Oklahoma
Barry Switzer questions if Oklahoma's NIL can compete with Texas, criticizes offensive struggles
Following another rough performance against South Carolina, there are plenty of questions about where Oklahoma’s offense goes next. Brent Venables made an offensive coordinator change, but legendary OU coach Barry Switzer said the Sooners are “short in a lot of areas” – and it might take some time to fix it.
Switzer pointed out the shortcomings for the Oklahoma offense, which will now see Joe Jon Finley take on play-calling duties after Seth Littrell’s departure. But he also questioned the Sooners’ ability to succeed in NIL dollars, particularly with rival Texas.
During an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show on Tuesday, Switzer noted the difference between Texas’ population and Oklahoma’s. That, he said, impacts fundraising ability in the current state of college football. That’s why he wondered if the Sooners can keep pace with the Longhorns if recruiting battles turn into bidding wars.
“We’re short in a lot of areas, Paul,” Switzer said. “Defensively, we’re probably a lot better than we are offensively. We’re short, offensive line, with running backs, receivers, quarterback – every area of the offense needs help. And it’s gonna take a while to get there. But I think that they can. I don’t know. I question, sometimes, with NIL whether we can or not, whether we can compete against Texas every year. They can raise more money than we can. We’re a small state. We’ve only got 3.5 million people, and it’s gonna be more difficult than it is for the University of Texas, where they’ve got 35 million people. A wealthier state and people to be able to support the programs. We’ll have to wait and see.
“NIL is still a mystery for everybody because we don’t know where we’re gonna end up. Hopefully, someday, we’ll get something that has some stability to it that we all will have a chance to be successful with.”
A closer look at Oklahoma, Texas NIL initiatives
Barry Switzer was one of the founders of 1Oklahoma in 2022, and the NIL collective later came together with the Crimson and Cream and The Sooner Nation Collective. Upon the move, 1Oklahoma became OU’s official NIL collective.
As for Texas, the Texas One Fund emerged as one of the top NIL collectives in the country, and On3’s Pete Nakos ranked it at No. 3 in his top collectives in college sports in August. Sources told On3 it has roughly 60 football players under contract, and the organization has a working partnership with WME Sports.
The two collectives also came together ahead of this year’s Red River Rivalry matchup between Oklahoma and Texas. They teamed up for the “Golden Hat Classic” golf tournament with NIL money on the line. The winning side saw 55% of the pot go to its NIL collective while the loser received 45 percent.
Barry Switzer: Getting education is ‘not the goal anymore’
When looking at the changing NIL landscape, Barry Switzer pointed out a comment Nick Saban made after his retirement to sum things up. The former Alabama coach recalled an incident in which a player asked about NIL money before entering the transfer portal, which signaled it was time to walk away.
Switzer noted the differences in recruiting today compared to when he coached from 1961-97. In doing so, he sees education becoming less of a priority.
“I knew – I think when I saw Nick Saban leave and he said I think something about a 19-year-old kid coming into his office wanting to know how much he was gonna pay him to keep him from going into the portal, Nick knew it was time to get the hell out. I think I can understand that and appreciate that,” Switzer said. “When I recruited in the back in the ’70s, ’60s – I was recruiting in the ’60s at Arkansas. I started coaching in 1960 at Arkansas. I was with a lot of Coach Bryant’s people. … They were my mentors. I coached with those guys.
“I look back at this and say, back then, we were recruiting, we would have kids four or five years. Mothers and fathers, if they had a father, they wanted them to get an education. These kids today, that’s not the goal anymore, to get an education, to go to college. They all think they can play pro football, and that’s not true, that’s not gonna happen. If they’re not gonna be out there playing within a year or two, they’re in the portal or going somewhere else. I don’t know how in the hell they expect to get an education.”
Switzer also spoke about his approach in recruiting. He wasn’t just trying to get players to Oklahoma for four years and move on. He saw a lifelong bond, and he said that was part of his success during his career.
“I said this early on – and I ought to have to trademark on it, Paul – you know what NIL means? Now, it’s legal,” Switzer said. “What goes around, comes around. Back 50, 60 years ago, you did anything for a player, helped a player, it was illegal. Today, it’s not. I obviously coached in an area I helped kids when they needed help. I didn’t induce a player to come to Oklahoma, but once they [became] a part of my family, there were gonna be things that come up that you had to help a kid and I always told them, if you come be a part of my family, my program, I’m gonna treat you like you’re one of my own and I still do. … That’s been my approach and always has been.
“I think that’s one of the reasons I was successful is kids believed in me, they knew I’d help them if they needed help when they were here. And I’m not talking about buying a damn car. I’m talking about if they needed to get home – there was an emergency or a funeral, whatever, they’ve got to fly somewhere – I’m gonna get them there. I’m gonna treat them like they’re one of my own kids.”
Oklahoma House Republicans are laying the groundwork for their legislative agenda for the next year, focusing on key issues including education, mental health, workforce development, and economic growth.
House Republican leaders met this week to finalize their top priorities ahead of the session, emphasizing the opportunity to make significant progress with Republican majorities in both the state and U.S. Congress.
Key initiatives include making schools phone-free and establishing a Level 1 trauma facility in Tulsa. House Republicans are also introducing a new oversight process for legislation. Under the new system, bills will be reviewed by both a standard committee and an “oversight committee” before advancing to the House floor.
“We want to get more work done earlier, make sure we don’t bring any bad legislation forward,” said House Republican Caucus Chair Stan May, (R-Broken Arrow). “I mean, it should be hard to pass a bill. It shouldn’t be, you know, a one-and-done thing.”
Republican lawmakers are also aiming to pass additional tax cuts, though May noted they are still building consensus and waiting for a clearer picture of the state budget.
House leaders plan to meet with Gov. Kevin Stitt and Senate leaders to align their goals once the session begins. State lawmakers will convene for Organizational Day on Tuesday, with the full legislative session set to start on Feb. 3.
CNA Staff, Jan 3, 2025 / 16:35 pm
A religious sister who ministered in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City died in a car accident Thursday afternoon after running off a rural highway northwest of the city, according to local news reports.
Sister Veronica Higgins of the Carmelite Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Infant Jesus was killed after her vehicle left the road, struck a tree, and came to rest in a creek, authorities said.
The accident happened on Oklahoma Highway 3, about four miles south of Okarche, the hometown of Blessed Stanley Rother.
Higgins, 74, was “apparently ill,” and troopers wrote in the report that the cause of the collision was a medical incident, KOCO reported.
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City paid tribute to Higgins shortly after the accident, writing on social media: “I have just learned of the sudden and unexpected death of Sister Veronica Higgins, CST, earlier today, Jan. 2. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Veronica, the Carmelite Sisters of St. Thérèse, and all who grieve her passing.”
“Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,” the bishop continued, adding that “funeral arrangements are pending and will be provided in the near future.”
Higgins was the case manager at the Center of Family Love, a ministry to the intellectually disabled, in Okarche, according to the Okarche Warrior. She was also a past administrator and principal at the former Villa Teresa School in Oklahoma City.
According to The Oklahoman, she was a convert to the Catholic faith and celebrated the 40th anniversary of her vows as a religious sister in 2016.
On the website for her order, Higgins wrote that her favorite Bible verse is Micah 6:8, which reads: “The Lord asks of us only this: to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with your God.”
An archdiocesan spokesman told CNA that the sisters are “still struggling with the loss” and that more information will be available next week.
The Carmelite Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Infant Jesus say on their website that the members of the order work to serve “the special needs of those who experience poverty, spiritual deprivation, moral disorders, and indifference.”
Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.
A familiar face will be in Coleman Coliseum as Alabama basketball tips off conference play this weekend.
The No. 6 Crimson Tide will host No. 10 Oklahoma for the SEC opener on Saturday with a start time of 5 p.m. CT.
Mohamed Wague will be back in the Plaid Palace to face his former Alabama (11-2) teammates for the first time since hitting the transfer portal in April.
More Mo in the building for Alabama basketball SEC Opener
With Wague’s return, Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate won’t be the only “Mo” in the building.
The 6-foot-10 Wague notched eight starts in 33 games played last season at UA. Despite playing through a knee injury down the stretch, he put up 3.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per contest with three double-digit outings.
Now with the Sooners (13-0), Wague has yet to start, averaging 7.3 minutes off the bench. As the first-year SEC members stay undefeated, he’s registered averages of 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
Oklahoma basketball will be pesky at perimeter
Alabama will need shots to fall like they did against South Dakota State − and probably better − to outlast Oklahoma from deep. The Crimson Tide has been productive in the paint this year, but beating an OU team that’s limiting opponents to just 27.1% from the arc requires a presence from 3-point range.
UA shot 31.7% on threes through non-conference play while Oklahoma cleared 36.7%.
While OU has picked up statement wins over Arizona, Louisville and Michigan, and advanced into the top 10 of the coaches poll, it’s ranked 43rd in the NET compared to No. 9 Alabama. That’s because the Sooners have played seven games against teams currently in Quad 4.
Crimson Tide can’t afford too many turnovers against Sooners
OU turns the ball over. Still not as much Alabama.
Entering Saturday, the Sooners are averaging 11.2 turnovers per game to 12.7 for Alabama. With Houston Mallette and Chris Youngblood back in the rotation, UA has gotten better about forcing them. However, if the two can’t get some steals against OU, Alabama could see itself fall victim to the Sooners, who are forcing over 14 turnovers per game on opponents, with an average 9.5 steals per contest.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
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