Change in the air: Oklahoma regents talk realignment on Monday

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Could the conference realignment dominoes start falling on Monday? It's possible.

According to multiple published reports, the University of Oklahoma board of regents will meet on Monday and one of the topics of discussion: Conference realignment. Word is they will try and figure out which conference situation is best for them.

Read the story from NewsOK.com RIGHT HERE

As most of you know, despite Texas A&M handing withdrawl papers to the Big 12/10, the chips won't fall...or move in any form until Oklahoma does something.

A&M can't do anything due to the SEC's no legal action stipulation. One brought on by most of the remaining Big 12 teams to protect themselves. They've threatened to file a suit to stop them from moving. Oklahoma didn't make that threat. 

The general consensus is that Oklahoma will go to the Pac12, despite commissioner Larry Scott saying they aren't "Looking" to do anything. Oklahoma State will go with them. That in turn will be the death knell for the Big 12, who'd be left with Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa State. It would be the sad end, to a once proud conference.

We'll spare you are rant as to why this is happening, we agree with OutKickTheCoverage's Clay Travis that ESPN has become the root of all this.

The funny thing is, it all came about due to Texas and their "Longhorn Network" had they not done that, we may not be having this discussion. Now Texas is a "Major" program with limited options. They too can't do anything until Oklahoma decides too. And yes, we join the chorus of pundits who are highly amused at the thought of Texas being placed in the "2nd Class Citizen" category in all of this.

Pac 12 to Oklahoma: Not right now

Pac 12 Logo

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It appears, at least from the perspective of Pac-12 conference commissioner Larry Scott, that conference expansion is not currently on the table.

Scott told reporters at Friday night's Arizona State/Missouri game that he's happy where the Pac-12 is. Though he qualified it by adding if the SEC grew, he'd certainly have to look at keeping up with them.

The esteemed Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com takes it a step further, quoting sources who say that Scott has told Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to cool there heels, they aren't expanding right now.

Which of course, comes on the heels (and reported here as well as other places), of Oklahoma president David Boren saying he expects to make a decision within the next couple of weeks about changing conferences.

Read the Orangebloods.com report...RIGHT HERE

Ok.

Pure and simple, we fully believe this is Scott calling Texas A&M and the SEC's bluff. Without making Oklahoma have to play the bad guy...for now.

If you parse words, Scott only said "Right Now" he didn't say next week, next month or next year. This will happen, it is just a matter of when.

What has happened is nobody wants to be the one everyone blames for the collapse of the Big 12. Texas A&M went all in on the poker game by announcing they are leaving. Oklahoma essentially raised the pot. And yes, that also means Baylor, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State have all said "Call".

So, you can consider your expansion talk on hold--for now. Now we play chicken. We wait to see who blinks first.

With the amount of money involved here--and Oklahoma poised to lose some by the Big 12's proposed equal revenue split. Our money goes on them. And yes, they'll go to the Pac-12.

University of Oklahoma: We have options--UPDATED

University of Oklahoma

 Updated--It appears the options consist of the Pac 12 and the Pac 12. News OK in Oklahoma City reports Saturday afternoon that Pac 12 commissioner Larry Scott is in Dallas at the Oregon/LSU game and said he didn't need to go to Oklahoma and visit the Sooners. Rather, the papers sources say, Scott will concentrate on convincing Texas to join as well, along with Oklahoma State and Texas Tech to make the Pac 16.

Read the story RIGHT HERE
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Original Story--

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Will Oklahoma be the next team to bail out on the conference known as the Big 12 who now has 9 members?

Maybe they will, maybe they won't, but it sure sounds like they are fully exploring their options. Sooner president David Boren spent the bulk of his time during a ceremony to celebrate a donation to the school answering questions about the school's future.

Boren told the Kansas City Star the decision wouldn't take long, "I don't really think this is something that is going to linger on beyond two or three weeks at the outside."

Boren also said that the Sooners have opportunities with more than one conference should they choose to move.

Read the entire story from the Kansas City Star RIGHT HERE

Interesting.

While Boren hasn't ruled out trying to resuscitate the Big 12 and stick around, he clearly is exploring all his options. Oklahoma's brand is certainly strong enough that they can pick and choose where they'd want to go. We are quite sure the Pac 12 would be happy to have them and so would the SEC, though the Sooners have rebuffed them. The Big 10 and a host of other conferences would jump at the opportunity as well.

We would not be surprised to see Oklahoma bail out either, the only surprise is that they would try and make a decision during the season. Yes, it would make things disruptive. We think they'll go and smart money is on the Pac 12. We think the Big 12 will be the 1st of the "Big Conferences" to shrivel up and go away. They might be able to survive for awhile with Texas and a variety of others, but in the current atmosphere, we don't think that would last. But we could be wrong.

Ooops they did it again: Oklahoma in trouble with NCAA

Keith "Tiny" Gallon

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They are already on probation due to the legacy of former head basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. And no, the University of Oklahoma isn't going to be coming off of it anytime soon.

The reason. The school admitted Thursday to 2 major violations by a former assistant. The school, to their benefit, reported themselves, but as a now repeat violator, has some 'splainin' to do.

The issue involves now former assistant coach Oronde Taliaferro. The school says he helped get a "Benefit" for former center Keith Gallon and initially denied it. Four months later, he admitted it.

Read the entire story from NewsOk.com RIGHT HERE

Yes, Oklahoma put themselves on 2 more years of probation and vacated their wins from 2009. The question is, "Will it be enough?"

Nobody knows the answer to that. The violation is somewhat serious and the fact that Taliaferro lied to the NCAA isn't going to help things. We suspect the "Self-Imposed" penalties will probably be enough, particularly in light of the fact the NCAA has it within their power to shut down the program for a year or two.

They won't. While they may not be fans of Oklahoma's behavior, they won't shut them down. But you can fully expect they'll be under a microscope. A really, really big microscope.

BREAKING: Oklahoma Linebacker Austin Box Has Died

[HT: AP, NewsOK.com]

Sad news from Oklahoma as Sooner middle linebacker Austin Box has died.

In an Associated Press report, El Reno Police Chief Ken Brown says officers and medics responded Thursday morning to a call of an unresponsive male he identified as Box. Brown says Box first was taken to an Mercy Hospital in El Reno, then transferred by air ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, where he was pronounced dead.

University of Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione released the following statement:

"Austin Box will be greatly missed by his many friends and teammates in the Athletics Department and all across campus. Grief counseling is being made available to members of the team and his close friends."

OU President David Boren said "The University family is deeply saddened by the tragic death of student-athlete Austin Box." in a statement released by the University."

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops is overseas.

The Oklahoman reports that Box was staying at a house in El Reno, Oklahoma with J.T. Cobble, whose father is Box's high school football coach. The house is owned by Edward Metz, J.T. Cobble's grandfather.

According to Metz, his grandson was home when the paramedics were called.

Here's the breaking news report from Brian Brinkley at KFOR-TV, Oklahoma City.

 

UPDATE:

According to an El Reno Police report Box died of an overdose.

Here's part of the 911 call... thanks again from KFOR-TV

Photo Courtesy: The Oklahoman

Fiesta Bowl takes lots of Oklahoma and UConn money

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If you ever wanted to know why we think BCS Bowl Games and Bowl Games in general are a sham, then continue reading this story.

The participants in January's Fiesta Bowl, we'll they didn't exactly have as fun of a trip as they probably would've liked to. The University of Oklahoma made money. $9,350 to be exact and they only made it because their conference picked up the other $1,884,250 of their tab.

As for the other participant, UConn, they weren't so lucky. They owe the Arizona bowl game $1,663,580. And no, the Big East isn't bailing them out.

Read the excellent story from the Hartford Courant RIGHT HERE

If you ever want to argue why the whole College Football Bowl system needs to be revamped, ratings non-withstanding, you can start here.

The reason both schools were so indebted to the bowl game, they didn't sell their allotment of tickets. While we certainly understand that the bowl games would like all of their tickets sold, it should not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE be on the school to foot the bill if they don't. The Bowl Games, particularly the BCS Games make more in sponsorship money than god. Why do they have to bill the schools for it?

For UConn to sell all their tickets to a game in Tempe, Arizona, would've taken a miracle. And hey, with the current economic situation for most people, it was a trip they probably couldn't afford.

So instead the taxpayers of Connecticut got to pay for it.

For the Fiesta Bowl, because it's our example here, they pay their "Executive Director" John Junker--at least when he's not suspended, well over $600,000 a year and pay more than that for lobbyists. But they can't afford to foot the bill for their own tickets? No, we don't buy that...at all.

This goes back to the argument that many are making about the BCS and Bowl Games. That argument is the system in place benefits the people aligned with the bowl games, not the participants and certainly not the schools...unless you are playing for the championship.

So we would argue it's time for change. It's time for the greed and sloth that the "Bowl Executives" are living on and off of needs to stop. It's time to play the games for the right reason. Not for the profit of a select few....

Here are some highlights from an Oklahoma fan with too much time on his hands: