For the third time, Bob Stoops turns Notre Dame down: The Notre Dame coaching search is less than a week old and on a serpentine path requiring motion-sickness medication to follow. Just Saturday, Bob Stoops left the running for the third time, Brian Kelly said he would entertain overtures before not entertaining questions and everyone wondered when the dust storm would settle. Despite a published report that a coaching announcement could come as early as Sunday, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Tribune that timetable was inaccurate. The process, however, should conclude by the end of this week. (Chicago Tribune)
Sooner fans take a sigh of breath, a deep sigh. Bob Stoops will remain University of Oklahoma's football coach.
After rampant rumors of him taking over Notre Dame's head coaching position, Stoops, Oklahoma head coach, publicly addressed the rumors of him becoming Notre Dame's next coach on Monday.
And, Stoops re-affirmed his commitment to the Sooners.
"I'm going to be at Oklahoma next year," Stoops said. "If Joe (Castiglione) will have me and President (David) Boren, that's what I intend to do."
And Stoops, wasn't done. After an on-air report by ESPN's Adam Schefter, saying "Notre Dame is interested in Bob Stoops and the interest is mutual." Bob Stoops quickly shot down that report, "I stand by the comments that I made earlier today. I will be at Oklahoma. Any reporting to the contrary is completely unfounded," Stoops said in a statement.
Sources close to both Stoops and the University of Oklahoma confirmed to GNEXTINC.com his intentions to stay with Oklahoma.
One source close to Bob Stoops confirmed to GNEXTINC.com, negotiations between Stoops and Notre Dame broke off after word of talks leaked publicly. Another source, close to University of Oklahoma, said Stoops assured the University he'd remain Oklahoma's coach.
According to both sources, Stoops and ND talks were held through third parties and never really matured.
Stoops, who grew up as a Midwestern Catholic in Youngstown, Ohio, has long been rumored to Notre Dame's job, even, before Charlie Weis' hiring in 2004.
However, Stoops has turned down numerous jobs, since then, including New York Giants, Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida Gators.
But this time the Irish came strong and fully loaded with millions to offer Stoops and desperate for wins. Notre Dame's faithful and school officials had Stoops atop their wish list and fully willing to offer the house. Though aggressively pursued, Stoops rejected Notre Dame, again.
The Irish will likely turn their head coaching search to TCU's Gary Patterson, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh or Cincinatti's Brian Kelly.
Within hours after Notre Dame's official firing of Charlie Weis.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops offered another denial saying he won't coach the Irish, and he'll be coaching Oklahoma next year, after television reports on Monday evening continued to say Stoops would be named Notre Dame's next head coach.
Early Monday evening, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on-air, one NFL source told him, Stoops would be Notre Dame's next head coach. "One NFL source," Schefter reported, "goes so far as to say he believes an agreement is all but a formality, with some details, likely including the Oklahoma contract, still to be resolved."
However, late Monday evening, Bob Stoops denied the report.
"I stand by the comments that I made earlier today. I will be at Oklahoma. Any reporting to the contrary is completely unfounded," Stoops said in a statement.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has denied he's interested in Notre Dame. However, on Monday, he wouldn't confirm nor deny if he'd interview for any job. The question, despite Stoops' denial, will Bob Stoops be named Notre Dame's next head coach?
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops vehemently denied he's interested in Notre Dame's head coaching job, he told reporters on Monday, after rumors swirled Stoops would meet with Notre Dame school officials.
"I'm going to be at Oklahoma next year," he said. "If Joe (Castiglione) will have me and President (David) Boren, that's what I intend to do." Stoops, added: "I can't be at two places at once."
However, Stoops did not confirm nor deny he had any contact with Notre Dame officials. "I will never confirm or deny whether I talk or not talk to anybody, and I won't be interviewing for any jobs," he said.
On Monday, Notre Dame fired head coach Charlie Weis after five seasons with the Irish. The school named Rob Ianello, wide receivers coach, as interim head coach for Notre Dame's bowl game.
With Weis fired -- Notre Dame will reportedly target Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. On Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times, citing an unnamed source, reported "A university source has Oklahoma's Bob Stoops at the very top of ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick's wish list."
Stoops signed a contract in June, through 2015, reportedly valued over $30 million dollars. However, Notre Dame will reportedly buyout Weis' contract worth $16-20 million dollars, while the school reportedly has an endowment of over $5 billion dollars.
On Monday evening, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, one NFL source with close Notre Dame ties believed it's all but a formality that Stoops would be named Notre Dame's next head coach with only details in the Oklahoma contract to be resolved.
Report: Rumors of Stoops being interested in talking to ND are untrue: OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who was out Sunday recruiting with Stoops, told The Oklahoman Sunday night he didn't think there was anything to the Notre Dame rumors, though admitted "Bob doesn't talk about that stuff." Another source close to the program told The Oklahoman reports that Stoops is interested in talking about the Notre Dame job are untrue. (The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma Sooners ended their regular season (7-5) Saturday shuting out No. 12 Oklahoma State, 27-0, in Norman. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and OU defense forced Oklahoma State's first shutout since 2005.
Shortly, following Oklahoma's Bedlam win, silly season rumors ratched up with rumors of Stoops flying to South Bend to meet with Irish officials on Sunday, to rumors of, Notre Dame officials were in Norman to observe Saturday's game.
Speculation was fueled when Tony Barnhart, CBS Sports analyst, cited unnamed sources saying Stoops would fly to Notre Dame "as early as tomorrow" to have a sit-down with school officials.
However, late Saturday, the rumor of Stoops and Irish holding conversations about the replacement of current ND head coach Charlie Weis was dismissed by Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame Athletics Director.
"Any version of anything you hear in the contact with a coach are absolutely false," Swarbrick said before Saturday night's Notre Dame-Stanford game. "We haven't talked to anybody. We haven't authorized anybody to talk to anybody. It's simply not true.
"We'll engage in the evaluation in earnest following this game, then we'll go from there."
ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said on ABC's Saturday night football telecast of ND-Stanford, he spoke with Stoops following Saturday's Bedlam game. Stoops assured Herbstreit, he or his agent hasn't spoke with Notre Dame officials.
In addition, Stoops explicitly denied the CBS report in a text message to Tulsa World. According to Tulsa World, Stoops replied in a text that, "On the record, I'm not interviewing. This is the first I've hear of this (rumor)."
On Friday, there was a published report that Stoops was atop Notre Dame's coaching wishlist. The Chicago Sun-Times, citing an unnamed source, reported "A university source has Oklahoma's Bob Stoops at the very top of ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick's wish list."
Among the coaches, who are thought, to be on ND's wishlist are Brian Kelly, Gary Patterson, Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer.
Notre Dame lost to Stanford 45-38, in likely Weis' last game as Notre Dame's head coach.
Monday night Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops denied any interest in Notre Dame's head coaching position. After a report first published by Chicago Sun-Times, citing an anonymous source, Stoops had told confidants he would be interested in talking to the Irish.
Stoops, however, went on to call the rumor "ridiculous" on Monday Night.
Stoops after practice told reporters:
"There's not even a job (open) at Notre Dame," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.
As the college football season nears an end, silly-season rumors are picking up. And to no one's surprise, rumors concerning Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops arise after arguably the most challenging and unpredictable season in Stoops' tenure. According to Chicago Sun-Times, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops is reportedly interested in Notre Dame if Charlie Weis is fired (as expected).
The paper cites an anonymous source, saying...
[Bob] Stoops has told confidants he would be interested in talking to the Irish.
Other names being mentioned are -- former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, Cincinnati's Brian Kelly and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz.
Stoops in June signed an extension with Oklahoma, reportedly valued over $30 million dollars, through 2015.
OU-ND home-and-home series set for 2012 and 2013: The University of Oklahoma and Notre Dame are planning for two football games, one in Norman in 2012 and one in South Bend, Ind., in 2013. Kenny Mossman, Oklahoma's sports information director, said the two schools are in discussions but have not signed a contract, while Notre Dame sports information director John Heisler said his school "has reached a deal with OU" to play the two contests. Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White previously announced that Oklahoma would replace Michigan for two years after the current contract between Notre Dame and Michigan expires in 2011. White said the goal was to play in different parts of the country in an attempt to return Notre Dame to its independent roots. Heisler said his school has wanted to play the Sooners again ever since the two teams met in 1999 in South Bend. Notre Dame won that game 34-30. It was the first time the two schools had played in 31 years. "We've been talking about this for a long time," Heisler said. "It was just complicated." (AP/ESPN.com)
