Is Bob Stoops going to be the next coach of the Michigan Wolverines? Well, some supposed media “insiders” seem to think so. (Of course, “insider” is a word like “troll,” it’s lost all meaning since everyone misuses it these days) “Big game Bob” might bolt for Ann Arbor. On the other hand, it could just be Stoops’ people sending out feelers through the media so that Stoops has more leverage at OU.
So this could be a way to increase his salary/status. Or it could be the real thing.
Bob Stoops is from Youngstown, Ohio and he played in the Big 10 for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He grew up rooting for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He’s been linked to taking over the Notre Dame program on a couple occasions, as well as other midwestern jobs: the Cleveland Browns twice, Ohio State. Therefore, the Bob Stoops to Michigan narrative in nothing new.
In fact The Oklahoman newspaper shows us where we’ve been so that we know now where we’re going:
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has been linked to a number of high-profile coaching jobs across America since leading the Sooners to the 2000 national championship.
Stoops has pretty much handled every rumor the same way: Refusing to publicly confirm or deny interest and/or contact with each possible suitor.
The latest round of speculation has connected Stoops to Michigan, which is a near certainty to fire coach Brady Hoke after this season.
Stoops-to-Michigan heated up after a Yahoo! Sports column from Dan Wetzel, who suggested in his Nov. 6 piece that it might be time for the 54-year-old Stoops to move on after 16 seasons in Norman.
So we’ll see. Bob Stoops to Michigan seems to make sense. But then again a lot of things makes sense but never actually happen.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2