Stoops is out of the discussion

"For the third, and hopefully final time, let me again state that I will continue to be the coach at Oklahoma. I appreciate the history and tradition of Notre Dame. I also appreciate the history and tradition of Oklahoma, and I have been part of building that tradition here.

"I work for a wonderful president (David Boren) and athletic director (Joe Castiglione), who have created an incredible work environment at OU. There haven't been any plans for a meeting or negotiations with Notre Dame and there will not be. Any reporting to that fact is completely erroneous. I will not be the next coach at Notre Dame."

-Bob Stoops

Weis fired. Rumor mill churning full speed.

So, Weis was officially fired today, immediately launching the media frenzy that will be the search for his replacement.

Within minutes of the announcement, I saw conflicting reports on the internet regarding my favorite (Bob Stoops).

KTUL.com (Tulsa, OK) is reporting that the Irish and Bob Stoops have verbally agreed on contract terms.

OU Insider is reporting that Bob Stoops was quoted this afternoon as saying he would be back next year as the head coach of the Sooners.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Meyer is absolutely not interested in the job, quoting Tebow, Urban, and his wife Shelley this week as stating he's not interested.

I haven't found anything yet on Brian Kelly rumors.

I'll try to update events as they unfold.

There will be a press conference at 6 p.m. today at the University of Notre Dame. I will try to sneak away from work to watch and post an update shortly after.

UPDATE: Stoops saying he will stay at Oklahoma story gaining steam, being reported on multiple outlets, including ESPN, AP, etc. Looks like my top dog has fallen out of the race. :(

UPDATE: Here's the transcript of Stoops' comments. Taken as a whole, this doesn't sound like a guy that is definitely staying put.


(Stoops): "The questions come up and like I always say 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 I couldn't be more excited about, even through a tough year, the good quality kids we're working with and the great people here that I work with daily in our administration and you know I can't help with all that's said, but in the end, the players I'm recruiting understand that that's what I'm excited about and that's what I intend to do."

(Reporter): "There is officially an opening at Notre Dame. So, you're not going there?"

(Stoops): "What I am saying is I intend to be at Oklahoma, that's the only place that right now, yes that I am, what I'm looking to do. I will never confirm or deny whether I talk or not talk to anybody. And, I won't be interviewing for any jobs."

(Reporter): "I'm not asking if you talked to anybody."

(Stoops): "Well I just said all that."

(Reporter): "What I'm asking is can you tell me right now that you won't go to Notre Dame?"

(Stoops): "What I'm saying is that I'm going to be at Oklahoma next year. So I can't be in two places at once."

(Reporter): "Well then why not just say no?"

(Stoops): "Because I don't like the way you worded it. So, in the end, I told you what I intend to do. If Joe (Castiglione) and President Boren will have me, that's what I'm going to do. And that's where it's at."

(Reporter): "How would you have worded it?"

(Stoops): "Not like you, obviously."

--For my money, I think Stoops is ready to take the ND job after reading that. He is tap dancing all over the place.