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Oklahoma great Brian Bosworth wants the Sooners to move on from Bob Stoops
The Red River Rivalry is this weekend (11 a.m. ET, FS1), and there’s no doubt it's a massive game for both Texas and Oklahoma.
Texas coach Charlie Strong has been the subject of hot seat talk all week, and things aren’t any calmer at Oklahoma, where even despite a win over TCU last week, there is still concern about the overall state of the program. The Sooners are just 2-2 this season, with embarrassing losses to Ohio State and Houston.
The losses are so embarrassing, in fact, that Oklahoma legend Brian Bosworth appeared on FS1’s “Speak for Yourself” and was asked point blank if Bob Stoops should be gone if the Sooners falter down the stretch:
“That’s kind of a conversation that’s quietly been had over the last five, seven years. I’ve had that from a lot of the alumni. You look at the great traditional programs; the tenure of a coach that has had the great success that Bob has had has been remarkable. Especially as long as he’s been there.
"But it’s not only what you do during the season that matters. It’s how you finish the season in bowl games. And what we’re doing over the course of these seven to eight years is we’re getting embarrassed in the bowl games. It weighs heavily on the alumni, and it weighs heavily on the tradition, and it weighs heavily on us as players, because it’s just unacceptable going out there; I understand getting beat, but I don’t understand getting embarrassed. That just means the players are packing up the bags at the first sign of the avalanche starting to happen.”
He continued, explaining it wasn’t just Stoops but his entire staff:
“That comes from the coaching staff; not just Bob. That comes from all the coaching staff, energizing the players and letting them understand that the journey you’re on is going to define you who you are. So this small window of opportunity that you’re going to be here for four years, make that the strongest window you can, and don’t look at it like ‘this is a bridge that can get to the next level’ because the next level isn’t guaranteed for anybody.
"But I’d really like to see to see Oklahoma find and start to cultivate that next coach. Talking about that offensive coordinator that came in last year [Lincoln] Riley did a good job, but that’s only one year. We need to get the discipline back, the recruiting back, the strength of the recruiting back, the top notch guys to come in and take us to the next level.”
Those are obviously some damning comments from Bosworth, and just so there was no confusion, host Jason Whitlock followed up. Was Bozworth really saying Stoops should be gone?
“Well, I appreciate everything that Bob’s done, he’s had a great run. He’s put up more wins than any other coach there. But the game passes much faster sometimes than the coach that’s currently coaching can keep up with, if he’s not making the strategic changes on his staff to bring in the types of players that are going to keep him at that top level of winning the conference championship.
"But more importantly how are you going to compete once you get into the bowl games and you’re playing the teams that are competing consistently for the national championships? The Alabama’s, the Ohio State’s. Those guys are doing something each and every year to rebuild the programs. They’re losing great players and yet they’re still coming out the following year to build the momentum throughout the season.”
My oh my, there is a lot to peel back here.
Bosworth’s comments seem to fall in line with a lot of the emotions Oklahoma fans have expressed in recent years. After winning a national championship in his second year, Stoops has been known more for his catastrophic losses than big wins. The Sooners made it to the national title game in 2003, 2004 and 2008 only to lose to LSU, USC and Florida, respectively, and lost to Clemson last year in the College Football Playoff.
While there have been big postseason wins since -- most notably, the Sugar Bowl against Alabama a few years back -- most seasons have been highlighted by overinflated rankings and disappointing finishes. This year specifically has been tough.
It’s also led many to wonder whether Stoops is the right guy to keep leading OU. Obviously it would take something catastrophic to fire him, but would Stoops look to escape to another job (maybe LSU?) with the fan base clearly divided and unhappy?
For now, Bosworth’s comments will only crank the heat up in Norman.
