Tag: Joe Castiglione

Bob Stoops ‘twice refused’ pay for Interim Head Coach position

At a time when college coaches are bailing on programs for other opportunities, Bob Stoops continues to show how loyalty is legendary.

There’s nothing Bob Stoops needs to do to be considered one of the legendary figures of Oklahoma football. His run as head coach cemented his legacy. A national championship and effectively owning the Big 12 for a decade and a half are impressive accomplishments.

And yet, his legacy continues to grow.

After Lincoln Riley bailed for USC, the Oklahoma Sooners were left without a head coach approaching one of the most important times of the year: the early signing period for the 2022 recruiting class.

Wanting to reset the trajectory after Riley’s departure, Joseph Harroz and Joe Castiglione turned to the man who passed the program onto Riley and Bob Stoops has stepped up in a tremendous way. After being introduced earlier this week as the interim head coach, Stoops took off on the recruiting trail to reaffirm Oklahoma’s commitment to excellence and provide stability in an unstable time. And it’s making an impact.

As loyal as they come, Stoops was willing to step up and lead the program while Harroz and Castiglione conduct the search for Oklahoma’s next coach. And he was willing to do so for free.

Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz indicated that Stoops “twice declined” the $325,000 payment for taking on the coaching role for the university.

In an age where coaches are seemingly all about the money, it’s refreshing to hear a coach simply want to help.

Bob Stoops is already legend in Oklahoma sports. It was cemented when he retired. His presence is making a difference. It’s providing stability, when just five days ago  Lincoln Riley abruptly quit on the program and the team.

Getting a second run if Bob Stoops is a treat, even if it is just for the bowl game. It may only be a few weeks, but he’s the hero the Sooners needed at a time such as this.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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Chronicling the Sooner recruits who have reaffirmed their commitments

Despite the uncertainty in the program, multiple Oklahoma recruits have stood by their commitments as they wait for a new head coach.

While we have spent plenty of time discussing the guys that are decommitting from Oklahoma, not enough attention has been paid to the guys who have stood in the face of a major storm and let the world be known they are still on board with the Crimson and Cream.

Bob Stoops, Joe Castiglione, and Oklahoma’s school president Joseph Harroz Jr. all met with the football team in an attempt to soothe concerns and acknowledge that, despite the recent upheaval in the program, they would do whatever is possible to ensure the show goes on and that the future of this program was in great hands. The message seemed to resonate with current players where some took to social media to voice their support and belief in the program.

While they did this, recruits across the country became consumed with massive decisions to make. Some have already decided to open up their recruitments and look elsewhere. We have chronicled that for the 2022 class here and a list of guys for the 2023 guys here.

With those names out there looking to leave, the Sooners still have verbal commits in both classes. A few have stood out and announced that even without a head coach they plan to stick by the school and their commitment and proceed forward. Some remain mum. The outspoken ones are:

 

 

Former players, social media react to Bob Stoops introduction as OU’s Interim Head Coach

How did former players and social media react to the introduction of Bob Stoops as interim head coach at the University of Oklahoma?

As quickly as Lincoln Riley exited as Oklahoma’s head coach, in steps Bob Stoops to stem the tide of frustration and disarray surrounding Riley’s departure for USC. Stoops, not a stranger to big moments, seized the day to remind everyone that “this is still Oklahoma.”

While the University of Oklahoma conducts what it hopes will be a quick coaching search, Bob Stoops will take the reins as interim head coach. His purpose, to steady the program as uncertainty drives some players into the transfer portal and recruits to decommit.

In a state of the program address that featured Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz, athletic director Joe Castiglione and Stoops, the trio successfully calmed the storm that raged around the program before getting to work on righting the ship.

Living up to his word, Stoops traveled to Broken Arrow to meet with Robert Spears-Jennings. Stoops will be active in persuading current players to stay and prospects to come to Norman, selling the program’s long run of success that even predates Bob Stoops himself.

Like we did in the aftermath of Lincoln Riley’s departure for USC, let’s take a look at how some former players and others reacted on social media to the return of Bob Stoops.

Bob Stoops steals the show at Oklahoma’s press conference

Legendary Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops provided a calming voice at the press conference to discuss taking over in the interim.

Bob Stoops started with a joke.

“Boy, it’s been…this looks familiar. It’s been a while. How come I’m the only one that hasn’t aged? But, anyway, really is good to see you again,” Stoops said.

Seeing Stoops positioned with a microphone in front of him and the interlocking OU logo behind him, it did feel a little bit like deja vu. And it was Stoops’ calming influence and voice that stole the show.

Of course, everyone in attendance understood that Stoops was back at Oklahoma as the interim head coach for OU’s bowl game for all the wrong reasons. Suddenly, here was Stoops, left to help clean up the mess that his hand-picked successor Lincoln Riley left behind after he bolted Sunday for USC.

Stoops’ message was clear. The program is about more than just one man. It’s always been bigger than that.

“There’s not one guy, one person in the history of this program that’s bigger than the program. Coach Switzer, myself or Lincoln Riley. And what I told the players is they are the program. Players throughout these decades, they are OU football. Not us as a coach. I’m getting in the Hall of Fame because of them. The players, the coaches around them, all of that, but those players are the ones who are OU football and they’ll stick together. They stick together. They’ll continue to be OU football, championship football, the way we’re used to playing it,” Stoops said.

He was quick to point out that it’s also in much better shape than when OU athletic director Joe Castiglione convinced Stoops to come and resurrect the program all those many years ago.

“Listen, talking to our fan base out there, I’m talking to our recruits out there, I’m talking to our players’ parents out there. I’ve had multiple meetings already with players. Going out recruiting tonight. The message to all of you is listen, when I arrived here in December 1, 1998, there was something to be concerned about. A lot to be concerned about. Four straight years without a winning record. No bowl games. Two years later, we were 13-0 and won the national championship. This place is in a hell of a lot better shape than it was in December 1, 1998,” Stoops said.

Stoops cited Oklahoma’s perennial status as a contender, its facilities and its university leadership as reasons why OU will find the right next head coach.

“This job is going to attract the very best in the coaching world and they’re already lined up and calling. Calling Joe, hitting people the way they do. This is a real job. This is a great job. A great university with great leadership. All of you fans, and again player parents, everyone. Just understand, give it a little bit of time and you’re going to see this is just a little bump in the road,” Stoops said.

As Stoops mentioned, he and the rest of the remnants of Oklahoma’s staff would be out recruiting with Early Signing Day approaching swiftly on Dec. 15. What pitch would he have to sell to recruits?

“Well, it’s an easy sell. You sell the university. You sell the leadership here that’s in front of you. You sell the history of success. Not just in the last 23 years. Decades of success. It’s going to continue to happen. We’ve got great leadership, great facilities, a great university to recruit to academically. All of it together, it’s still here. This job, with all of the pluses of it, is going to attract a top, great coach. And Joe will find the right, great coach. They’re out there and this is an attractive job. Give it time and I think everybody will be pleased with it,” Stoops said.

In the meantime, Stoops is excited to coach the few players that committed to him while he was still the head coach for the first time.

“Some of them have committed to me, so, yeah. That’s what a few of them have said. The guy that I’ve committed to, I get to go win a game with, so hopefully it will work out that way. I’m looking forward to it. Very much so,” Stoops said.

One of the reasons he felt the calling to come back in the interim was because several of the assistant coaches remaining were guys that he recruited and that played for him like Calvin Thibodeaux and DeMarco Murray.

“Well, absolutely, because of my love for the program first, but I also do personally care about all of those guys. I care about the players. I want to hopefully for them to be able to finish out here in the very best way they can. It’s already a great year at 10-2. Hopefully it’ll be 11-2. And then, yeah, personally those assistant coaches I’ve stayed close with. Recruited all of them. They all played for me. They all care so much about this university. It was nothing to think about for me. I mean, I knew…I said, if I can help with what’s best for the program, then I’m in and I’ll do the best I can. Those guys, they’re all loyal and care about the university in a big way,” Stoops said.

Stoops didn’t want to engage in the conversations he and Riley have had over the past few days.

“I’m not much on talking about my feelings or thoughts publicly about any of that. You know, disappointed? Sure. The rest of it, that will be between Lincoln and I personally as it should be. I’m not much on making that kind of stuff public. My initial reaction is what’s best for the program immediately recruiting and the players. Should say first and foremost the players on our team right now. Reassuring them that they are OU football. Sticking together, they can very well be a championship program next year and that we will attract the very best in the coaching profession and the same thing is projected out recruiting,” Stoops said.

Though he didn’t say it publicly, it would be understandable if Stoops felt at least some form of betrayal by Riley’s departure. After all, it was Stoops that brought him to Oklahoma and set him up for the success he’s enjoyed thus far.

Still, the focus was on the players that are still here at Oklahoma.

“Well, they were of course blindsided and so they were in shock yesterday. Definitely. I was in the meeting. They were very respectful of coach Riley as he addressed them. Some even clapped for him as he left, but in shock. But then after Joe addressed them and I had an opportunity to address them, again to understand they are OU football. This one guy didn’t all of a sudden create OU football,” Stoops said.

Stoops said one of the first things he mentioned while addressing the team was his decision to step down five years ago.

“I referenced when I stepped away five years ago that a lot of them weren’t in there, some were, but that, when I had stepped away, it was like we were at a funeral. I was like guys this is my choice. It’s okay. You guys are what win. I haven’t made a play in how long. It’s okay. And they all started laughing and gave me a standing ovation. And I said the same thing, it’s Lincoln’s choice to leave. It’s okay. You’re the ones that are going to make all the plays or not make the plays. You guys win and lose. You’re OU football. He isn’t. I’m not. Any other coach that comes here isn’t. OU football’s been here a long time and it isn’t going anywhere else. It’s going to be here and it’s going to be at the top of college football and it’s going to continue that way,” Stoops said.

Stoops said he would be happy to offer any kind of voice Castiglione might need in his coaching search but he also made it clear that it’s Castiglione’s decision alone.

“Joe’s the picker. I’m not. Joe’s the boss. Joe’s the picker. He and Mr. Joe Harroz. The two of them and I’m sure our board. I’m not getting into friends. That doesn’t matter. I’ve got a lot of friends. A lot of friends I’d never hire, so that doesn’t have anything to do with it. It’s who fits here the best, who brings the most and fits the best and as Joe said wants it the most. This is a great job and he’s going to have his share of candidates. If he wants to run some by me, you know, obviously I’ve got feelings or, you know, I know maybe some things that other people don’t know about guys that you might stay away from this guy or this guy I think you can’t go wrong with. So, I might have some basic comments like that that I can contribute with, but Joe will be the one like always that’s deciding,” Stoops said.

Stoops didn’t have to do this. He chose to step in as the interim head coach because of his love for the University of Oklahoma. His legend was already cemented in Norman, but Stoops made sure there’s at least one final chapter to add to it.

“And I look forward to, you know, doing everything that I can here in these next few weeks to help it continue to succeed the way that it has,” Stoops said.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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Bob Stoops set to coach Oklahoma in the interim for Sooners’ bowl game

Bob Stoops is stepping out of retirement for at least one game. Stoops has agreed to serve as interim coach for OU in its bowl game.

In what is quickly morphing into one of the Sooners’ darkest hours of recent memory, Oklahoma is turning to a familiar face for at least a temporary calming influence.

Legendary former OU head coach Bob Stoops is back to serve as interim head coach for the Sooners’ bowl game. After a 10-2 regular season in which Oklahoma fell short of qualifying for the Big 12 championship game, Lincoln Riley sent a jolt into the college football world by leaving Norman.

It isn’t Baton Rouge. It’s sunny Los Angeles. USC swung for the fences with Riley and delivered.

The move leaves Oklahoma scrambling here with mere days before the Early Signing Period commences on Dec. 15. Sooner commitments are dropping like flies.

Of course, the larger question is who is the longterm solution as the new head coach in Norman? In the meantime, OU went to its bullpen and called upon Stoops to lead Oklahoma for the time being.

“First and foremost, I’m a program guy and whatever I can do to help OU and to support the players, of course I’m glad to do it. I’ll do everything I can to help them finish the season in a strong and successful way and I certainly look forward to that. Lincoln did a great job in his five years as head coach here and I appreciate all he did for this program. I’ll always appreciate the close friendship we’ve had and will continue to have. I wish the best for him, Caitlin and their family,” Stoops said in a statement yesterday.

OU president Joseph Harroz noted that Sooner football isn’t defined by one single individual.

“Though we’ve had stars and icons throughout the years, Sooner football isn’t defined by any one individual, but by the excellence we have enjoyed and sustained for generations. Our future is unlimited, and we will undoubtedly find a visionary leader for our next exciting chapter. Until then, we’re fortunate to be in the tremendous hands of Sooner legend Coach Bob Stoops. Boomer!” Harroz said.

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said that Stoops is ready for the opportunity to help bridge this gap for the university.

“Coach Stoops, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame next week, will serve as our interim head coach. He is looking forward to the opportunity and we certainly appreciate all he has done and continues to do for our athletics department and football program. Our team and players are in great hands under his leadership. When we met with the team today, I communicated to our players that our program is about them. It will always be bigger than any one person. And just as it’s always been, Oklahoma football is positioned for greatness,” Castiglione said.

Stoops stepped down following the 2016 season. After a 1-2 start that year with losses coming against Houston and Ohio State, OU ripped off 10 consecutive wins to finish as Big 12 champions and beat Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.

Baker Mayfield passed for 296 yards and a pair of touchdowns in that Sugar Bowl win over Auburn. Running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine finished with 91 and 86 rushing yards, respectively. Mixon had a pair of rushing touchdowns against Auburn, while Perine found the end zone once.

Oklahoma is set to hold an official press conference today at 3 p.m. where Harroz, Castiglione and Stoops will meet with the media.

If only for one bowl game, Stoops is back in charge of the Crimson and Cream.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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Statements from the University of Oklahoma on Lincoln Riley’s departure

Statements from the University of Oklahoma in the wake of Lincoln Riley’s departure for USC.

In a move that has sent shockwaves throughout the college football world, Lincoln Riley is leaving the University of Oklahoma to be the next head coach of the USC Trojans. Riley, who just lost his first Bedlam game and wasn’t able to defend the Sooners Big 12 title run leaves the Sooners after compiling a 55-10 record for the Sooners.

Though the Sooners had a lot of success in Riley’s tenure, it was always met with postseason disappointment as Oklahoma wasn’t able to get over the hump in games against Georgia, Alabama, or LSU in the College Football Playoff.

With a move to the SEC pending for the Oklahoma Sooners, Riley leaves for a Pac-12 that has Oregon as a national contender, but not much else.

In the wake of the move, the University of Oklahoma released statements from the leadership as well as Lincoln Riley and Interim Head Coach Bob Stoops to address Riley’s departure.

Oklahoma announces new Softball stadium, Naming Rights Agreement with Love’s Travel Stops

The University of Oklahoma announced plans to build a new training facility and softball stadium in partnership with Love’s Travel Stops.

Thursday morning, the University of Oklahoma Softball program announced plans to build a new stadium with help from Love’s Travel Stops.

According to a release from Oklahoma’s Athletic Department, Love’s has pledged $9 million to the new stadium efforts. Additionally, they’ve pledged dollar for dollar matching contributions of up to $3 million.

In the stadium partnership, the new softball stadium will be named Love’s Field.

“As life-long Oklahomans, investing in the community, specifically the University of Oklahoma and its softball program, is something we’re proud to do,” said Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer and executive vice president of Love’s. “What Patty Gasso has accomplished in not only her tenure at OU, but for women’s college softball, is awe-inspiring. The program she’s built aligns with Love’s core values of integrity, perseverance and strong work ethic, and the world was able to see that as they won the 2021 Women’s College World Series. We are proud to have our name associated with this program and the new stadium that’s so well deserved by the team.”

Oklahoma Softball was in need of a new home. The 2020-2021 softball season saw attendance soar as the Oklahoma Sooners were the must-see event of the Spring and Summer.

As popularity of the sport reached new heights and Oklahoma captured its fifth national championship under Patty Gasso, the time was now to invest in a program that should be the favorite to win the national championship again in 2022.

Per the release from OU, here’s what Patty Gasso had to say:

“I can’t put into words how grateful I am and our program is for the generosity of Love’s Travel Stops and the Love family,” Gasso said. “They share our championship mindset and have embraced not only the success of our program, but the culture we’ve built among our student-athletes and fans. They also recognize that for us to maintain the level of excellence we’ve achieved, we must be a national leader in all aspects of our program, including our facility. Love’s is empowering women to reach the absolute pinnacle of achievement while inspiring the next generation to look to the future with the biggest dream. As we see at a moment like this, dreams really do come true.”

Capacity for the new stadium will grow from 1,378 to 3,000 seats and the new design will allow for expansion. Additional, temporary seating can be added annually to increase attendance capabilities by 1,900 seats.

In addition to the new stadium, the plan includes new state of the art training facilities that will double what Oklahoma Softball is currently working with.

“Love’s Field will be constructed at the northwest corner of South Jenkins Avenue and Imhoff Road, approximately one-half mile south of the current stadium location,” per the University of Oklahoma release.

University of Oklahoma Vice President and Athletics director Joe Castiglione said, “Love’s has made a gift of historical proportions for a facility that will be second to none and will impact the lives of our student-athletes for generations to come.” He continued, “We are profoundly grateful. Love’s is one of Oklahoma’s greatest companies and families. It is an honor to be aligned with them. We share their values of pressing into the future with new ideas, of capturing the opportunities each day brings, and understanding the vital role we play in our community and state. We are proud that their name will be on our new stadium, and we are grateful that the accomplishments of Patty Gasso, her staffs and student-athletes are being celebrated in this way. This program develops young women and achieves in a way that should be magnified as elite in all of college athletics.”

Minimum estimates have Love’s Field costing approximately $27 million and has a projected groundbreaking of 2022 with hopes of opening the stadium for use in 2024.

From OU, “Those who are interested in giving to the softball project should contact the Sooner Club at (405) 325-8000 or visit https://www.thesoonerclub.com/softball.html.”

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Owen Field getting a makeover as OU hosts Tulane’s ‘home opener’

In a touching tribute, Owen Field gets a makeover for the Oklahoma Sooners and Tulane Green Wave home opener.

The Oklahoma Sooners and Tulane Green Wave have dealt with unusual circumstances leading into their season opener tomorrow. The two teams were originally scheduled to play in New Orleans but had to adjust on the fly as Hurricane Ida made landfall last week.

With the game moving to Norman, the Sooners will play host to the Tulane Green Wave. Speaking to the media on Friday, athletic director Joe Castiglione shared how the University of Oklahoma is viewing this game.

And the Sooners are putting their money and time where their mouth is. In preparation for tomorrow’s opener, the Sooners are painting the Green Wave logo on the Owen Field.

This is a touching tribute to Tulane and to a fanbase that has been rocked by Hurricane Ida. There will be a lot of recovery to come after the game, but for a team that has their schedule and lives turned upside down in the last week, it’ll be a fun moment running onto Owen Field and seeing their logo.

It’s such a great decision by Joe Castiglione and the athletic department. It shows a lot of camaraderie and heart. They could have very well gone with the status quo, but this thoughtful decision shows their support for Tulane, its players, and is a symbol of the brotherhood of college football.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions.

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Sooners’ A.D. releases statement on OU’s Sep. 4 game in New Orleans

With weather concerns growing as Hurricane Ida threatens New Orleans, Sooners Athletic Director Joe Castiglione updated the opener’s status.

Amid weather concerns regarding the potential landfall of Hurricane Ida working it’s way up the Gulf of Mexico, the Oklahoma Sooners Sep. 4 matchup with the Tulane Green Wave has been put in doubt.

As the two universities continue to track the situation, University of Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione released a statement Friday about the upcoming season opener.

Statement from OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione:

As the National Weather Service tracks tropical storm and hurricane activity in the Atlantic and Gulf Regions, and as predictive models are updated, we have received many inquiries from fans planning to follow the Sooners to New Orleans next week when we open the 2021 football season at Tulane University. In the spirit of proactive planning and communication, I have been in regular contact with Tulane Athletics Director Troy Dannen for the past month. In the past few days, we have stayed in even closer contact as we continue to monitor the development of Hurricane Ida, which is currently forecasted to arrive along the Gulf Coast this weekend. First and foremost, our concern is with any and all those in the path of the storm. We are praying for everyone’s safety. At this time, the game slated for Saturday, September 4, is still on as planned. However, both universities are considering contingencies should post-storm conditions warrant. It is too early to speculate, but we will continue to monitor the situation and be prepared to take necessary actions as appropriate. Again, our concern rests with our friends at Tulane and all of those who could be impacted by the hurricane. Please follow OU Athletics online accounts for updates. – Courtesy of OU Athletic Department

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Tulane Green Wave will meet for just the second time in their respective histories. The Sooners won the last matchup in a blow out. Next week’s matchup could stay in New Orleans. There’s a possibility the game is rescheduled, relocated, or even cancelled if the weather doesn’t allow for travel.

As the weather situation continues to evolve, the University of Oklahoma will continue to update the status of the Sooners’ opener.

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Oklahoma officially accepts invitation to join the SEC in 2025

Oklahoma officially accepts the invitation to the SEC for the 2025 season.

On Friday morning the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents met for over an hour and a half. The topic of the meeting revolved around the invitation that the SEC extended on Thursday.

It should come as a surprise to no one that they voted to accept the invitation and join the SEC. The soft deadline being the 2025 season. Most feel it will happen long before that, but there are obstacles that must be cleared before that happens. There is a huge exit fee that both Oklahoma and Texas will have to pay to bounce from the Big 12 Conference.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby stated that he believes that both schools will attempt to leave before 2025 and try to avoid paying the exit fee. In a span of nine days, it went from a report to the school accepting the invitation. Now the focus shifts to when the Sooners will join officially.

There is a report that the Longhorns Network could provide the exit fee for both Oklahoma and Texas. ESPN still owes roughly $160 million to the University of Texas due to their contract. A bit of irony that both schools could exit using that payout considering they are rivals on the field. That rivalry doesn’t seem to extend to the presidents of both schools, Joseph Harroz Jr and Jay Hartzell.

This is not a decision that any of us made lightly, but we are charged with making choices that are in the best interest of our institution.- Joe Castiglione to the Athletic