Flagstaffsooner
1/8/2007, 12:52 PM
An OU-Boise series?
Scheduling becoming tougher for power schools
By Berry Tramel
Staff Writer
Several months ago, seeking to fill out its football schedule, OU sent an offer to a variety of mid-majors: 2-for-1. Agree to play on Owen Field twice, and the Sooners would agree to play on your campus or at a big-time stadium nearby.
The Mid-American Conference, Conference USA, the WAC. The Sooners solicited schools from a variety of leagues.
Boise State was on the list.
The negotiating relationship has changed, of course, in the last week, since Boise State stunned OU 43-42 in overtime, a Fiesta Bowl classic that still has the nation buzzing, even the NFL voices who are not void of subject matter this time of year.
But wouldn't an Oklahoma-Boise State series be fun?
Four days after the game, Bronco coach Chris Petersen still was talking with wide eyes.
"What a game,” Petersen told The Oklahoman. "We've got so much respect for Oklahoma. Class operation. We felt privileged to be out there, competing with those guys.”
Maybe it will happen again, and soon. College football scheduling is changing. Finding opponents for traditional powers is more difficult than ever.
OU athletic director Joe Castiglione has not heard back from Boise State, before or after the Fiesta, on the 2-for-1 offer.
Efforts failed to reach Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier. Maybe the Broncos will bite on the chance to get the Sooners in Idaho, even if it means two road trips for Boise State.
Of course, Boise State could claim it has earned the right to go home-and-home with anyone, and that would be a valid argument, too.
Would the Sooners sign off on a 1-for-1 deal with Boise State?
"That's a little different,” Castiglione said. "Typically, we've used those for marquee-type opportunities. Since we have marquee games aready set (Miami, Tennessee, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame), it would change our philosophy a little bit.”
But a philosophy change might be forced upon the Sooners. The rising price of purchased opponents will make all power-conference schools rethink scheduling.
Opponents now are charging the Oklahomas and the Floridas and the Michigans anywhere from $500,000 to $800,000 an appearance. At some point, the price will be too high.
An athletic director will explain to his football coach that sorry, the scheduling advantage is not worth the price, and more equitable games are in store. That's not what coaches want to hear. But such a shift will make the sport better. And when it happens, fans and media will have to realize that quality opponents make for losable games, and expectations will have to be downshifted slightly.
Heck, the Sooners already took a small step in that direction. In September, OU hosted Washington and is scheduled to play in Seattle in 2008. The Huskies are not one of those marquee games.
If OU goes home-and-home with Washington, why not Boise State? The Fiesta Bowl left us all wanting more.
Discuss
Scheduling becoming tougher for power schools
By Berry Tramel
Staff Writer
Several months ago, seeking to fill out its football schedule, OU sent an offer to a variety of mid-majors: 2-for-1. Agree to play on Owen Field twice, and the Sooners would agree to play on your campus or at a big-time stadium nearby.
The Mid-American Conference, Conference USA, the WAC. The Sooners solicited schools from a variety of leagues.
Boise State was on the list.
The negotiating relationship has changed, of course, in the last week, since Boise State stunned OU 43-42 in overtime, a Fiesta Bowl classic that still has the nation buzzing, even the NFL voices who are not void of subject matter this time of year.
But wouldn't an Oklahoma-Boise State series be fun?
Four days after the game, Bronco coach Chris Petersen still was talking with wide eyes.
"What a game,” Petersen told The Oklahoman. "We've got so much respect for Oklahoma. Class operation. We felt privileged to be out there, competing with those guys.”
Maybe it will happen again, and soon. College football scheduling is changing. Finding opponents for traditional powers is more difficult than ever.
OU athletic director Joe Castiglione has not heard back from Boise State, before or after the Fiesta, on the 2-for-1 offer.
Efforts failed to reach Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier. Maybe the Broncos will bite on the chance to get the Sooners in Idaho, even if it means two road trips for Boise State.
Of course, Boise State could claim it has earned the right to go home-and-home with anyone, and that would be a valid argument, too.
Would the Sooners sign off on a 1-for-1 deal with Boise State?
"That's a little different,” Castiglione said. "Typically, we've used those for marquee-type opportunities. Since we have marquee games aready set (Miami, Tennessee, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame), it would change our philosophy a little bit.”
But a philosophy change might be forced upon the Sooners. The rising price of purchased opponents will make all power-conference schools rethink scheduling.
Opponents now are charging the Oklahomas and the Floridas and the Michigans anywhere from $500,000 to $800,000 an appearance. At some point, the price will be too high.
An athletic director will explain to his football coach that sorry, the scheduling advantage is not worth the price, and more equitable games are in store. That's not what coaches want to hear. But such a shift will make the sport better. And when it happens, fans and media will have to realize that quality opponents make for losable games, and expectations will have to be downshifted slightly.
Heck, the Sooners already took a small step in that direction. In September, OU hosted Washington and is scheduled to play in Seattle in 2008. The Huskies are not one of those marquee games.
If OU goes home-and-home with Washington, why not Boise State? The Fiesta Bowl left us all wanting more.
Discuss