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Stoops denies ESPN report linking him to Notre Dame
Nov 30, 2009 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
For the second time in five hours Monday, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops denied rumors and reports that he was leaving to take the Notre Dame job, which opened earlier in the day when Charlie Weis was fired after five seasons.
Even though Stoops insisted during an early afternoon teleconference that he was "going to be at Oklahoma next season," ESPN reported that negotiations were still ongoing between Notre Dame officials and either Stoops or his representatives.
"Word sweeping the coaching circles today is that Notre Dame is interested in Bob Stoops and the interest is mutual," ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter said on Monday Night Countdown. "Even though he's got a contract at Oklahoma that runs through 2015 and even though he said today he fully intends to be at Oklahoma
next season."
When the Tulsa World contacted Stoops via text about ESPN's story, his return text said: "You should know everything reported isn't true."
When asked if Stoops' statements during the afternoon teleconference should be believed, Stoops replied in a text: "You should, if you do know me. I don't lie."
During an afternoon teleconference, Stoops said: "I fully intend to be at Oklahoma, hopefully, for a good while. You never know what the good Lord brings you. But in the end, even through a tough year, there are good, quality kids I'm working with, great people I work with here in our administration."
In a follow-up, Stoops was asked specifically about the Notre Dame job.
"What I'm saying is I'm going to be at Oklahoma next year. I can't be in two places at once," he replied. "If Joe (Castiglione, OU's athletics director) will have me and President (David) Boren, that's what I'm going to do. ...
"I couldn't be more happy and pleased with what we're doing here. I'm not confirming or denying anything about Notre Dame or any other job. My point is this is what I love doing right now."
The belief that Stoops had reached the top of Notre Dame's wish list began with a Chicago Sun-Times report two weeks ago, then ran rampant on Notre Dame-based Internet and blog sites. Eventually, national media outlets picked up the scent, and it got to the point where Stoops and Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick supposedly met in the aftermath of the Sooners' 27-0 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Which was odd, since the Irish still had a football coach until this afternoon.
"I can't help what's said," Stoops commented Monday in the teleconference. "But in the end I couldn't be more excited and pleased with what we're doing here and what the future holds. ...
"What I'm saying is I intend to be at Oklahoma. That's the only place right now."
Stoops said his policy is to "never confirm or deny whether I talk or don't talk to anybody." So any notion that he ever had any interest in Notre Dame remains a mystery.
More certain is Stoops' intention to return for a 12th season with the Sooners. He'll try to build on the injury-ravaged, 7-5 regular season he just endured, his worst since going 7-4 in 1999, his first year in Norman.
To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax
to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave.,
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