Both competed for starting jobs this preseason camp — Fasusi at left tackle and Fodje at right guard. And both could be the difference versus the Wolverines.

“We’ve been bragging on those guys since they got here in January, every opportunity we could,” coach Brent Venables said on Wednesday during the SEC teleconference. “Only because their physical maturity and mental maturity have stood out, their willingness, their ability to show up every day and work at a high level, pick up the mental challenges of learning a new language, and then being away from home for the first time, they’ve been exceptional in every way.”

Fasusi didn’t play in the season opener versus Illinois State after having a heat-related episode in practice. But he’s expected to return against Michigan and could potentially start with Jacob Sexton likely missing the game due to a knee injury.

“It’ll be good to get Mike back,” Venables said. “He had a really good fall camp.”

As for Fodje, he could also start on Saturday. He came in at right guard in the first quarter and never came back out, playing 56 of Oklahoma’s 72 snaps.

“I thought it was, for a true freshman, that Ryan did some fantastic things,” Venables said. “He whooped and got whooped, lost a few battles as well, which is part of it.”

According to SoonerScoop sources, Fasusi and Fodje have both gotten some first-team reps in practice this week. So has Derek Simmons at right tackle, as he also missed the first game.

It’ll be fascinating to see who takes the first snaps of the game on Saturday. Oklahoma has several options at every position, including even center, as Troy Everett and Jake Maikkula are still battling.

But it’s clear whether they start or not, there’s a good chance both Fasusi and Fodje will play meaningful snaps on Saturday night. That’s a tall task for two true freshmen, but OU feels like they are up for it.

“Both those guys are mature beyond their years,” Venables said. “Have a lot to still learn and a lot of developing still, but we trust those guys. They’re going to strain, they’re going to compete, they’re going to respond. They’re going to show up ready to play.”

-

 

Quote

“I thought it was, for a true freshman, that Ryan did some fantastic things,” Venables said. “He whooped and got whooped, lost a few battles as well, which is part of it.”

Sounds Bad GIF

Posted
2 hours ago, Thetexashammer said:

Joel Klatt is suggesting that Burnt Vegetable is stealing signs. Do we have any information on this?

 

 

Hell yah... Venables is a known cheater amongst the coaching world

IMG_20250903_135400.thumb.jpg.f0bf46a365d7682655a8f82c0d5064e4.jpg

Quote

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables finds himself thrust into college football’s heated sign-stealing debate. Not because of anything he did in Norman, but because of whispers that followed him throughout his legendary run as Clemson’s defensive coordinator.

With the NCAA set to drop the hammer on Michigan’s scandal in 2025, those old accusations against Venables have suddenly become part of a much bigger conversation about where the line gets drawn in football’s mental chess match.

Why Is Brent Venables Being Compared to the Michigan Scandal?

The discussion around Venables stems from his time at Clemson, where multiple opposing coaches claimed they took extra precautions to prevent the Tigers from stealing their signals.

These accusations, which surfaced publicly several times during his tenure, have drawn fresh attention as the Michigan case moves toward its expected 2025 NCAA ruling involving show-cause penalties for Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions, plus a suspension for Sherrone Moore.

On his show Adapt & Respond, analyst RJ Young tackled the distinction between what Venables was accused of and the methods that got Michigan in trouble. Young emphasized how in-game signal recognition differs fundamentally from off-site reconnaissance operations.

“Looking across the sideline with his own two eyes and his own two fingers during the game” represents legitimate gamesmanship, Young explained. That’s completely different from “going to somebody else’s stadium when they’re playing another opponent and videoing every single sign… and cataloging it.”

The latter approach, he argued, crossed “a bridge too far.”

Young used former linebacker Luke Kuechly as an example of masterful in-game reading. Kuechly “would yell out what the play was going to be” after recognizing offensive tendencies, forcing quarterbacks to change their calls, and then calling out those audibles too.

“He also watched a lot of film and picked up on a lot of tells,” Young noted. “If you can do that as a head coach, as an assistant or an analyst… you’ve got a tool that many don’t.”

What Were the Specific Accusations Against Venables at Clemson?

The claims against Venables became public knowledge back in 2017. In August of that year, Sports Illustrated published quotes from an unnamed coach who detailed Clemson’s alleged methods.

“Defensive coordinator Brent Venables does a great job, but he’s late getting his calls in,” the coach said. “That’s because they’re probably as good as anybody at stealing signals, and Venables is waiting to see your offensive call.”

The coach went on to explain how Clemson’s defensive complexity sometimes resulted in players lining up late, which could occasionally leave “a guy running free.” When contacted about these allegations, Clemson declined to comment.

Adding historical context to the debate, former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden acknowledged in November that his teams had also engaged in sign-stealing during his tenure from 1999 to 2008. Bowden specifically mentioned using these tactics during rivalry games against South Carolina.

How Does This Compare to What Michigan Allegedly Did?

Young drew a sharp distinction between the two situations by comparing Michigan’s alleged methods to cheating at board games. Rather than developing skill at reading opponents during actual competition, Michigan’s approach was like memorizing every answer card beforehand.

“We’re not talking about how good you are at recalling trivial trivia. We’re talking about did you memorize the deck,” Young explained, referencing the difference between legitimate game preparation and systematic rule violations.

The key difference lies in NCAA bylaw 11.6.1, which specifically prohibits attending another team’s games to record signs electronically. This rule targets the kind of comprehensive, off-site intelligence that formed the core of the Michigan allegations, distinguishing it from the real-time signal reading that coaches like Venables were accused of mastering.

As the NCAA’s committee on infractions prepares its 2025 ruling on the Michigan case, the enforcement spotlight continues expanding beyond Ann Arbor. Meanwhile, Venables has not publicly addressed the revived claims surrounding his Clemson days, focusing instead on building his program in Norman.

The broader conversation about sign-stealing shows no signs of slowing down as college football grapples with where to draw the line between smart coaching and unfair advantage.

 

Posted

As a sooner coworker of mine what he thought about the game this weekend and he said he was not impressed with that offense. He said the whole O line looked horrible and against a scrub like Illinois State OU should’ve easily put up 50+ points. He said being up 21–3 after three quarters ain’t gonna cut it.
 

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