Will Bob Stoops Stay in Oklahoma or Head to Ohio State?

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It seems everyone wants to give their opinion on Jim Tressel and Ohio State. Did Sweater Vest really do something wrong? Is Terrell Pryor really going to remain with the school for the 2011 season? But those are not the biggest questions facing the Buckeyes' football program.

The one question on everyone's mind is who will be the next head coach at Ohio State University? If you have spent a lot of time around the blogosphere over the past few weeks you've read names like Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, Boise State head coach Chris Petersen, former Florida Gators' head coach Urban Meyer and a few others.

But one name who continues to be mentioned in connection with just about every big job that comes open is Oklahoma Sooners' head coach, Bob Stoops.

When Meyer decided he was done at the University of Florida, rumors began flying that Stoops was going to be the man to replace him. A rumor Stoops quickly shot down.


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No matter how many big jobs come open, Stoops has continued to stay loyal to the University of Oklahoma, making me wonder if there really is a college football or NFL job that would finally uproot the long time Sooners' head coach from Norman.

That one position may have just come open. Say what you want about the previous coaching vacancies at Florida, Michigan or even the Dallas Cowboys, a job he was also rumored to have interest in, none of these jobs were big enough for Stoops to leave where a place he's become all too familiar with.

But after all the drama in Columbus and after Tressel's shocking resignation, the head coaching position at THE Ohio State University could be one that's too tempting for Stoops not to consider.

The man in Norman is 129-31, seven Big 12 championships, and one National Championship. But not only that, you might remember Stoops dismissing star quarterback Rhett Bomar in 2006 after he was involved in a scandal. Showing he's not afraid to kick star players to the curb for the betterment of the university and the program itself. Something Tressel failed to do.

Fans in Norman fear the day their head coach leaves for greener pastures but most of them have gotten to a point where they don't believe Stoops will ever leave. They sweated the Florida job for awhile until he came out and denied he was going anywhere.

Now that Ohio State is available, all Stoops has to do is show just a little bit of interest in the job and it may as well be a foregone conclusion. He is one of the best college football coaches in the game right now and arguably one of the best in college football history.

The one thing which could keep Stoops from even stepping foot in Columbus is how hard the NCAA is going to come down on the program. Does he want to take over at Ohio State when he could be limited to how many scholarships he can offer recruits or a ban from post season bowl games for a set amount of years?

There may be too much going on in Columbus and too much drama for Stoops to put all of their problems aside.

The head coach at Oklahoma University has a good thing going in Norman, Oklahoma and it's a job he's been comfortable in since he was hired back in 1999. He's turned down opportunities in the past to leave and prove he can win somewhere else.

Will Stoops accept the challenge if Ohio State comes calling or will they be just another big job he turns down?

Chris Petersen, Bob Stoops, Will Muschamp, Florida Gators and an I'm Sorry

Ok Boise State fans, I know you want to hear it so here you go. I'm sorry. The sources I had never saw this coming and neither did anyone else. I'm not making excuses, I was wrong and that's the end of it. It happens in this business unfortunately, it comes with the territory.

That being said, a big congratulations goes out to now former Texas Longhorns' offensive coordinator, Will Muschamp who officially was named the new head coach at the University of Florida.

It is a great hire for the Gators and a guy that finally deserves his own shot. We all thought he was the heir apparent to the Texas program but it seems Muschamp was growing tired of waiting and this was the perfect opportunity for him to spread his wings and take this once in a lifetime opportunity.

As for Boise State, they are breathing easier tonight as their head coach Chris Petersen will remain in Boise as their head coach.

I know this is going to sound like a "he's backtracking" but I said this to several people earlier today.

Growing up in Fresno and watching the Fresno State and Boise State rivalry, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Chris Petersen and the job he's done at Boise State. My Bulldogs, and head coach Pat Hill, could only dream of the things he's been able to accomplish there.

A part of me was hoping that loyalty won the day and that he would remain with the Broncos. It seems that has come true.

Petersen's name will come up again and it might surface with the University of Miami. There's been at least a few tweets suggesting that the Hurricanes might be going hard after him. I'm not going to say a word about that either way because I don't know a thing about that job opening. I will give my opinion and say I hope he doesn't end up there.

Florida is one thing, Miami is quite another.

Lastly, Bob Stoops was never the guy that Florida was going to land. I believed that even though there were rumors that the Gators were in negotiations with him earlier today.

He has a cush job at the University of Oklahoma and taking the gig at Florida was nothing more than a lateral move for him. I couldn't see him leaving Oklahoma and it turns out he isn't.

All in all, it's been a weird few days but when the dust settled the right guy was hired at Florida and I wish him nothing but the best. I really do hope he succeeds there because I know how much the Texas fans loved him and wished he were the guy to take over.

Again, to the Boise State fans, I was wrong and I'm happy to admit that. I know you want to call my credibility into question and that's fine. It's understandable coming from a fan base that doesn't want to lose their coach.

I hope that you can still talk sports with me and give me your opinion. I don't mind a good ole fashion debate from time to time.

Florida Gators In Talks With Bob Stoops?

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Update: 1:14pm CST - A source out of Boise told me that he'd be shocked to see Stoops take the Florida job and still believes Petersen to be the number one guy for the job.

Update: 12:25pm CST - I talked to Lisa Horne of Fox Sports on this news and she told me, "Stoops is always mentioned in any high-powered coaching job (ie, Notre Dame) and it never pans out. I also think Florida goes after a coach who has a winning record in bowls but isn't necessarily in a BCS conference. Like a Patterson, Petersen, Calhoun or Niumatalolo."

Update: 12:00pm CST - Talked to another source out of Houston that tells me it's Stoops' job if he wants it. But if not, Kevin Sumlin from Houston could become a factor.

Update: 11:57am CST - The source that has been on this story since Thursday night is not sold on the report from ESPN Insider and doesn't believe that Stoops would accept the job. He did admit that they could be wrong and stranger thing have happened, but they're not ready to accept that Stoops is the man.

Update: 11:50am CST - With Stoops coming in as the Florida head coach, it looks like Jacksonville University head coach Kerwin Bell will come in as the offensive coordinator.

Update: 11:46am CST - I talked to a source this morning who tole me "it will be Stoops." The terms of the deal aren't yet available but I'm told that Stoops should be the next head coach at the University of Florida.

So Boise State fans can breathe easy. For now.

According to rumors that have surfaced this morning, something I didn't expect to happen apparently could very well be happening.

The Florida Gators apparently are in talks with Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops to become their next head coach.

There's nothing official behind this yet and I'm still trying to find out from sources if they can confirm this, but it's already hit the rumor sheets that the two sides are in negotiations.

As of last night, a lot of people expected the Gators to name Boise State head coach Chris Petersen as their man by sometime next week but that was assuming Stoops turned the job down. Apparently, it seems that's not going to happen.

When it's confirmed, we'll break it down and I'll give my take on the hire.