Stoops makes right decision

By John Hillman  |   Tuesday, August 05, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Oklahoma Sooners
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In the win-or-else world of college football, talent usually prevails over ethics. However, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops has shown he places integrity over expediency.

Last week, the Sooners head coach dismissed freshman wide receiver Josh Jarboe from the squad. Because fall drills had not commenced, the Decatur, Ga., native can immediately enroll in another football program with no loss of eligibility.

Only a month after signing an OU letter of intent, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound pass catcher, ranked 13th best in the nation by ESPN, was arrested on a charge of carrying a firearm on his high school campus. Originally charged with a felony, Jarboe plea bargained the case down to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to two years' probation and 80 hours of community service in May.

Although unhappy with the unpleasant turn of events, Oklahoma coaches were willing to take a chance on the troubled recruit. However, days before players reported to Norman, a 74-second clip of Jarboe surfaced on YouTube. The video contains a vulgar rap number with references to guns and shooting people. A portion of the freestyle lyrics includes, “shoot you in the head and you might be dead with a halo. So hold on, don’t beg for your life.”

With the Internet exposure, Jarboe crossed the line. So, Stoops severed ties with the talented player rather than risk scandal.

“We’re disappointed in this outcome,” Stoops said. “But our complete review and the final decision is in the best interest of the program.”

Oklahoma’s checkered history left Stoops no choice. In December 1988, the NCAA placed the Sooners on three years' probation for 20 recruiting violations, including some committed by then-head coach Barry Switzer.

The next year brought even worse developments. Quarterback Charles Thompson was arrested on a charge of selling cocaine, and he was later convicted. Three players were charged with rape of an Oklahoma City woman in a dormitory room, and Jerry Parks shot teammate Zarek Peters. Those incidents forced Switzer to resign in June 1989.

Eventually, OU solved its internal problems, but none of Switzer’s successors -- Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake -- returned the Sooners to gridiron glory. With his arrival, Stoops reshaped the Sooner landscape, capturing the national championship in his second year and winning five of six Big XII title games over the past 10 seasons.

Part of his success comes from the strict discipline enforced on his players. Almost a dozen have received suspensions or dismissals during his tenure.

The most notable case occurred in August 2006 when an investigation revealed starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive guard J. D. Quinn received payment for uncompleted work at Big Red Sports and Imports, a car dealership owned by a prominent OU booster. Stoops quickly removed the pair from his program, and the NCAA reduced Oklahoma’s football scholarships by two for two years for the infractions.

“We spend a considerable amount of time addressing our players regarding their personal conduct and the NCAA rules,” Stoops said. “They know exactly what we expect from them. Ultimately, they have to make right decisions.”

Other Big XII programs have been more tolerant of players with firearm incidents. Baylor allowed cornerback Willie Andrews to enroll after he served a 30-day sentence on a misdemeanor gun charge in 2002.

Although Andrews stayed clear of the law at Baylor, the New England Patriots released him in last month after he supposedly pointed a handgun at his girlfriend’s head during an argument. In February 2008, the return specialist had been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Texas suspended cornerback Tarell Brown for one game, a contest against top-ranked Ohio State, in 2006. The Longhorns reinstated Brown for the remainder of the season, and the San Francisco 49ers drafted him the next spring in the fifth round. The defensive back accepted a plea of six months' probation, 20 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.

Twenty years ago, college football fans would never equate a successful Oklahoma football program and operating within NCAA guidelines. But Stoops has made it obvious that winning with integrity can be done.
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About John Hillman

John Hillman graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a BBA in accounting and earned an MBA from Baylor in 1987. He worked for accounting firms until 1982 when he became the chief financial officer for an independent insurance claims adjusting service, a position he still holds today....
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