A new era dawns for Oklahoma State with a fresh energy in football with Eric Morris and a revitalized basketball program under Steve Lutz
This week on The Jones Report, Sooners Roundtable publisher Tyler Jones and OkState Roundtable editor Thomas Bridges touch on the hottest topics in both the SEC and Big 12, with special guest Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World.
Bailey spent years covering the Sooners, and most recently began following the Cowboys for the Tulsa World. In the interview, Bailey gave his insights on everything going on in Oklahoma State Athletics, specifically Cowboy Football and Men’s Basketball.
In the interview, Bailey stated his confidence in new head coach Eric Morris. Bailey emphasized how Morris is cleaning things up, and doing things his way compared to his predecessor Mike Gundy. Bailey talked about how Morris brought over most of his staff from North Texas, and how not a single member of Gundy’s prior regime was retained.
Bailey spoke highly of new quarterback Drew Mestemaker. Mestemaker stayed loyal to Morris, coming over from North Texas. His NIL payout is likely the highest-ever in Oklahoma State history, and according to Bailey that means that there are high-expectations for Morris, but also a buy-in from the fans and donors that wasn’t there previously under Gundy.
On the basketball front, Bailey believes that Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz has the program heading in the right direction despite missing the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year under Lutz.
It wasn’t always about the Cowboys with Bailey, as he spoke about Kelvin Sampson’s relationship with his former school, Oklahoma. Despite leaving the school in 2006 due to not-ideal circumstances, Bailey talked about how the relationship between Sampson and the Sooners has been repaired.
While preparing for the first and second round of March Madness in Oklahoma City, Sampson brought his Houston Cougars squad to his old stomping grounds this week to practice at OU. Bailey said that Sampson says he’s a Cougar, but still has some OU DNA in him.
Former Oklahoma Athletics director Joe Castiglione even sent Sampson a ladder, because he’ll need it someday to celebrate a national championship. Could this be the year? Sampson’s squad is in the big dance as a two seed, and had a decisive win over Idaho on Thursday, 78-47. His squad will face Texas A&M on Saturday in front of a very-Houston friendly crowd supporting the former OU head coach at Paycom City in OKC.
Bailey said that he got the chance to catch-up with Sampson’s son Kellen last week at the Big 12 Tournament. Bailey emphasized that Kellen has embraced his roots, telling people that he’s from Norman. Kellen not only played for the Sooners, but also attended elementary, middle, and high school in Norman while his dad was the head coach.
While some in Norman have hoped for Kellen to be the next Sooners’ head coach, that would seem unlikely. In the interview, Bailey noted that Kellen has been the coach-in-waiting at Houston since 2019, and is in no rush for his father to retire and replace him. Bailey said that recently Kellen turned down a high-paying power conference job to remain as an assistant at Houston under his father, enjoying the family affair they have built with the Cougars.
Jones and Bailey also gave their thoughts on March Madness. After attending the Big 12 Tournament, Bailey said he’s high on not just Houston, but other Big 12 schools like Iowa State and Arizona.
This episode of The Jones Report delivers all the latest on the Sooners and Cowboys each week. Listen to the entire conversation with Eric Bailey, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
If you enjoy the show, subscribe today and drop us a five-star review!