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I didn't see that coming. I thought he'd stay with the Sooners.
I don't think anyone did. I wonder what it was...OU joining the SEC means increased competition which he didn't want to deal with, or did USC just give him a big ol' pile of money? Never underestimate the draw of "being one of the cool kids" and living in LA, which is still pretty spectacular if you're rich, and he will be.
I don't care if he leaves, but it's the players he takes with him that concerns me.
Makes sense when you think about it.
It's hard enough competing with Texas and A&M for recruits in Texas, but now he can expect a full on charge from the rest of the SEC. Meanwhile, what appeal does Norman hold for a 17 year old from Florida/Alabama/Georgia? He read the tea leaves and figured out very quickly where Oklahoma is going to end up and bounced. In LA, if he gets USC to be even halfway decent he automatically gets a huge leg up for those Cali recruits. There is no real downside for him. Worst case scenario he fails at USC, but that team had been going downhill for a while now. He can fall back on his OK successes to land another job somewhere along with a nice big payout I'm sure. Excellent business decision.
Makes sense when you think about it.
It's hard enough competing with Texas and A&M for recruits in Texas, but now he can expect a full on charge from the rest of the SEC. Meanwhile, what appeal does Norman hold for a 17 year old from Florida/Alabama/Georgia? He read the tea leaves and figured out very quickly where Oklahoma is going to end up and bounced. In LA, if he gets USC to be even halfway decent he automatically gets a huge leg up for those Cali recruits. There is no real downside for him. Worst case scenario he fails at USC, but that team had been going downhill for a while now. He can fall back on his OK successes to land another job somewhere along with a nice big payout I'm sure. Excellent business decision.
No doubt the move to the SEC was a big factor. Much tougher competition. Having to compete with Alabama every year.
Look at Oklahoma's bowl results: They played SEC teams all four years under Riley. Lost to Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Beat Florida.
In the Pac-12 its easier than the Big 12. But who knows. He took over a Oklahoma program running perfectly. He just had to keep it going. Chip Kelley took over a perfectly running Oregon program. Not so easy when you take over a floundering program at UCLA.
Rumors abound around Oklahoma. Everything from a 10 year 150 million dollar contract with Jet Plane perks and helicopters for commuting to being afraid of the SEC to being upset about OU's compliance program being too strict.
Could be that after he lost to OSU he knew it was best to get out of town. LOL.
It's a weird vibe. People here feel like he stabbed OU in the back and they are mad... and they are mad that he has messed up recruiting and is going to take commits with him to USC.
But I really don't get the impression that anybody is really upset that he isn't going to be coach of the program anymore. There is a sense that he was maxed out on what his success level could be here at OU and that going to the SEC he wasn't going to be able to get OU to the Bama, Georgia level.
Rumors abound around Oklahoma. Everything from a 10 year 150 million dollar contract with Jet Plane perks and helicopters for commuting to being afraid of the SEC to being upset about OU's compliance program being too strict.
Could be that after he lost to OSU he knew it was best to get out of town. LOL.
It's a weird vibe. People here feel like he stabbed OU in the back and they are mad... and they are mad that he has messed up recruiting and is going to take commits with him to USC.
But I really don't get the impression that anybody is really upset that he isn't going to be coach of the program anymore. There is a sense that he was maxed out on what his success level could be here at OU and that going to the SEC he wasn't going to be able to get OU to the Bama, Georgia level.
Agree with everything you said.
The simple fact of the matter is that OK was simply the best of a mediocre bunch in the Big 12. So he won a bunch of conference titles and then got smoked in the playoffs when he went up against the big dogs. Him having two Heisman trophy winners distracted people from the fact that his teams were not truly elite.
I do find it a bit rich for Oklahoma fans to complain about getting stabbed in the back after what they did to the Big 12. Karma is one mean female dog.
Rumors abound around Oklahoma. Everything from a 10 year 150 million dollar contract with Jet Plane perks and helicopters for commuting to being afraid of the SEC to being upset about OU's compliance program being too strict.
Could be that after he lost to OSU he knew it was best to get out of town. LOL.
It's a weird vibe. People here feel like he stabbed OU in the back and they are mad... and they are mad that he has messed up recruiting and is going to take commits with him to USC.
But I really don't get the impression that anybody is really upset that he isn't going to be coach of the program anymore. There is a sense that he was maxed out on what his success level could be here at OU and that going to the SEC he wasn't going to be able to get OU to the Bama, Georgia level.
Same sort of thing when Lane Kiffin left Tennessee for USC. Anger from the school that got jilted. Kiffin was suppose to be the savior for USC also. He crashed and burned after less than 4 seasons.
OU should have locked Riley in better. Some huge buyout that no other school would touch. From what I have read it is $4.5 million. That is peanuts. Seems like they thought he was never going anywhere.
Looking at the OU. I believe they have never had a losing season. Worst was 7-4. They have not had worse than 3 losses for decades. But going to the SEC. That will be tougher.
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