Tag: Big 12 Conference

OU spokesperson confirms Oklahoma baseball team will fly back from California on Friday

The last Oklahoma Athletics’ team out on the road is coming home. Oklahoma’s baseball team is scheduled to come back to Oklahoma on Friday.

The last Oklahoma Athletics’ team out on the road is coming home.

Oklahoma’s baseball team stayed overnight in Dallas-Fort Worth on Tuesday night after a 3-0 win over Dallas Baptist before flying out to California on Wednesday for a four-game series against Cal Poly set for Thursday through Sunday. That trip was cut short, with the Big West Conference indefinitely suspending competitions on Thursday afternoon.

The plot twist in the Sooners travels came on Thursday, when Baylor’s baseball team, who played at Cal Poly over last weekend, had to be self-quarantined after coming home from the trip due to coronavirus concerns.

As of 12:27 p.m. CT, the Oklahoma baseball team was set to take a charter flight home from California. A source close to the situation told Sooners Wire that the Sooners will not use the same airport Baylor did on its way to play Cal Poly. Oklahoma baseball is also flying out of San Luis Obispo, where Cal Poly is located, and won’t even enter the airport there, per the same source.

Oklahoma’s season is cut short due to the impact the coronavirus has had on sports at all levels. The Sooners climbed as high as No. 9 in this week’s polls and had the look of a team that could compete for a spot in Omaha, Nebraska, at the College World Series.

Sooners Wire will continue to post updates on how the coronavirus is impacting Oklahoma athletics.

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Oklahoma football has ceased on, off-campus recruiting with new NCAA mandated dead period

No more eyeballs for the time being or something like that. Oklahoma football has ceased on-and-off campus recruiting with new dead period.

No more eyeballs for the time being or something like that.

Earlier on Friday, the NCAA established a new NCAA recruiting dead period that extends through “at least” April 15 and will reevaluate the situation then. The current recruiting period is a quiet period* through April 14 before the in-person spring evaluation period from April 15 through May 30.

Oklahoma football has responded, with Annie Hanson, the assistant athletic director and recruiting strategy, administrative engagement for the program, announcing that the Sooners have ceased on-and-off campus recruiting through the end of the dead period.

Hanson reminds everyone that they can still contact recruits via texting or direct messages on Twitter until the dead period is over. The Oklahoma Athletics’ compliance department has also tweeted out its response to the new NCAA mandated dead period.

Oklahoma football, in the craziest way possible, actually benefits from this. The Sooners hosted three, five-star recruits from the 2021 recruiting class for unofficial visits over the last week in No. 1 quarterback Caleb Williams, No. 1 running back Camar Wheaton and No. 1 offensive guard Bryce Foster before the sports world was shut down. The Sooners are putting themselves in a situation to bring in a haul of elite recruits for the 2021 class.

Sooners Wire will continue to post updates on how the coronavirus is impacting Oklahoma athletics.

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*According to the NCAA’s bylaws for the 2019-20 recruiting calendar, a quiet period is that period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution’s campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period.

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Oklahoma athletes in spring sports will reportedly get a year back from NCAA

The coronavirus situation has hit collegiate sports. The NCAA responded on Friday by granting an extra year of eligibly to spring athletes.

The fallout of the coronavirus situation has hit collegiate sports.

Conferences canceled tournaments and athletic departments have shut down activities for their programs for the time being. The NCAA has cancelled winter and spring sport championships, effectively ending the spring sport season as it was getting started.

But the NCAA is moving fast during this situation, already granting an extra of year of competition to student-athletes who have participated in spring sports.

Jeff Goodman of Stadium reports that the NCAA’s Council Coordination Committee will also discuss these issues for winter sport student-athletes.

This will hit home with the baseball, softball, rowing as well as men’s and women’s track, golf and tennis. How the scholarships, roster limits and other fine details that go into how the teams operate will be decided at a later time, according to multiple reports.

Oklahoma’s baseball and men’s golf teams had a legitimate shot at making it to the pinnacle of their sports in the College World Series and NCAA Golf Championships respectively. The Oklahoma softball team was hindered by injuries, especially impacted by missing star pitcher Giselle Juarez, but have made the Women’s College World Series in seven of the last eight years.

Sooners Wire will continue to post updates on how the coronavirus impacts Oklahoma athletics moving forward.

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NCAA suspends all recruiting until April 15 per report

In a statement sent to NCAA coaches, recruiting has been placed under suspension. Schools must now follow dead period rules.

In the latest news regarding NCAA suspensions, recruiting is now suspending until April 15th. That day is the first day that players can submit their NLI (National Letters of Intent). It is uncertain at this time how that will impact basketball recruiting. For the Texas Longhorns, they do not have a single signee for the 2020 recruiting cycle for Shaka Smart’s team. Greg Brown is the main target for the class and this might delay his commitment. We will keep you updated on the situation.

In a report released on 247 sports, the following statement was sent to coaches on Friday.

“Dear Coaches and Staff,

The NCAA has adopted emergency Legislation to establish a temporary recruiting DEAD PERIOD. The Council Coordination Committee adopted emergency legislation to establish a temporary recruiting dead period in all NCAA Division I sports, effective immediately. The dead period will remain in effect at least until April 15 , at which time the Council Coordination Committee will re-evaluate the status of the situation. Based on the immediate effective date, reasonable measures should be taken to cease all recruiting activities that are not permissible during a dead period (e.g., official and unofficial visits, contacts and evaluations).From now until April 15, all sports are prohibited from any on-campus or off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations.”

In a dead period for recruiting, coaches are not allowed to have any face to face visits at the university or in a players home with the prospect or parents. Teams are allowed to communicate through emails, texts and phone calls. It is also unclear at this time if the NCAA will delay National Signing Day in light of this new ruling.

Locked on Longhorns Podcast: NCAA cancellations and spring football

The fun fact Friday edition of the Locked on Longhorns Podcast. Pat and Cami discuss the impact on the cancellations and spring football.

Cami and Patrick bring you another edition of the Locked on Longhorns podcast. What started as just a cancellation of the Texas-Texas Tech game spirals into the Big 12 tournament and more being cancelled. They discussed what impact that could have on the seniors who might have played their final games in burnt orange and white.

Patrick reads a heartbreaking post by one such senior in John Burt from his instagram.

Plus a statement released by Athletic Director Chris Del Conte. What could that mean for football team that was expected to begin spring practice on March 25th. All that and more on the fun fact Friday edition of the podcast.

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Updated NCAA cancellations during pandemic

With the COVID-19 outbreak, there a lot of moving parts in regards to the athletic programs. The updates on how things look for Texas.

The news on NCAA athletics have been released at a fast and furious rate. Following the cancelling of the Texas and Texas Tech Big 12 tournament game on Thursday morning, it was reported following that news that the Big 12 would cancel their tournament much like the rest of the power five conferences.

In wake of the decisions made by the conference commisioners, the news spread about cancellations of spring athletics much like New Mexico University with their upcoming series with the Texas Longhorns baseball team. The opportunity arose for each athletic conference along with the professional sports leagues to try and slow the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The Big 12 later released a tweet that they would be suspending all conference championships until at least April 15th.

The NCAA later cancelled the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments as well as the men’s and women’s College World Series. Essentially all sports through the academic year of 2019-2020 have been cancelled at this point in time.

Athletic Directory Chris Del Conte released the following statement.

With the Big 12’s recent directive suspending athletics activities until Sunday, March 29, all regular-season Longhorn Athletics competitions will be cancelled until that date, beginning with our Baseball series on Friday. In addition to in-season UT sports with current regular-season competition like Baseball, Golf, Rowing, Softball and Tennis, this also will include the Texas Relays and Spring Soccer matches, and postpone a decision on the start of Spring Football Practice until after the March 29 date.

“That was followed by an announcement from the NCAA that all winter and spring sports championships have been cancelled, which includes those upcoming in Track & Field, Basketball and Swimming & Diving. This is a very fluid situation and one that presents great challenges. The health, safety and well-being of everyone involved is the number one priority and we will be having many discussions in the coming hours, days and weeks to determine what the next steps are. We appreciate everyone’s support and patience on this and will continue to provide updates as decisions are made

At this point in time, spring football is at least pushed back into the month of April most likely but we will provide updates as they are passed along.

Timeline of how the coronavirus has effected Oklahoma athletics and football offseason

The coronavirus has struck the United States and it has trickled down all the way to effecting Oklahoma athletics. 

The coronavirus has struck the United States and it has trickled down all the way to effecting Oklahoma athletics.

Conferences began to take initiative on the chance of community spread by limiting fan attendance on Wednesday for Thursdays games and beyond. Then, the NBA suspended the entire season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus—in Oklahoma City, nevertheless.

That became a catalyst on Thursday as the conferences with tournaments over the weekend began cancelling the entirety of the tournaments. Oklahoma’s baseball series was canceled and the Big 12 and Oklahoma eventually cracked down on their own.

Here is the timeline of the impacts the coronavirus has had on the Sooners’ athletic programs and spring football.

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, MARCH 9-10

  • PRESS CONFERENCE, POST PRACTICE
    • Lincoln Riley discusses early discussions about the evolving coronavirus situation with the University of Oklahoma, how the football program was spreading awareness to its players and how the Sooners were monitoring it.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

  • 3:31 P.M. CT: NCAA ANNOUNCES NO FANS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT GAMES
    • Oklahoma has been considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament after its win at TCU last Saturday.
  • 5:47 P.M. CT: BIG 12 CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES BIG 12 TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD WITHOUT FANS
    • Oklahoma was scheduled to play West Virginia at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday night in Kansas City.
  • 8:27 P.M. CT: UTAH JAZZ PLAYER RUDY GOBERT TEST POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS
    • The NBA suspended the season, starting a catalyst of every major sports entity and event to be cancelled. Even worse, Rudy Gobert was 20 miles north in Oklahoma City as the Jazz were scheduled to play the Thunder. He passed the coronavirus over to Donovan Mitchell, who conducted a private workout in Oklahoma City suburb, Del City, at Del City high school with fans in attendance and getting pictures with the star player.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

  • 11:15 A.M. CT: BIG 12 CONFERENCE CANCELS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
    • After playing the first-round games on Wednesday night of the men’s conference tournament, the Big 12 Conference joined every other major conference with a conference tournament this weekend in cancelling the event. The Big 12 also cancelled the women’s tournament that was also set to be played in Kansas City. Oklahoma men were the 3-seed and scheduled to play 6-seed West Virginia. The women were set to play in the 8-9 seed game against Oklahoma State.
  • 11:24 A.M. CT: OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL CANCELS MEDIA AVAILABILITIES FOR THURSDAY
    • The media was going to be able to view the first 20 minutes of practice and conduct post-practice interviews. Both events were canceled.
  • 1:16 P.M. CT: BIG WEST INDEFINITELY SUSPENDS COMPETITION, CANCELLING OKLAHOMA-CAL POLY BASEBALL SERIES
    • Oklahoma baseball stayed in Dallas-Fort Worth on Tuesday night before flying out to California on Wednesday for a four-game series with Cal Poly starting on Thursday. The Sooners’ series was canceled before the first pitch of game one.
  • 3:16 P.M CT: NCAA CANCELS REMAINING SPRING AND WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS
    • This includes all of the remaining winter sports—men’s basketball, men’s gymnastics, women’s gymnastics, wrestling—and all of the spring sports—baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s tennis, rowing. The Oklahoma men’s golf team is ranked as one of the best in the country and the baseball team had the look of one competing for the College World Series.

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Oklahoma suspends all competitions, out-of-season practices and workouts until further notice

The University of Oklahoma’s athletics department has officially made a statement on activities during the coronavirus situation. 

The University of Oklahoma’s athletics department has officially made a statement on activities during the coronavirus situation.

The Big 12 Conference and NCAA have already suspended conference tournaments, championship tournaments, championship competition and most activities until March 29 in announcements earlier Thursday. The Sooners will also be closing shop due to the coronavirus.

“The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department announced today it is suspending all athletics competitions, as well as all out-of-season practices and workouts, until further notice,” the University of Oklahoma athletics department said in a press release. “This rapidly developing situation has warranted consideration of many factors, and the health and welfare of people we serve is at the forefront of all of our deliberations. We will communicate updates as appropriate.

“Information regarding refunds/credits for tickets purchased directly through the OU Athletics Ticket Office for affected events will be announced in the near future.”

Events that will be missed until the March 29 date set by the Big 12 include conference series for baseball and softball, as well as postseason play for the winter sports. The NCAA went a step further and cancelled all NCAA Championships for winter and spring sports completely.

Cleveland County and Norman, Oklahoma, where the University of Oklahoma has located, have been coronavirus free so far. Three cases are confirmed in the state in Tulsa and the Altus area in northwest and far southwest Oklahoma.

Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert brought the coronavirus to Oklahoma City as Utah was set to play the Thunder on Wednesday night. Teammate Donovan Mitchell was also confirmed to having the coronavirus as he was tested inside Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. Mitchell spent time in Oklahoma City suburb, Del City, working out at Del City High School with people in attendance and taking pictures.

The University of Oklahoma has moved to online only classes for the two weeks after spring break (March 16-20) amid coronavirus concerns.

No update on the future spring football schedule have been announced.

Sooners Wire will post updates as more information becomes available.

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All competitions, recruiting, out-of-offseason practices suspended for Oklahoma, Big 12

The Big 12 went ahead and made it an even playing field. The conference has suspended most activities amid the coronavirus situation.

The Big 12 went ahead and made it an even playing field.

After the conference cancelled the Big 12 Tournament amid the coronavirus situation, Oklahoma canceled media availabilities scheduled for Thursday. The Sooners had yet to give an update on where spring practices for the football team stood.

The Big 12 Conference made the decision for everyone. Here is the announcement in its entirety:

“The Big 12 Conference announces that beginning Friday, March 13, it is suspending all regular-season competitions, on- and off-campus recruiting, and out-of-season practices until Sunday, March 29.

“The suspension of these athletic-related activities does not include campus-based practices for in-season sports, strength and conditioning activities for all sports,  and does not apply to teams and individuals participating in NCAA Championship competition.

“Earlier today the Conference announced the cancellation of Big 12 Championship events through April 15.”

The Sooners have scheduled competition in most of the winter and spring sports throughout the time period until March 29.

Oklahoma was scheduled to return to the practice field after the University of Oklahoma’s spring break (March 16-20). Earlier on Thursday, the university announced that it would be going to online only classes for two weeks after spring break amid the evolving coronavirus situation.

There has not been any clarity to regular season events after the suspended time period is over, but the NCAA cancelled its championships for the winter and the spring Thursday afternoon.

The Big West Conference indefinitely suspended competition, which cancelled the series between Oklahoma baseball and Cal Poly from Thursday through Sunday.

The coronavirus has not spread into Norman, Oklahoma, or Cleveland County yet, where the University of Oklahoma is located. Two people have been confirmed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and one other in the Altus, Oklahoma, area in far southwest Oklahoma. Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert brought the coronavirus to Oklahoma City, which is 20 miles north of Norman, unexpectedly over the last two days. Teammate Donovan Mitchell has also been confirmed to have the coronavirus and spent time in Del City, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma, for a private workout at Del City High School on Tuesday.

Oklahoma athletics has yet to make a statement on the Big 12 Conference’s suspension of activities through March 29.

Sooners Wire will post updates as more information becomes available.

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Texas men’s basketball season halted, Big 12 cancels tournament

Shortly before Texas tipped off against Texas Tech, the Big 12 conference ultimately decided to cancel the tournament altogether.

Amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Big 12 conference has ultimately decided to cancel the men’s basketball tournament.

The Longhorns were set to tip off against Texas Tech in Kansas City on Thursday morning in a crucial matchup to increase their chances of receiving an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The players were escorted off of the court during warm-ups.

Bob Bowlsby, Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, held a presser shortly after to discuss the cancellation. Bowlsby reiterated that once the Mayor declared a state of emergency, it hastened their discussions.

Although NCAA President Mark Emmert released a statement on Wednesday that assured only essential staff and limited family would be able to attend any NCAA events, he also stated that the situation will continue to be monitored and adjustments will be made on an as-needed basis.

It appears those adjustments are already beginning to take shape. It’s unclear what will ultimately happen with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but conferences have begun cancelling their postseason tournaments altogether.

The only major conference that has not cancelled thus far is the Big East.

It’s a sudden, disappointing end to Texas’ season that seemingly just started. The Longhorns put themselves back in the postseason race after completing a five-game win streak in February.