Stoops Going To Florida

deanblevins.com ^ | 01/06/2002 | Dean Blevins

[Pokey78]

Bob Stoops is headed to Florida. That according to a report from a Florida TV station minutes ago. Mike stoops and others on the staff can tell you that they did not know of this decision until moments ago. More later.

[Dan from Michigan]

I happen to like Spurrier for some reason. This guy was one of the best coaches in college FB history. His job was to win, and he was one of the bests to do so. He calls em as he sees them. Does a team stop playing their game if they are leading? Spurrier put his backup Berlin in a lot last year. That doesn't sound like running up the score to me. It sounds like he wants to give his other players some playing time. I'm a coach as well, and we put in as many players as possible once we have a good lead.

We(Spartans) have a good rivalry going with Billy Donovan and the Gators basketball program. We played them the last three years, and they got us this year after we got them twice. I don't know if we play FLA again in basketball next year as well. I hope so.

[VA Advogado]

That doesn't sound like running up the score to me.

Someone else on this thread made a great point about Florida being so damn good that even their third stringers can slap around the punks from KY and Mississippi and occasionally the whiners from Rocky Top.

[cactmh]

Great analogy. You're right about Jealousy. Actually, I had a little freep mail discussion with someone who has posted on this thread. It was unbelievable how unstable they were over the whole issue. :) Makes me like Spurrier that much more if he can elicit such responses! Kind of like Jeff Gordon. I don't follow NASCAR closely, but I hear the same kind of hatred from NASCAR fans.

[VA Advogado]

Kind of like Jeff Gordon. I don't follow NASCAR closely, but I hear the same kind of hatred from NASCAR fans.

LOL Yep! The losers - and thats what these Spurrier critics are here - life's undeniable losers - always have rage when it comes to the winners - people like Bush, Reagan, Gordon, Ali and Spurrier.

By the way, as I was typing this some promo came on for 60 minutes. Saying ever so snide-like that Steve Spurrier makes 26 times what a college professor makes. LOL That only makes the circle complete. The loser Spurrier critics here are in bed with the liberal media. I'll sleep well tonight.

[cactmh]

I went to the UF vs. Michigan State game earlier this year here in FL. We won. :) The rest of our season is SEC teams only. I guess we'll have to wait for the tourney. I remember when we took our beating in the championship a couple of years ago and we lost to them in football.

Spurrier certainly puts in his 2nd and 3rd string in a lot of times unless he feels like punishing teams who've done us wrong in the past. You must remember that Brock Berlin isn't your average QB. He was the most highly recruited QB coming out of high school two years ago. He could start at almost any other college in the country.

[TankerKC]

Why on earth are we sending troops to Florida? Don't we already have enough hot spots in the world. Our boys in uniform need to go where the real fight is. Let the people in Florida defend themselves!

Emily Latella

[Commonsense]

Coaches like Spurrier keep good, healthy rivalry going within a conference. And that's what it should be - good, healthy rivalry. As a fan of another SEC football team, I naturally kept up with all the teams in the conference, including Florida. I think Florida under Spurrier could give any pro team out there a hard time, if not beat the majority of them.

That being said, I watched the previous threads and comments and I have to say, that the nastiness of some Florida fans takes rivalry to a different level and makes people detest the team and the coaches involved. It's a game, for crying out loud. And it's a game played by kids. Listening to some, you realize it's not so much of a jump from the nastiness to why one man is now on trial for killing a little kid's hockey coach.

The rivalry and joking should be taken for what it is. Fun! If one can't take the joking and fun, then they've got a serious problem.

[cactmh]

They're going to be real PO'd when they see what Stoops is making. (close to 3 million I believe) BTW, UF's athletic department is totally self sufficient. You can't say that for the average professor. A lot of them love to complain no matter what, same as the state workers. There's a lot of moaning from the state workers now 'cause GHW Bush is speaking here on Wednesday night. His fee is $80,000 and is paid out of the student government budget (which is around 10 million) The football team and I guess now the basketball team carries the rest of the athletic program. The athletic program has funded the University with around 20 million during the last ten years. That's quite a few overpaid professors...Plus we're getting a 50 million expansion/upgrade and it's totally privately funded.

[cactmh]

We do have fun. It's the others who seem to have the problem with understanding it's just a game.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Florida is stupid.

All their top offensive non-Senior class players will now turn pro. Not only will UF suck like OU, but they will be looking for a new coach in 3 years.

[cactmh]

Most were leaving anyways. We have plenty of talent...we always have since SS started winning for us.

[Commonsense]

I think most are having fun. Some take it waaaayyyy too seriously.

[VA Advogado]

There's a lot of moaning from the state workers now 'cause GHW Bush is speaking here on Wednesday night. His fee is $80,000 and is paid out of the student government budget (which is around 10 million)

Thats so funny. I was there in 1993 when Quayle was brought in to speak and he got the same reaction. And just like with Bush, he was paid by a private group (I forget the name) that brings in provactive speakers. I'm sure when they bring in Clinton in a few years not a peep will be heard.

[znix]

This sucks. He's likely to take the entire staff with him. If you thought our recruiting was going bad already, just wait. Even our verbal commitments will probably back out.

[Dan from Michigan]

I remember the hype Berlin got. Former U-M QB Drew Henson, who skipped his senior year for baseball(good for East Lansing), received the same hype here.

I think our football team could be a big surprise next year. We always play the good teams well, but we sometimes SUCK against the Minnesotas and Indianas out there which has been our problem in the past. If we have our heads together, and if Duckett comes back for his senior year, we COULD IMO, make a run for the BCS. Jeff Smoker IMO is better than Bill Burke, and could be our best QB ever(including Tony Banks) and Charles Rogers(Florida State wanted him) could be better than Plaxico Burress(faster). Our entire o-line is coming back as well, and that is our big question mark. I know you remember our 1999 team. I think we could be better next year, than the 99 team.

One of our other question marks is coaching. Bobby Williams is inexperienced as a head coach and was never a coordinator. He's taken a lot of heat, and I've questioned some of his stuff, but he did win his bowl game this year. It's his third year now, and it's time to see what he does here. The Fresno St bowl game was a must win, and he did it. He's a good recruiter, although sometimes is too much of a player's coach(which is sometimes my mistake as well as a coach), he finally lit into a few of them.

The talent is there. There is no reason why we shouldn't play on New Years Day next year, and I think the BCS is in reach as well, especially if we beat U-M in Ann Arbor(Home team has won that game every time since 1992 outside of 1997) I also think we have 8 home games next year as well.

Our stadium is finally going to grass now too!!!! YES.

[TMC]

I have never seen such a poor example of how a college coach should behave. I am thrilled I will no longer have to watch him throw his visor. Maybe Stoops can bring some class to this team and teach them sportsmanship. Something Steve neglected to do.

[TN4Liberty]

I think it is great that Stoops is going to Florida. I think it is great that Spurrier is leaving. This thread is pretty much made up of three Fla fans who probably don't know which side of a jock strap to put in front flexing their muscles about a former (yes, former) coach. Evidence of want a classless coach can do to a program.

FYI, four years ago, the University of Tennessee informed the SEC and the University of Fla that it would discontinue the series unless Florida figured out how to protect visiting fans. There were muggings, assaults on on women, bottles thrown at visiting fans, and more. Florida officials come to Knoxville (where there has been a winning program before) to learn how to handle it.

Now, about the records... Fla and Tenn have split the last four years. All games are close. And, does the score 34-32 ring a bell?

Phllip Fulmer can win without stooping (there's that word) to insulting his peers, 20 year old players (opponents) and opposition fans. I imagine Stoops can do that to. Spurrier never got over the fact that Tennessee didn't recruit him. I hope he finds peace of mind in the NFL. Tennesseans tried hard to be proud of him. but his behavior made it hard to do.

[PhiKapMom]

LOL! That was reported on our news at 5:30 and no one can find a source that will confirm it including Bob's agent. Latest news at 9:00 p.m. from Stoops agent -- Florida AD to be here in Norman tomorrow to talk to Stoops -- not a done deal yet and no press conference has been scheduled! The only thing that is 100% is that OU will have a Stoops coaching the Sooners next fall! Everything else is anyone's guess. His brother Mike told the press he doesn't know and that was as of 9:01 p.m. (CST)

More information shortly coming on our Fox local channel! This is getting to have more rumors than you can keep track of. One other thing that is 100% -- Bob Stoops has not left Norman over the weekend because with all the press camped out he would have to be a fly! Only person he has met with is our Atheletic Director Castigleone! Stay turned!

[PhiKapMom]

According to all reports if Bob leaves, Mike Stoops will be named the head coach, most of the coaches will stay, and our recruits will still come here! The players loved Blake, but when he was fired 99% of them stayed. Don't you read the papers here?

Mike Stoops will be just fine if not better than fine and he really wants our Head Coaching job. Gotta have a little faith that nothing is going to change except having a better offense. Brent Venerables as our Defensive Coordinator will be great! So Sooner fans quit your whining and make some lemonade out of lemons. Even the sports writers say we will contend with or without Bob Stoops and that Mike Stoops will be our next head coach!

Barry Switzer's comments coming up on Fox Sports (local) and he talked to Bob Stoops last night! Now everyone sit back and relax and look at the bright side -- we will have a Stoops coaching the Sooners next fall!

[PhiKapMom]

Here is the latest from Norman at 9:50 p.m. (CST):

Assistant Coach said that his gut tells him that he is going and that Stoops stalling could hurt recruiting if he doesn't make up his mind soon. FL AD will definitely be here tomorrow! From Barry Switzer who is at the Coach's convention in San Antonio: Believes Bob will replace Spurrier at FL. Told the press that they fiction writers with all their rumors which are all unconfirmed. He talked to Bob last night and said that Bob was really torn between the two schools!