If I were Bob Stoops, I would be beyond pissed right about now.
The Oklahoma coach’s name has been attached to the Notre Dame job by various media outlets throughout the past couple of weeks, but he has steadfastly maintained that the reports are “ridiculous“, that “I am going to be at Oklahoma next year“, and various other levels of denial that would lead a sane and rational person who has no agenda to conclude that Stoops will not be the next Irish coach.
Of course, that hasn’t stopped not-sane and not-rational members of the media from putting Stoops and the Irish together again… and again… and again. And, again, the latest love connection came today courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Unbelievably, again.
According to the paper, Stoops hasn’t yet said no to the job, might have a contract offer waiting for him, and has been doing homework on the Irish by talking to other individuals who have coached in South Bend.
This latest piece from a member of the mainstream media — and people bitch about websites and blogs? — forced yet another denial from Stoops. And it was his most forceful denial of the approximately 2,347 he has issued.
“For the third, and hopefully final time, let me again state that I will continue to be the coach at Oklahoma,” Stoops said in a statement. “I appreciate the history and tradition of Notre Dame. I also appreciate the history and tradition of Oklahoma, and I have been part of building that tradition here.
“I work for a wonderful president (David Boren) and athletic director (Joe Castiglione), who have created an incredible work environment at OU. There haven’t been any plans for a meeting or negotiations with Notre Dame and there will not be. Any reporting to that fact is completely erroneous. I will not be the next coach at Notre Dame.”
Is that not clear-cut enough?
For the likes of those responsible for some of these reports, probably not. Especially when they keep limping along with that Nick Saban “I’m not going to be the Alabama head coach” crutch firmly entrenched in their armpit.
At some point the “Nick Saban said this and then did this” gets old, and looks like a crutch for hacks looking to rationalize or disguise fabricated stories.
When you start treating the one lone exception as the rule, and ignoring the norm, you’re not threading on thin ice, your drowning in icy cold waters.
Its pretty clear, he isn’t going anywhere, if/when he stays, is his name going to be used like Nick Saban to point out that coaches do tell the truth?
Of course not, because then there would be no stories, no reason for speculation, no internet posts, nada, it would end things in their tracks, thats why dragging Sabans name has made things convenient.
Who is it going to be John?
Are you serious with complaints about people connecting Stoops to Notre Dame? Do you read some of the stuff you post on your own Web site? Profootballtalk.com ran an article saying that Dennis Dixon could overthrow Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers starter because Mike Tomlin drafted him.
I laughed my ass off reading this. Stoops isn’t coming to South Bend, but I don’t think it was ridiculous for people to report it and I know for a fact that he was considering it. What’s really ridiculous is anyone that works for this site, or most blogs/Web sites, complaining about people reporting what turn out to be false rumors.
Who is it going to be John?
@ Observer1: Brian Kelly. Barring something really unforeseen happening.
If it is Kelly, I personally feel it is a bad hire….not that my opinion counts much.
Does it matter
Hey Stoops! Sooooooo, you’re saying there’s a chance?
If not Meyer, Kelly is a good choice.
Like Meyer before he went to Florida, Kelly has won every where he has coached. Like Meyer at Utah, Kelly has an undefeated season at Cincy.
ND should move quickly so Kelly does not go anywhere else. Like Meyer!
Hey, can anybody tell me if John Taylor is an Oklahoma fanboy? I dunno, it just seems like he’s constantly suckling on the sweat from Bob Stoops’ jock strap in every OU article posted on here.
Stoops to ND won’t happen. Kelly is doubtful.
Gruden, Gruden, Gruden.
“…Coach Brian Kelly told the team that he will not be leaving Cincinnati for Notre Dame.
While Kelly refused to answer any questions about the Notre Dame vacancy following Saturday’s monumental win over Pittsburgh, both Mardy Gilyard and Aaron Webster told ESPN.com that Kelly spoke to the team about the coaching rumors.
Barrett reports that safety Aaron Webster stated: “[h]e said, ‘It’s not an issue; I’m not going there. He said, ‘I love Cincinnati, and I’m staying here.’ “