In September 2000, I had the amazing opportunity to start a tenure track faculty position at the University of Oklahoma. It was an excellent opportunity, and I was so excited by it. I was pleased with the support and guidance that I received upon my arrival on campus. I created many friendships there with colleagues and students that endure to this day.  However, on one particular day as I was walking across campus, I didn’t gain a friendship of the most recognized member of the Sooner Family at that time — Coach Bob Stoops. 

A great colleague and friend had asked me to serve on the athletic academic appeals’ committee. The committee was a safeguard to ensure that coaches didn’t terminate student athlete scholarships unjustly. It was rare, and I never saw it happen at OU, but all institutions  should have them just in case. Anyway, there was a football player who had been released, and we were to hear his case that day. This was probably late summer 2002, and OU was scheduled to play Alabama in a home and home series that fall and in the fall of 2003. The Sooners won the national championship in 2000, and Coach Stoops would lead them to many successful seasons in years to come. For that, he was, and still is, one of the most recognized people not only in Oklahoma, but across the country. 

The 2002 season was looking really good for the team, as they were a strong contender with a solid returning roster, with the exception of this one particular athlete who had not done what he was supposed to do. He had the right to appeal, but it was clear what had occurred was the right decision. 

As I was walking across campus to the meeting on that summer afternoon in Norman (which by the way is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country), I saw this gentlemen merging with me on the myriad of sidewalks converging from across various corners of the campus. I immediately recognized him. He smiled and greeted me. Immediately he thrust out his hand, and said, “Hello. I’m Coach Bob Stoops.”  In my head, I was like, “No s***!  Everyone knows who you are!”  (Haha). I thought it was a pretty cool encounter as I didn’t expect him to be at the meeting, but possibly a position coach or athletics academics team member. Anyway, he was very cordial and engaging, and he realized that we were going to the same meeting. In his very hospitable and engaging way, he continued to chat with me. This is where the story goes awry. 

Well, in small talk, one of the favorite questions of most people is, “Where are you from?”  It is typically just filler conversation, but sometimes, people make connections through that prompt/question.  Let’s just say that my response led to a disconnection. I’m from Alabama. I graduated from the University of Alabama…three times. I played football at the University of Alabama.  However, when posed with the question, I responded “Alabama”, and he very excitedly followed up with the question of who was I going to cheer for when Alabama came to town in the fall. It was in jest, and from his perspective, it was probably rhetorical. As it was Bob Stoops, and as I was in the midst of his kingdom and working on campus, he kind of assumed also, I guess, that would naturally say OU. Well, I said I was going to cheer for Alabama. The man’s face went from open and engaging to “Don’t you know who I am!  Don’t you know I will kill you!” in the drop of a hat.  I did not get a chance to explain my background fully to him as we were walking into the meeting which started promptly thereafter. And that is why Coach Bob Stoops hates me!