Sooners in Limbo
by Don
8/2/06
So I've been working with the other guys this week on putting together our pre-season previews on the ten teams we feel have a legitimate shot at the BCS championship. On that list, Oklahoma. Or should I say formerly on that list?
It turns out that Rhett Bomar and his roommate, starting center J.D. Quinn, were employed by a car dealer in Norman and getting paid for a lot of hours that they didn't actually work. An internal investigation discovered this and Coach Stoops dismissed both players from the team today.
As an alumni, I'm stunned and completely annoyed with our coaches even having to deal with a situation like this. Bob Stoops did exactly what should have been done here. "We spend a considerable amount of time addressing our players regarding their personal conduct and the NCAA rules," head coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "They know exactly what we expect from them. Ultimately, they have to make right decisions. The same holds true for our boosters. When they do not, the consequences are serious, and we will not tolerate this behavior." He went on to say, "I firmly believe that our program is stronger than any individual player and that a championship program cannot compromise its values,"
Both players had to know that anything done out there by anyone of the Sooner squad would be examined with a microscope? Did they think that they would somehow be immune to the process?
Any other Sooner fans out there want to just spend 10 minutes alone in a room with the guy who thought he could get away with slipping these guys extra cash?
What now for Rhett Bomar? He's almost certainly done playing ball anywhere in division 1A. If he does manage to get picked up by a program at one of the lower levels, he will almost certainly be a star wherever he goes. But at what cost? He was a guy who had tons of potential that was really starting to show at the end of last season. All he had to do was keep his nose clean and he would be all but set for a nice NFL contract. Now he is most likely kissing all that goodbye.
What now for the Sooners? Does Paul Thompson go back under center and start working with the offense that was unceremoniously ripped from his hands after struggling in the first game of the season last year? How about this Junior College transfer, Joey Halzle? Does he have the goods to take this offense over and run it. There is one other QB on the team right now - incoming freshman Sam Bradford out of Putnam City North. But expecting a true freshman to take over a team like OU is a tall order. Perhaps Coach Stoops may be able to pull some Juco transfer magic together with Halzle, though having another draw from the bag like Josh Huepel would be almost too much to ask for in this case.
I'm sure we'll have more on this over the next few days as the story develops, but the frustration right now is just . . . .AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!
Don is a Sooner Alumni and fan and Editor-in-Chief for AJS
