After what could be considered one of the worst weather weeks the Oklahoma City area has seen in quite some time, it was no surprise on Thursday morning when the Big 12 tournament was delayed due to thunderstorms. Of course you know about Moore, but the surrounding cities have been getting pounded with rain.

They pulled the tarp off the diamond and it left what looked like a lake in right field. The first game ended up starting at 12:30.

The days results are as follows:

Game 1: Oklahoma 2 – Baylor 0

Game 2: Kansas State 4 – Texas Tech 3

Game 3: Kansas 7 –  West Virginia 2

Game 4: TCU 8 – Oklahoma State 4

The only two Big 12 teams who did not make the tournament was Iowa State and Texas; the Cyclones don’t have a team, though.

Friday’s schedule kicks off with Oklahoma – TTU at 9:00 AM, Kansas State – Baylor at 12:30, WVU – TCU at 4:30 and closes with Oklahoma State –  Kansas at 7:30.

Conference play has started for Big 12 Basketball and the Oklahoma Sooners are hosting a men’s and women’s double header on Saturday in Norman.

The men’s team will be hosting a Bedlam match-up between Oklahoma State, who is 11-3 and 1-1 in conference. The Sooners are 10-3 and 1-0 in conference, beating WVU in game one. The last eight times they have played in Norman, the Sooners have won eight straight. And as always when it comes to Bedlam, own the series. This is the men’s home-opener for the season.

The women are playing host to Texas Tech, who are 12-3 and 2-1 in conference. They lady Sooners are 3-0 in conference play and 13-2 on the season. Their last win came on the road against TCU, 85-79. The No. 16 Sooners have done well, even without one of their stars, Whitney Hand-Jones. Out of the last 15 match-ups with the Red Raiders, the Sooners have taken 14 of those.

The men will tip off first, at 2:00 PM, followed by the women at 7:00 on Saturday. Both games are being played at the Lloyd Noble Center.

It what was a long week for most of Sooner Nation after the loss to Kansas State last Saturday, the Oklahoma Sooners are on BYE again this weekend. This is their second BYE in a 3 week span. But just because the Sooners are off this weekend, there are plenty of games that the Sooner Nation probably needs to pay attention to. The Big XII is now more wide open than ever and with the slate of games lined up across FBS football, it may be time to focus on what’s going down in our own backyard.

Texas is heading to Stillwater to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in what could be a decent game. The No. 12 Longhorns are looking to improve on last years record, which wouldn’t be a stretch. They have missed the postseason for two consecutive years now and are looking for some redemption. They have started out fairly well, with their defense looking great and even QB David Ash is showing some signs of improvement. I think if the Horns get ahead early, they will run all over the Pokes in their own house. Oklahoma State is missing key components on the offense, mostly to the NFL, but Frosh QB Wes Lunt is still not 100% and will most likely not play this Saturday. Advantage – Longhorns

TCU and SMU are playing in Dallas in the annual Iron Skillet game. This is the 92nd Iron Skillet match-up and they play for exactly what you think they do with a game being called “Iron Skillet Game”, an actual Iron Skillet. In a rivalry that is less than an hours drive away from each other, it gets as heated as it can get between these two schools during this week. SMU is the current owner of the skillet, but I think TCU wins this one back easily, even with all the missing pieces on the team. Advantage – TCU

Texas Tech takes on Iowa State in Ames. This game could actually go either way. I’d expect Iowa State to come out on top but it’s a toss-up. Texas Tech brings in the No. 1 defense in the COUNTRY and the No. 4 offense. Yes you read that right, not in the Big XII, but in the country. Granted, they have played absolutely no one of substance and I suspect a struggle. We will see Texas Tech’s true colors in Ames. Advantage – Toss Up

The game I am most interested to see is the Baylor and West Virginia match-up. In what I think we will be the battle of a gazillion points and absolutely no defense, I am interested to see the Mountaineers in their first Big XII game since joining. West Virginia has huge offensive weapons with Geno Smith and Tavon Austin, but lets not count Baylor out yet. Baylor, even with out RGIII is pretty potent offensively. Both of these teams are well coached and it should make for an interesting game, if you aren’t a fan of defense. Still, since it’s being played in Morgantown, I give it to the Mountaineers. Advantage – West Virginia

So sit back, enjoy the week off and watch some of the other Big XII games. Who do you think goes down this weekend?

Well, it’s that time of year again and Phil Steele has made his bowl selections. I normally ignore any type of pre-season projections but I kinda chuckled when I read some of these so I thought I’d share.

Phil’s picks:

New Era Pinstripe Bowl –  Baylor vs Rutgers

I get it, Baylor won’t be as good with RGIII heading up the offense, but Baylor still has a chance to be decent. Their replacement QB Nick Florence isn’t someone I’d sleep on though. He has a great arm and even though he doesn’t have the speed or foot work that RGIII has, he can still pack a punch. Granted the only game we got to really see him in action was the Baylor/Texas Tech no-defense scoring spree. He had 151 yards and 2 touchdowns on the books for last year.

Car Care Bowl of Texas –  Texas Tech vs. Illinois

The Car Care Bowl would be Texas Tech valiant return back into the bowl season. Even with their huge win over Oklahoma early on, Texas Tech had a pitiful 2011 season. It’s Tuberville’s third year in Lubbock so the “getting into the groove” is over. It’s time for the Red Raiders to put the pieces together and prove to everyone it was worth it firing Leach over nonsense. P.S. the answer will still be it wasn’t worth it. 

Holiday Bowl – Kansas State vs. UCLA

Are the Sooners going to Miami? Phil Steele says yes

I don’t know about this match-up. Kansas State came off a great 2011 season and is one of the best coached teams in all of college football. UCLA did get to go to the PAC-12 championship game last season (by default). But with the new additions to the Big XII, you never know what could happen.

Insight Bowl – TCU vs Penn State

I’m all for TCU going to Arizona this year if it means Oklahoma wouldn’t have to make ANOTHER trip there. TCU has a lot to prove entering into a much more competitive conference but this may be a little high for the Horned Frogs. I’m hoping the prove me wrong, but we will see. As for the Penn State pick, I can see this happening.

Alamo Bowl – West Virginia vs. Stanford

Two 2011  BCS bowl teams battling it out in San Antonio? I’d watch this and enjoy it. But with West Virginia being my Big XII sleeper team, I have them picked to go to a higher ranked bowl.

Cotton Bowl – Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas

The Big XII has not had recent success in the Cotton Bowl for the last couple years, but this would be a good match-up. I’m not 100 percent sold on the Pokes true freshman QB yet for obvious reasons, but Mike Gundy has had success at the QB position the last couple years. Arkansas is also entering 2012 with a new coach with a lot to prove. Both teams seasons should be fun to watch.

Fiesta Bowl – Texas vs. Alabama

An 8-win 2011 Longhorns bouncing all the back to the Fiesta Bowl for 2012? That is what Mr. Steele is predicting. Alabama is an easy choice, but the Longhorns? The Longhorns virtually have the exact same team coming back with the same two inconsistent QB’s. Mack is going to have to drastically change it up if he wants a repeat of the 2009 National Championship to work in his favor.

BCS National Championship Game – Oklahoma vs. Florida State

Oh. Here we are again. Same two team predictions from 2011. Both of these teams had upset 2011 seasons. I am not buying into any hype this early on like I did last year. Florida State has been a constant on the over-rated bubble since Jimbo Fisher took over from Bobby Bowden. The Sooners are returning a veteran QB and brought back Mike Stoops to run the defense. I admit, it would be fun watching the three Stoops brothers coach against each other in the BCSNCG, but I’m not counting my chickens before they hatch yet. Major adjustments need to be made on the defense in order for the Sooners to have a legit chance this season, and from what I hear it’s been improving. It’s time for the waiting game.

Kansas and Iowa State were not picked for a bowl by Steele.

Like I said, I am not a fan of listening to preseason hype. I know it’s just a prediction and this is not set in stone but Sooner fans know what happens when we are predicted to go somewhere this early on. At least they aren’t picked No. 1; that’s always a death sentence.

Sorry Trojans.

With Spring sessions in full swing for most teams, it’s now time for people to pick apart what they think each school needs improvement on and who will have a comeback season for 2012. Of course it’s interesting to see what other writers have to say about Oklahoma and what their opinion is on what needs to be changed.

Recently, Dave Miller of the National Football Post listed the Sooners as 1 of 5 teams to make a comeback for the 2012 season. Not surprisingly, he also listed Florida State, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Ohio State. Before we jump into what he said about the Sooners, I just want to mention Florida State. It seems that the Seminoles are always listed on things like this and every season since Bobby Bowden left, the Seminoles under-produce and disappoint. Jimbo Fisher and crew have done a really nice job recruiting to Tallahassee, and they will return 9 starters on defense and their ‘stud’ QB, EJ Manuel. Analysts are saying the same thing they have been saying for a couple years now about Manuel: if he gets help with the run game, the Seminoles will be a force. I’m still waiting for this from 2 years ago..

Texas Tech is another team that people tend to want to throw in the comeback season mix. The Red Raiders and Tommy Tuberville missed out on a bowl games last season, finishing the year 2-7 in Big XII play and yes, we ALL remember that they beat Oklahoma. In Norman. After a 2 hour rain-delay. On National Television. Texas Tech may be returning more starters than any team in the Big XII, and the Red Raiders have been able to get a hold of some solid recruits. Looking at the big picture though, the quality of the players that Texas Tech will be returning compared to the size and speed of players at the larger schools in the Big XII might not get it done.

Landry Jones and Drew Allen after 2012 Insight Bowl win over Iowa

Tuberville is working to get things back on track for the Red Raiders, but he needs to remember he isn’t at Auburn anymore. The style of play is very different over here in the Big XII and sometimes those SEC schemes he uses aren’t going to work. And he also isn’t Mike Leach.

Now, onto what was said about the Sooners, which is exactly what myself and most everyone else has been saying: Stoops needed change. Since Coach Stoops has been in Norman, he has virtually had the same exact staff. Bringing his brother Mike back after DC Brent Venables’ departure to Clemson isn’t necessarily big change, but considering the defense stats and logistics during the Mike Stoops Sooner era and post M.S. era, he could be the game changer. Another concern Sooner fans have is that they are worried about replacing key components on offense like Ryan Broyles, and if you have been following Spring drills, Trey Metoyer is NOT disappointing. I think the term Stoops used was “human vacuum”. People have mentioned the replacement of Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis at DE. Considering key players leave every year at most schools, I think Stoops and crew are fully capable of being able to replace players.

Landry Jones used his Spring Break wisely. Instead of taking off to a beach, he decided to get back to fundamentals. Jones, along with soon-to-be No. 1 draft pick, Andrew Luck worked out with George Whitfield. Whitfield worked with Cam Newton before the draft last year and also worked with Ben Roethlisberger while he was on NFL suspension. Whitfield started the Whitfield Athletix Quarterback training program in 2004 and has developed dozens of players into collegiate level quarterbacks and helped pros get back in their rhythm.

Yes, last season was a disappointment for all of Sooner Nation, but the Chase for Eight still isn’t over. Sometimes change is all you need and it sounds like the players and staff in Norman are embracing it.

In what most wouldn’t consider technique basketball, the Sooners took on conference foe, Texas Tech and played an extremely sloppy basketball game. At least the first half was sloppy.

Combined, both teams had 13 fouls in the first 13 minutes and 14 turnovers in 15 minutes. And this was in the first half of the game… The teams ended up with 46 fouls combined by the end of regulation, for those who didn’t watch, just picture in your head players running down the court slapping each other instead of defense and that about sums it up.

Oklahoma was down during the first half, and finally built up some momentum late in the half. The Sooners were up 29-22 starting the 2nd half. Oklahoma held on the rest of the game, finishing out the game 64-55.

Sooner head coach Lon Kruger on the game:

It was a good win, Not necessarily a pretty win but a good win.

Texas Tech coach, Billy Gillespie  wasnt too impressed with the play from the Red Raiders either:

Seinfeld’s the best show ever, Which episode is this? I’m going to be a bit distracted here as we go along.

Seinfeld was on during the post game press conference in the background, without sound, which seemed to capture Gillespie’s attention more than his team did.

The Sooners are now 12-5 on the season and 2-3 in Big XII play. They will take on the Aggies in College Station on Saturday with a scheduled 3:00 CST tip off.

If politicians in Texas weren’t already embarrassing enough, it’s about to get even more so. Craig “Pony” James is said to be entering in the Texas Senate race as early as Thursday, according to the Dallas Morning News.

James has been with ESPN since 1996 and is now one of their main college football analysts. For those of you that don’t remember, he also was the main guy involved with having Texas Tech’s head coach Mike Leach fired in 2009. He claims that Leach placed his son in a closet.

Before CJ was a college football analyst, he was spent several years in the USFL and then the NFL. He also was a main part of the Pony Express, the dynamic SMU team of the 1980′s who steam-rolled all of their opponents. This was also the same SMU team that was the cause of the school receiving the death penalty in the sport. It was speculated this James and QB Eric Dickerson were given suitcases of money for signing with SMU. James has denied this for the last 2 decades, though Dickerson has not acknowledged it, he won’t deny it either and responds with a smile when asked.

Looks like James will have the sneaky politician roll down already.

So we are presented with a problem, do we vote to get James and his asinine opinions away from the college football world? Living in Dallas, I’m in a lose-lose situation here, either way, he will still be around.

James is a member of the Republican party and started the political group, Texans For A Better America.

For the second year in a row, the Red Raiders will be making their way to Norman to play the Sooners. Yes, the second year. Due to Nebraska and Colorado leaving the Big XII, the schedules had to be fixed accordingly, so Texas Tech drew the short straw and has to travel to Norman two years in a row.

It’s also Homecoming week in Norman. One of the best weeks of the football season. The weather has finally started to cool, the campus is buzzing with people and several events are happening around campus everyday.

The events on Saturday for the game are listed as:

Oklahoma Homecoming Parade

Saturday, October 22:
4 p.m. : CAC Homecoming Parade presented by The President’s Office and Student Affairs (Runs along Boyd Street between Elm Avenue and Asp Avenue)
7 p.m. : Football : OU vs. Texas Tech University (Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium)
Football Halftime : Homecoming Royalty Coronation sponsored by Housing and Food (Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium)

Norman is usually packed with people on gamedays, but this number will almost double with homecoming happenings.

For a full list of homecoming week events, click here.

Texas Tech comes to town right in the middle of all this chaos. The Red Raiders are coming into this game though with a top-10 nationally ranked offense. Red Raider QB Seth Doege is one of the leaders in the Big XII in total offense, and four of his receivers have 20+ catches on the season. Their defense is a different story, especially the rushing defense, which is 111th in the country. Total defense they are 82nd, and their pass coverage is pretty solid. But, with that being said, and the Oklahoma offense’s ability to pick up on defensive weaknesses, the ground game will be rolling Saturday night.

The Sooners main issue coming into this game is the offensive red zone performance. The Sooners are ranked an embarrassing second to last in Big XII red zone and 83rd nationally. Only a 56 percent of red zone possessions so far this season have ended up in a touchdown. The Sooners have been lucky, their worst red zone performances came against Mizzou and Kansas, two teams that they could easily contain on offense.

Once the quality of team gets better, with say a Texas A&M or Oklahoma State, the Sooners are going to need to buckle down and solve the issue. It doesn’t help much with QB Landry Jones being as slow as he is, and not utilizing a tight end or full back in red zone situations. Whatever this issue is, hopefully is being addressed soon, the Sooners have a stretch of difficult games coming up after this weekend.

Unfortunately for Texas Tech, they are in the catagory of easily containable if the red zone issues continue saturday night.

The key to winning the game is to contain Seth Doege and the Red Raider offense. With the Homecoming crowd and being back in Norman, the fans are going to be loud and proud that night. I hope Doege brings earplugs to drown on the noise. If not, this might happen..

Not that anyone in Norman would complain of having the same outcome from that 08 beatdown. Just for the record, Oklahoma and Tech have played 18 times since 1992, and the Sooners DOMINATE the series 13-5.

The game is set to kickoff at 7:00 PM and will be aired on ABC regionally, with perfect football weather in the forecast.

Bruce Feldman with fellow ESPN analyst, Desmond Howard

One of the best college football writers in the business, Bruce Feldman, was suspended indefinitely yesterday by the World Wide Leader. Was it justified? Absolutely not.

Yesterday, ESPN big-wigs had a conference call and decided to ban Feldman from writing for any ESPN outlet, can not appear on any ESPN broadcast and is not allowed to use his twitter account. He is also not allowed to participate in any book promotion from the Mike Leach book, Swing Your Sword, that Feldman helped write.

Why you ask?

Back in 2009, Feldman has agreed to help Coach Leach write his autobiography. After Feldman agreed to help write the book, Leach was fired from the Texas Tech football program for the alleged mistreatment of Adam James, son of another ESPN college football analyst, Craig James. ESPN still gave the green-light to go ahead and help Leach with the book….

The book does go into specific details on how Craig James and ESPN had twisted the news and swayed the public opinion of what happened to James son, Adam. James actually was in contact with a communications firm, Spaeth Communications, to help him spin the info.

An excerpt from the book read:

There were statements out there from Adam James’s two position coaches, Dana Holgorsen and Lincoln Riley. There was a statement from the strength coach, Bennie Wylie. There were statements from three of James’s teammates—players that had been successful in the program and had witnessed Adam’s behavior, as well as mine.CBSSports.com and other media outlets chose to run those statements. ESPN, which also had them, chose not to.

When one of my agents asked Joe Schad, the ESPN reporter, why they neglected to report those statements, he said he didn’t see how they were relevant to the story. But when Craig James gave Schad Adam’s cell number so he could hand the phone over to his roommate Chris Perry, a back-up lineman whom we’d suspended twice, his statement was considered relevant.

With the book release this past Monday, Feldman has made sure he didn’t promote the book via twitter or on his blog. Staying true to the word he gave his employer-He was allowed to help him write the book, but no promoting it.

ESPN went back on their word. He was suspended for his involvement. AFTER the had already given him the go ahead.

Bruce Feldman is one of the most respected college football writers in the business and has always been loyal to the ESPN brand. For them to go back after giving him permission to help Leach with the book, is a stab in the back. They are protecting Craig James and his feelings. My guess, and I know I am not the only one, is that James was angry about the information that came out about him in the book, and threatened to walk on ESPN unless they did something about it.

Through all this, several writers for other media outlets have taken to twitter to defend this debacle ESPN has started. The twitter hashtag #FreeBruce has been a constant since the announcement of his suspension yesterday.

The only person from ESPN that has spoken publicly about the situation is… Craig James…

So no one else at ESPN is allowed to talk about it, but the person who caused this? And he claims to have no clue what happened.

This seems a little fishy to me. I think someone is starting to feel guilty. Hopefully one of these days we will get the story from Feldman, when he is allowed to talk, and released from the ESPN leash.

FREE BRUCE!

Picture Provided by Big 12 Sports Media

After losing Wednesday night to 6th seeded Kansas State 5-4, the Sooners rallied Thursday night against the Texas Tech Red Raiders 3-1.

With the win, the Sooners eliminated Texas Tech from the Championship. Tech had lost the previous night to Texas A&M 10-5.

Oklahoma takes on Kansas State yet again on Friday at 7:00 PM CST.

Here is a look of how the Championship has played out so far.

Wednesday

Oklahoma State 6 – Baylor 2

Missouri 6 – Texas 4

Texas A&M 10 – Texas Tech 5

Kansas State 5 – Oklahoma 4

Thursday

Texas 6 – Baylor 1   Baylor eliminated

Oklahoma 3 – Texas Tech 1   Texas Tech eliminated

Missouri 6 – Oklahoma State 5

Texas A&M 4 – Kansas State 1

Friday

Texas – Oklahoma State

Oklahoma – Kansas State

Saturday’s schedule will be determined by Friday’s winners.