Mike Stoops will be the new UofA coach

[Lefty]

It is almost a done deal, this according to people in Oklahoma. The announcement could come as early as this weekend.

Reports from TV stations in Oklahoma have said Stoops will not coach in the Big 12 or Sugar Bowl so he can get a staff together and hit the recruiting trail.

Greg Hansen in today's AZ Daily Star is also reporting that Stoops will be the next coach. This is big for the UofA.

 

[Renz]

WOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!

 

[Chaplin]

That is HUGE for the school, and even the Pac-10 as well.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Here you go:

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Chaplin
even the Pac-10 as well.

I don't know if I agree with that. I think the rest of the Pac-10 was happy having a doormat to beat up on.

(or to be totally fair, two Arizona doormats )

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I don't know if I agree with that. I think the rest of the Pac-10 was happy having a doormat to beat up on.

(or to be totally fair, two Arizona doormats )

That's not what I meant.

The Pac-10 is consistently the most powerful disrespected conference in the country--it'll be good to have a name from outside the Pac.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Chaplin
That's not what I meant.

The Pac-10 is consistently the most powerful disrespected conference in the country--it'll be good to have a name from outside the Pac.

I know, I know.

It will help in that regard, though I don't see why the Pac-10 deserves much respect in College football.

Of the major conferences, generally the Pac-10 is the weakest.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I know, I know.

It will help in that regard, though I don't see why the Pac-10 deserves much respect in College football.

Of the major conferences, generally the Pac-10 is the weakest.

That's not true.

USC this season is a perfect example of the disrespect the Pac gets.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Chaplin

USC this season is a perfect example of the disrespect the Pac gets.

But other than USC, what else does the Pac-10 have?

Washington State. Oregon State hasn't played anyone of note outside of the conference, Oregon lost badly to a pitiful ASU team, and the rest of the conference is basically terrible, UCLA has a winning record but that's a function of facing so many bad teams.

2 teams that are pretty good (USC is actually more than pretty good).

Compare the conferences from top to bottom, and the Pac-10 comes in 5th, behind the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, and ACC in no particular order.

Compare it against the SEC:
Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Arkansas

Compare it against the Big Ten:
Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan State, and Wisconsin

Compare it against the Big Twelve:
K-State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech

Compare it against the ACC:
FSU, Maryland, Clemson, NC State, Clemson, Georgia Tech

My point is that the conference is incredibly top heavy. There are a few good teams at the top, but the rest of the conference is awful.

That has been the status quo for the Pac-10 for years, and actually gives good evidence for your suggestion that UofA hiring Stoops could help the conference as a whole.

 

[Chaz]

Sounds like this would be a great choice.

If so, I hope he stays for a while. I can't wait to see some of those good national recruits playing for the 'Cats.




ASU has to hate this news if true.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Chaplin
That's not true.

USC this season is a perfect example of the disrespect the Pac gets.

How do you figure USC is getting no respect? #2 ESPN/Coaches poll, #2 in the AP poll. Surely you don't think they should be #1 ahead of OU???

Or is your complaint aboiut the general crapiness of the PAC10 this year weighing down the Trojans strength of schedule? Which I don't has anything to do with respect since strength of schedule is a mathematical formula based on opponents W-L record (and their opponents W-L records)with a divisor number (I think 25).

Face it USC should have taken care of business at Cal.

 

[AZCB34]

Not so fast on Stoops to Tucson:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=1666025

By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com

If opinion and gossip have anything to do with it, then Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops will be the next coach at Arizona.


However, Wildcats athletic director Jim Livengood and Stoops both said Wednesday that they have not reached an agreement.


"I've had TV stations calling asking if the announcement [Thursday] can be pushed back to earlier in the afternoon," Livengood said. "The job is open. Nobody has been hired. Nobody has been offered. Dec. 1 is still the target date."


Here's what has been confirmed by sources privy to the negotiations: Stoops met last week in Oklahoma City with Jim Click, a prominent Wildcat booster and a member of the search committee. Stoops and Livengood spoke on the phone as recently as Tuesday night, but Stoops begged off any lengthy discussion so as not to interrupt his preparation for the No. 1 Sooners' regular-season finale Saturday at Texas Tech.


The Arizona Board of Regents will meet in Tucson on Thursday and Friday and will be presented a salary range that Livengood and his committee feel is necessary to hire a coach, which is reportedly around $1 million per season. If the board voices no objection, Livengood and university president Peter Likins will proceed.


Stoops, asked to confirm if he would leave Lubbock to meet with Livengood, refused to comment. Livengood said that there are still "a number" of candidates that he intends to speak with. USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow told The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that he would meet with Livengood after the Trojans play UCLA on Saturday to discuss the opening.


There is some sentiment within the Arizona athletic department for Livengood to wait to hire a new coach until after the Wildcats' last game against Arizona State on Nov. 28, in respect to interim coach Mike Hankwitz, who would like to be hired permanently. Livengood said making the hire next week is "possible. I'm not looking at it being probable."


Two friends of Stoops say that if he takes the job, he would remain with Oklahoma through the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 6, but not for the bowl game, even if the Sooners are playing for the national championship. Stoops saw firsthand how Mark Richt tried to be the new head coach of Georgia while preparing Florida State for the 2001 Orange Bowl. Oklahoma shut out the Seminoles' offense in winning the national championship game 13-2.


Arizona fired coach John Mackovic on Sept. 28, when the Wildcats were 1-4. They have gone 1-5 under Hankwitz, a veteran defensive coordinator in his first head coaching position