League Wide: One Big Happy Family

Let’s take a look at some news around the league from this week.

Where There’s a Will

While other leagues may have more NFL-output, the Big 12 may be onto an idea for how to pitch the league as a better path to the NFL.

“We are going to spend some time talking about access to the draft in football,” commissioner Bob Bowlsby said after the first day of spring meetings Wednesday, “and being able to receive draft advice similar to the basketball rule that was adopted a year ago, that might allow student athletes to test their value in the draft and still return to school to continue their eligibility.” [Tulsa World]

Think Twice

The Dallas Morning News has a pretty good argument why OU should ride out the storms in the Big 12.

But my general response to Finebaum and his contention that Oklahoma wants out is to ask: In order to do what? Go to the SEC and almost never see the CFP again? Sooners going to win more games in the SEC than they do now, especially if they are placed geographically in the West with Alabama, LSU, Auburn, the Aggies, Miss State, etc.?

Seems to me OU has a pretty good gig, especially since UT has been down for seven years. I wouldn’t be in a rush to leave that, leave the rivalries with Texas and Oklahoma State in the dirt to go chase more SEC money and collect more losses. [SportsDay]

Oklahoma State isn’t the only one who’d deathly struggle to see ten wins again in the SEC. Now in the Pac-12 maybe that’s a different story but let’s sit tight until that day comes.

Also, David Boren appears pretty willing to ride it out — at least publicly.

Oklahoma President David Boren says he feels "much more confident" about Big 12 outlook that 2-3 years ago or even last year.

— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) June 1, 2017

Secrets of Snyder Ball

The Lockett family tree continuing to branch isn’t the secret sauce in Snyder Ball.

In other words, Snyder’s 60-31 record this decade (39-23 in the Big 12) has been built largely off his ability to regularly field strong defensive lines that can get a pass-rush with four guys.

That Snyder has regularly fielded some of the hardest talent to find (DL) despite one of the league’s lowest rated rosters (per 247 composite rankings) is some of the true wizardry of the second Snyder-era. [Football Study Hall]

Hasn’t that been the under-the-radar secret to Glenn Spencer’s defenses lately too? Calvin Barnett -> Emmanuel Ogbah -> Vincent Taylor has been incredible for a pass rush.

Fat and Happy

Hard to imagine Texas, OU and the Big 12’s top earners complaining about the setup.

https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/870769023805530112

Those numbers are looking pretty good relatively.

Why the NCAA isn’t going to punish Baylor

One of the better explanations for why Baylor won’t get the death penalty.

If even a fraction of what is alleged is true, those responsible should face serious punishment from every organization that governed them while employed at Baylor.

But they won’t. Sure, Baylor fired coach Art Briles and president Ken Starr and forced out athletic director Ian McCaw. But none of them is going to jail. In fact, Briles got paid millions to go away and keep his mouth shut. (He didn’t do either but still has the money.) McCaw, meanwhile, got hired for the same job at Liberty University. The NCAA, meanwhile, has done nothing because it can’t do anything.

Will the NCAA punish the Ole Miss football program for the distribution of an alleged $37,310 in cash, goods and services to players and recruits? Sure. The NCAA has rules against paying people for being good at a sport. But it has no rules against any of the awful things that happened at Baylor. States have rules against those things. So does the federal government. The NCAA does not. [Yahoo Sports]

In short, because it can’t. Will be interesting to see what happens with Ole Miss though. Can we vacate the Sugar Bowl-loss if they have to vacate the win?

Counterpoint from Tramel is that the bill will eventually come due at realignment.

Blazing Belltowers

Pretty impressive stuff here recently from UT, can we get fireworks over Edmond Low after the May graduation?

Celebration over the UT tower for the 2017 grads. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/CXIjQ3CKhP

— Gary Runn (@GaryRunn) May 21, 2017