Judging from the message board chatter, the debate over Oklahoma’s acceptance of seemingly bad-boy Dorial Green-Beckham has turned into a battle among Sooner fans to see who can be more pious or righteous.
It’s the folks who want to give him a second chance after past misdeeds at Missouri (sarcastically labeled “apologists” by the opposition) versus those who believe “DGB” is a thug who deserves whatever miserable lot life brings him, just so long as it is somewhere else.
I am wondering if DGB knows what is being said about him in Oklahoma.
Not that any of that matters.
The fact is DGB is going to suit up as a Sooner this fall. It is up to the NCAA whether he plays in 2014 or has to sit out a year after transferring his college enrollment from Misouri, where Coach Gary Pinkel dismissed him from the team after several incidents. While at Missouri, Green-Beckham was arrested twice for marijuana-related issues and was the subject of a burglary investigation. The police report stated he allegedly shoved a woman down a flight of stairs. No charges are expected.
Being a football coach is a lot like being a dad. Sometimes things can get ugly. You have to make tough decisions on occasion. You also have to be caring and let your children learn from their mistakes, giving them the opportunity to find the right path. When they take it — they’re golden.
Being a football coach is a lot like being a dad. Sometimes things can get ugly. You have to make tough decisions on occasion. You also have to be caring and let your children learn from their mistakes, giving them the opportunity to find the right path. When they take it — they’re golden.
DGB is as talent. He was considered the best player in the SEC championship game in 2013. Think five-star. No, think six-star.
Coach Bob Stoops has established a reputation as a no-nonsense guy when it comes to troublesome players. He made that clear in 2006 when he booted starting QB Rhett Bomar from the team a mere three weeks before the opening game. Last year he booted 5-star player Trey Metoyer from the team in mid-season.
But Stoops has also given players who have broken the rules the opportunity to redeem themselves. Ryan Broyles, who gave up a life of stealing gasoline (OK, sorry, I made that sound more like a hardened criminal than an 18-year-old kid doing dumb things) returned after a year’s suspension to be one of the Oklahoma greats at wide receiver, for example.
Stoops must be seeing this as a no lose proposition for Oklahoma. If DGB screws up, he’s gone. Certainly (Stoops would say). It won’t tarnish Stoop’s reputation if he has to do that.
If DGB keeps his head on straight then this fella could become one of the Oklahoma greats at wide receiver just like Broyles. He could also help Oklahoma to a national championship.
And, Stoops’ legacy of being a disciplinarian, but also a redeemer, would continue.
Being a football coach is a lot like being a dad. Sometimes things can get ugly. You have to make tough decisions on occasion. You also have to be caring and let your children learn from their mistakes, giving them the opportunity to find the right path. When they take it — they’re golden.
As Stoops would say, “in the end” it will work out if it was meant to be.
In the meantime, Sooner fans should trust their coach on this one. And, cheer loudly for this new guy on campus.
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