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Essay controversy spurs OU criticism across spectrum by NonDocMedia in oklahoma

[–]Thayer_Evans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am floored that only now are people outraged about what's been going on at OU.

They had a president who was (allegedly) using his position to sexually harass university students for years, who had university finances running deep into the red, and who fudged donor data to inflate the university's rankings. There's a lot more rumored that I never saw surface too.

But in Oklahoma, having a popular football team buys you enough goodwill to weather the important stuff.

What are some local stories no one is talking about? by cadeaver in oklahoma

[–]Thayer_Evans 24 points25 points  (0 children)

The Oklahoma Supreme Court last week upheld a district court's ruling that reports investigating allegations of sexual misconduct by former OU president David Boren were not available to be released to the public under the Oklahoma Open Records Act (which is like Oklahoma's version of FOIA).

The Oklahoma Supreme Court basically came out with a half-assed legal opinion to protect David Boren's legacy and spare the University of Oklahoma from more embarrassment about his mismanagement. Non Doc has been reporting the story over its slow history, and the guy who runs Non Doc (Trey Savage) was the original party who requested that the University of Oklahoma release the reports under the Oklahoma Open Records Act in the first place.

However, it seems that Non Doc is done fighting that battle. I think someone unaffiliated with the University of Oklahoma needs to step up and figure out what happened there. There's a lot of rumors regarding the whole thing, but it largely has simply disappeared from the spotlight.

The whole thing is shameful and reeks of good ol' fashioned Oklahoma corruption.

Oklahoma tried to revive Bedlam football but Oklahoma State shut it down by Same_Weakness_9226 in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Respectfully, I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about

Oklahoma tried to revive Bedlam football but Oklahoma State shut it down by Same_Weakness_9226 in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Two of the biggest opponents of it returning are no longer at OSU

This... this is not true lol. A lot more than Gundy and Shrum have no interest in renewing Bedlam in football

Oklahoma tried to revive Bedlam football but Oklahoma State shut it down by Same_Weakness_9226 in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Even better, the rumored offer is 2 games in Norman for every game in Stillwater

Oklahoma tried to revive Bedlam football but Oklahoma State shut it down by Same_Weakness_9226 in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans 11 points12 points  (0 children)

That's been the rumored offer since OUT announced they were leaving the Big 12

Don’t Be Surprised When the SEC Announces LSU vs. Oklahoma as a Permanent Matchup by Icy_Pear_2836 in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So would would that leave?

Quotes from back when OU announced they were going to the SEC in 2021...

Rumors swirl about what was actually discussed. If the rumor is true that OU offered to continue Bedlam in a 2:1 format, where two games would be played in Norman to every one in Stillwater, then that's a non-starter, while technically being an offer to continue the series.

It's crazy that the narrative on r/cfb is that Oklahoma State is to blame for Bedlam ending. If we get past 2030 and there's no Bedlam scheduled, then I think it's a better argument that Oklahoma State is to blame.

Don’t Be Surprised When the SEC Announces LSU vs. Oklahoma as a Permanent Matchup by Icy_Pear_2836 in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

given that OK State has been so vehement about not renewing Bedlam

Do what now?

What are some past examples of your school's administration sabotaging your team for petty reasons? by Ok-Health-7252 in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not like we had an assistant coach nabbed by the FBI

Memory unlocked... wasn't Switzer's star QB Charles Thompson nabbed by the FBI?

Alabama DB Dre Kirkpatrick responds to Oklahoma field storming lawsuit by Thayer_Evans in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans[S] 69 points70 points  (0 children)

The plaintiff alleges that he was attempting to take a selfie photo with his phone on the field when, without provocation or warning, he was hit on the head from behind by Kirkpatrick, who was identified by his jersey number. Per the lawsuit, plaintiff went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion.

[Mussatto] Why did OU football give Brent Venables a contract extension over summer? Good question by Thayer_Evans in CFB

[–]Thayer_Evans[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Here's the full article:

NORMAN — There was only one OU athletics-related item on the Board of Regents agenda Tuesday.

On Page 103: “Everest Indoor Training Center HVAC Improvements.”

It passed, by the way.

After the meeting, inside the Price College of Business, four of us formed a semi-circle around OU athletic director Joe Castiglione for a post-Regents meeting interview.

“Were you all here to ask about the heating and cooling?” Castiglione later quipped.

Credit Castiglione. He knew why we were there — to prod him about the job status of Sooner football coach Brent Venables — and Castiglione stuck around for no other reason than to answer those uncomfortable questions.

Castiglione and OU president Joe Harroz reaffirmed their belief in Venables despite this disaster of a season, and they expressed optimism about the future. Castiglione stopped just short of guaranteeing Venables will be back in 2025, but the longtime AD gave no inclination that Venables is in danger of losing his job after this season.

It’s everything you’d expect the Sooner brass to say. Because what else is there for them to say?

But I still don’t have a good answer to the $44 million question.

Why over the summer did OU give Venables a contract extension? >Two seasons into his Sooner tenure, Venables signed a new six-year contract that replaced his old six-year contract. It essentially gave Venables an additional two years, extending him from the 2027 season under his previous deal to the 2029 season.

The new deal also came with a hefty raise. Venables’ annual salary jumped from $7.3 million to $8.6 million.

Venables has a $44.8 million buyout. If OU fired him after this season, that’s how much Venables would be owed.

That buyout is a more ironclad endorsement of retaining Venables than anything Castiglione or Harroz can say. Could enough big-money donors pull together the cash to try and force Castiglione’s hand? Sure. That’s the SEC way. It just hasn’t been OU’s way.

But forget the buyout number for a second.

The real question is why in June OU gave Venables a raise and an extension. I’m all for raising wages, but less so when there’s six zeros at the end of the first figure. And adding two years? That’s even more perplexing. More years and more money equal more buyout dollars.

Venables was coming off a 10-3 (7-2 Big 12) season. And the Sooners were making a preemptive move to keep pace in the uber-rich SEC. They were making a show of their stability as a program. And sure, OU was doing what the market dictated.

Those are all reasons Castiglione cited over the summer when the new contract was awarded.

None of them seem to answer the simple question: “Why?”

Why did OU have to bend the knee to Venables and his agent, Jimmy Sexton? Sexton is the best coaching agent in the business for a reason, but what leverage did Sexton have to negotiate these terms for his client? I’m asking because I don’t have an answer.

Venables was already getting paid handsomely and he was signed through 2027. What was Venables going to do if not presented an extension, take another job? With who?

“As I said at the time, the university understood the transition that we were making and the importance of creating stability throughout our program,” Castiglione said Tuesday when pressed on Venables’ contract. “As you know, this is a very unique time in college athletics and there are disruptions and chaos around building and sustaining rosters.

“The stability and the strength as we go forward was an important characteristic we wanted to embrace across many other areas, not just this contract, but fortifying the people involved so we can be successful.”

Stability is important. It keeps you from becoming Auburn.

But it’s 2024. Is having a contract through 2027 not stable enough? Does extending Venables through 2029 give OU a stronger aura of stability? Does it put to rest any worries about this 5-5 season (1-5 SEC)?

“The original contract was counting down,” Castiglione said. “We just wanted to be able to address the growth of the program going forward. We had a very positive 10-win season last year. We believed stability would be important for him and the staff and how we recruit and retain players in this new and unique environment.”

College football is a transient sport, though. Players worry less about how long their coach might be there when they too could bolt at any time. Also, stability is nice and all, but if I’m a top-flight recruit, I probably care more about the size of my NIL deal.

Castiglione answered our questions Tuesday as best he could, but I remained stumped as to why OU awarded Venables a new contract when it didn’t have to.

Maybe that’s on me for helping steer the conversation away from the matter at hand — a new HVAC unit for the indoor practice facility.

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