Bob Stoops Retiring

[Mavric]

This is crazy:

With Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops deciding to retire on Wednesday, there are only four active FBS head coaches who have won national titles: Alabama's Nick Saban, Ohio State's Urban Meyer, FSU's Jimbo Fisher and Clemson's Dabo Swinney.

ESPN

[knapplc]

Member when first-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini beat first-year Clemson coach Dabo Swinney in the Gator Bowl? Good times.

[Toe]

[ColoradoHusk]

Member when first-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini beat first-year Clemson coach Dabo Swinney in the Gator Bowl? Good times.

I Member!!!

[Mavric]

Bo Pelini to Oklahoma!

 

[Mavric]

[Mavric]

Statement from Bob Stoops, on his stunning retirement announcement:

"After 18 years at the University of Oklahoma, I've decided to step down as the head football coach. I understand there has been some speculation about my health. My health was not the deciding factor in this decision and I've had no incidents that would prevent me from coaching. I feel the timing is perfect to hand over the reins. The program is in tremendous shape. We have outstanding players and coaches and are poised to make another run at a Big 12 and national championship. We have new state-of-the-art facilities and a great start on next year's recruiting class. The time is now because Lincoln Riley will provide a seamless transition as the new head coach, capitalizing on an excellent staff that is already in place and providing familiarity and confidence for our players. Now is simply the ideal time for me and our program to make this transition. "The Bible says, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." I'm grateful for this season of my life, and feel I've fulfilled my purpose here at OU as its head football coach. "I'm thankful that my career at Oklahoma was marked with consistent leadership in President David Boren and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. It's extremely rare in college athletics to have no change in these leadership positions over a nearly 20-year span. I always appreciated the way both of them supported me and our program. They both played an enormous role in all our successes. "I have been very fortunate to have such outstanding coaches in my time at OU. Our players have always benefitted from their strong leadership, on and off the field. I was also blessed with a strong support staff - strength and conditioning, equipment, sports medicine, academics, video - every aspect of our program was staffed with very talented people who took a great deal of pride in making Oklahoma football the best. "I'm especially thankful for being able to coach so many talented young men over my 18 years here. It has been so rewarding to see these players come to OU and mature over a four or five-year career, and not just on the field. To play a small part in their growth is what I will always cherish the most. None of my success would have happened without the best fans in the country. I can't tell you how much I appreciated the 110 consecutive home sellouts. The passion of our fan base is unmatched, and their support has played a huge role in not only home games, but road games and all 18 of our bowl games, as well. "Lastly, I'd like to thank my wife, Carol, and my daughter, Mackie, and my sons, Drake and Isaac. They have been a major part of this success. Being the wife or child of a coach is often tough, and they've all been strong through both good times and challenging times. "The coaching life is like a relay race and I'm thankful for my turn and am confident as I pass the baton. Carol and I intend on staying in Norman - it is our home. I will be available to Coach Riley and the athletic department in any manner. Thank you all for a lifetime of memories we shared together of 10 conference championships, the 2000 national championship, strong relationships with players and coaches, and the great Oklahoma football fans. Boomer!"

ESPN

[QMany]

Member when first-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini beat first-year Clemson coach Dabo Swinney in the Gator Bowl? Good times.

I was there, it was awesome! Those were the days.

[huKSer]

By retiring this late it assured that someone on the staff would have to become the head coach - for at least one year. Sort of like TO picking his own successor.

[NUance]

 

That somehow seems appropriate coming from a member named Toe. :

[CheeseHusker]

Some awesomeness.

 

[Kiyoat Husker]

http://amarillo.com/stories/102400/spo_annualagain.shtml#.WThqDmgrK70

October 2000

Stoops on the possibility of resuming an annual game with NU:

 

"... How they can work it out with the conference to play this game every year, that would probably be pretty difficult, being in different divisions and having a conference championship game.

"You might be able to do it if you did away with the conference championship game. Then there might be the possibility of playing a rival game like this every year. We'll let the conference officials worry about that."

http://www.scout.com/college/oklahoma/story/22206-stoops-on-nebraska

October 2001

Stoops on resuming an annual game with NU:

I don't know how you could unless you want to change the league and how you play the games. I don't know how the setup would work. There's no sense in me even worrying about it.

http://pigskinhistory.blogspot.com/2010/07/abandoned-rivalries-ou-nebraska.html

July 2010

Stoops on resuming an annual game with NU:

"Yes, we'll stick them in between Cincinnati and Florida State! If we had a non-conference schedule like a lot of other teams, it would be awesome. But we don't. Something's got to change. If they're willing to do it, we'll have to make some serious adjustments in our schedule."

[hskrpwr13]

Will be interesting to see how this impacts the BigXII til their GOR expires.

 

Will OU remain a top national team? Might OSU take their place? Might this vault UT back to national prominence? Might it become it UT and the nine dwarfs?

[Mavric]

 

[Mavric]