Daily Bullets (March 23)

Replacing Underwood

Love that Berry Tramel does these. May not love how it plays out, but still a fun process. Underwood was a one seed last year.

I finally selected Southern Cal’s Andy Enfield as the winner of my bracket. Enfield checks three boxes: exciting, name-brand coach from his Dunk City days at Florida Gulf Coast; OSU ties, with his model wife, Amanda, from Mustang and a big Cowboy fan; and affordable, since USC has maintained its fiscal sanity. [NewsOK]

Enfield’s an interesting program builder. Lob Stilly comes back. Got a couple guys who could go pro this year, he gets dudes. Not jacked about someone finishing fifth in the PAC to come in and compete in the lion’s den of coaches here.

People link him to us most because of his Oklahoma-native wife who loves the Pokes but heck, let’s go back to the well: Shippenburg was good to us once before.

In-N-Out

The silent victim in the AD-head coach power struggle: the players.

 The Cowboys were ousted from the tournament by Michigan, 92-91, on Friday afternoon. By the following afternoon, they were without their coach, a coach who had directed a bounce-back season and renewed life and optimism in a program that had been floundering.

“It kind of sucks,” Solomon said. “It’s like losing a family member. We grew really close really fast. And we figured we were going to be together for a while. [NewsOK]

They get their school paid for, training table and likely find that people want to hire them for their work ethic and notoriety but losing your coach would be hard. It’s a part of the gig, sure, but going overseas, summer workouts, and playing 30 games with a guy will form a relationship.

My best guess is it resembles a paternal boss/employer hybrid that has a timed obligation to invest in your life. The article goes on to be less sappy and emotional, but seeing the human side of the $ituation is important.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Texas hunting from grad transfer QB….Travis Ford has a couple guys transferring but says “there are enough players for everyone”….Salty letter to Underwood from an OSU student….Carroll and Evans named all-district (Carroll first team, Evans second?)….Tram gives us a dark horse candidate that you haven’t seen on any lists….Holder hired a search firm

Gundy wants to teach wrest coach John Smith who has farm nearby "When we retire we can walk around in our boots and make videos for YouTube"

— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) March 22, 2017

Retirement planning with Mike Gundy. How much would Gundy snakeskin boots sell for in the west endzone?

Fun piece on a former Cowboy basketballer turned pro in Aussie Rules football:

FEATURE | A look at @masonsixtencox like you haven't seen https://t.co/vuPcBfvISq Get a deeper insight on our forever travelling American. pic.twitter.com/KMWowsrEGV

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) March 22, 2017

What You Missed on PFB

• Doug is interviewing in Stillwater today and here’s why he makes sense
• Poll Results: 65 percent want Doug
• A defensive deficiency this year that Doug saw coming
• Gundy masterfully fills us in on rattlesnake hunting’s finer points
• How Underwood’s new salary and resume compares to the rest of Big 12 coaches
• Gundy and Co. talk about spring ball
• One of the basketball recruits is waiting to see how things pan out
• Rickie sells his golf spikes for $25k, donates the money to Arnold Palmer’s foundation
• Dean Heil: Big 12 wrestler of the year
• ICYMI: Hayden’s gamer on the Pokes winning bedlam baseball

Other Stuff I’m Reading

Using the “3 Encounter Rule” sounds interesting (applies to single/couple dates or making friends)…. 5 reasons our lives lack deep fulfillment (I’ll add Underwood leaving)

Mercy.

Per Elias, Westbrook is the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double going perfect from the floor and the free throw line.

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 23, 2017