Bobby Burton on the Stoops hire:
According to published reports in Alabama, Crimson Tide analyst Mike Stoops is set to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff. While it’s not entirely certain what position he will have, it is ostensibly for the linebacker spot.One of the first things I ever learned to deal with as a reporter was delivering “unwelcome news” to the public.The hiring of Stoops to many Longhorn fans is just that. Suffice to say, he is not a well-liked figure in Longhorn lore.Not only is he the brother of former Sooner coach Bob Stoops, but he was also the defensive coordinator of some of the biggest beatdowns of the Longhorns in the history of the Texas-OU rivalry, and was routinely seen berating players on the sideline to the point that spittle came out of his mouth and the coloring of his face turned a shade of red that is clearly unhealthy.While I’m not concerned with Stoops’ participation in the shellackings of the Horns or his long-time relationship with the Sooners, I am concerned with his temperament with players and whether or not his last two years spent off the field has mellowed him somewhat.It’s a tired act to be yelled at, to be demeaned in front of teammates, and possibly on national TV.At the same time, I have zero doubt that Stoops is a strong position coach, more than capable of understanding what Pete Kwiatkowski wants to do with his defense. For much of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, the Sooners linebackers were the envy of the Big 12.Every single hire that Sarkisian has made thus far - until that of Stoops - has the persona of being someone who creates positive reinforcement of the players and team. Adding Stoops to the mix changes that.Time will tell if Stoops has learned a more measured approach. And a measured approach is one I’m trying to take while delivering what is likely unwelcome news this morning.