All right, so now that it’s over. I can say I voted UCF No. 1. I didn’t do it out of any other reason than consistency with the principals I’ve used all season. UCF beat Auburn, Auburn beat Alabama. UCF was undefeated.
Lincoln Riley says when
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coaching staff was evaluating transfer market between Kyle Allen, Will Grier and Kyler Murray, Bob Stoops asked Riley after watching film of all three what he thought. “I like the other two but if Kyler comes here, he’s going to win the Heisman.”
Patty Gasso on her feelings watching the final out: “I sit back like a fan. I really do. I sit and watch. …. They don’t realize how good they are. Maybe I don’t realize how good they are. … We just play. We love to have fun and love to play.”
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Brent Venables on recruiting. Says “you won’t see the OU logo at recruiting mega camps: “You don’t see Rolls Royce commercials ever. … And I’m not saying this in an egotistical way, but Oklahoma takes a back seat to nobody.”
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coach Patty Gasso mentions Nebraska volleyball playing a game in a solid out football stadium, and says, "So you know what my next conversation with Joe Castiglione is going to be."
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coach Patty Gasso on Mike White's comments: "I’m not surprised but I take the high road. I don’t have to answer to anybody. I’ve just got to look in the mirror and I am very comfortable when I do that."
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DE Ethan Downs: “The coaches last year, great coaches, phenomenal, but it was very win-based. We grew together based on the ups & downs. But with this team, the coaches bring in such a character culture and they say character comes first, all the winning comes after."
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WR Marvin Mims when asked by
@jasonkersey
if he’s made a decision on his future: "I definitely want to be here. I’m pretty sure everyone still in this bowl game still wants to be here too."
Patty Gasso: "The way I feel right now is free. The expectation is overwhelming. The pressure is overwhelming. ... It's very difficult. It's extremely rewarding. But I just want to go to Costco and shop and no one care that I'm there."
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coach Lincoln Riley confirms Kennedy Brooks and Jalen Redmond will return. Says Redmond rejoined team for bowl prep but didn’t feel it was appropriate to have him travel to bowl
Kinzie Hansen says even in the celebration after the championship, in hugs with Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings and others, the discussion quickly turned toward doing it again next year.
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I asked the
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players at the press conference what was toughest about this season for them. Kelly Maxwell said her toughest was her decision to transfer to
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: "I received a lot of hate, a lot of doubt. I’m just thankful for these girls and this staff."
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Brent Venables says all OU signees were invited to come to the bowl game and work with the team. Several did. "I thought it was a cool thing for them to be able to experience."
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coach Brent Venables on 2023 season: “If we just get better on defense we’re going to win 10-plus games and have a chance to hang a banner up at the end of the year.”
I take the responsibility of voting in the AP college football poll seriously. I messed up this week, leaving off BYU after having them No. 12 a week ago. I meant to have them in that range this time, accidentally marked that I had them accounted for and didn’t. I’ll do better.
Along with Lincoln Riley,
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DC Alex Grinch, receivers coach Dennis Simmons, director of ops Clarke Stroud & strength coach Bennie Wylie arrive at OKC airport to head to LA (was there with
@jasonkersey
and
@Eddie_Rado
, who handled most of the pool video)
Lincoln Riley says he has no concerns about OU administration, AD, president. “We’ve been through a lot together. This isn’t our first rodeo together. … .We’ve worked well together and we’re going to keep working well together.”
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Shane Beamer in South Carolina introductory press conference: "There’s not a program in all of college football that I would’ve left (Georgia) to go be an assistant coach at other than Oklahoma.” Thanks Lincoln Riley, Joe Harroz and Joe Castiglione.
Jocelyn Alo says
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QB Dillon Gabriel told her her was going to come “so if he didn’t, I would’ve called and asked him why he wasn’t here.” Says she appreciates support by Brent Venables and Trae Young, who were both in attendance tonight.
The craziness never stops on the
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beat. Was in Norman yesterday for Brent Venables’ introduction and now in Las Vegas for Bob Stoops’ College Football Hall of Fame induction
Chris Plank says Sept. 9, before
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football matchup vs. SMU, there will be an inaugural parade of champions to honor both the softball and women's gymnastics title teams.
I’m going to go ahead and apologize to those who just follow me for OU stuff but need to share something personal and explain why I’ve been scarce this week and probably will be for a few more days. Lost my brother, Josh, this week ...
Texas coach Mike White says assistant Steve Singleton was trying to get Mia Scott’s HR ball back, umpire ignored him and eventually “rolled the ball forcefully” at Singleton. That led to the moment after the game that was on the broadcast.
Now for the announcement you’ve all been waiting for, I’m sure … the winner of the 2021
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Media Cooperation Award: Jeremiah Hall (
@Jeremiah_Hall27
). Was a tough vote this year w/ plenty of good options. Jeremiah becomes the second player to repeat, joining Baker Mayfield
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president Joe Harroz says Bob Stoops twice refused the pay for serving as interim football coach ($325,000), but says it’s based on proration of Lincoln Riley’s pay. Board is expected to approve that pay shortly
Alex Grinch on improvement of
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defense: “The next step is to stop fielding questions about the defense at the University of Oklahoma and what’s the next step.”
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's Mike Gundy when asked about the future of Bedlam and
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move to the SEC: "The future of Bedlam is a year or two left. That's the future of Bedlam, based on somebody else's decision."
Kinzie Hansen on the lessons she’s taken from the seniors. Singles out Jocelyn Alo, who is sitting to her left: “I hope as my class gets older that we make her proud.” Alo tears up some (as does Hansen). After the answer, Hansen reaches over and gives Alo a squeeze.
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I know it’ll get talked about a lot again but the Baker Mayfield story is one of the most incredible things in sports. To go from two-time walk-on to No. 1 pick overall in the NFL Draft is incredible. Was easy for that to get lost a bit in all the run-up to the Draft
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Patty Gasso gets emotional talking about Kelly Maxwell: "She has not pitched free." The 2 had a conversation before the game. Both characterized the conversation as faith-based. "Just giving Him all the power," Maxwell said.
Venables: “Excellence has been established by Coach Wilkinson, Coach Switzer and Coach Stoops.” Tells former players “anything that you ever need, you come to my office.”
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“He has a tremendous future. He’s made of all the right stuff… it’d be easy for a guy like him to check it in and not get better, but he got better.” —Brent Venables on Gavin Sawchuk
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assistants Bill Bedenbaugh, Miguel Chavis, Brandon Hall, Jay Valai, Joe Jon Finley and DeMarco Murray extended through 2024 season. Todd Bates and Jeff Lebby through 2025. Hall receives a $15K raise, Murray $115K. Finley's contract was adjusted as well.
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WBB coach Jennie Baranczyk said only Nydia Lampkin will take part in Senior Day ceremonies before Saturday’s game vs. Kansas. Taylor Robertson, Madi Williams and Anna Llanusa all plan on returning.
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RBs getting some work in. Kalib Hicks certainly looks the part (and has an interesting helmet setup). Also this is the first time I’ve seen the handcuff training aids.
Florida State coach Lonni Alameda on
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: "It can be frustrating at times or can raise our game. It's raising our game." Says OU is/was "firing on all cylinders." Alameda is an OU alum.
Patty Gasso’s presser wraps up with her talking about Jocelyn Alo. "She just wanted to feed the OU fan base everything she had. She left it on the field and she left it in the history books forever.”
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