Speaker 1: It is the Big twelve sec breakdown time of Joelsea
with your appreciate your judgments as we have a comprehensive
look at both the Big Twelve and Southeastern Conference season
this week. And there's several things I want to get
to on the breakdown of where we want to go
this week, And we always start with our hot takes,
and I gotta tell you where I want to go
with my hot take this week. There's plenty of things
I could I could choose from, but I want to
be at the defense of the Big Twelve for a
moment here, Okay, And if you look at the Ape Pole,
I believe there's four Big twelve teams that are ranked
TCU's twenty fourth, Iowa States thirteenth, by u's twenty fifth,
and then Texas Tech is twelve. And my hot take
this week, I'm gonna say the Big Twelve conference is
better than advertised. You got seven undefeated teams to start
the year, all right, They got the second most head
to head power four wins of any conference in the country.
All Right, let's let's chill for a moment on all
the Big twelve. Hey, it is easy to do in
this day and age when the SEC the Big ten
take all the attention and have all of these powerhouse
programs and everything.
Speaker 2: But let's not dismiss the Big twelve.
Speaker 1: I mean, Texas Tech dominates Utah last week and Barren
Morten was out in the second half and they didn't
didn't miss a beat. Okay, And I look at this league,
Texas Tech looks like the team to beat. Iowa State
looks pretty solid. But don't sleep on TCU. You b
Yu was still hanging around there. I think my Kansas
Jayhawks are a good football team, even though they lost
some maazoo at home on the road a couple of
weeks ago. Don't sell this league short. I think that
would be a major mistake to sell this conference short,
to say that they can't be a good conference, that
this isn't a league that can compete with the big dogs.
Speaker 2: And you look at that team.
Speaker 1: I think Texas Tech, in particular, what I saw on
Saturday on the road at Utah in a hostile environment
on big Noon Saturday, that team showed, Hey, we came
to play. And I've had my doubts about Joey maguire,
but the roster is no joke. They spent a lot
of money on that roster for a reason, folks.
Speaker 3: And with that.
Speaker 1: Said, watch Out, watch Out Texas Tech might be the
team that we're not talking about enough. It's ready to
make their case and go forward from here. All right,
let's talk about my Gundy now and his dismissal is
the Olahoba State head coach, and we'll have more on
this with Caden winning chuns is coming up in just
a bit. But first of all, I am surprised that
it happened when it did, not surprised that it happened.
Speaker 2: And let me tell you what I mean by that, folks.
Speaker 1: So if you watch the game on Friday night against Tulsa,
that was one of the most obvious dead men walking
things we've ever seen. I mean, even the DJ at
Boone Picktt Stadium knew what was up in the final
minutes of that game, playing the seth Rilands song from
the Wwe Burn It All Down. I don't know if
that DJ is still employed today or if he got
a raise, but he knew what was going on that
it was the end for Mike Gundy. And you know,
with that said, it was one of those things where
it had to happen where Oklahoma State.
Speaker 2: Needed to make a change.
Speaker 1: It was not I would say, the most graceful way
of going out, but it was something that needed to
be done. And we've heard conflicting reports. Robert Allen has
said that he was offered the chance to stay and
announce his retirement, but he wasn't for that. Chad Wiberg
the AD has refuted those reports. But nonetheless, they go
ahead and make this move now on a Tuesday, after
they had been prepping for the Baylor game since Saturday.
So all of that was strange, but you get the idea.
They go ahead and go through with this, and you
know it's not I deal the way it was done,
but I get it. I get it if you're Oklahoma State.
This is, as Chad Weiberg said multiple times his news
conference on Tuesday, a Pivol time twenty thirty is fastly
approaching with the new TV contracts, and that is when
realignment discussions are going to pop up again, and there's
talks of the Super League and all these things. And
if you're Oklahoma State, you don't have time to waste.
You got to put your best foot forward. And this
school that just a few years ago, was looked at
just behind Oklahoma and Texas in the Big Twelve that
most people thought that when Oklahoma and Texas left the
league that they were going to take the battle. They
were in the Big Twelve title game in Texas is
last year in this league, and look at where they
are now compared to the we're a couple of years ago.
They needed to get started on resetting this program and
getting to where they want to go. And here's the
thing I'll say this, Okay, Well, Oklahoma State made the
right decision to move on from Mike Gundy. They got
their work cut out for them, because here's the deal, folks.
They fired their coach on a Tuesday after giving Mike
Gundhy two press conferences when he said he had no
plans to leave the ad had no contract in place.
And we've heard reports that Weyberg has been extended, but
we don't know that officially just yet. And they owe
Mike Gandhy fifteen million dollars. While everybody's talked about that
they have struggled within IL Mike Gundy said that they've
had what seven million dollars to spend over the last
three years. Here clearly Oklahoma State has no direction here
that they have a tall hill to climb, a tall
mountain to get this program back on track. And I'm
not saying that they can't and that Oklahoma State won't
improve from here. The example I've used in the past
is look at TCU what they did when they moved
on from a legend and Gary Patterson, who had just
as impressive, if not even more of an impressive resume
than Mike Gundhy did. Okay, it can be done, but
it is a messy situation and I don't know how
attractive that job is right now. If I'm a head
coach looking at this, I'm saying, show me the money
are you gonna invest? Cause things have not been the
same since the great Tea Boone Pickings passed away. And
I know Oklahoma State fans aren't gonna want my advice,
but I'll give it to you anyway. And what I
would say is, when it comes to this coaching search
and finding the next guy, don't be locked in on
somebody with ties with this universe yad Know all the
talk has been about Zach Robinson, but I'll tell you this,
I like Zach. Zach's been on this show. He's a
good dude. There's nothing personal. It's just business here. But
that Falcons offense wasn't anything to ride home about last year,
and they sure as hell didn't look anything good, anything
worth the damn this past week against Carolina Panthers when
they were shutouts, And not all of that's on Zach Robinson.
Of course, Michael Pennix was missing wide open receivers and
he's a young quarterback. You know that those things are
gonna happen, so you take that all into account. But
I wouldn't say that you have to hire Zach. And
I don't even know if Zach wants to take that job,
because even if he gets fired as the Falcons offensive coordinator,
he'll land on his feet somewhere and he'll still be
on track to be an NFL head coach at some
point in time. Every coordinator, if they do a decent job,
gets that head coaching opportunity at some point. Ask Kevin
Moore got fired from the Cowboys and the Chargers goes
to the Eagles, they win the Super Bowl. All of
a sudden, he finds himself the New Orleans Saints head coach. So, well, Zach,
do you want to give up on the NFL dream.
It's a lot better to be an NFL head coach
than it is head coach at Oklahoma State. So not
to mention Zach's never coach college ball either, But whether
it's swinging swinging Big Dick to go after John Gruden
or at Orgeron, potentially, you know, maybe you go with
a young coach like a GJ. Kinney as a possibility.
Maybe you go with a hot shot coordinator in college
like Will Stint at Oregon. I've heard Ben R. Buckle's
name come up, the coordinator of Oklahoma. With that said,
I would cast a wide net and find the best
thing you possibly can. Maybe it's Colin Klein potentially at
Texas A and m whatever it may be. Cast a
wide net. Don't zero in your focus on Zack or
somebody with ties to Oklahoma State. You don't have to
ask somebody that has Oklahoma State ties to be successful
with that program. What's next for Mike could be TV.
I think he'd be fantastic at that. You know, I
doubt he is going to get another power for coaching job. Again,
I think it would be a group of six job.
One possibility I've thrown out there is maybe it's in
the UFL joined Bob Stooks and still do the TV thing. Potentially,
if Mike if Kale wants to join him to do
the coaching thing, there's still a job out there for him,
but it's probably not as good as the job he
had at Oklahoma State. And that's the reality of it.
So we'll see where things go from here. Oklahoma State's
a bit messy. I have even mentioned that the university
had a bit of a scandal a few months ago
where forty million dollars was unaccounted for and the university
president got kicked to the curb as a result of it.
So they have issues that are even bigger than football
over there in still Water. But that doesn't mean that
they can't overcome these things and be successful. But it's
gonna be a long path, and I don't know if
Chad Wiberg is the right man to lead the charge
as their athletic director either. I'm kind of surprised that
all signs point two he's coming back and he's staying
there at Oklahoma State. Meanwhile, John Mattier had surgery on
his thumb. Doctor Shine, thank you for your service For
taking care of John Matteer. How about John Mattier, folks,
Now the quote Chris Kllisford. Now here's a guy that
was playing through a thumb injury that he hurt in
the first quarter against Auburn and still played pretty well
and put together the game winning drive in the fourth
quarter with that injury.
Speaker 2: I mean, he's got some dog in him. Folks. That's
not easy to be done. Credit with credits, dude.
Speaker 1: John Matteer to be showing up and showed out the
way that he did to play through that. And now
we wait on the recovery process. And I've heard a
couple of different things that Matthew Stafford did something similar
and he was back within twelve days. Some people are
saying John Matteer could be out a month. We did
hear the surgery was successful. So all of that is
good for John Matteer. That points in the right direction,
but we ultimately don't know. What we do know is
that Michael Hawkins will take over for the time being.
He'll start the Kent State game, possibly the Texas game,
although OU fans, of course would love to have Michael
Hawkins out of there and John Matteer back for the
Texas game, but they do have the bye week this week,
so that will certainly help the Sooners in that regard.
With that said, I think if you're Oklahoma here, you
got to get the run game going, whether it's when
John Matteer's healthy or whether it's Michael Hawkins out there.
Like I don't understand what the hell's going on with
Jay not and why he's not getting more playing time,
but whatever it may be, they need to run the football.
And whether it's helping out Michael Hawkins or an injured
job Intier, they need to run the football. The defense
is there, the passing game is solid, but they struggle
to run the football. You even look at their blocking
assignments and that offensive line was cheeks last year. Okay,
they can pass block well, but they can't run block
worth a dam. And if you're gonna compete in the
SEC and go up against the competition they're about to face,
they have to be able to run the football. So
to me, that's I think the objective here over these
next few weeks, with the uncertainty at the quarterback position,
get that.
Speaker 2: Run game going. That's got to be the goal.
Speaker 1: A few of the Oklahoma Soenters is get the run
game going and then figure things else out from there,
because it's about to be a gauntlet coming up ahead,
and that's gonna be the key if Oklahoma is gonna
be a college football playoff threat, if they're gonna win
the SEC of the National Championship, the run game has
to be there, and that's the number one thing they
can do to help out John Mattier right now.
Speaker 2: We'll see where things go. Michael Hawkins has experience.
Speaker 1: We've seen him play decent at times, we've seen him
play not so great at times. But be that game
manager like we talked about with Daniel Jones. Run the football,
play good defense, and that'll be the best thing they
can do to help out Michael Hawkins as far as
that goes. But we'll see where the Sooners end up
going from here. The SEC announced their locked rivalries as
they go to a nine game schedule, and I gotta
tell you, I'm okay with what the SEC has done
with these locked rivalries.
Speaker 2: It seems pretty balanced.
Speaker 1: The toughest is for Texas, A and M and Arkansas
of what they have to go through getting Miszoo, LSU
and Texas.
Speaker 2: For those three schools.
Speaker 1: That isn't ideal, but everybody else I think got it
pretty good on that front of you know, what they
were handed, what they had to dealt with with these
these permanent rivals.
Speaker 2: I think it's a good system in place.
Speaker 1: You know, you do miss out on some unprotected rivalries. Uh,
you know we're not gonna have Alabama LSU anymore. That's
a shame, but you know, it kind of is what
it is. You know, you look at some of these
across the board. Uh, Oklahoma, there's been a lot made
about their schedule of how they got the short end
the stick with this tough schedule the first two years
in their league. Ole Miss, Texas in Missou that's manageable.
I know Ole Miss and MISSOUO are top two twenty
five programs right now, but that's not gonna be that
way forever. Okay, Texas is always going to be a
tough game. You can you can manage that year in
and year out. Arkansas getting Lsumazoo in Texas A and
m also getting LSU Mizoo in Texas.
Speaker 2: That's that's gonna be a gauntlet year in, year out.
Speaker 1: I'm much rather be facing Old Miss than I would
be LSU, and I think that's what Oklahoma's saying to
themselves Lane Kiffin when he comes out and says, you know, hey,
why are we playing Oklahoma. We don't have history with them,
our fan bases have nothing in common. That's not a
knock in Oklahoma. That's just reality that it's true and
not everything's gonna be perfect because certain teams want to
play certain teams. I think it's a better system than
what the Big Twelve is doing of only having four
protected rivalries period with the Holy War, the Territorial Cup,
the Sunflower Showdown, and TCU Baylor. You know we're not
gonna get Farmageddon every year anymore. That's a shame. This
is still a better system. You know, Auburn is gonna
get Alabama and Georgia and Vandy every year. Vandy is improved,
but you know, we'll see how long that lasts. You know,
Mississippi State's gonna get Bama and Old Miss every year
along with Vandy. You know, Old Miss gets their rival
in Mississippi State. LSU at Oklahoma, I mean, I think
they the hand they were dealt, they did what they
could to work with the situation. You protected some of
the best rivalries with Oklahoma, Texas with uh you know,
the Iron Bowl with Alabama and Auburn, with Florida Georgia.
Speaker 2: You protected those things.
Speaker 1: And I think that for the most part, not everybody's
gonna be happy, but you did what you could with
the situation. As far as that goes, it could have
been a lot worse.
Speaker 2: I'm okay with.
Speaker 1: What they did with these protected rivalries. Let's go through
the slate of games this week and the Big Twelve
and the SEC will fly through these real quick. Starting tonight,
TCU and Arizona State TCUs three to zero. Arizona State's
three and one. Arizona State last week with a game
winning field goal at Baylor, and it was Heyesius Gomez
that saved the day. Jesus saved the day for the
Devils last week TCU, I like what I've seen from Hoover.
You're going on the road here. I know Arizona State's favored,
but something tells me about TCU. I like what Hoover
and TCU were doing. I leaned towards TCU. There, Houston
takes on Oregon State. Oregon State, it's a bad football team.
Willie Fritz doing a really good job. They could be
the Arizona State of this year the Big twelve. I've
been very impressed with what they're doing and going with
that program from there. KU takes on Cincinnati on Saturday.
It's in eleven am kickoff, gonna be a sellout crowd.
The Jayhawks looked really good last week against West Virginia.
I expect more of the same from KU. I don't
think Cincinnati's that great. At two and one, I think
jayaln Daniels is playing fantastic. I like what they have
with their their defense. That was the best they've looked
all year last week against West Virginia. Watch out for
KU case State taking on UCF. How about Scott Fross's
team dominating win last week against Bill Belichick in UNC
at home? Now you travel to Manhattan here. This season
has gone off the rails for k State at one
in three. Something still tells me ky State here is
the team to pick. They're at home. They're still waiting
for the real KSE State to show up. I like
KSE State in a close game, Baylor taking out Oklahoma State.
Baylor's twenty and a half point favorites. Doug Meacham is
the interim head coach for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. I
don't think Doug Meacham is a very good coach at all.
I don't even think he's a very good coordinator. He
was awful at Kansas a decade ago, and they still
made him the OC and the interim head coach at
Oklahoma State.
Speaker 2: They got a lot of problems Baylor. Their two and two.
Speaker 1: Their season's not going the way that they had hoped,
losing games to Auburn and to Arizona State. But I
don't think they're gonna have any problems with Oklahoma State.
Utah taking out of West Virginia. West Virginia, you had
a good showing against Pitt and then you got shellacked
by Kansas. I mean West Virginia. They're gonna probably find
their way to five and seven or six and six
Utah look and get back on track. I think they'll
get that win on the road, Arizona taking on Iowa State.
Arizona's sitting there undefeated. I have criticized Brent Brennan a
lot on this program.
Speaker 2: That year. Last year, they were one of the.
Speaker 1: Most disappointing teams in the Big Twelve with Noah Fafida
and Tedoro McMillan.
Speaker 2: There was a lot to like about Arizona and they
did not show up last year. Was staked.
Speaker 1: That's a good football team, Rocko beck in company. They
got a lot of talent there. But they're playing everybody close.
I have every reason to think this would be a
close game, but I.
Speaker 2: Was States at home. I lean towards the Cyclones.
Speaker 1: BYU taking on Colorado, I don't know who the hell
is playing quarterback for Colorado. Deon can't seem to figure
that out. BYU Sataki's doing a good job. They're sitting
at three to zero. I like BYU to get things
done there with a win on the road in Boulder. Meanwhile,
in the SEC this week, Notre Dames taking on Arkansas.
Speaker 2: Could this be curtains for Sam Pittman. I think Notre Dame.
I know they're one and two, but they don't have
a bad loss.
Speaker 1: They lost close games to Miami and in Texas A
and m carr is getting better at that quarterback position.
Speaker 2: He's a young guy.
Speaker 1: I don't think this game is going to be close.
I think Notre Dame goes in there and inserts their
will and they have a statement win of sorts. Even
if Arkansas is not that great, this could be it
for Sam Pittman and this could be the end of
the road. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.
And Taylor Green is a good quarterback, That's what's hard
to figure out about Arkansas. You have the quarterback, but
you don't really have much beyond that. Vandy four and
oh Pavia's playing really good. We got to start paying
attention to Vandy. If we aren't already eighteenth in the country.
This is the best Fandy team maybe of our lifetimes here, folks,
they should handle business against Utah State, LSU and Old Miss.
Wrong team favored here? What have we seen from Ole
Miss that validates them being thirteenth in the country in
a one and a half point favorite LSU, they have
not played to their standard if what we expected coming
into twenty twenty five. But you still have the best
player in all of college football at Harold Perkins. Garrett Nussmeyer.
I'm still waiting to see more from him. I think
this is the day that LSU has their coming out
party of sorts. I like them to win this convincingly.
Texas A and M taking on Auburn. Hugh Free already
saying that A and M is a better team than Oklahoma.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 1: I like A and M debat Auburn here. I think
this is a close game, though Jackson Arnold got to
learn to throw the football. I don't think this is
the week that happens. I like what Colin Klein is
doing with that offense with Marcel Reid. I like A
and M at home, Tennessee taking on Mississippi State. Jeff
Levy quietly doing a good job there with the Mississippi State.
They're sitting at four and oh and got a nice
win against Arizona State. They should be ranked right now.
I don't know why they're not. Tennessee at three and one.
If Aguilar can avoid turning the football over, then Tennessee
can can do something here this season. They can potentially
make the playoffs. I like Tennessee on the road, Georgia
taking out Alabama. Bama's looked better since that loss to
Florida State Week one. Ty Simpson's played very well, but
George's offense showed me enough in that win against Tennessee.
And with what they've done with that offense, with how
they can score. I would be surprised if they lost
at home to Alabama here. I know Kirby's not that
good historically, speaking against the Crimson Tide and all that,
but they are the better team, They're the better coach team.
Speaker 2: They should win.
Speaker 1: Missoos should take care of UMass. South Carolina badly needs
a win against Kentucky. Sellers doesn't look right. I know
he got banged up a bit Kentucky two and one.
We'll see, but I think South Carolina's gonna be okay.
There's your look at the games in the Big twelve
in the SEC this week.
Speaker 2: More to come. Kate McFarland Joints is next.
Speaker 1: He's still working for you even at two News Oklahoma
and also the Sports Animal. It is our good friend,
the one and only Oklahoma sportscaster of the year. Cad
McFarlane is back on the program. What's the again, Cayden.
We've got a few things to talk about today.
Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, it's been a bit busy around here. Absolutely
good to be on with you, Tyler.
Speaker 1: Always Yes, Cayden, Let's start with the Mike Gundhy News.
I was visiting family in Tulsa this past week. On
my way to lunch with my mother and I get
the notification that Mike Gundy had been fired. In the
very first thing I did was turned on ninety seven
to one in the Sports Animal to listen to you
and coach Pat Jones while I was in my car,
and I could not believe it. Because Cayden, I think
that most of us are not surprised that Gundy got fired.
But it's the timing of this that this all unraveled
on Tuesday, when they had played on a Friday night
and had Saturday, Sunday Monday to make this move.
Speaker 2: Nothing happens Monday.
Speaker 1: You sit here and assume, Oh, okay, I guess Gundy
lives to see it another day.
Speaker 2: In the words of a leak, corso not so fast.
Speaker 4: My friend.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm with you.
Speaker 4: I thought it makes it look like that athletic department
has no idea what it's doing. I do not believe
Chad Weiberg's explanation that you know, there's a whole bunch
of paperwork or you know, ducks to put in a
row before you actually make this move. I just don't
believe it. To me, they should have made the move
on Saturday. If this is what they were thinking. And
it tells me that Mike probably said something in that
press conference on Monday that upset the powers that be,
And what he said in that press conference on Monday
that's surprised I think a lot of us is. He
spoke openly and frankly about wanting to be Oklahoma States
head coach basically for.
Speaker 3: The duration of his contract.
Speaker 4: He wanted every dime of that money, if you will,
And I think that that bothered some people who I'm
just assuming thought that they had made it clear to
him that this would be his final season and he
would maybe have a little bit of leeway to determine
what that would look like. And his press conference on
Monday obviously think, oh, I don't want to say gave
the I was going to say the middle gave him
the middle finger. That's probably a little crude, but you know,
basically said nope, we are not on the same page here.
Speaker 3: Now. I know that there are people, you know, Chad Weiberg.
Speaker 4: And his press conference basically denied that Mike was you know,
sort of a not really a report, but just the
conjecture out there that Mike was given the opportunity to
see this season to its conclusion and then would step
aside said that was not an option for Mike. But
that could all be semantics if you just connect the
dots or read the tea leaves. To me, he said
something in that Monday press conference that ended up in
this being a move that was made on Tuesday. Now,
I will say this, Tyler, and I've said this several
times on radio sins. I'm relieved, and I hope that
Mike Gundy's relieved the thought of this legend having to
coach this particular Oklahoma State squad by far the worst
he's ever had for nine more games and maybe not
straight losses, which would bring his big twelve losing streak
at what would have been the end of his tenure
to eighteen games. I just I couldn't stomach the thought
of it. I'm relieved it happened. I think it is
probably the right move, and there's never a good time
for it. It's a painful thing, but in very short
order he'll have a statue up there as long as
he's okay with it. As soon as Mike is ready
to be embraced by this fan base, this fan base
will embrace him because the work he does has done
is exceptional. I've said for years and years, Other than
maybe Nick Saban or Urban Meyer, I don't think anybody
in the country could have done better work in Stillwater,
Oklahoma than what he's done. So he is a legend,
he is a college Football Hall of Famer.
Speaker 3: There's nothing to be ashamed of.
Speaker 2: I'd had Bill Snyder, sure.
Speaker 3: Yeah, well yeah, sure yeah.
Speaker 4: Bill Snyder in his prime probably could have done something comparable.
But you know what I'm saying, there are very few
guys who could have done the job he did over
two decades in Stillwater that should be celebrated. It got
away from him. The reboot was no good at all.
I'm glad I don't have to watch my Gundy coach
this team nine more times.
Speaker 1: The common theme, you know, never a good time. And
you know, Caden, college football's changed so much. There was
this mindset for many years of that, you know, hey,
for your legends, there's a way to do this when
it comes to either letting the season play out or
go out in their own terms and all that. But
I think we're where Chad Weiberg has something right here,
is that there is a lot at stake right now.
Twenty thirty is around the corner when these TV contracts
and granted rights are up, and we don't know what
the direction of the sport is going to be. We
don't even know what it's going to look like tomorrow,
let alone in twenty thirty. And when you talk about
these conferences and you know this idea of the Super
League and whatever it may be, Oklahoma State cannot be
waiting around. They have to put themselves in their best
position to succeed. And if Mike wasn't going to be
their answer for the future going forward, just go ahead
and rip that band aid off now and get this
thing going. When it comes to this coaching search, and
then when the recruiting process and the transfer portal and
all that, I don't even think Kayden, that they're necessarily
even getting a head start compared to their competition when
it comes to this coaching search. I think this is
more about Oklahoma State getting their ducks in a row
compared to everybody else here.
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's unbecoming that college foot the timeline of a
college football season and to rebuild a program is what
it is. But look, college football has nobody to blame
but itself for this. The transfer that like next year's
rosters will be reshaped in December. Basically by December. You've
got to be doing that recruiting now, even though it's
not technically supposed to be done. I think I saw
this week that the top seven teams and the portal
rankings from last year are off to a twenty seven
and zero start collectively.
Speaker 3: I think that's what I saw.
Speaker 4: You know, Texas Tech, Florida State, those kinds of teams.
Oklahoma State, It's roster right now is by far the
worst I have ever seen. They have got to remake
that thing radically, and you're gonna do that in the portal.
You need a team that's ready to do that. You
need to do that as soon as you possibly can.
Will see if Oklahoma State can pull it off. But absolutely,
if Mike Gundy is not the future of this program,
it is better to cut the even though he's a legend,
even though it's been twenty one years, it's better to
cut him loose now and start working towards the future.
Speaker 3: So yeah, that is a no brainer in my mind.
Speaker 4: And I know that a lot of folks, a lot
of old school folks, see that very differently. My co
host Pat Jones certainly sees that very different. Seems to
think that it's it's disrespectful, it's unbecoming to treat a
legend this way. And I'd simply say, Mike, he made
a ton of money. I mean, he did great work.
He is the most consequential cowboy of all time. He
has done more for that program than anybody ever and
it's not even close. But he was well compensated for it.
You know, who knows how much money he made over
the course of his career, fifty million dollars. Probably he's
walking away, I think with fifteen here he was, as
they say in The Godfather, this is the life we
have chosen.
Speaker 3: This is the life he chose.
Speaker 4: And so you know, at the end of the day,
when you feel a team like that, it results in
being fired. In September, he still gets a ton of
money and will be regarded as the greatest cowboy of
all time already is and will be received that way
as soon as he wants to be received that way.
So I just I have a hard time trying myself
to sleep over what was an ugly end. I mean,
it's one of the what's the quote from the movie cocktail.
You know, everything ends badly, otherwise it wouldn't end there.
You go, That's what it is for Oklahoma State.
Speaker 3: Myke Gundy. It had to end it some time. I
got no problem with it being in September.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm with you one hundred percent.
Speaker 1: So now to find his replacements, you know, there's a
couple of things that are standing in Oklahoma State's way.
Speaker 2: One of the obvious is funding.
Speaker 1: And I hear Oklahoma State people quick to point to
Mike Gundy being the problem of why there wasn't the
nil money that they had hoped for, And there may
be some truth to that, but I don't think that tomorrow,
all of a sudden, we're gonna be talking about Oklahoma
State having the money that schools like Texas Tech and
Kansas do even within their own league. So that that's
obviously something there. And then you're just trying to rebuild
a roster and you know, put together something to compete
on the football field. Here. Whoever this next coach is, uh,
it's gonna have to be somebody that's in for the
long haul because they got their work cut out for them.
Mike Gundy is certainly leaving this program a lot better
than he found it. But there's a lot of work.
Speaker 3: To be done. Oh, it's an extreme makeover is needed.
You know.
Speaker 4: It's interesting you mentioned Kansas, certainly with Texas Tech because
of Cody Campbell and the money that he's willing to commit.
I would certainly say those guys are out in front
of everybody in the Big twelve. I don't know that
Oklahoma State can't get into the same ballpark with you know,
somebody like the University of Kansas. You know what we
had heard in this offseason, and Chad Wiberg referenced it
in his press conference on Tuesday, This is not an
inexpensive roster, even though it has played like it through
three games. They're paying good money to the players this
year and that is a departure from what they had
done in recent years. Got you mentioned that it was
seven million dollars over the course of the last three seasons.
I think, but they've they've upped that a good bit.
And there were some boosters who were so disillusioned with
Mike that they were withholding money. I think that there
is money to tap into now that now that the
Gundhi era has come to a close. I'll be very
interested to see I don't know the answer quite frankly,
but I'll be very interested as interested to see where
a motivated Oklahoma State ends up in the Big Twelve.
Speaker 3: With regard to the kind of money they're spending.
Speaker 4: I mean, I guess we know they've they've said over
and over again they're gonna opt into the revenue sharing
fully at twenty and a half million dollars in fifteen
or sixteen of that'll go to football. So if that's
good enough to be, you know, right up there with
the leaders in the Big twelve. It is.
Speaker 3: Now that's just saying something.
Speaker 4: Just because you've said it, doesn't mean it's actually happened
and you have the dollars in your hand and you're
writing those checks yet. But I do believe Oklahoma State,
Chad Weiberg especially, is determined to do exactly that. So
I think Oklahoma State's gonna play in that that end
of the pool that you know, Texas.
Speaker 3: Tech is out in front of everybody else.
Speaker 4: But I think they're gonna get up near the top
of the Big twelve, and they will certainly need to.
To your point, I mean, an extreme makeover is needed.
You know, one thing that's that's interesting to me with
regard to this current moment in college football. Texas Tech
was down for about a decade post Mike Leach, you know,
Tommy Tubber, Bill and Cliff Kingsbury, Matt Wells. There was
one disappointment after another, not that it was all bad,
but you know, they were finishing near the bottom of the.
Speaker 3: Big twelve year after year.
Speaker 4: Oklahoma State, meanwhile, these were their glory days, right, It
was a golden age. And because college football got turned
upside down in the nil portal world, it's interesting to
me that Texas Tech was like advantaged by that. They
were in a moment where they were desperate already and
they saw the nil portal thing as an opportunity and
they acted as such.
Speaker 3: And Oklahoma State, I think Mike Gundhy especially saw it.
Speaker 4: As an annoyance, you know what I mean. And it's
hard to blame them because, like what business in America
or anywhere that successful over a long period of time
for fifteen or twenty years is willing to say, you
know what, things are changing a little bit out there.
Speaker 3: How about we just do about face and turn our
back on everything.
Speaker 4: That made us successful for the last decade plus and
do things really differently. It's interesting to me that the
programs that struggled were motivated enough that it was it
was better that they struggled than it was for you know,
other programs that had had success. In this very unique moment,
Oklahoma State now is in the position Texas Tech was
in before. Like, if you look yourself in the mirror,
you know, we got to change what we're doing. They did,
you know, getting rid of Mike Gundy, which was a
hard thing to do. I'm not so sure that the
Cowboys don't have the donors to turn this thing around
in relatively short order, because we have seen that happen
in college football in the portal era.
Speaker 3: So we'll see. I don't think it'll be easy, but
I think it can be done. Yeah.
Speaker 1: With that said, who are some of the candidates that
come to mind for you that you think would be
a potential good fit for the Cowboys.
Speaker 4: Yeah, all the name teams that are out there and
have been out there for a while are probably worth listening.
Speaker 3: At this point.
Speaker 4: I do think that there are Oklahoma State people who
really want Zach Robinson. There's no doubt that there are
some really important players in this decision makers who have
Zach Robinson at the very top of their list, I
don't necessarily agree. I would rather have somebody who's been
in the college football game for the last several years,
because it's changed so much since Zach played college ball.
Speaker 3: But I get it, man, he's one of yours.
Speaker 4: You just had incredible success with the former Cowboy quarterback
who was sharp. Zach is that he's done so well
for himself in the NFL at this young age, should
be an offensive coordinator if you.
Speaker 3: Could get him. I think there is a lot to like.
Speaker 4: I kind of like somebody who's been in the college
game here more recently throughout the name Ben Arbuckle before
he ever.
Speaker 3: Coached a game for the Sooners. You just see it.
I know. He's really really young.
Speaker 4: He's not quite at the level I think Lincoln Riley
was when the Sooners promoted him to head coach, but
just feels like a really good fit for Stillwater, Texas
native gets the region, probably understands that job. The offense,
the quarterbacks. I mean, guy who's coach cam Ward and
John Mattier. You feel really good about the most important
position on the field.
Speaker 3: GJ.
Speaker 4: Kenney is maybe an even better candidate that than that,
because of what he's been able to do as a
head coach of both Incarnate Word and Texas State. You know,
another Texas native, his dad was a coach down there.
I think that's probably the most important thing those deep
Texas recruiting ties. But then also, you know played up
here in the state of Oklahoma at TU SO A
lot of the same names that you've heard bandied about
I think are all good. I think there's no shortage
of really interesting names. Alex Golashit at USF, who's done
some good work already this season, was a GA at
Oklahoma State years ago. Some of the other guys who
would otherwise be really interesting names like Todd Monkin or
Jim Knowles, and I think both of those guys.
Speaker 3: Could be very interested in the job.
Speaker 4: I think probably just too old for this moment in
college football, and I hate saying that it's unfortunate, but
it feels to me like a prerequisite for this job
needs to be young and energetic. I'm not sure either
one of those guys are a perfect fit at this
moment in college football history. So I like just about
every name I've mentioned for different reasons. If you're asking
me who I like the very most you know at
this moment, to me, the betting favorite GJ.
Speaker 3: Kenny, if you could get him and knowing.
Speaker 4: Him a little bit, I think that checks just about
every box. But I think there are other guys who
come close too, So I think I think the Oklahoma
State job is desirable for a lot of reasons. They've
paid Mike really well. I think they'll pay the next
coach well. I do think there are enough donors who
are motivated that you'll have a fighting chance. If you
know what you're doing in the portal, you can turn
this thing around in relatively short order. But Gjkenny probably
sits in number one for me right now.
Speaker 1: What about what's next for Mike? I know that the
media opportunities are going to be endless withther it's ESPN
or Fox or who you name it. He's gonna have
plenty of chances there. I know he's been outspoken politically,
and there is a governor election in Oklahoma coming up soon. There's,
of course the chance to get back into coaching, and
I know you've talked to Cale about that. What do
you see what's next for Mike Gundy potentially.
Speaker 4: Yeah, there's always a little bit of double speak when
it comes to Mike. On media day in Stillwater earlier
this year, right before they started preseason practice, he told
us that after his time at Oklahoma State was done,
he thought he would get into TV, And so I've
had that in the back of my mind for weeks
and then out of nowhere, on the day he's fired,
Kal Gundhy tells Brett McMurphy he wants to coach again.
And I heard this from a couple other people in
Stillwater as well when I was down there for the
Whiteberg press conference. He wants to coach again, and I'm
coming with him, is what Cale said. So I don't
know what to make of that. If Gundy decides to
coach again. It's interesting to try and wrap your mind around, Okay,
where Yeah, I mean, typically in coaching, you want to
get the very best job you can, and when you're
a maid man like Gundhy, who probably should be a
college Football Hall of Famer, you would think he'd be
angling for something really high up in the power for
maybe even like a University of Arkansas. Looks like that's
probably gonna come open. But I just can't imagine at
age fifty eight. I mean, we saw it at Oklahoma
State that this guy is properly motivated to do it
at you know, and let's say the most competitive conference
in the country, like the SEC, you know, the recruiting game,
I just don't see it. There's something to be said
for a fresh start, and I would never bet against
the guy because he is just he is such a
fine coach in so many ways. But like I just
said about Todd Monkin and Jim Knowles, I just it's
a little too old, you know.
Speaker 3: And Tyler.
Speaker 4: Actually Jerry Ostrosky, who joins us on The Sports Animal,
brought this up just today.
Speaker 3: He said, Okay, Mike's gone.
Speaker 4: Look at college football right now, the Power four jobs.
Speaker 3: Who's the next guy.
Speaker 4: Who's a little bit old school, who's going to be
run off because of the changes in the landscape. And
obviously Dabo Swinney comes to mind, maybe even Kirk Farrence.
But here's here's the takeaway from me, Tyler's I tried
to answer that question and went through the Power for programs.
There's almost nobody left and this has happened in almost
no time, you know, Nick Saban resigned just a little
over a year and a half ago. There's almost nobody almost.
If you go through almost every powerful job, the coach
who's there is either pretty young or seems like the
kind of guy who's willing to roll with the nil
transfer portal punches. There's been a purge, you know, in
the old school guys, and Mike Gundhy was kind of
a last of the Mohicans, so I almost think he
would settle in kind of like Frank Solich did post
Nebraska and he took the Ohio job and did good
work in the.
Speaker 3: MAC for a long time.
Speaker 4: If Mike really really wants to coach, I almost wondering
if he wouldn't settle in eventually at like a Tulsa something,
you know, at that level place regionally where he was
comfortable and in a program where it's not the insane
competitive recruiting landscape that you have in the SEC or
Big ten at one of those really big jobs. Now
tu is tough too, because anytime you recruit, you find
and recruit a good player, somebody's gonna steal him from you.
I mean, that's just that's what that is now. So
I hope he goes to TV is ultimately the what
I'm coming to with this answer. I think he's a
great fit for it. I don't know how or where
ESPN would use him immediately, but I think he would
be good immediately, and I think he would be so
good that he would have the potential. I know that
Nick Saban's sort of in that role now. He would
have the potential to kind of be their next league.
Corso I see the personality. I see, you know, just
he's that smart, he's that witty, he's that he's willing
to be silly. I would love to see Mike go
into TV in a big spot and kind of be
groomed for that sort of thing, because I think he
could have a fifteen or twenty year run, make a
ton of money, raise his profile even more, live a
life that's a little more stress free, have some fun
with it. I think he'd be great in TV if
he wants to coach, by all means, go at it,
do the best he can wherever. I wouldn't bet against him,
but I'm hoping for TV personally.
Speaker 2: Yeah, TV would be fun.
Speaker 1: And you have to wonder as well, if he gets
back into coaching, what does that mean, for his buyout situation,
would he would that take away his pay? Would he
essentially be working for free somewhere? And you know, one
thing that I thought of was if he doesn't want
to deal with Nil and all that, look at a
guy that was in his own leg for a long time,
Bopol and he had a decent run at Youngstown State
there for a bit.
Speaker 2: Yeah like that.
Speaker 1: You know, if you put him at a you know,
like a Lamar or something, you know, something in this area,
you know, I mean, he could do very well there,
make a name for himself, compete with the likes of
the North Dakota States of the world or something like
that potentially, So who knows.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I as much as Lamar and.
Speaker 4: Mike Gundy is jarring to here, I actually think there's
a better chance of that than I do. Mike Gundy
takes some big job in the SEC and tries to
go toe to toe with these guys in this landscape.
I mean, yeah, I just don't see it.
Speaker 2: There's a world too.
Speaker 1: I was thinking of game where he follows Bob stoops
and does the TV thing and then coaches in the UFL.
Speaker 2: And in the springtime.
Speaker 3: That pretty good thoughts all the.
Speaker 2: Juice they can. Let's bring back bettal on that.
Speaker 3: Way pretty good thought.
Speaker 4: Had not considered that, but and I have no idea
what Spring league will still be alive come next spring.
Speaker 3: But that's that's not a bad thought.
Speaker 4: You kind of wait and for Bob stoops, it appears
to be a nice way to to scratch that itch competitively.
And I'm telling you, if this guy threw himself into TV,
I just don't see how he would be a home run.
Speaker 3: Higher for ESPN. I think he'd be awesome.
Speaker 1: Yeah, let's shift gears head to Norman. Now, did doctor
shen fully save John Mittier?
Speaker 3: Here?
Speaker 4: You know what's so great? I have caught wind of
at least some of that. I get one day off
a week.
Speaker 2: This was that day.
Speaker 4: I've tried to stay off social media a little more
than I typically do, but my goodness, some of that
stuff is funny and it is It's a great reminder
that the University of Oklahoma fan base was more sec
ready than probably most of those folks down in the
Southeast thought. And last year's six and seven season kind
of took away their stinger for a little bit, and
so they weren't able to showcase it. But this is
a big time fan base that loves its team, loves
to have some fun online. Lincoln Riley and the Lincoln
Riley era were a big part of that. What great fun.
There were obviously a lot of really good ones. You know,
Shinn touching the play like a champion today signed, Yes,
probably my favorite just because it's Switzer. Was you know,
Switzer being carried off after the eighty five Orange Bowl
where they won a national championship, and you have Shin's
face in place of Switzers.
Speaker 3: Some good stuff there. Yeah.
Speaker 4: I don't know that I can ever remember a sports
team sending out a press release about an unsuccessful surgery,
so of course you knew it was coming at some point.
Successful surgery for John Mattier there in California. I don't
know if he'll be back for the Texas game. I
think he's gonna make every effort. I wouldn't bet against
him even if he misses the Texas game.
Speaker 3: One. That defense is good enough that with Michael Hawkins junior.
Speaker 4: They can beat Texas. And to Tyler and I think
you'll agree with this, they are going. It will be
one of those things that's added on to the end
of every argument people make for OU as a playoff
contender if they happen to go let's say nine to
three at the end of the year with the loss
to Texas.
Speaker 3: Oh, by the way, they.
Speaker 4: Bustin Texas, but it was without John Mattier. I mean,
it will be a loss, it will go on the record,
but it won't be like a full loss. It'll be
more like half a loss. That's not the worst thing
in the world to have that card to play at
the end of the year. And as you look at
their schedule now, they're not going to be an underdog
in nearly as many games as we thought preseason. And hey,
they they might find a way to go ten and two,
eleven and one something like that. Anyway, and all of
this will be moot. But I think that this team,
even without John Mattier, is capable of winning in any
one game situation, any game on that.
Speaker 3: Schedule going forward. The defense has been that good.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that defense has been phenomenal.
Speaker 1: I was at the Auburn game this past weekend, Cayden,
and you know, looking at that offense, John Mattier is
so good, but with a lack of run game there
I wonder, you know, what does that kind of limit
things for Oklahoma when you see their upcoming schedule, how
hard it's about to get. Materier's gonna get back at
some point. Sure, But to me, like I see a
team that looks like they compete, they can compete, but
I wonder how much how far they can go if
they don't get this run game figured out.
Speaker 3: Yeah, the offense has got to get better. There's no
question about that.
Speaker 4: They're not winning a national championship playing the way they've
had to play against Michigan and Auburn. The offensive line
has been banged up, so I think that that offensive
line will naturally get better.
Speaker 3: How much better can they get? Is, you know an
interesting question.
Speaker 4: Their offensive line and its ceiling does not look like
the kind of ceiling that you expect from a national
championship contender. Just when I look around the country at
the teams I think are the best, doesn't seem like
they quite match up there. Obviously, it appears that they're
not elite at the running back position. If we ever
do see j not you know, healthy both mentally and physically,
version maybe we change out our minds.
Speaker 3: So far, they've been far from elite at the running.
Speaker 4: Back position and not great at receiver either, But Javanni
Gibson is back in practicing and expected to play against
Ken States, So I think that at every single position
they can make some pretty steady improvement offensively, and I
don't think they have to come very far.
Speaker 3: If this defense stays healthy and continues to play at.
Speaker 4: The level it is, it looks to me like a
top five, maybe even top three defense. And when you've
got that going for you, plus John Mattier, at the
very least, you're in I'd say just about every game.
You know, unless you just lay lay in a you
are in every single game. Doesn't guarantee you're gonna win.
It doesn't mean that you're the best team in the country.
But they are in that mix among seven eight to
nine teams at the top because of what that defensive
line can do, which is absolutely dominate, and because of
what John Mattier can do, which is mostly not only
run Ben Arbuckles offense pretty deftly, but also take plays
that for almost any other quarterback would.
Speaker 3: End up being a negative.
Speaker 4: And now we have to pun and flip that and
make a play out of it, you know, and just
what we saw in the Auburn game where you know,
when the Chips were down and they went down in
the fourth quarter, he had the goods. I think he's
that guy. I'm not I'm not gonna sit here and
say he's the best quarterback in the country like so
many people. I'm not sure I see him as a
Heisman favorite like others have.
Speaker 3: But he's really really good.
Speaker 4: And when you put him alongside that defense, they are
going to be tough for anybody to beat.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, no question about it.
Speaker 1: I love what that defense has done. Our Mason Thomas
looks like a first round pick. To me, I've been
very impressed with him. I mean, with all that said,
you know, there was there was a lot of pressure
on print Vitible's entering twenty twenty five and they've gotten
off to this undefeated start, and we mentioned the schedules
gonna get tougher here. What's kind of your thoughts what
we've seen from Brent. I would be surprised, Kde at
this point if this goes off the rails. I think
that we're looking at Brent Vinibles doing at least enough
anyway to be back in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3: What's say you, Yeah, I'm really happy for him, almost
without question.
Speaker 4: He's back in twenty six, probably twenty seven. He's given
himself a new lease on life here. You know, his
most important coaching still lies ahead. Michigan and Auburn are
good teams, they are not great teams. And both of
those games were at home, and if those games had
been played on the road, you know, I'm not so
sure that they win either one of them. Texas is
going to be a huge game, as it always is.
So we should not be putting together hard, fast opinions.
We should not be writing anything in ink with regard
to what we think of Brent Vnable's four games into
this season. But you are beginning to see it, right,
You're beginning to see it. This defense, and he's done
this everywhere. I mean, he gets the ultimate benefit of
the doubt when it comes to defense, going back to
when he was co defensive coordinator at ou and then
became the defensive or, and then the work he did
at Clemson for a decade, this is what this guy does.
Nobody can match his resume over the last twenty five
years in college football as a defensive coach and he's
doing it again, and this one has the look of,
you know, it's comparable I think some of the National
championship units he had at Clemson, and they are that
good upfront, and when you've got that box checked, you
don't need much more than a good quarterback on the
other side.
Speaker 3: And so you can see the path. Now.
Speaker 4: There are still some questions about in game management and
you know, the ability to let's say, play with consistency,
but they've certainly done a better job of that here.
In twenty twenty five, we'll see what they do against
maybe the toughest back end of the schedule in the
entire country coming down the stretch. But there's no reason
to knock printvtables at this moment in time. I don't
know that you need to say he's going to be
the guy for the next ten or twelve years. He's
about to go on an unbelievable run. I still have
to see a little bit more, But mostly I just
feel really good for him because I think he's a
guy who's about the right things, does it in.
Speaker 3: The right way. Took his lumps with the two seven lost.
Speaker 4: Seasons in his first three years, and credit to Joe
Costiglione for sticking with him, for the University of Oklahoma
for sticking with him and supporting him, you know, coming alongside.
Speaker 3: Even you know, the hiring of Jim Naggy.
Speaker 4: I'd love to give Brent Bvinnables truth serum and know
exactly what he thought of that.
Speaker 3: And by the way, I think it.
Speaker 4: Is interesting, you know, Brent Bevinnables brought in Ben Rbuckle
and John Matteer, Jim Naggy brought in Jade Knot and
not getting on the field early in this season and
them jumping into the top ten with good wins over
Michigan and Auburn. Almost wonder if Brent doesn't take a
little satisfaction in being able to, you know, sit back
and say to himself, he can't give Jim Naggy much
credit for this, right, I mean, this is my doing.
This team that's out on the field that looks like
a legit playoff or national championship contender.
Speaker 3: I did this, you know.
Speaker 4: I was able to weather the storm, you know of
last year's seven lost season. So I feel really good
for Brent Vnables. I think this season will end up
in the playoffs and ultimately be successful. I don't think
they're probably good enough to win a national championship. But
this is one of the rare years in my lifetime
watching college football, certainly in the last fifteen twenty years,
where it's more wide open and it will be about
just which team gets hot in December and January. And
if this team is healthy and hole on the defensive side,
they're going to be tough to beat by anybody anywhere.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and the Jayden Odd situation that you brought up, Cayden,
what's going on there? What have you heard of.
Speaker 1: Why we're not seeing him on the football field hardly
at all? With all that money he was being paid
and with his track record at Cal, have you heard
the intel of what the situation is?
Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, solar jury in camp and I'm not
sure what else he might have been nursing.
Speaker 4: You know, last year, his draft stock really took a
hit because of the injury he had, I think to
his ankle, but did injuries that he had, you know,
last season, and that precipitated the move to OU. And
I think, you know, especially at the running back position,
where you know that you only have so many carries
and the shelf life is shorter in the NFL than
it is for any other position. I think he was
concerned and maybe just did not see his path back
onto the field and the timeline for it in quite
the same way that that Ou coaches did. And you know,
I don't know if that's all water under the bridge at.
Speaker 3: This point or not. When he has had his chances,
he hasn't made much of an impact.
Speaker 4: I'm not here to say that that's going to remain
the case forever. He might end up, you know, the
Texas game would be a grand time to do it. Frankly,
he might end up being a guy who helps this
offense graduate to another level in short order. You saw
what he did just a couple of years ago when
he was an All Pack twelve running back. I think
it's all still there, and maybe ultimately it's not the
worst thing in the world that you've been able to
get you a third of the way through the season
with very little tread on the tire from this guy
who is who is thought to be, I think, your
most talented running back. So I don't know, there's a
lot of conjecture there. I'm not here to say what
the situation exactly is or isn't. But I'm certainly not
out on Jade, not at this juncture either. But here's
the thing. Look, if there is reason to be out
on him, either his body is not allowing him to
do it or his mind just isn't where it needs
to be to do it. Even if that's the case,
I think that Tory Blaylock probably has enough game. Savior Robinson,
when fully healthy, probably has enough game for this offense
to play better in this running game, to.
Speaker 3: Be better than what we've seen through four games. Now.
I'm not saying they can be one of the best
in the country. That's not what I have in mind.
Speaker 4: But with the running quarterback in John Mattia and in
an air raid offense, I don't know that they need
to be that much better than what they've been to
still be a handful for teams. So I think they're
capable of getting where they need to get to to
win games in the SEC, you know, and win enough
games to make the playoffs.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it'd be a lot of fun to see how
that plays out with this Oklahoma team. And seems like
there's some real energy and real juice in this program too.
That game I was at Saturday was allowed. Us have
been at Memortgage Stadium in a long time. With how
that all played out, Kin, we mentioned everything going on
with OU and OSU, This is got to be an
exciting time for you. Imagine the Thunder getting ready to
start their title defense. You got two top fifty teams
in the state of Oklahoma in Green Country on the
high school football side of things.
Speaker 2: So much going on here.
Speaker 4: Yeah, we got Jenks and Bixby going at it in
the district opener on Friday, which isnumber one versus number two,
both undefeated teams. I assume they're the two in the
top fifty national rankings you're talking about.
Speaker 3: We have Thunder Media Day coming on Monday, so that's here.
NBC is back in the NBA business, and we've got
a handful of Thunder games. You know that we'll be
going to and doing pregame.
Speaker 4: Shows four So, I honestly, I don't know if there's
a time to compare it to. I mean the Thunder
NBA champions which in and of itself puts the state
of Oklahoma athletics scene in a place that it's just
simply never been. Oklahoma football is suddenly back surging and
back you know, Gundhy being fired as a bummer, but
it's at least interesting and something to talk about. And
Tulsa beating OSU in Stillwater for the first time since
nineteen fifty one is interesting.
Speaker 3: And Trey Lamb is a guy that you know, makes
tu more of a talking point than it's been here
in recent seasons.
Speaker 4: So it's a heck of a fall man, I'm staying.
I know that may be busier than I want to
be in a lot of ways, but it's good work.
Speaker 3: It's fun, no question.
Speaker 1: So kayden, I got a free Friday night here, So
you're telling me I need to make my way over
this this Bigsby Jicks game, then.
Speaker 3: No question, no question. And here's the thing I'm not.
Speaker 4: I'm not going to be that guy who comes up
with Vegas lines for a high school game. But let's
just say I think most people who watch it would
have Bixby instilled as a double digit favorite against anybody
in the state home or away. Yeah, but Jinks has
an opportunity to surprise some of us, and in different spots.
Jinks is the team that has been able to rise
up and play these guys closer than others, even when
they appear outmanned, they don't appear greatly outmanned. This Jinks
team has looked good and the running game is really good.
Riley Kester offensive lineman who's on his way to TU
Kadie Jones who just decommitted from OSU keewan Son. They
are feeding him, getting the ball to him more often
and in more creative ways than they had in the
previous two seasons. He's a handful, but he's going up
against a defense that I think is the most star
studded that Bixby has had, and probably overall this team
is the best that Lauren Montgomery has had. So Jenks
even keeping this thing close enough that we can all,
you know, dream about the possibility of them meeting again
in the state championship game and it being a really
close game.
Speaker 3: That would be fun. James pulling the upset is a
very different thing.
Speaker 4: So yes, yeah, you need to get to Jenks and
look Bixby's entire back seven. It seems like it's going
to play Big twelve football.
Speaker 3: Cor Nolan's going.
Speaker 4: To Texas Tech, McLoughlin was committed to OSU. You've got
a kid going to West Virginia Presley. Braden Presley was
committed to OSU maybe still is. They are spectacular on
the back end, and you know what Bixby is upfront,
you know, offensive and defensive lines.
Speaker 3: But James is really good too.
Speaker 4: You know, and that obviously starts with Katie Jones. And
they've had good quarterback play as well from Landing Kazars.
So you know, new head coach and Adam Gaylor, who's
a defensive guy, and on the other side, Laura Montgomery,
who's an offensive guy. It's a fun matchup, no question.
If you're in town, come on down and say hello
to me.
Speaker 1: Okay, continuing to work for you and giving us everything
we need to know. Ked McFarland here on the program
this week. Kid. Always a pleasure, my friend, when we
get the chance to catch up plug away where people
can see everything going on with you on social media
and Channel two and all that stuff before we go.
Speaker 4: Then AJH dot com the YouTube page, just search kjrh
at Kate and MC on Twitter or x. I don't
do the Instagram thing like I should not yet anyway,
I'll get there, but all over Twitter active on Twitter
at Kate and MC give me a follow, and Tyler
always enjoyed chatting with you.
Speaker 3: Man appreciate it.