It is the big Tub Breakdown time of Jumps. Top Bridges here with you
with a comprehensive look around the Victoral conference this week. We begin, as
we do each and every week, with our hot takes, and Tom,
I'll go ahead and get this thing started first on the hot take front,
and I'm gonna add to Austin for this one. And I'll say this,
Tom, this isn't so much a hot take. This is more like I
feel like I got to educate with this one here. There have been discussions
now that we've seen, you know, with Texas with Quinn Eewers go down,
looks like he's going to be out for an extended period of time,
that they are going to go forward with Malik Murphy as they're starting. He
is the number arch. Arch is the number three. And that's how it's
always been. Uh Arch I told everybody this, I said, Arch is
the number three quarterback. That's how it's been since he arrived on campus.
And Malik Murphy looked really good in the spring. And Malik Murphy is a
good quarterback. And we heard from Sark He's already announced it. Malik Murphy
is starting this upcoming week. And you know Arch Manning will be the number
two quarterback and Malik will go from there. And the point that I would
like to make to educate the people out there, specifically Thomas Bridges, based
on just what I heard of this not Arch business, is that this is
the right decision that Sark is going with here. Malik Murphy is the veteran
quarterback. He is more ready for this moment. Arch came from a program
in Louisiana that was a small school where he didn't face much tough competition.
He is dealing with a learning curve of sorts, and if Arch would have
earned the job to be the number two quarterback, he would be the number
two quarterback. Sark is a quarterback guru, a quarterback wizard. There's no
reason to hold arch Manning back if he's ready. And so I'll say,
I know that I've had my differences with Sark, and I've questioned some things
about him, but on this quarterback front, I think that they're making the
right call. I don't think there's going to be a very long leash on
Milike Murphy necessarily, but for a team that's trying to contend for the Big
twelve, that wants to get to the college football playoffs. This is about
a move for now. This is not about next year. We fully expect
arch Manning to be their starting quarterback next year. But at this very moment,
this place in time, this is the right decision to go with Malik
Murphy here, Tom, I mean yeah, I mean, I mean,
you know, I think that Texas is in a I think they'd feel a
lot better if they had beaten OU. You know, are the Mormons gonna
storm into Austin and take down the Longhorns this weekend? I don't think so.
I think you are you going with the Joseph Smith Wildcats? I'm not.
I think Texas will win. I think it should be an interesting game.
I like what BYU has done this year, and they've been, without
question, the best of the new members in the Big Twelve. But I
think that Texas should be able to take care of business and win this football
game. And I think people are gonna be impressed with Milike Murphy, I
think Tom. One way to look at this is that this is kind of
like an open audition for Milake Murphy for when he inevitably enters the transfer portal
after this upcoming season. To go be a starter somewhere else next year.
I mean, heck, there's a number of programs that are gonna need quarterbacks
next year, from the likes of Alabama, the USC just to name a
few. Maybe Malik Murphy goes out their balls out and you know, ends
up with a pretty good program next year. Yeah, yeah, I think
so too. And maybe this is the opportunity for him to get that.
And you know, let's look at their schedule, Like Texas has b YU
at home. If they were going to you know, if they were going
to Mormon Landia this weekend, be a little worried. You've got I think.
I think next week against k State is their toughest test left of the
regular season, and that's and that's in Austin. Yeah, both to go
to Manhattan, they they luck out. They only leave the state of Texas
one more time the rest of the year, and that's to go to Iowa
State struggles in the past too, Yes, I mean aims no joke.
Well, I don't you know, Ames is a nightmare. I don't care
who you are. Yeah, and then you got what I mean, you
got one, two, you got three your last five at home and then
the other game that you play a ways in Fort Worth where there's already gonna
be a big presence of fans. Anyway, TCU has been subpar at best,
you know. And then if you do get into the Big Twelve championship
game, which if they went out they I believe they would be if OU
doesn't lose out. It's weird not having the round robin this year. Yes,
it's very it's very strange, and I'm sure that only points will end
up coming down and with no divisions anymore in the Big Twelve and a number
of other leagues, I'm very confused on how some of these tie breakers play
out. But carry on, Yeah, I mean especially I'm not saying Oklahoma
State is gonna beat OU that well, that'll be a hot take for the
next week. But if that happens, if or if you or if OU
loses one like they almost did against UCF, that becomes a whole new tie
breaking mess. If if things pan out, I mean, it's it's it's
crazy, But I mean that being said Jones, I mean, I think
they should be fine. I'll be rooting for the Mormons this Saturday, you
know, and I think the rest of the Big Twelve will be too.
I think a lot of the people in the Big twelve that were part of
the Hateful Eight, we're probably rooting for UCF as well, and that's what
you're gonna get. And then you know, Texas had a scare though against
Houston so and what was add about that last week was that was the type
of game. If you looked at the score, you would have thought,
oh, Texas probably came out flat and had to come back from behind to
win. No, they actually came out looking really good and then just hit
a wall and you had that terrible spot at the end of the game there,
which was just ridiculous, But nonetheless it happened, and Texas moves on
from there. But it's an interesting stretch ahead. What's your hot take this
week? I'm gonna say that that Oklahoma State gets the dub against Cincinnati.
That's not the hot take part. But I think with the win, I
think the voters will make it a ranked matchup for Bedlam. I think Bedlam
is a ranked matchup. And if you would have told me that after the
South Alabama game, or even maybe after the first game of the season for
USSUE, I would have laughed. But OSU knock on Wood seems to have
turned it around a little bit. Amazing what having one quarterback instead of three
you can do for your football team. And if Ben would have just listened
to me from the beginning when I said Alan Bowman needs to be your guy,
then he would have been just fine. We probably wouldn't have gotten Yeah,
we could have been better. And the other you mentioned. Everybody's talking
about the quarterback thing. But Ollie Gordon in that game again South Alabama,
he only had like seven touches. If that like, why was he not
involved more in the offense at the beginning of the year. He's been fantastic
and he I mean, if you want to talk hot, take Tom here's
one for you. Ollie Gordon actually might end up being a Heisman finalist when
Zael said and done. If he continues at this rate, playing as good
as he is, he might be the best running back in all college football.
And then he is on a tear and he is the reason why that
they've turned the corner that they have. I mean, yeah, if if
Ollie Gordon is the re If Ollie Gordon puts up one hundred and fifty yards
pretty much half the game, he just put up against West Virginia this week
and has two touchdowns and they beat oh You. I'm ready to put him
in New York at the end of the year. If os you can scrap
by and somehow manage to get back to the Big Twelve Championship in Dallas,
I would my I would have to change my pants on the way to Arlington,
because I would I would have shipped my pants. I would ship my
pants on the way to Arlington. I thought you were implying you'd have to
change your pants because something else would have happened. Well, maybe both.
I might have to change the front and the back. You know what I
mean, like like oh shit, like uh and and you know, Billy,
a friend of the show, Billy Locke, is already ready to say,
like we'll see you in Arlington. I'm like, whoa, whoa,
whoa, Billy, Like listen, like if they beat oh you, which
is a stretch, oh sorry, sneeze, if they beat O you,
I'll be ready to have my heart broke again. Let's I'll be ready for
Payne. Let's go to the Big twelve slade of games this week Oklahoma Kansas,
Big Noon Saturday of Lawrence folks, and good news for the Kansas Jayhawks.
Jalen Daniels is expected to finally be back this week. But even with
that said, I'm not getting my hopes up town because he was supposed to
play that Texas game, woke up that morning with back pain and we haven't
seen him skins. So this is not a knock on Jalen. Don't take
a long away, folks, but I'll believe it when I see it of
him actually playing, you know, and being on the field. But nonetheless,
that Kansas team is two different teams when Jalen Daniels plays and when Jason
Bean plays. I think Bean's a very good backup, but your offense is
limited when you had to go with Bean versus Jalen Daniels. If Kansas is
gonna win, it's gonna have to be a shootout for the Jayhawks have a
chance. They're gonna have to outscore owe you because Kansas's defense isn't stopping anybody.
As far as I'm concerned, Oklahoma, I think if they play their
game, if the defense shows up like they've been doing for most of the
year, it looks like one of the better defenses in college football. Oklahoma
can win this game by two scorers potentially, But to me, that's what
this game comes down to. Can Kansas turn it into a shootout if they
can have a chance, But I'm not expecting that. I think that Oklahoma
probably This is a close game for three quarters and Oklahoma does what they do.
We've seen them do a really good job of finishing football games where they
go to the run. Game last week wasn't their best game, yet they
still found a way to win. Oklahoma eventually wears them out the more physical
team. That's another problem Kansas has had is that they're not the most physical
team by any means. Oklahoma, I think is more physical and ultimately too
much. They win probably broyly about seven or ten points, something like that.
In Lawrence. There you have spreads ten as though you cover. I
lean towards no, I would say less than ten, but I do think
that's Noah. We'll see what goes on there. Other games in the league
this week KSE State taking on Houston Houston at three and four. They've played
a lot better football last couple of weeks, almost bidding Texas beating West Virginia
K State. I loved what I heard from Climban's response. He was asked
about how his thoughts on if it worked playing two quarterbacks last week, and
his response was forty one to three, So yes, very much so.
Avery Johnson looks good. Well, Howard looked good. I think Houston comes
back down to earth a little bit here. I like what KSE State's doing.
They're defying the odds playing two quarterbacks here. I think Avery's probably their
better option long term, but I think it's gonna be a deal tom for
now where they go with kind of who has the hot hand of some sorts.
And I think Climbing's got a good enough track record to muddy the waters
through this situation of going forward with two quarterbacks here. I think case State
wins just fine. Yeah, I think they'll be fine too. I don't
think that. I don't think that. I think it's kind of odd to
like because KSE State came out so hot and they've you know, they've only
lost two, but effectively have shot themselves in the foot. You know,
they beat a tech team and let's say, what do we haven't meant?
We haven't mentioned this Jones. We talked about frauds all day in the NFL.
We talk about frauds all the time. Biggest frauds in the nation.
Tech. Oh yes, Texas Tech is fraud university. And people like Brett
McMurphy that promoted them and said they were going to win the league and go
to the Sugar Bowl, they're on that fraud list list with them. You're
dying with Texas Tech. I mean, to be fair, I thought they
would be you know, I thought they were the dark horse to maybe make
it in as the number two to the Big twelve championship. I thought they
were ready for the blind light. And they're not. And you know,
McGuire, they're you know, I guess this would be a sophomore season.
You want to talk about a sophomore slump. Oh yeah, back to case.
They they go down and take care of business, or they're at home
against Houston, you know, go out, you know, hurry up,
kick ass, do whatever you gotta do, and then just start watching tape
against Tech or for Texas. Yeah, yeah, certainly. Uh, West
Virginia ticking on UCF. It wasn't a bad loss for West Virginia last week
against OSU that came right down to the very end in os U Ultimate except
on the ground. Yeah, better team just ended up winning, you know,
Oklahoma State did. But it wasn't like a lack of effort of sorts.
From it wasn't an assok UCF comes off of a moral victory of sorts,
if you want to call it that. Going right to the very end
down of the wire with with ou Plumbery looks really good. He's come to
life. Here. The game is at UCF and the odds or UCF by
seven. Tom, I think that's a little overreactionary by Vegas here. I
think that you know, we saw one wood game out of UCF. They
lost West Virginia. I think it's been a decent team for much of the
year. I think that's a big overreaction to the part of Vegas here.
I still like what West Virginia is doing despite the loss last week. I
think they could go into Orlando and win here. Yeah, I think so
too. I mean, I don't think that's a stretch by any means.
I think that that u c F, you know, against Oh You,
I think and I think some of the commentators were right too, uh kind
of like, you know, oh you'sually gonna get everybody's best shot yeah,
and you sef kind of had something personal with Dylan Gabriel being you know,
against them. So I think I think that you know, U c f
favored by seven. Yeah, if I'm a betting man, If I'm a
betting man, I'm gonna take you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna
take the point. You know, I'm gonna say, all right, well
you see it by seven, We'll give me seven. For for West Virginia.
They could still lose by you know, six or three or whatever,
and I think they'd be all right. Yeah, yeah, I think so.
Baylor taking on Iowa State, I don't think either one of these teams
are that good. Iowa State is a slight favorite on the road. But
let me tell you about rock O Beck, this kid, son of Anthony
Beck. And actually I think TJ was telling me the other day that he
got to see some of Rocco at high school because he's good friends with Anthony
Beck, the former Tampa Bay Bucks legend, his dad, and Roco Beck
starting to figure out coming to his own a bit. I think Baylor's got
their fair share of problems. I like Iowa State to go into Waco and
your Iowa States, your two wins away from bow eligibility. And you look
at that schedule with Kansas ahead after Baylor b Yu Texas and I was in
k States. Every game is important because that's a chance to go bowlan here.
It is gonna be it's gonna be a hard stretch for Iowa State to
try to go Bowlman here. They have to win this one if they're going
to Yeah, yeah, I think you're right. I mean, you know,
I hate that loss for OSU against Iowa State because they aren't that good
of a team. But all things considered, it's like Iowa State has flashes
every now and then, and you know, I think for them, though
Baylor is not Baylor of two years ago, even last year, I think
Iowa State can win this. Yeah, I think so. I think so.
Cincinnati taking out Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma State is a touchdown plus
favorites primetime game. Cincinnati just isn't a very good team. I'm not a
fan of Emory Jones quarterback. I'm not a fan of Scott Saderfield, the
head coach. If Oklahoma Stake does what they're supposed to tom, then they
should win this game. With ease. Yeah they should. I mean it's
it's it's homecoming. I mean you have no you're on a kind of a
roll since he's not looking too good. Knock on wood, you got bedlam
the next week. Don't overlook that game. Like I said, though it's
homecoming, you know, the festivities have just started. Go get the job
done. And and you know, I'd like for them to. I'm not
saying they're gonna blow them out or get that, you know, shut it
down by third quarter or anything, but like, hey, like know that
there's business next week, and it's probably one of the most historically important games
for your for your almost called it a franchise, might as well call it
that at this point, one of the most historically important games for a year
university, for your university, I would like in it. I would liken
it up to the win that they had against the Notre Dame in the Feast
of Ball, if not more important. If you can win that, we
would say maybe a decade, then it's huge. As Kobe would say,
job's not finished. Job's not finished, baby, And I don't like their
chances, but shit happens, all right. One more note before we bring
in Eric Bailey that I want to talk about here in the Big Twelve breakdown
this week, a lot of chatter about the future of the Big twelve football
and Basketball Championship sites, in particular from the new members and specifically the four
Corner schools and even more specifically Utah fans, and let's break this down for
you piece by piece. The Big Twelve announced within the last several days that
the Big Twelve tournament was going to stay in Kansas City. They extended the
contract through twenty thirty one, and this was after it was already announced that
the Well Football Championship was staying in Arlington through twenty thirty one as well.
That matches with the timeline of the TV contracts when they come up at that
same time. And if you recall, Brett Yormark was very open about his
potential interest in moving the Big Twelve Championship, specifically basketball to other markets,
and then he got to Kansas City and got to see forts himself how incredible
that atmosphere is. Every session sells out and has done so for gosh,
I don't know how long now, seven eight plus years. I mean,
it is incredible, and I would argue it is not just because of the
teams, but because of the atmosphere. The best conference tournament in the country,
even better than the Big East Tournament in Medicines where Garden at this point
and it has become tradition. It's been incredible for all those involved. And
the Big Tull Football Championship is in one of the best stadiums in the world.
There in Arlington. You don't have to worry about weather in December like
you would many other potential Big twelve places like Kansas City, for example.
Arlington's a great site for that. Well, then you have these people like
these Utah fans who took the social media to complain about the Big twelve basketball
championship in Kansas City. Why do we an't going to Kyansas City? Why
aren't we Why aren't we going to Vegas? You know which? Every Big
twelve school, by the way, is east of Vegas. Might I add
I understand that the Vegas market is close to those four corner schools and it's
up for the Pickens now that the Pac twelve is dead, I think two
things can be true. Tom. Yes, it takes away from the cold.
Sure, let me finish. Let me finish. Two things can be
true, the Big Twelve should go after the Vegas market, but it shouldn't
have to sacrifice its conference championship games to give into the demands of its new
members. We got a great thing going in Arlington for football, and a
great thing going in basketball with Kansas City, and as long as those continue
to be successful, it should stay that way. But does that mean that
you can't use Vegas for something, No, it doesn't mean that at all.
Whether it's maybe a tip off Classic of some sorts or maybe even an
end season tournament. Like, there's ways you can get Vegas involved. I
think that the Vegas market, the Big Twelve should do stuff there, but
it doesn't need to sacrifice its conference championships just to please the demands of these
new members here. If you're going to be a part of our league,
then that comes with the culture of being in our league and our traditions and
our history and the way we do things. Tom, I mean, yeah,
it's about the culture Baby like don't like, And I think a lot
of people that are like Big twelve pearists, I think maybe we're a little
bit worried when Brett Yormark came in that he would sell it out to the
big markets are just I'm here to make the most money possible, and I'm
glad he hasn't done that. He's kind of gained my trust a little bit,
uh in the in the way where he hasn't sold the ship out.
He hasn't dogged him out like an only fans you know, uh, for
for better or worse in terms of explaining that. But he hasn't dogged him
out. He hasn't pimped him out, and he's keeping the culture alive,
like there is something to say that, like we will not be bought out
and we're gonna, you know, keep keep our core together, like in
terms of what we do and who we are. Whether the Big twelve name
changes or not, which it most likely will. I don't know to what
the Big fourteen now? Then sixteen? Yeah, yeah, you can't call
it the Big sixteen, so Little Maria is that is the leading name.
Actually sounds like you're DJing a fucking sixteen year old's birthday party. Sweet sixteen.
Yeah, call it the fucking Sweet sixteen. That would be you know,
I would probably be okay with like calling it the Sweet sixteen. Uh.
The NCAA might have something to say about that trademark if they tried to
go after that. But with that said, yeah, Vegas I think should
be involved in some way, shape or form, but not necessarily by giving
up your your championships. I mean, take example, you know, Tom
Oklahoma and Texas has moved to the SEC. Oh, you and Texas aren't
demanding all of a sudden that the big that the SEC Championship needs to move
from Atlanta to Dallas. After all, the great history and tradition of the
SEC Championship in Atlanta. The SEC Championship, I think, even though most
OU and Texas fans would agree, belongs in Atlanta, and that's not changing
with OU and Texas entering the league. The SEC Basketball Championship is staying in
Nashville. And Nashville is one of my favorite cities in the country and is
a great host for the SEC Championship. But you know what they are doing,
They're moving SEC media Days this upcoming year to Dallas, right in OU
and Texas's backyard. And you know, OU and Texas are thrilled about that.
And so there are other things that we can do to reach the West
and uh, you know, attack markets like Vegas. Uh, but it
doesn't have to be to sacrifice our championship games. I mean, Tom,
I mean, I don't know if you've been at a big tournament in Kansas
City or not, but I mean people have been going there for decades,
folks. I mean mean you want to talk about history and tradition. The
Big Eight Tournament for years was in Kansas City, with people spending their spring
breaks going from Ames, Iowa to Kansas City and making that history and tradition
to do that for a number of years. I mean, you've met so
many people that are accustomed to that time that when Kansas and i Was State
played in the Big Twelve championship Game a few years ago, there was more
Iowa State fans than Kansas fans there because they had bought up the tickets because
that was their travel plans well before the Oklahoma before the Kansas fans could get
hold of them. Not that Kansas fans didn't want to be there, but
i Was State fans got to them first. So yeah, I'm not about
that, but we'll see what the Big Twelve does from here going forward.
So with that, Eric Bailey said, to join us. Got a great
conversation coming up with him. We'll get his thoughts on the Sooners as well
as the rest of the Big Twelve when he joins us. Next join us
now jumps forth this week. Please do welcome into the show. It's been
a while, but we are so glad to have it back. It is
Eric Bailey from the Tulsa World, Oklahoma Sooners beat writer, but most importantly
the second best softball coach in the state of Oklahoma, only to Patty Gash
Joses right now, Eric Bailey, always a pleasure of my friend. How
are things in your world? Oh, it's great, Tyler. It's good
to see. Good to talk to you again. It has been a while,
so yeah, it's been a lot of fun. Football season is always
fun though, and it's always busy, so it's been a fun ride so
far this year. Yeah, no doubt, no doubt about it, especially
for that Oklahoma team where they're atting seven to zero. We'll definitely talk about
that in just a moment. But you brought up a point to me before
we started that I remember when it came out, and I want to bring
this up again. So cool. You know the school you and I both
went to, Haskell, Indian Nation's University you have a new scholarship funding your
brother's honor there at Hashchool that was put together by some of your fellow colleagues.
Tell me about that and what you got going on there at HASH School
this weekend on behalf of your brother here one of the coolest things. And
I always say that OU beats like my second family. I've been covering.
This is my thirteenth season covering the Sooners, and you know, though you
beat, you're with them all the time at practices, you're with them on
game weekend. So a lot of them are some of my best friends.
So my brother unexpectedly passed away on July thirty first, and you know,
it was hard for me those two weeks. You know, I was in
fall camp, had just started at OU, so of course I had a
lot of family business to take care of. First day back was probably the
third Monday of the month, and I just needed to get back, you
know, get back to work. And so everyone, of course, you
know, wanted to see how I was doing and everything like that, and
I appreciated everyone checking with me, and a lot of them did check in
with me during that two week span. It was neat even at the funeral
I saw good friends Guarantee, Amy, Ryan Aber and Jason Cursey at the
funeral, and that was really neat, you know, you know, it
was really neat to see them. So they shocked me that first day back
after we did our availability, we're going back out the parking lot, and
they gave me an envelope and said that they had taken up a fund amongst
themselves and started They started a fifteen hundred dollars scholarship in my brother's name,
Kurt Bailey at Haskell for an upperclassman in media, community and communications and mass
communications basically, which has caught me totally off guard. You know, I
had tears in my eyes when they gave it to me. I was not
expecting that, so really really neat deal. So we're going up there this
weekend to cover the football game, of course, but I'm going to go
a little earlier. We're meeting with some high school representatives to talk about the
scholarship and how we're going to implement that and hopefully in my brother's name,
helped some of some young students, some up and coming journalists continue their journey
to their chosen profession. So it's a great way to continue my brother's legacy.
I know he'd be embarrassed by all the attention. He never looked for
the attention at all. But I really am thankful for all though. You
be again my second family for starting a scholarship fundraising. It starting to see
money, coolest thing ever, Tyler. It means a lot. Thanks,
thanks for even asking about that, Thanks for bringing that up. Yeah,
of course I think it's fantastic. And uh, you know what what Haskell
did for people like you and me. Uh, I'm glad to see that
someone else is gonna you know, benefit and carry on and hopefully have a
bright future beyond Haskell and carry and your brother's legacy. Like that is fantastic.
So very cool stuff there, Eric. Let's start off with the Oklahoma
Sooners, the team you cover there, with the fantastic start the season they've
had at seven and zero, and just the moments that we've seen, the
win over Texas and uh, you know, the way that Dylan Gabriel has
played. What's been kind of your your takeaways where this Oklahoma team stands at
this point and and how this season has gone, because it seems like they've
already wasted or past what most expectations were for twenty twenty three. You know,
the crazy thing is a lot of the credit needs to go to Brent
Vinables and his coaching staff because coming off the six and seven year, of
course, there were a lot of doubters. There were a lot of people
saying as Brent Viventible as the coach, and there was a lot of people
saying, well, Oklahoma has something to prove this year, especially with this
being their last year in the Big Twelve and moving to the SEC next year.
So all season long, during the off season, dear in fall camp,
even last spring, Brint Vientible has always made sure to talk about changing
the culture, learning from last year and really focusing on this season and not
you know, not making the same mistakes they made last year. And of
course until you see it, you can't believe it. You have to see
it with their own eyes, not only for the media, for the fans,
but for the team themselves. And I think the affirmation is there.
The players are seeing if they do what the coaches say, that it's going
to come to light and it will come to truth and it just allows them
to play with more confidence. So that's what impresses me. The most coming
off of six and seven year. They've already surpassed that six win total and
they're seven to zero right now and they're in the conversation for the Big twelfth
title. I'm curious if they do beat Kansas on Saturday, where they'll be
in the first college Football Playoff rankings that come out next Tuesday on Halloween.
This is stuff we never thought we were talking about. You know, when
you after the cheese At Bowl last year in Orlando, when they lost to
Florida State, you wondered, what's next year going to be? Like?
Well, here we are seeing a seven to zero team with a lot in
front of it. Still, it's just a credit to Brent Vinibles and his
coaching staff. Well, and that's a great point. I was at Red
River a couple of weeks ago, and I was so happy for Brent to
get that win for everything that was said about him, all the doubters and
the naysayers. To me, I felt like, and you know, he's
a pretty humble guy. It's all right that that was a lot of that
was about Brent, of his response of coming back from losing that game last
year forty nine nothing to turn around and win this game when they were what
was it five and a half one underdog in that game, Like he is
really just turned a page, turned a corner from everything that was said about
him, especially the replacing Lincoln Riley and all that and taking Caleb Williams.
I mean, he's it seems like that he's come a long way compared to
the conversations we're having about him a year ago exactly. And the thing not
to be lost on this is he's been part of rebuilding projects at major programs.
You look what he did at Clemson when he started in twenty twelve,
how he had to really pattern that defense behind what he wanted to do.
And you can go back to ninety nine in two thousand when he was just
a linebackers coach at Oklahoma, how he was part of that rejuvenation of the
program and the defense. We're seeing the same blueprint with Oklahoma this year.
In the first two years, how every you know, the team went through
some growing pains last year, he really didn't have time to really recruit to
the needs of the team. Last year. He was really filling in some
gaps this year, even coming off the six and seven year he recruited really
well, and we're seeing and some of those transfer portal guys come in and
make instant impacts and that's been huge in the seven zero start. To be
honest, Tyler, I don't if the transfer portal rule wasn't in place right
now, I don't know how long this turnaround would be for Oklahoma football.
Grant Vinables has been able to really fill in some gaps right away, and
we're seeing some of these guys make instant impacts and that's been huge. Again,
you just give credit to Brint Vnables after last year, and you're right,
it's nine to day from forty nine to nothing to win in a nail
bier in the Cotton Bowl this year. Big change in just a year's time
to where this program has gone. Yeah, it's pretty incredible. And and
the other thing too, Eric I think is worth mentioning, is that it's
not just that he had to retool the roster and replace guys that had left,
you know, since Lincoln Riley had departed and all that, but also
retooling it in his image. What Brin Vinnibles has wanted to do with Oklahoma
is a total reverse of co coaching philosophy from what Lincoln Riley was trying to
do exactly. I think if Bret Vinables he you know, a good example
is the defensive line. You know, Britt Vinable, I mean Alex Grinch
under Lincoln Riley, he was light on the defensive line at Oklahoma and they
were kind of getting pushed around. Well, Brient Vinables wants big guys on
the front and on the defensive line making plays. And we're already seeing the
impact of that change. We're seeing the athleticism, we're seeing zone blitz is,
we're seeing a lot of unique defenses that Brent Vinibles has learned over is
three decades as a coach and he's implementing it as a head coach now at
Oklahoma. And again, the transfer portal has been so good to Oklahoma.
It's allowed them to fill in some of the needs that they had at some
of the key positions, especially on the defensive line. But you know,
but it's also surrounded existing players like Danny Stutzman with talent around him where he
doesn't have to make every play. You know, he does what he needs
to do, and it makes him shine a little brighter because he doesn't have
to, you know, maybe do more than expected. There's eleven guys pulling
on the same rope on defense, and they're doing a good job of making
plays and creating turnovers. That's something else that the bread Venables has them doing.
They're among the nation's leaders and interceptions. This is a defense that's making
plays where in years past there was more been don't but don't break in high
scoring games. Yeah, yeah, certainly so. Eric Bailey tell Us World
showIn I guess here on the program this week, Eric, let's talk about
none other than Dylan Gabriel, who's one of the Heisman contenders. Off to
a great start to twenty twenty three so far, and he was going last
year but taking a huge step off. What has been the difference you think
and Dylan Gabriel of twenty twenty three to twenty twenty two, what's been his
big area of growth that you've seen. You know, it's funny, Tyler,
I've always known him to be a mature player. He was like that
when he arrived on campus in January of twenty twenty two. He was very
mature when he made the transfer from UCF and last year it was tough because
he had an offense that's still learning its way, finding its way. You
know, we talked about STEP's been maybe trying to do more than he needed
to do. I think maybe dealing. Gabriel is guilty of that a little
bit last year, trying to do a little bit more than he needed to
do. But that was that was out of necessity too, because this there
was times when you know, those high scoring games and the defense has given
up points, he had to try to make plays. Well. Now he's
still that mature player, but he's really doing a good job of using all
the weapons around him. Going into the season, he didn't know who his
top wide receiver was going to be with the loss of Marvin Men's. Well,
now he's finding different guys and he's trusting different guys, which has really
been impressive. And the thing that stands out about Dylan is he's doing this
without without a consistent running game. Oklahoma struggled in its rushing offense, and
you know you mentioned being at the OU Texas game this year, he was
the leading rusher for the Sooners. Gabriel ran over one hundred for one hundred
yard over one hundred yards and he's making things happen with his feet too,
So It's really neat to see him on some Heisman lists. Now will he
get Will he get invited to New York as a finalist? Right now he
has a good chance to do that. I'm curious to see what happens this
back half of the season. But I've just been impressed with all the plays
he's making, the throws he's making, and more than anything, the leaderships
that he's provided. Oh yeah, he's been fantastic. You mentioned him leading,
uh, you know the team in rushing that game against Texas, the
way that they were going to QB power so much. I was thinking to
myself, Eric, you know, they may be leaving the Big twelve,
but after all those losses to K State over the last couple of years,
I guess their departing gift was learning the QB power play from from K State.
Because they've done a really good job of using Dylan Gabriel, not just
as a passer, but those design runs. He's not the fastest guy by
the means, but uh, he's got the vision to get downfield to make
those necessary runs. Somewhere Callin Klein is smiling at what you just said about
the quarterback power run. The offensive coordinator at Kansas State now, and that's
the thing, you know, there's probably a little bit of worry more last
year than this year about running Dylan because you don't need him get hurt.
We saw what happened last year with him getting the concussion against TCU, having
to sit out Red River and Oklahoma loses forty nine to nothing with their starting
quarterback on the bench because of concussion protocol. Now, I know that's still
a concern. You never want to put your quarterback in harm's way, but
they have a real quality backup in Jackson Arnold where if something happens, I
think they feel comfortable with their backup quarterback who's young but very talented, and
I think just the competitor in Dylan Gabriel makes him want to be able to
make those plays. He wants to stretch for that first down. I think
he hates to slide. He'd rather take people on. But he also has
to be smart because they're going to need him if they want to do what
they want to do this year. They need him, and he's a quarterback
that got hurt in his third season too. I think he's probably aware of
that too. He got injured in his third season, third game at UCF
and was out for the year. Knows what season ending injuries are like.
So I really think he'll be cautious and probably he'll be smart with the slides.
Yeah, I think so. I got to say watching this Oklahoma team
the last couple of weeks, the way that Nick Anderson has come along,
you know, at that receiver position, just absolutely incredible. The plays he's
made of And where did this guy come from? This came out of left
field. You know. It's funny. When he arrived at Oklahoma, everyone
talked about him being Rodney Anderson's little brother, because, of course, Rodney
Anderson was really huge for the Sooners in that twenty seventeen season when they went
to the College Football Playoff, Rodney was their top running back. And the
thing with Rodney, though, is that was his only healthy year twenty seventeen,
and he was just dynamic. He was one of the best players Oklahoma
had had in quite some time, and it's unfortunate that injuries really hindered his
career. So when Nick Anderson arrived last year, everyone said, oh,
it's Rodney Anderson's little brother. Well, now I really think that he's Rodney
Anderson is Nick Anderson's big brother. I think that's what we should say,
because Nick Anderson is really making a name for himself. Last year he red
shirted, was injured battling injury. But this year sixteen catches. He only
has sixteen catches. He's averaging twenty four yards per catch, which is second
in the nation. He has eight touchdown catches, so he has a fifty
percent ratio touchdown to catch rate and the college the Oklahoma record for freshman touchdowns
by a wide receiver is nine by Marvin Mens, and we know this game
eight and Nick Anderson is one touchdown away from tying Marvin. Men's just been
impressed with you know, he's sighed, he's big, he's long, he's
fast, and he's a young man. With the loss of Andrel Anthony,
who is you know, the leading receiver through six weeks, six games,
with the loss of him to a knee injury, Nick Anderson's contribution is going
to be expected to go way up. And I think that's a good thing
because I think he's a player that needs the ball in his hands. Yeah,
I think so. Stuntsman has been just absolutely incredible, one of the
best linebacker in the country and the way that he could just make plays here.
I mean, we're talking about him being one of the best linebackers we've
seen in a long time at all, you maybe since like Kennith Murray or
something. I'm impressed with him every time he takes the field there, you
know, and that's a credit to again Brent Venable's system and what Brent Vinables
has taught him. And he was good as a true fresh mander Lincoln Riley,
but he's really excelling this year. And it's not only his play on
the fields, his leadership off the field. During the off season, Brent
Vinibles mentioned more than one time that Stutsman had really taken command. It was
player a player led defense thanks to Danny Stutsman. I think that's been huge.
And you know, we've just seen him make plays after play after play,
you know, the pick six earlier this season. He tackles for loss,
He's always in the backfield, and he is the heartbeat of this defense.
Had a chance when I was visiting my oldest daughter, Justine in Orlando
a couple of weeks ago. While I was in Orlando, I had a
chance to sit down at a breakfast table with his dad, Steve stuts and
we sat for an hour just talking for a story. I'm working on a
bigger story on Danny later in the season. And it just impressed me how
Danny grew up and how he was a competitor from when he was real little.
And I think that football has really been a part of that young man's
life and winning has been a part of that family. Danny's older sister,
Sabrina Stutsman, was a member of Florida State's national championship softball team about five
or six years ago. So this family understands top level competition. He's grown
up around it. And you know what impresses me is he always he's always
going to be himself. You know, he's not just a football player.
He has a personality. We saw the cigar sitting in the picture of him
smoking a cigar after beating Texas. We saw the shirt wears, We saw
the viral video that he made in the locker room. You know, God
only fears our Oklahoma only fears God in Texas fears Oklahoma. That was the
speech. So we see all that with Danny Stutsman, and it just impresses
me. I'm not going to compare him to Ballsworth because you know boswiz w
one and only. But Stusman has that charisma where he's really uh taken over
the team and the media and the fan base and that that's really impressive.
So as Oklahoma gets ready for this game against Kansas, uh, Kansas expecting
to have a Jalen Daniels back this upcoming week and you know, a very
talented team and a dynamic offense here. You know, eb for for years,
you know, you and I we would cover this game and and it
would be all right. You know, we're getting ready for a blowout more
than likely, you know, Oklahoma team that's favored by four plus touchdowns whatever.
This is got to be the most interesting trip to Lawrence maybe ever for
Oklahoma, at least in a very long time. Because this Kansas team,
unlike years previously, I imagine it has their full attention here. Big new
kickoff, that's the crazy thing, Big new kickoffs and Lawrence, Lawrence is
going to be hopping his homecoming weekend too, So it's going to be crazy
and Lawrence, this is gonna be fun to see, you know, in
the last two seasons, and this is a credit to Lance Leopold, the
KU coach twenty twenty two through now twenty three, They've won eleven games since
the start of twenty two. From twenty sixteen to twenty twenty one, kids
has won eleven games during those seasons. Was that five six seasons they won
eleven games total and the last season and a half there at eleven. So
that just does a credit to how this team has turned around the resurgence of
Kansas football. This is no longer that gimme game. This is no longer
that game. You go up there and you're gonna expect to win by three
touchdowns. This is gonna be a tough game for the Sooners, especially as
you mentioned, the offense just dynamic. This is gonna be another test for
Oklahoma's defense, and you know, goofy things happened up at KU when Oklahoma
goes up there. I remember two years ago it took Caleb Williams stripping the
ball from his teammate Ken Kennedy Brooks' hands and gaming a first down during a
key driving the second half to help with Gloam win that game. Oh,
he was losing ten nothing at halftime two years ago for Lawrence, so it's
gonna be a tough game for the Sooners. I'm just kind of curious to
see which Oklahoma team comes out. Is it going to be the one that
started slow against UCF or is it gonna be one of the earliest season offenses
that come out really fast, scoring quick. Yeah. Yeah, that's a
great point. We'll see how it plays out. Only the rest schedule after
Kansas. Obviously, that game against Bedlham is going to be incredible there,
and still Water West Virginia, b YU, and TCU the final stretch.
Heb this these final five, you know, five games here, that's not
an easy slate for what Oklahoma has had, especially on the road with Kansas,
Oklahoma State, and BETYU here. I mean, nothing's to guarantee for
Oklahoma in these final five games. You know, Oklahoma's really only had one
true road game, that was Cincinnati, because I don't think you count Tulsa
as a road game. There's more conson in the stands. You don't count
all you Texas is a true road game because it's half half you know,
I think there'll be a handful of Oklahoma fans there too, so Kansas probably
won't be that you know, ninety ten thing ratio you see at most home
games. But after this game this week at Bedlam is gonna be nuts last
bedroom ever. I mean until you know, we're not gonna see these teams
play each other for a long time. So I think that's gonna be a
special meeting. And nothing would make O ISSU fans better than to beat Oklahoma
in the last meeting. And I think Oklahoma State's playing really well now they've
turned things around. Uh, that's gonna be a tough game. And you're
right and going to BYU, that's no picnic going there to provo, and
you got a feeling that it's going to be a night game. I think
TV will make that a night game, especially if Oklahoma is still undefeated.
That that has a that has trap game written all over it. So nothing
easy. I think, you know, Red Vennables make sure to tell his
team they just want to go one and O every week, one and O.
That's the speech. And you know, as a journalist, and you've
been you've been a reporter for a long time, you get tired of hearing
the same thing every week. But we hear that every week. All they
want to do is go want to know, but if you're an Oklahoma fan,
you gotta love it and eat that up because that's their focus. And
and ebe as a softball coach, you're you're probably now telling your players we
got to go one to oh this week. I take everything they say and
I built your down, especially in Patty Gaso. When I talked to Patty
Gaso, Shoot, yeah, I'm learning from the best there. So hey,
we're gonna start learning some infield drills from what I've seen at OU practices.
So yeah, Patty Gaso, you learn from the best, you watch
the best, you learn from the best. That's great, That's fantastic.
Erica, I was thinking about this as Oklahoma's in this not just race to
win the Big Twelfth title, but now the college football playoff discussion you mentioned
with the first rankings coming out in a week or so. If you're OU
here, I know it sounds crazy, but if you take a step further
to really look into it, you're actually not really wanting Texas to win out
because, let's say, for all intentsive purposes, if Texas wins out and
beat you in the Big Twelfth title game, recency bias probably gives Texas an
edge over Oklahoma to make the playoff. In the perfect world here, if
you're oh, you you probably want Texas to lose one of these games and
then uh the Big twelve championship game, whether you win or lose, then
you're not worrying abed about Texas being in the playoff discussion here, it would
do owe you a lot if Texas will we see Quinn you weres out if
they could potentially slip up to give o you a little cushion not have to
compete with Texas for a playoff spot potentially. You know, Tyler, I
just got a feeling for Oklahoma if they're gonna make the four team playoff this
year, I think they just have to go undefeated, no matter to the
opponent. I think I think a one Oklahoma team because you look at strength
to schedule, it's really not that strong. Their non conference schedule wasn't that
tough. Here's a little known fact. You know who Week three, the
Week two opponent was supposed to be this year wasn't supposed to be Georgia.
Was supposed to be Georgia. Yeah, they were supposed to host Georgia in
Norman. But since Oklahoma annouced they were won to the SEC. That game
got that team came got canceled. So the non conference schedules not as strong
as it has been in years past, and a one lost Oklahoma, I
think it's left out. I just I just think no matter. I think
even if they play a non Texas in the Big Twelve game, if they
lose that think they're knocked out. So I think the goal long term for
Oklahoma is they have to be probably going to feed to getting the playoff.
Short term, we just want to know every week. Of course that's the
one wants to talk about that. But I think Oklahoma really needs probably to
win out to go to the playoff this year. And they're more than capable
with their schedule and they're not to play well every week, but they're more
than capable of doing that. Yeah. Well, And I thought, like
you know, I remind people of this all the time. It is not
humanly possible to play your best every single week in any sport, and football
especially And for last week, when it was clearly their off day, to
still fight a way to win. I know some people are gonna say,
wow, you know it was you were a seventeen point favorite and the only
beat UCF by two. I looked at last week and I said, it
was they're off day, and they still found a way to win. And
that's what good teams do, is find ways to win even on their off
days. What did you take away from last week? I was not personally
discouraged by that performance, knowing that they still found a way to win.
You know, it's funny because Brent Vinables was last point blank, is this
a game you lose last year? And he said, I think we do.
I think that that's it. As a coach, you're probably happy that
you didn't play your best game, but you found a way to win.
Oklahoma was losing twenty three seventeen in the fourth quarter and had to find a
way to come back. And that's where you go back. We were talking
about Dylan Gabriel. Dylan Gabriel again led them to an important touchdown drive,
in fact, two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. It was comp comfortable
to what they did at Tegus, Texas the week before, backs against the
wall, finding a way to score a touchdown. So I think that that
you got to be You're never going You're right, You're never going to play
your best game every week. It's impossible. It's just humanly impossible in any
sport to be perfect every week, but to find a way to win,
keep your dream alive, your Big twelve hopes, your college football playoff hops
alive. That was big. So the key for Oklahoma is trying not to
duplicate that in Lawrence this weekend. Yeah, for sure, after this season
with the SEC on the horizon, you know, there was a lot of
talk going in this year that man, Oklahoma's just not ready for the SEC,
that they're even behind Texas and preparation. And now with this seven oh
start, the way that they've performed, how's the feeling in Norman and in
the state of Oklahoma about how prepared where this program is as they get ready
for this move here? I think sky high in Texas too. I mean,
you look at Oklahoma Texas this week. They're ranked in the top ten,
so their top ten teams. I think both these schools are prepared for
the move the SEC. It's not just Oklahoma, they both need to be
prepared. And as an unbiased sports writer, I think it's neat that both
schools are going in with momentum. It'd be one thing to go in there
and be struggling and then welcome to the league. They're entering the big the
sec excuse me, with momentum, and I think that's in we're seeing the
fruits of Oklahoma success and the recruiting trail. They're going to sign a top
ten recruiting class again this year, which is big in Texas of course is
going to be top ten too, So I think that everything is trending in
the right way for Oklahoma and Texas as they make this move, which is
important, and you didn't know you were going to say that again after a
six and seven year there was a lot to prove. I mean, there
was so much to prove, not only to the media and to the fans,
but to themselves. And I think they've done that. On a business
relationship, Oklahoma and Texas making this move are as tied to the hip together
as they've ever been at this point. And as I was interacting with with
Oklahoma and Texas fans a couple of weeks ago, Eric, like the common
theme I kept hearing was you know, hey, you know, we we
don't like each other, but we respect each other, and like that's not
the Oklahoma and Texas I grew up with. But now here we are,
Eric, I mean this, this is the nature of the like they're in
this marriage together. They you know, we saw Texas depart from A and
M for a long time. Owe you now depart from Oklahoma State. Uh.
There, it's do or die to go these two programs now and that's
it. And I'm really curious to see if both fan bases will cheer for
their rival when they play the Alabama's, the Georgia's, the Floridas. Will
Oklahoma fans cheer for Texas when they're they got Georgia on the ropes? Well,
Texas fan cheer for Oklahoma and Alabama is in Norman. That's what I'm
curious about. Well, I mean because these two are going their brothers in
arms, brothers in arms going forward, and so we'll see what happens.
I'm really curious. But again it goes back to their trending in the right
way. It's not the Ou Texas of you know, of down years.
I think that's huge and I think that's good for both programs. Oh yeah,
certainly so. Uh, Eric, appreciate the time as always, my
friend, Uh, tell people where they can find you and see all the
work you're doing at Tulsa World. Bet Tulsa World dot com. That's where
you can get all our stuff. And I always say support low media.
I work with some of the best people out there, especially on the sports
staff. So uh, you know, you can always go to tuls the
World dot com. You can follow me at at Eric Bailey Kew. I'm
on Twitter all the time, it seems like, so check that out too.
And we have our own podcast, O You Sports Extra podcast too,
so I'm joined by Nason Young, the other O You Beat writer. We
do a couple podcasts, one during the week, one postgame podcast. So
we're staying busy, Tyler, just like you. I know you're busy down
in Dallas, so I stay just as busy as you do. But you
know what, we got the best job in the world, me and you
both. We got the best job in the world. It's it is the
best. Uh. We're lucky to do with what we do. And hope
you have a great time with Lawrence enjoying a Haskell with Ku and and saying
hi to Brent and everybody. For me, I certainly appreciate it. And
we'll talk in down the line. Thanks for joining us, Eric Hey,
thanks for having me on Tyler