It has apparently happened.
Sooners Wire was aware of talks early on after Steve Sarkisian that Mike Stoops was a candidate to become the defensive coordinator under him at Texas Longhorns. Those talks never came to fruition, but a Stoops in Austin, Texas, apparently hasn’t.
Late Thursday night, it was reported that the former Oklahoma defensive coordinator was heading to join Sarkisian’s staff as a Longhorn. Yes, Sooners royalty is heading to Texas.
Stoops had a short, but elite tenure his first time around for Oklahoma, helping them win a national championship and setting the wheels in motion towards the success in the early 2000s. Then, he returned in 2012 after his head coaching job at Arizona didn’t pan out.
He would spend the next seven years in Norman, Oklahoma, that came with a lot of success, but a lot of scrutiny. Stoops was eventually let go after an OU-Texas loss in 2018 as the defense spiraled to the worst passing unit in Sooners’ history and an SP+ defense that finished in the 80s.
The former defensive coordinator did what a lot of dismissed coordinators and coaches do: spend time at Alabama with Nick Saban. Stoops did so the last two years and now he’ll join former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
Here is how Oklahoma fans and Twitter reacted to the news.
https://t.co/atyXIZIcIu pic.twitter.com/UfGkgyKmo9
— Blinkin Riley (@blinkinriley) January 22, 2021
Mike Stoops coaches, Texas wins. What’s the issue? https://t.co/N9W15avcyx
— CJ Vogel (@cjvogel3) January 22, 2021
Yes….YES! https://t.co/GGtY0UaEkq
— Mr. Pilkington (@Onikuno) January 22, 2021
Mike Stoops to Texas is the best off season news for OU. I believe they are capable of some success, seeing them lose is one of my favorite fall activities, so looks like full steam ahead for them losing! 🏈🍂🍁
— 𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓮𝔃 (@relochristicrp) January 22, 2021
Texas hired Mike Stoops 😂😂 OU puttin up 80 on they ass
— Tim 🧛🏿♀️ (@timmyvenske) January 22, 2021
Can we not hire Mike Stoops?
— Gabe Hernandez (@misplacedpants) January 22, 2021
Mike stoops at Texas is too good to be true
— John (@John_Jacobs23) January 22, 2021
Mike Stoops hired by Texas as their new LB coach. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Madril (@MadrilSmith13) January 22, 2021
All of College Football when they hear Texas hired Mike Stoops pic.twitter.com/uOPeYZ6WBL
— William Kortright (@WJKortright) January 22, 2021
On the Mike Stoops hire. I don’t love it, however I don’t hate it.. dude has been a DC for such a long time. Not worried about those who say, he hasn’t coached LB’s since 91’.. Again he was a DC, he’s coached up every position on that side… Saban’s rehab likely made him better
— TexasMiyagi (@MiyagiTexas) January 22, 2021
Texas fans trying to “Greg Schiano” Mike Stoops 🤣
I love this irrational fanbase
— Jon Villanueva (@jonvillanueva_) January 22, 2021
If the report is true, I wish Mike Stoops success outside of a particular October Saturday.
— Just Joe With It (@IsThisShitOn) January 22, 2021
#AllGasNoBrakes except with Mike Stoops… sometimes you gotta hit the brakes before you wreck the Ferrari. https://t.co/jTg4LhKyn7
— Claudia #8 #24 (@TexasEx10) January 22, 2021
Hear me out:
The last time Mike Stoops coached in the Red River game, Texas won. pic.twitter.com/bC8SnYFyuu
— Longhorn Republic (@LonghornPod) January 22, 2021
Ok fr though Mike Stoops’s defenses looked good in the spring game lol
Like, is he gonna coach one good game a year against Oklahoma and then stink it up in the other 11?
— Boomer Beamer (not a real boomer) (@ImDerBatman) January 22, 2021
Mike Stoops?!? Seriously?!?!? Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! #HookEm
— Gearis Herndon (@HerndonGearis) January 22, 2021
Mike Stoops at Texas is just perfect.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) January 22, 2021
Mike Stoops to Texas….am dead. I've seen it all #HookEm
— Mr. Torres (@TheBackupMike) January 22, 2021
Oklahoma cost itself two national title appearances keeping Mike Stoops as DC and I'm not exaggerating. I know he's just the LB Coach but……..
— Ishmael Johnson (@IshmaelRJohnson) January 22, 2021
https://t.co/P0nq5dyJSN pic.twitter.com/m2d6SVTDFc
— Brady Trantham (@BradyDoesSports) January 22, 2021
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