Each morning Longhorns Wire will share the top stories from around the Big 12 Conference. For this edition of the Big 12 Morning, the USA TODAY, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and 247Sports provide the headlines.
Texas Tech fires coach Marlene Stollings amid abuse claims within women’s basketball team
After troubling reports from Jori Epstein and Daniel Libit of the USA TODAY, Texas Tech has fired women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings.
Texas Tech fired women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings Thursday night amid allegations of abuse within the program, athletic director Kirby Hocutt announced in a statement.
Hocutt said he will hold a video conference call on Friday at 4 p.m. ET.
In a text message to members of the team, which was obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Hocutt said: “Good evening, I have really appreciated your trust in our conversation these past two days. I wanted to let y’all know we have decided to terminate Marlene as our head coach. We will be putting out a statement about it tonight. I will set up a Zoom call for us tomorrow to touch base. Kirby”
The move came a day after a USA TODAY Sports investigation detailed players’ allegations of abuse by Stollings, strength and conditioning coach Ralph Petrella and assistant coach Nikita Lowry Dawkins. Petrella, who denies any misconduct, resigned in March after the conclusion of the season. Lowry Dawkins remained on staff at the time of Stollings’ termination, a school spokesperson said.
TCU football won’t play SMU for just the second time this century
Thanks to the Big 12’s 9+1 schedule, the annual rivalry game between TCU and SMU has been canceled. The Horned Frogs and Mustangs were scheduled to play in Dallas on Sept. 26. However, the Big 12 is requiring conference teams to play nonconference games at home.
A source said that will cancel the TCU-SMU game. TCU had been scheduled to play at SMU on Sept. 26 in Dallas. It was scheduled to be the 100th meeting between the teams.
The rivalry dates to 1915 with TCU leading the all-time series 51-41-7. The two schools have met every season this century except for 2006. The programs also didn’t play in 1987-88, 1925 and 1919-20.
SMU upset TCU last season 41-38 in Fort Worth. It was just the third time TCU coach Gary Patterson fell to the Mustangs in his career.
Report: Sooners to open season either Sept. 5 or Sept. 12
Texas’ opening game will reportedly take place on Sept. 12 against UTEP. Heading north to Norman, Oklahoma’s opening date is still under discussion. Lincoln Riley and the Sooners want to play their opening game two weeks before Big 12 play begins.
“I would like to salute the work of our university presidents and chancellors, athletics directors, coaches, medical advisors and administrators who have worked tirelessly and collaboratively during these extraordinary times,” said Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “We believe this change provides the best opportunity going forward. However, we will undoubtedly need to be flexible as we progress through the season in order to combat the challenges that lie ahead.”
There are still many unknowns, however. Those obviously include the specific season start date, who the opponent will be for the opener, when exactly will league play begin and will there be any changes to that schedule.
Voice of the Sooners Toby Rowland provided perhaps some clarity to a few of those topics. The Big 12 is expected to announce either a Sept. 19 or Sept. 26 league start date, per Rowland. With OU wanting to play its non-conference tilt two weeks before the first league contest, that means either a Sept. 5 or Sept. 12 opener.
Most feel Missouri State, with its loyalty and willingness to submit to specific protocols OU has in place, will be the opponent. A replacement, though, is still on the table, but what is almost certainly not is an Aug. 29 meeting, Rowland said.
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