Since Dan Beebe’s firing from the Big XII last year, the conference has had an interim in Chuck Neinas, who was once the Big Eight Commish. According to the AP, the Big XII now has a new head honcho name Bob Bowlsby. Bowlsby is the current Athletic Director at Stanford.

The Big XII has ended up being the little conference that could. Many people thought that it was headed for a certain death when 4 schools decided to depart in a two year span. Nebraska and Colorado first, then Texas A&M and Missouri. With West Virginia and TCU joining this Summer, and now all the conference realignment chatter, it looks like the Big XII will make it to 12 teams again. Beebe gone has made a major difference (so far). The Big XII is not only looking to keep expanding, they are reportedly in talks with ESPN for a conference television deal.

Bob Bowlsby

Who is Bob Bowlsby? He was the Athletic Director Northern Iowa and then Iowa before taking the job at Stanford. He also served on the NCAA Basketball selection committee in 2006, as well as the being a part of the United States Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Apparently Bowlsby and Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops have somewhat of a history. According to an article by the Gazette, this could have “possibly” happened:

The Bowlsby-Bob Stoops thingie has reached mythical proportions. Who knows what happened. My theory is, yes, Stoops was interested in coming back to coach his alma mater. Maybe the search committee soured him. I don’t know that. Then, Oklahoma got heavily involved and that made a lot of sense, both with the tradition and the financials.

Right now, the conference has not announced anything, the information is coming from that popular, well known guy everyone loves named, “sources”. Bowlsby did call a meeting with his staff Thursday morning at Stanford, so if this is true, I would assume that means a Big XII announcement will be following.

Dan Beebe, well the fake one, offered Bowlsby some solid words of advice online today:

Hope Bowlsby listens…

Coach Galloway

Oklahoma baseball had a great home stretch this weekend, sweeping Hartford in a three game series.

The series started on Friday, with a 9-6 win, they clenched on Saturday with a 10-5 win and swept on Sunday with the 8-3 dagger. Pitcher, Steven Okert lasted eight innings on Sunday for the Sooners and struck out nine batters to improve 1-0. The Sooners were actually behind 3-1 until freshman, Hunter Lockwood hit his fourth home run of the season in the sixth.

Sunday’s game was also gave way to another reason for the Sooners to celebrate ; It was win No. 600 for Sooner head coach, Sunny Galloway.

The baseball Sooners are back in action on Tuesday as the end the 4-game homestretch against the University of Texas-Arlington.

The Oklahoma baseball team will host their first home game of the 2012 season starting Friday against Hartford. The first game of the series will start at 3:00 PM on Friday, 2:00 PM on Saturday and will finish Sunday with a 1:00 PM scheduled first pitch.

Thursday night was Meet the Sooners night, where the baseball team hosted about 250 fans for an open practice. Fans not only got to see the new renovations at L.Dale Mitchell Park but also got to tour the clubhouse, indoor hitting facility and the press box.

Head coach Sunny Galloway said Thursday night:

We are very excited about the changes at L. Dale Mitchell Park and for the fans to come out tonight and see the renovations before the home opener tomorrow.

Sooner baseball also released their promo giveaway schedule. Who doesn’t like to receive free Sooner give-outs at games? Free mini-bats and ice cream helmets for all.

From SoonerSports.com

If you are going to be in town for the Sooner football Spring Game, the baseball Sooners will be taking on Missouri during Boomer Weekend. Definitely a chance to support Sooner Nation that weekend.

In what was not the prettiest bowl game of the 2011 season, Oklahoma took on Iowa to play for, I guess all the Insight.

The game started off with a huge turnover over by Iowa resulting in an Oklahoma touchdown right from the get go. Neither team could get an offensive game rolling until later on. Despite the 21-0 score at halftime, it was a much closer game.

Iowa, which we knew going into the game would happen, could not establish a running game at all. The Sooners leading rusher came in the form of backup QB, Blake Bell.

The Hawkeyes were held scoreless until the 4th quarter, where QB James Vandenberg hit C.J. Fiedorowicz with a 5 yard pass. Iowa was on the board again about 8 minutes later with a 9 yard pass to Jordan Canzeri, bringing the score to 21-14.

This is typical  of the Sooners 2011 season, bringing everything down to the line. The game just got stranger in the last minutes. For the first time I can remember, with about 3 minutes left,  the skycam decided he was a Sooner fan and fell from the lines holding it up and onto the field, nearly missing Iowa’s Marvin McNutt, their play maker of the game.

ESPN’s fail, resulted in a lengthy timeout and much to Iowa’s dismay, two more Sooner scores. A field goal with about 2 minutes left and then a 21 yard touchdown run by QB Blake Bell.

No Iowa fans, Oklahoma did not run up the score. After the season we had,a 31-14 win is NOT running a score up.

Both teams had higher expectations then what actually happened. And both teams are ready for the 2011 season to die. Just  like the skycam did. RIP 2011.

I want to wish everyone a happy New Year and we will see you in 2012.

We knew this was coming, but it was made official on Thursday evening. Dan Beebe has resigned as the Big XII figurehead, and will be replaced by former Big 8 commissioner, Chuck Neinas. Neinas will be interim commissioner until a permanent replacement is found.

University of Oklahoma President, David Boren is heading up a press conference giving the details of the new Big XII order. Boren went over how the 9 remaining teams in the conference have decided to remain a united front, and have agreed to a six year, equal tv rights deal (still has to pass vote). He also spoke briefly about the Pac-12 deal, stating that after several conversations, the descion to stay was best for the University and all the parties involved. He said one of the main reason with the interest in the Pac was the stability of the Big XII. With the resignation of Beebe and reauthorizing the realignment committee to select schools to add to the conference, he feels these issues will be solved.

So again, the Big XII is the little conference that could. People keep trying to kill it off, it keeps coming back to life. This time, without the bobblehead.

In the middle of all this, twitter was gold. There is a fake parody account @DanBeebe who has been Internet greatness throughout the last couple of weeks, took his last stand tonight. Shout out to the good people of SBNation for transcribing it for everyone to read in all it’s glory. CAUTION, LANGUAGE ALERT. But if you know anything about the Big XII or the history of it, this will have you cracking up.

THIS IS WHAT YOU BASTARDS WANTED AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET

DANNY DID NOTHING BUT HUSTLE FOR YOU BIG 12 AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET, A FORCED RESIGNATION JUST SO OKLAHOMA WILL STOP BEING BUTTHOLES. SO LISTEN UP, AND LISTEN WELL

BAYLOR, YOU ARE A HORRIBLE LITTLE PUNK OF A SCHOOL WHO’S ONE CONGRESSMAN’S HEART ATTACK AWAY FROM BEING FORCED INTO D-II

COLORADO, I NEVER CARED ABOUT YOU AT ALL

IOWA STATE, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A DRAIN ON THE CONFERENCE AND ON MY SANITY. YOU ARE WORTHLESS. EVERYONE IS FLEEING YOU.

KANSAS, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE BIG EAST BY ALL DAMN MEANS DO SO, THEY LOVE SCHOOLS WITH GOOD BASKETBALL AND NO FOOTBALL PROGRAM WHATSOEVER

KANSAS STATE YOU ARE WORSE THAN KANSAS AT EVERYTHING, LITERALLY EVERYTHING

NEBRASKA YOU WOULD BE HAPPIER IN PRESCHOOL WHERE NOBODY HAS TO REALIZE THAT THEY’RE NOT SPECIAL LITTLE SNOWFLAKES THAT DESERVE CONSTANT HUGS

I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER THAN THE DAY NEBRASKA WEASELED OUT OF THE BIG 12 SO THEY COULD LET JIM DELANY TELL THEM HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE

TAYLOR MARTINEZ IS AIDS ON TWO FEET

BO PELINI HAS DEFINITELY KILLED A MAN BEFORE AND PROBABLY EATEN HIM, AND IF HE DIDN’T CARL DID

TOM OSBORNE PROBABLY DIED FIVE YEARS AGO AND NOBODY HAD THE HEART TO TELL HIM

OKLAHOMA, WHAT GALAXY DO YOU LIVE IN AND WHY CAN’T YOU GO PLAY SPORTS THERE INSTEAD. YOU ARE MORE OVERRATED THAN TAYLOR SWIFT’S AWFUL FACE

NOBODY CARES WHAT T. BOONE PICKENS HAS TO SAY ABOUT ANYTHING. OKLAHOMA STATE IS KANSAS STATE BUT FURTHER SOUTH IS ALL

TEXAS TECH YOU LISTENED TO THAT HOOKER-SLAUGHTERING CRETIN CRAIG JAMES OVER MIKE LEACH AND FOR THAT I HOPE THE EARTH SWALLOWS YOUR CAMPUS

TEXAS A&M, YOU ARE NEVER WINNING A TITLE IN THE SEC, NOT EVEN ONCE, AND AT LEAST 80% OF YOUR STUDENT BODY IS WEIRD.

I MEAN TEXAS A&M STUDENTS ARE THE KIND OF WEIRD WHERE YOU DON’T LEAVE THEM IN THE SAME ROOM AS HOUSE PETS UNATTENDED.

TEXAS A&M YELL LEADERS ARE BECAUSE AGGIE IS SCARED OF WOMEN SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR BRINGING SAUDI ARABIAN CULTURE TO AMERICA YOU INBREDS.

RICK PERRY IS AN AGGIE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, HOW IS HE EVEN ALLOWED TO LIVE ALONE AND CUT HIS OWN MEAT MUCH LESS RUN FOR PRESIDENT

I WAS TRYING TO GO MOSTLY IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BUT I FORGOT MISSOURI. IMAGINE THAT, SOMEONE FORGETTING ABOUT MISSOURI

MISSOURI THROWS MORE PANTIES THAN THE CROWD OF 8TH GRADERS AT A JONAS BROTHERS CONCERT AND YET NOBODY EVER PICKS THEM UP

AND TEXAS. GOOD OLD TEXAS.

HEY DELOSS. FUCK TEXAS AND FUCK YOU.

I DID EVERYTHING IN MY EARTHLY POWERS TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE THE MOST WELL CARED FOR SCHOOL IN NCAA HISTORY, AND FOR WHAT

WHEN IT ALL WENT DOWN YOU WERE RIGHT THERE AT THE FRONT LINE WAITING TO ABANDON ME JUST LIKE THE REST OF THESE INGRATES

OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS A&M I CAN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY’RE HORRIBLE LITTLE STEPCHILDREN, BUT YOU, TEXAS? YOU?

I WAS READY TO NAME MY TESTICLES HOOKEM AND HORNS FOR YOU AND MAKE “TEXAS WITH A DOLLAR SIGN” THE NEW BIG 12 REALITY. BUT IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH FOR YOU AWFUL, HORRIBLE GREEDY BRATS, WAS IT

TEXAS JUST HAD TO KEEP TAKING AND TAKING AND TAKING. I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT LARRY SCOTT DID AND TOLD YOU TO GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC INSTEAD

I HOPE A CLOUD OF PURE DIARRHEA OPENS UP OVER DKR AND FILLS THAT PLACE TO THE BRIM DURING YOUR NEXT GAME

I DON’T EVEN WANT TO SEE BURNT ORANGE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. IT LOOKS LIKE BABY POOP

TEXAS IS GOING TO BE LONELY FOREVER AND THAT’S STILL A FATE BETTER THAN IT DESERVES

NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR EYES. YOU STOLE THAT SONG FROM A CHILDRENS SONG RT @chisoxfan30: @DanBeebe the eyes of Texas are upon you. #hookem

THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPONNN YOUU… ALLLL THE LIVE LONG DAYYYYYY. YOU HAVE TO SING YOUR FIGHT SONG ALONG TO “I’VE BEEN WORKING ON THE RAILROAD” AND YOU EXPECT ANYBODY TO TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY

I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DID TO DESERVE HAVING SUCH A HORRIBLE BUNCH OF HYPER-PRIVILEGED BRATS OVERTAKE IT BUT IT CAN’T BE GOOD. CAN WE NUKE AUSTIN? IS THAT APPROPRIATE? IT’S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE

I’M OUT. I’M NEVER COMMISSIONERING ANOTHER CONFERENCE EVER AGAIN. COLLEGE SPORTS ARE TO COLLEGE WHAT GENITAL WARTS ARE TO GENITALS

ENJOY YOUR MISERABLE LITTLE CONFERENCE, “BIG 12.” I HOPE YOU FAIL. I’M OUT. GOODBYE.

We will never forget you Beebe, NEVER.

Now that the Aggies are leaving to go to the SEC, some of the Big XII schools are trying to put a stop to it.

After a meeting with Big XII officials on Wednesday, Baylor and five other schools are NOT signing a waiver to allow the Aggies to leave the conference. The other schools were said to be Missouri, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. (According to sources in Waco) Instead of just letting Texas A&M walk away in peace, they are putting all of the pressure on Oklahoma.

As everyone has heard through the grapevine lately, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are possibly in talks to be heading West, and joining the PAC-12 conference. The 6 schools that are not signing the waiver have apparently said that if Oklahoma reaffirms it’s commitment to the Big XII conference, they will sign the waiver to let the Aggies leave without legal action.

That’s right other schools that don’t have viable options on the table if the Big XII folds; lets put the dagger in OU’s hand and if the conference fails, we can just point fingers at them. I bet the Longhorns are now happy that the finger is only half pointed at them now. When in reality, it still should be firmly pointed down at Austin.

University of Oklahoma President, David Boren, is said to have an announcement on realignment hopefully within the coming weeks.

I will close with a little bit of Grapes of Wrath symbolism, “Only the unbalanced sky showed the approach of dawn, no horizon to the west, and a line to the east” No horizon to be seen in the infinite possibilities if the Sooners move West. It can be The Dust Bowl, revisited.

More on this as news breaks.

EDITORS UPDATE: It is now being reported that 8 schools have agreed to NOT sign the waiver giving permission for Texas A&M to leave. Oklahoma being the only school to have given permission….

Another update: apparently Ken Starr, Baylor, spread a bunch of rumors yesterday and not all is what it seems. Hell, I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on. I give up. We will just wait patiently to see what happens. *now twiddling thumbs impatiently*

     

Oklahoma Head Coach Barry Switzer and the Selmon Brothers, Lee Roy and Dewey at the Orange Bowl in 1976 Photo Credit:Bettmann/CORBIS

College Football and the NFL lost a great one yesterday with the passing of Hall of Fame Star Lee Roy Selmon. Lee Roy is considered by some to be the best player to ever wear a Sooner uniform. He definitely is a player who left one of the longest running impressions of any Sooner in history.

Selmon suffered a stroke on Friday and passed early Sunday morning. He was 56. Selmon was a two-time All-American for the Sooners and the 1975 Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy winner. He was drafted No. one by the Tampa Bay Bucs  and was a six time consecutive Pro Bowl Selection. He played in the NFL for 9 years.

His former Sooner Coach, Barry Switzer spoke on his passing:

The Sooner family is saddened by the loss of one it’s greatest champions both on and off the field, Lee Roy Selmon. No Sooner player cast a longer shadow over its rich tradition than Lee Roy. He was the winner of both the Outland and Lombardi Award, a two-time consensus 1st Team All-American with a record of 43-2-1, two consecutive national championships, and the #1 draft pick in 1976. In addition to his accomplishments in football, Lee Roy was an honor student and is in the NCAA Academic Hall of Fame exemplifying what every student athlete should aspire to be. Beyond his many and great accomplishments, I believe the true legacy of Lee Roy Selmon lies within the kind of man he was. Lee Roy possessed a combination of grace, humility, and dignity that is rare. His engaging smile and gentleness left you feeling blessed to be in his presence. Best of all, he was all genuine. One would be blessed to have a father, son, uncle, brother, or friend like Lee Roy Selmon.”

Current Coach Bob Stoops:

There was a sense of awe every time you were in Lee Roy’s presence, and yet that was the last thing he would have wanted. He accomplished so many things in life, but remained a humble, unassuming champion. I hold up many of our previous greats as examples for our current players and Lee Roy is among the very best. All of our players would do well to follow in Lee Roy’s footsteps.

It was a Selmon family tradition for their sons to attend and play football at the University of Oklahoma. One difference about this family was that they were all good. Damn good. Lee Roy followed his brothers, Lucious and Dewey to OU in 1972 and later was the main piece on one of the best defenses to ever play on a field. His former coach, Switzer has said the Lee Roy was the best player he has ever coached.

His brothers Lucious and Dewey also were All-American defensive linemen for Oklahoma, and played on the same defensive line together in 1973. The trio is still regarded as the most famous set of brothers in OU history.

My grandmother, a HUGE Texas Longhorn fan, used to hate the Selmon Brothers. And unhappily refers to it as the “Selmon Brothers Years”. Why? Texas couldn’t get past those boys.

Selmon’s impressive career achievements:

• 6× Pro Bowl selection (1979, 1980, 1981,1982, 1983, 1984)
• 3× First-team All-Pro selection (1979, 1980,1982)
• 2× Second-team All-Pro selection (1978, 1984)
• 6× First-team All-NFC selection (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984)
• 1× Second-team All-NFC selection (1983)
• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
• 1979 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 1982 Co-Pro Bowl MVP
• 1979 NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year
• 1975 Outland Trophy
• 1975 Lombardi Award
• 1975 UPI Lineman of the Year
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers #63 retired

After his football career, Selmon decided to stay in the Tampa area and became the atheltic director for South Florida. Selmon launched the football program, was in charge of  the construction of a new athletic facility and led the university’s move into Conference USA and currently into the Big East Conference. Selmon resigned as the USF Athletic Director in 2004. He took on the roll as president of the USF Foundation Partnership for Athletics, an athletics fund-raising organization.

Many got to experience what a great person Lee Roy Selmon was, and his impact on this world will live on. He will forever be in the memories of Sooners, Bucs and Bulls fans.

RIP Lee Roy. And a forever Boomer.

Finally got a chance to watch episode 3 of the ESPNU Sooner All-Access.

Good look at the coaches this episode. Lots of good stuff from defensive backs coach Willie Martinez and as always, head coach Bob Stoops.

If you missed it, check it out below.

http://youtu.be/HQfNSB6oKO0

And last but not least, day 4. Which had to be the best episode. What a great look at the players interacting with the kids and families on fan appreciation day. And a picture of Stoops in his playing days trying to tackle the great Billy Sims? Yup.

http://youtu.be/npA2lCONFQc

The question of the off-season for Sooner football has been mainly focused around the eligibility of Ronnell Lewis and Trey Metoyer.

Defensive End Ronnell Lewis

Head coach Bob Stoops did say Thursday after the scrimmage, that Defensive End Lewis, has not been practicing with the team.

Lewis did say before camp that it wasnt up to him anymore, he has to wait to see what the outcome would be. He also admitted to academic troubles.

Stoops on Lewis:

He just has some personal matters he’s tending to, which we’re in support of. Once those are taken care of, we’ll see.

Metoyer on the other hand, has been taking classes at Tyler Community College to get his grades squared away. Reports on Wednesday from the Tyler Morning Telegraph stated that Trey had NOT passed his required classes and would not be attending Oklahoma in the fall. Metoyer is a highly antcipated incoming Freshman wide reciever.

News is that Metoyer passed 9 out of 12 hours, and failed to even qualify to play JUCO football at the moment.

But Stoops says he still isnt discouraged about the situation:

As far as I understand, it’s still not totally resolved.

So hang tight Sooner Nation. As soon as more news is released we will all know what the situation is. A lot of people have been very upset/mad/irritated with the academic situation of both players and the lack of info coming out of Norman. When Stoops knows, we will know.  Until then, lets relax and get ready for some football.

The ESPNU All-Access special kicked off Monday highlighting the Oklahoma Sooners football team through their preseason workouts. The show takes fans through meetings, practices, and an inside look at Coach Bob Stoops.

ESPNU will be running new episodes everyday this week except for Wednesday.

And in case you missed the first episode, and have an extra 25 minutes or so, I have added the first show below. Just have to say;I love Kenny Stills hair. And Stoops’ compliance meeting was fantastic.

Boomer!