The move was subtle, yet it started a tidal wave that has been building and getting bigger ever since.
In the waning moments of the Peach Bowl, Lincoln Riley made a decision to put in Spencer Rattler over Tanner Mordecai to get Jalen Hurts his final curtain call of his storied college career. It was one drive, but that tease kickstarted an offseason of anticipation and expectation that only the likes of Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray raised before.
Then came the potential poaching of Alex Grinch. First it was Washington State, then Colorado and more than likely others wanting his services to lead their respective programs. Grinch ultimately stayed put, aligning himself more and more with Oklahoma’s rabid, loyalty driven fan base.
Rattler and Grinch have been the straw that has stirred Oklahoma’s offseason drink. One that has the potential to taste so good by the time the Sooners’ 2020 season ends 10 months from now.
Riley has been adamant that Tanner Mordecai is still in the fight at quarterback, but no one has listened to Oklahoma’s head coach demands. Rattler is listed as high as third in Las Vegas’ early 2020 Heisman odds. He’s been the starting quarterback since before he trotted out onto the field to replace Hurts in late Dec. Rattler and the potential supporting cast with a deep receiving corps, running back room and return of four starting offensive linemen has been the reason the Sooners have been included amongst national championship conversation for the upcoming season.
Grinch will have his own challenges this spring. He’ll have to replace Kenneth Murray, Neville Gallimore and Parnell Motley with players Grinch didn’t recruit that are returning or include newcomers that were recruited by the new defensive regime, but have not been in the system.
Oklahoma fans have not been worried about the defense holding them back for the first time in over a decade, though. That’s what Grinch has delivered for Riley in just a year’s time.
You can sense the anticipation and expectation raise day-by-day.
It’s been a build-up that couldn’t hold for much longer and now the long await to see what the 2020 Oklahoma team could be is over. Lincoln Riley will kickoff the Sooners spring on Monday at noon with a meeting with the press, then players will take to the practice field on Tuesday for the first time this spring.
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