Does OU suddenly control its own destiny again? Was one big win on the road against the overrated, err...solid and top 10 ranked Kansas State Wildcats on the road enough?  Or was the loss of Clemson Tigers on the road the only road block OU needed to fall?

Going into the weekend it was assumed for OU to get back into the hunt for the BCS National Championship game, they would have to have a TON of help.  OU needed to win out of course.  The Sooners also need Oklahoma State to continue to win out until they meet up in Bedlam. 

But it was also assumed OU would need help from other sources.  OU would need Clemson to lose.  CHECK!  They would need Stanford to lose.  OH SO CLOSE.  They would need Boise State to lose.  They might need Oregon to lose as well, especially if Oregon is the team that beats Stanford on November 12th.

What a difference one Saturday makes.

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via www.wvubaltimorealumni.com

It's been awhile since I have written anything on Conference Realignment mostly because nothing new and concrete has actually happened to affect OU and the Big 12 since the Big 12 added TCU, but the winds they seem to be a blowin' and I figured I'd catch some of you up that don't follow it too closely (or review it for those that do)

IS MISSOURI STAYING OR GOING?

That right now is the big question.  It is the question and answer upon which hangs the fate of several schools conference affiliation as well as even the possible survival of a conference.

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via www.shorpy.com

We are getting closer on Conference Realignment.  SEC Presidents are voting today, based on several reports on twitter from various sports writers.  If A&M has enough votes (and I assume they will), It is expected there will be a formal announcement on Wednesday of A&M joining the SEC. 

Next up will be Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. I've heard that OU and OSU will announce the day after A&M, which would be Thursday.  However, OSU plays Arizona at T. Boone Pickens.   That would be good cover to have PAC president Larry Scott in Oklahoma.  I would expect OU and OSU would announce on Friday, while Mr. Scott is in the state.

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Kansas State is set to launch their own TV network with live K-state sports including the first game to be shown is a Volleyball game against Creigton.  They will also have their football game against Eastern Kentucky on their TV network.

hehe...here's the funny thing though....it's not "TV, TV" like on your TV set ....it's internet streaming only.  Cost is $9.95 a month or $79.95 for a year.  Please don't cancel it after the football game.  

I commend the Mildcats for catch up to the Interwebs....they are pretty cool even beyond the porn.  OU's been here awhile.    Seems that's a little shy of $15 million a year that Texas is getting or the MILLIONS the conference was promised last year, that our 3rd tier was worth to each school.

via blog.newsok.com

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 (bumped.  Thanks Redhawk!  Great work as usual.)

So the big assumption around the world (or at least in the areas that care about College Football) is that the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are a packaged deal.  There is no way to separate the 2.  Like buying a package of Twinkies…you can’t get just one…we are bound together forever, and ever, amen.

But is that REALLY true?

via 2.bp.blogspot.com

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Internet Rumors abound today, that Texas A&M has worked out a deal with the SEC where they will be joining the SEC starting in 2012 with an announcement as soon as this week, or around Labor Day at the latest.  Most of this is coming from the TexAg.com board, which is the A&M Rivals board.

TexAg Writer Billy Liucci tweets:

Facts: Ags still hold SEC invite (always have), SEC will take A&M as 13th team and, IF deal done this month, TAMU would play in SEC in ’12

And Two:

More facts: A&M has not sent a "letter of intent" or "Dear John" letter to Big 12, SEC is not targeting OU or any other B12 schools

The later in response to a rumor that A&M has even notified the Big 12 Conference in writing.

Liucci also says the SEC would most likely add a team from the East such as Clemson or Florida State in 2013.

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One lingering question from last week is Oklahoma’s threat to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC a real threat?  Is leaving the conference really a proportionally measured response to the Longhorn Network’s high school game programming? Personally, I have some ideas about all this and I’d like to share a few.  Now I will point out this is mostly editorial speculation.  I don’t know the future or all the minds in play, but I think I can see the chess moves and I’d like to share them with ya’ll.

via bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com

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Well, that's the internet rumor anyway, and they are always right, and never exaggerated.  Well, the Regents for Texas A&M are going to meet on Thursday.  They will be there to discuss an agenda item named "The Big 12 Conference".    The Houston Chronicle has a write up on it here, minus the internet sensationalism.

via media.oregonlive.com

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via www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

Is this OU's next Men's Basketball Head Coach?

Dean Blevins on Twitter
Solid source convinces me #Arkansas 2 name Mike Anderson of #Missouri head coach early next week. Great guy;won as UAasst; gets good signees.

So..

1) Not Tubby Smith after all

2) Tubby Smith is available. Would OU want him?  Was OU the reason he didn't go to Arkansas or did Arkansas pass?

3) I would assume to get a coach from Missouri to Arkansas, which to me is a lateral move at best as both schools think of themselves as basketball schools..and Mizzou actually makes the tourny...that the Pigs paid a bucket of cash for Anderson. (something I heard they didn't do for the last head coach)

Which means...what we heard about OU's willingness to pay for the right guy, seem that much more relevant.

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(bumped and a big thank you to our resident expert in this kind of stuff!)

via media.thenewschronicle.com  

IS THIS MAN SMARTER THAN YOU GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR?

Ding-Dong, the witch ain't dead after all. 

This past summer many fans were ready do bury the Big 12 Conference as a relic of the past, like Dodo Birds and 8-track tape players, doomed to a level like the Mountain West Conference (I even read posts that the Big 12 schools should leave the Big 12 for the MWC or the Big East).

The reason for this pessimism was the money that was promised by the TV networks to the conference to keep the schools together would be just as empty of a promise as "the checks in the mail".  Turns out...the check really was in the mail.

This week the Big 12 and Fox announced a new TV deal worth $60 million dollars for the leagues "2ndary rights".  This is pretty much for the same stuff, that Fox Sports currently puts on and which Fox was paying $20 million previously.  This works out to an INCREASE of  $4 million per each of the 10 schools.

To put this in perspective, the Big 12 schools made in the past between $14 million to $7 million per year from the Conference on TV deals before.   The league was promised that they could get that to between $20 million to $15 million with an average close to $17 million, or roughly they would have to make about $ 7-8 million more PER school, if they stayed together.

This deal ALONE...puts the the league increase at half that number.   And the big TV deal with ABC/ESPN is not up until 2015.  It would be easy to assume, that the first rights deal would also net a similar per-school increase, and would put the league at it's promised payout totals.  

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via www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

UPDATE:  Capel met with the media this afternoon in Kansas City following OU's practice before their Big 12 Tournament game and had this to say about the speculation surrounding his job security:

"I don't get into the speculation stuff," he said. "If I'm going through it, I'm going through it. But it's nothing I'm really concerned about."

Asked specifically about today's SoonerScoop.com report that he and OU athletic director Joe Castiglione weren't communicating, Capel said: "Joe and I talk consistently and pretty regularly. We don't talk about if I'm secure or this or that…

"We talk about next year and what we have to do going forward. Those have been our conversations. There's never been anything about what someone has reported."

Asked if he feels OU's future is bright, Capel said: "I don't feel that way, I know it. I live it. That's why I don't deal with speculation. I'm there every day. I know what's going on. I know the progress that this group has made. I know the two new guys we'll have next year, and I know we're going to add some more. I know we're making the right progress.

"It's not just that I feel it. I know we are."

SoonerScoop.com, a Rivals site, is reporting that Joe C could be considering firing Jeff Capel after the season is over after tomorrow's presumed loss to Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament.   They are reporting: 

Jeff Capel is in limbo as communication has broken down between he and his AD

Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World had these tweets:

Castiglione not talking to reporters bout Capel is one thing. Joe C not talking to Capel bout Capel, as @SoonerScoop sez? Uh-oh

On way to arena this a.m. still thought Capel would get 1 more yr. Got to arena, heard something from someone closer to Capel than Joe C...

... And immediately changed my mind. Consistent with what Murdock is reporting on @SoonerScoop. #Sooners

I'm sure the fine folks here at the CCM will keep you updated.

From a fan persepective, I have to wonder who will replace Capel.  I figured he'd get another year, or until after the NCAA finished their investigation.

This article is a counter point discussion to JTE'S article on telling UT to stick it where the sun don't shine.  I'm sure JTE hit the Knee-Jerk OU fan reaction on the head there, and there is nothing really wrong with that except it over simplifies the more complex issues going on in the college football, and with the Big 12 teams.  And this is a great starting point to look at the situation.

via static.newsok.biz

What Should Joe C do now?

Is UT's new deal really a game changer?

From a total money perspective, not really.  They'll make from what I can guesstimate, about $ 6-9 million dollars (give or take a million or two) more a year than they currently are making.  Now for many schools, that's a king's ransom.  Right now, Texas A&M Athletic Department owes Texas A&M University $20 million dollars, which the Dept, had to borrow to cover it's budget short fall a few years back. So...there are Athletic Departments having a hard time keeping up with UT.

However, UT already has the largest Athletic Budget in the country with about $100 Million dollars.  So....$6-9 million dollars more, is really only a 6-9 % increase.  It's not the game changer some would think, as UT already had the same competitive advantage ($$$$$) over every other school in the Big 12 for years....and OU dominated them in the Big 12.

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The long awaited announcement came from the the Evil Empires of the University of Texas and ESPN for their new TV deal.  According to the Austin Statesman, Bevo-tV could be on the air as soon as this fall.

The University of Texas has struck a 20-year, $300 million deal with ESPN for a new, 24-hour network that will broadcast Longhorn sports and some non-athletic content such as campus musical performances.

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via cdn.bleacherreport.net

It doesn't look like OU's Co-Offensive Coordinator Jay Norvell will be leaving OU for the Pitt job.  According to "Sources", several sites are reporting that Pitt will be hiring Miami of Ohio head coach, Mike Haywood as their next head coach. Haywood lead the Redhawks (love the name!) to a bowl game, and is reported to have received a 5 year contract to coach the Panthers.

There was a lot of speculation about Jay Norvell taking this job.  It would have been a good one too.  Pitt is in an AQ league, and Dave Wanstatt, had a good recruiting class going this year, ranked in the top 25 by Rivals. I figured Norvell was out this week, as several days had past since his name was mentioned, and OU named him Co-OC (again).   I doubt if OU would have done that if they hadn't known he was staying.

Personally, this is good for OU.  Losing Kevin Wilson already this off season, it's nice to have some continuity in our coaching staff.  It would be tough to lose both Offensive Coordinators. 

Here's a link from ESPN:

According to reports from the Pittsburgh-Gazette, Oklahoma Co-Offensive Coordinator Jay Norvell is now a candidate for the Head Coaching position at Pitt.  The Daily Oklahoma has also picked up the rumor today as well.

Dean Blevins twitted today:  Norvell's a dandy & may b qualified 2 b named head coach @ Pitt. But how can they hire a position coach? Resume' legit but how sell 2 fans?

Well...there again Deano...he's more than just a position coach.  He worked with Pitt AD while they were both at Nebraska, where Norvell was an Offensive coordinator. 

Everyone is still reporting that Okla. St OC Dana Holgorson is still the leading candidate for the Pitt job, followed by Temple head coach, Al Golden, who Pitt formally has asked permission to interview with.

So, we were worried about losing Josh Heupel.  It might be Jay Norvell, may be the one that will be hired away.

Bumped from FanPosts.  Nicely done Redhawk!

The Sooners face Oklahoma St. this week, that we know.  The out come we don't, but it will certainly effect where the Sooners are heading for their bowl game.  Things are clearing up a little for the Big 12 bowl picture.  Let's take a look at what we know.

The Big 12 has contracts this year for 8 Bowl slots.  Right now there are 8 teams bowl eligible. If Colorado can pull the upset in Lincoln this Friday they will become #9. Also if Texas can be Texas A&M they too could be bowl eligible. 

That means the Big 12 could have 10 teams bowl eligible, but with only 8 contracted slots.  That doesn't mean those teams won't go bowling. In fact this year we have 35 (count em!) 35 bowl games which means 70 of the 120 FBS schools will be going bowling.  Several conferences will not have enough eligible teams, so there will be some bowls needing to fill slots from other conferences.  (on a side note, the NCAA has allowed for this year a waiver of the 6 win requirement in case there are not 70 teams qualifying for bowls)

But this article isn't about the Big 12...it's about OU's Bowl Prospects

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This week's AP and Coaches polls are out.  OU moves up in both.  OU jumped from 19 to 16 in the AP poll, and from 16th to 14th in the Coaches poll.  Curiously, the "coaches" have OU ahead of BOTH A&M and Missouri.   Are the "Coaches" saying OU could have or should have beaten both those teams?  And if that is so...OU blew a shot at another national championship?  Am I reading too much into these less then scientific polls?  YES

The most interesting move was Boise St, passing TCU in both polls.  The rest of the top 10 were very static except for Nebraska sliping down one from 8 to 9 in the "Coaches" Poll.

The rest of the Big 12 we have Okla. State at 12 and 10, Nebraska, 9 in both polls, Missouri at 15 and 16 and Texas A&M at 18 and 19

Also of note, Florida State received votes and would be 27th in the AP.  In the Coaches we find Florida State, Kansas St, Baylor, and Air Force all receiving votes.

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