No, it wasn’t much of an endorsement for Oklahoma State basketball coach Sean Sutton. Athletic Director Mike Holder came out and said that Sutton is the Cowboys coach. Of course we all know that.

     The problem was he he didn’t say what would happen after this season. I don’t like that.

     First of all it’s not fair to Sutton. You can’t just give the guy two years to get the job done. I realize that Sutton is part of the problem because he recruited some of the players that are no longer on campus.

     But as I watched his team play in Norman I saw a team that was playing with heart. They played with emotion. The obvious problem is they don’t have any type of inside game. You’re not going to beat too many good teams if you can’t score and rebound inside.

     Since Holder didn’t endorse Sutton for the future, that could hurt current Cowboy recruiting. You can bet that rival coaches will use that when talking to some of the top prospects the Pokes are looking at.

    The Oklahoma State team isn’t far off. If they can get a couple of talented big men in the upcoming recruiting class it will be back in the NCAA tournament.

     There are many in Stillwater who would like to cut ties with Sutton because they think Bonne Pickens’ money can land Bill Self. That’s not going to happen. Even though Self is an OSU grad, he’s not leaving one of the premier basketball jobs that is located in Lawrence. He’s quite happy there.

     Sean Sutton has to be given at least one more year to get the program back on track.

     AND OKLAHOMA will get a chance to “steal” another road win this weekend at Texas A&M. The Aggies are a good team, but they have bneen overrated all year long. They had played only one nonconference road game.

     If Baylor can go into College State and win, the Sooners certainly can. The key for OU is to get consistent guard play. That hasn’t been the case thus far this year.

    I think OU gets into the NCAA tournament if it wins the remainder of its home games and wins at least one more road game. The contest later in the season at Colorado is the best bet.

     Usually going into a Bedlam basketball game I figure that anything can happen, and it usually does.

     But it’s hard to imagine that there will be some strange going-ons when Oklahoma State and Oklahoma meet tomorrow night in Norman. This game almost looks too predictable.

     Before yesterday I thought the Pokes would definitely have a chance because it didn’t look like Blake Griffin was going to play. Let’s face facts, when this talented freshman isn’t playing, Oklahoma just isn’t very good. Look how the Sooners struggled at home without him against Texas Tech last week.

     Griffin shocked everyone when he took the court against Baylor. He said he was 70 percent healthy. He was a one-man show late in the game and finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

     It would appear this game is a bad matchup for Oklahoma State. There are two big things going against the Cowboys–No. 1 the Pokes aren’t very good inside. It looks like it will be a mismatch inside going against Griffin and Longar Longar.

     The second thing going against the Cowboys is that they have been a terrible road team. Here we are a year and a half into the Sean Sutton tenure and his team has yet to win a road game. You’re not going to get into post-season play with something like that on your resume.

     A big difference between these two teams right now is that Oklahoma is finding a way to win most of its close games. On the other side, Oklahoma State is discovering a way to lose all of its close contests. And the Sooners super freshman, Griffin, is making the plays in the closing minutes. The Cowboys terrific frosh, James Anderson, isn’t making the plays at crunch time.

     On paper you would think that Oklahoma wins this game easily. But we have seen some strange things happen in past years when Bedlam rolls around. This looks too predictable, though. I’m going with the Sooners, 70-62.

     The Oklahoma coaching staff was stunned last week when linebacker Curtis Lofton decided he was leaving Oklahoma a year early for the NFL. There were rumors that this could happen, but no one really thought that it would take place.

     That’s why the recruitment of junior college linebacker J.R. Bryant became so important. After the Sooners lost out on several top-notch high school linebackers they knew they had to dip into the junior college ranks and get immediate help. That happened earlier this afternoon when Bryant gave the Sooners a verbal commitment.

     Three weeks ago it looked like this 6-3, 228-pounder from Garden City Junior College was a lock for OU. But that was before Oklahoma State got involved. The Cowboys did a great job in recruiting this juco All-American.

     In fact, earlier in the week there were those in the Sooner camp that thought Bryant would head to OSU. The word was that he wanted to come to Oklahoma, but his mother liked Oklahoma State the best. She perferred the small town atmosphere of Stillwater over Norman.

     But Brent Venables and Bob Stoops paid her a visit this week and convinced her that Oklahoma would be the best place for her son. They also sold her on that her son will be right in the mix for a starting linebacker slot. With this commitment, it all be insures that Ryan Reynolds will be moved into the middle linebacking slot to replace Lofton. . .

     THE MORE YOU hear on the recruiting circles, the more you think that Oklahoma has a good shot at wide receiver Julio Jones. This 6-4, 225-pounder from Foley, AL is visiting the Sooners this weekend.

     At first you thought OU was just wasting its time with the No. 1 receiver in the country. How often does the top player in the state of Alabama leave that state? That doesn’t happen much.

     But those in the know think Oklahoma has a legitimate shot of getting this talented athlete. Sam Bradford is a big reason. Jones hasn’t said much in the recruiting process, but he has told people that he wants to go to a school that has a young and talented quarterback.

     Also coming in is another Alabama native, Burton Scott, who is ranked as one of the best pure athletes in the country. He has already given Alabama a verbal commitment.

     There are some OU fans that think it’s a bad idea to bring him in because they think he will try to recruit Jones to Alabama. The OU coaches think in a different way. They feel if Jones likes his visit, he will be the one trying to recruit Scott to come to Oklahoma.

     It should be an interesting weekend.

     It’s do or die for the Oklahoma State basketball team during the next week or so. If the Pokes have any chance of getting into the NCAA tournament, they have to start winning games. And they have to start to win very quickly.

     The Cowboys have yet to win a road game since Sean Sutton has been the coach. That’s not going to get you in postseason play. They have been close in conference road games against Baylor and Iowa State, but that isn’t going to improve your postseason resume.

     The Cowboys now have two home games before heading to Norman next Monday. They have to find a way to beat both Texas and Texas A&M in the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena.

     There are already rumors that if Sutton doesn’t get Oklahoma State into the NCAA tournament that he will be looking for a new job at the end of this campaign. I don’t think that’s fair at all. You have to give a guy more than two seasons.

     The games against the Longhorns and Aggies are contests the Cowboys can win. Yes, Texas is very good. But it has already lost a conference road game at Missouri.

     Texas A&M is one of the most overrated teams in the country. The Aggies were kicked twice last week on the road by Texas Tech and Kansas State. They looked like they weren’t playing with much confidence.

     Oklahoma gets a few days off before going to Baylor. The Sooners got a win over Texas Tech at home. That was a game that Jeff Capel’s team had to have. You can’t start the conference season with a 0-3 record, with two of those defeats at home. Still, without Blake Griffin in the lineup, it will not be easy during the next three weeks.

     One big plus the Sooners did get against the Red Raiders was the performance of Taylor Griffin. He played within his limits. He has some skills. He’s a good rebounder and he has a nice short-range jump shot.

     With Keith Clark no longer a member of the team, look for Taylor Griffin to replace Longar Longar in the starting lineup newt year and team up with younger brother Blake. Also in the mix will be 6-10, Ryan Wright, who is sitting this year out at OU after transferring from UCLA.

     One of the first assignments that new Oklahoma coach Jay Norvell is going to have is trying to sway Julio Jones to sign a letter of intent with the Sooners.

     It was absolutely no surprise yesterday when Bob Stoops officially named his former Iowa teammate to the staff as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He replaces Kevin Sumlin, who is now the head man at Houston.

     “We’re excited to have Jay as part of our staff. He is an excellent coach and he’s an excellent recruiter,” Stoops said.

     Well, he gets a big time recruiting mission right off the bat. Jones, who been driving recruiiters crazy the last couple of years as they have watched him play at Foley, Alabama, is regarded as the No. 1 wide receiver in the country.

     This 6-4, 220 pound speedseter is visiting Florida this weekend. He has already been to Alabama. Next weekend he comes to Norman and then the following weekend he completes his visits with a trip to Texas Tech. Most in the know say it will go down to the Crimson Tide and the Sooners.

     Stoops has already had his in-home visit with this gifted athelte. Norvell is expected to go into his house along with OU assistant Cale Gundy sometime next week. Gundy has done an excellent job in recruiting Jones.

     With the departure of Curtis Lofton and Reggie Smith, OU is now hitting the junior college ranks looking for defensive backs and linebackers. The Sooners thought they would be getting a commitment today from All-American juco linebacker J.R. Bryant. But now Bryant says he won’t announce until next week. Oklahoma State is also in the picture.

    And talking about the Cowboys, they are holding their beath in the recruitment of Guthrie standout Kye Staley. The tremendous all-around athlete committed to the Pokes a few months ago. But he has decided to take more visits. He’s going to Arkansas next weekend and maybe Tennessee the week after that. Staley is the jewell of the Poke class thus far.

     The next 48 hours or so will be critical for both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State football fortunes. The Sooners and Cowboys are going to know a lot more about their team for next season during this period.

     By midnight tomorrow night the Pokes will know if they will lose an underclassmen to the NFL ranks and the Sooners will know if they lost anyone else.

     What will Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew do? He is a tremendous weapon and will probably be a second or third round draft pick. He has been going back and forth on what to do.

     Tight ends aren’t really in great demand in the early rounds of the NFL draft. He has been trying to decide if he can improve him stock by leaving Stillwater a year early.

     The Sooners have already lost Malcolm Kelly and are still holding their breath about linebacker Curtis Lofton, offensive guard Duke Robinson and cornerback Reggie Smith.

     One OU insider told me yesterday that he thought Lofton would stay for his senior year. At least that’s the word he has gotten talking to some other players. Yet, there are a couple of other players who said they expect him to leave. We’ll see.

     You hear conflicting rumors about both Smith and Robinson. However, the consensus is that both players will come back for their senior year. If Smith came out, he might be hampered at the NFL combine next month because of his broken toe.

     Tuesday is also going to be a big day for the Pokes and Sooners in the recruiting department. That’s when two of the nation’s most sought-after prospects, wide receiver Jameel Owens and defensive tackle Stacey McKee will announce their decision. This Muskogee duo has been getting a lot of national attention and want to end the recruiting process.

     Most think McGee will head to Oklahoma. It will be a surprise if he doesn’t. OSU has closed fast on Oklahoma in the recruiting of Owens. Some think it’s a deadheat right now. Don’t count out Tennessee. That’s where Owens has been this weekend.

     The Vols have had great recruiting success in this state of the last decade or so. Remember when another heralded wide receiver named Robert Meachum was supposed to head to OU. Well, he signed with Tennessee. So we will see what happens during the next two days. It definitely will be interesting.

     Everyone has been sitting around the Oklahoma football office extremely nervous this week. Heading into this past season the coaches figured that Malcolm Kelly would be a good bet to give up his senior year and head into the NFL draft. And that’s what their standout receiver did yesterday.

     But few thought a couple of months ago that Curtis Lofton would think about leaving a year early. And that’s what the All-American linebacker is doing right now.

     This Kingfisher native has been weighing the pros and cons of leaving early. The benefit he would get is that if he came out this year he would probably be a second round draft pick. That would mean pretty good bonus money.

     On the flip side, this Sooner junior might be able to improve his stock if he came back next season. He would also be a guy who would have a chance to win the coveted Butkus Award and also be on a team that should be able to compete for a national title.

     It would be a devastating blow if Lofton left. The Sooners are extremely thin at linebacker. No one really knows what redshirts like Travis Lewis and Austin Box can do. They have not played a down of college football. And last year’s highly recruited stud, Mike Reed, hasn’t demonstrated yet that he’s good enough to become a starter.

     If Lofton does leave, Ryan Reynolds may be moved into that slot. Reynolds isn’t a speed guy and the coaches think he may be better suited playing inside. . .

     AND IT APPEARS that if Jay Norvell wants to become the co-offensive coordinator and replace Kevin Sumlin as wide receivers coach, then the job is his.

     Norvell was spotted at the Switzer Center on Thursday afternoon. He would be a good hire. Bob Stoops has not held it against him that Norvell stayed just a couple of weeks a few years ago before going to the Oakland Raiders.

     Stoops and Norvell have remainded friends. He would be an excellent hire. He’s an outstanding coach as well as a very good recruiter.

     The biggest recruiting chore Bob Stoops may have this week is trying to get Malcom Kelly to return to Oklahoma for his senior year.

     This gifted wide receiver is projected as a mid-first to early second round NFL draft selection. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is next Tuesday. So the clock is ticking on Kelly.

     If you had to put money on what Kelly would do this moment the word is that he will probably come out. Money is not the object with this Texas native. That will not be the big factor in his decision. He has told insiders that he wasn’t thrilled this past year because the Sooners didn’t use him in their offense like they did a year ago.

     There was some talk last week that Kelly could have played in the Fiesta Bowl, but didn’t want to go and his injury wasn’t that bad. That’s not true. He tried to warm up and see if he could go. But he just wasn’t going to be close to full speed. He definitely wanted to play because he could have showcased his talents to all of the NFL teams.

     What Stoops will do is talk to the NFL people and try to get a good feel of exactly where Kelly will go in the draft. He will then meet with the family and share these findings. The question that must be asked is can Kelly improve his status by coming back next season.

     What Stoops will have to do is convince his star wide receiver that the Sooners will use him a lot more than they did this season. Right now Kelly’s feelings are somewhat hurt because of what has transpired. I’d say at this moment it’s 70-30 that he leaves.

     The only other two underlclassmen that might come out are cornerback Reggie Smith and offensive lineman Duke Robinson. There are some who project Smith as a late first round pick. But most have him going in the second round.

     Robinson is a talented lineman who could probably use another year of seasoning. Draft experts have him going from the second to fifth round. Curtis Lofton has also been exploring about leaving early. However it would be a stunner if he did leave.

     This will not be a great year for Oklahoma players in the draft. But next season will. In fact it could compare to the 2004 season when the Sooners had more players drafted than any other school.

     Changes need to be made at Oklahoma. And I’m not talking about replacing any coaches.

     What Bob Stoops and his staff have to be looking at now is what are they doing wrong in the 30 days they have prior to a bowl game. Because what they are doing right now certainly isn’t working.

     When I watched the Sooners get embarrassed by West Virginia, I watched a team come out with little emotion. They were flat. How does that happen when you are playing in a huge bowl game before millions of people on TV?

     Stoops and those guys can coach. What were the four best games they played this year? Probably it was Miami, Texas, Oklahoma State and Missouri in the Big 12 title game.  The coaching staff did a masterful job.

     But more importantly those were games that the players had emotion. They had passion. They were excited to play. Why didn’t that happen in the Fiesta Bowl?

     I realize you can’t play with a fevor pitch every week. That’s not going to happen. That’s why there are upsets like Stanford beating USC, Oklahoma losing to Colorado or LSU getting toppled by Arkansas.

     But again, you would think when you are playing in a BCS game, there would be a sense of excitment. There would be a sense of urgency.

     Stoops is a smart man. He sees what the Sooners are doing right now in their bowl preparation isn’t working. He will do things differently next year.

     And by the way, I hear everyone slamming the coaches. And they have a right to do that. But I don’t hear a lot of people complain about the players. They should share the blame. They didn’t execute. They didn’t play with a lot of heart.

    This upcoming season the Sooners will be extremely talented. One think they have to find is some players who will provide some leadership on the field. That looked like a missing ingredient in Phoenix.