Once upon a time, a guy named Baker Mayfield left Texas Tech and enrolled at Oklahoma with the hopes of someday leading the Crimson & Cream to championships. Kliff Kingsbury then blocked the transfer on account of the fact that it involved a Big 12 school. With Mayfield being a walk-on at the time of his transfer, the Big 12 retroactively reinstated his lost season of eligibility, and walk-ons are now able to transfer within the conference without penalty.

According to ESPN’s Jake Trotter, OU is preventing Austin Kendall from being immediately eligible at West Virginia as a graduate transfer. It’s important to note that the situations are not quite the same, as Kendall is on scholarship. Therefore, it’s within the rules for OU to block immediate eligibility at WVU. Whether or not it’s the right thing to do is a separate discussion.

On the surface, this is not a great look on the Sooners’ part, and not just because of what happened in the past with Mayfield (which, again, is somewhat of a false equivalency). By all accounts, Kendall is a great kid, and he has done all the right things up to this point (including earning his degree). I understand the reasoning if it’s to keep a conference opponent from gaining a competitive edge, but I just don’t like how this feels. At the same time, Kendall has been in Oklahoma’s program for three seasons, and the prospect if him bringing certain insights to a conference foe is obviously a bit alarming. In that light, it’s fairly understandable on OU’s part to use the rules to its advantage (even if I disagree in principle with the blocking of transfers).

Kendall has yet to decide where he would like to transfer, but if the Oklahoma Sooners uphold this move, Lincoln Riley will have to face the music and the subsequent criticism.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Baker Mayfield is named the PFWA ROY, Deion Sanders discusses Kyler Murray’s possible dilemma, the Bulls taco-blocked LA fans and more!

OU Links

• Reminder: Oklahoma men’s basketball hosts Kansas State tonight in another challenging Big 12 bout. Tip-off is at 6 pm CT on ESPN2.

• If you plan on watching the game, make sure to keep an eye out for an interview with sophomore Brady Manek aka ‘Larry from the Prairie’. The resemblance is simply uncanny.

• Deion ‘Prime Time’ Sanders made his mark in sports by playing both football and baseball professionally, and recently he shared his thoughts on what Kyler Murray should consider if he’s deciding to make football his No. 1 choice.

• Murray is actually in a very similar position his dad, also a former two-sport athlete, found himself in back in his playing days, except Kyler has much more power in his decision, and that in turn will ultimately determine his legacy.
• The chances of Murray reaching the next level in his notoriety through football is statistically greater than it would be through baseball. Sounds weird, but New OK’s Berry Tramel explains what this means in great extent.
• Oklahoma LB coach Brian Odom was not only a member of the Sooners for two years as a player, he was actually born in Norman. Talk about having that OUDNA.

• Baker Mayfield was voted Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America. This young dude is just getting started and isn’t slowing down any time soon. After a heck of a first season in the league, I know Cleveland fans can hardly wait to see what he has in store for the Browns next.

• In case you missed it, local two-sport athlete Cade Horton out of Norman High has committed to play both baseball and football for Oklahoma. Horton is part of the 2020 class, so there is still some time between now and his first chance to sign a National Letter of Intent.
• Also ICYMI, the Spring Game has been announced for April 13th, although a kickoff time and extra plans for the day have yet to be disclosed. I wonder who is being considered for a possible follow up to Trace Adkins last year. I know it’s never going to happen, but what does Kacey Musgraves have going on that weekend?

Around the Sports World

• If the Los Angeles Laker won a game and held its opponent to under 100 points, the fans would receive two free tacos. The amount of effort the Chicago Bulls put in to prevent the fans from enjoying two free delicious delights is hilarious.

You can even hear an LA fan complaining to Bulls players about his disdain for their taco-blocking ways. The nerve.

• When the Golden State Warriors are playing like this, it’s pretty much impossible to defeat them. Almost 90 points between three guys? And none of them logged 30 minutes? My goodness gracious.

• The Cleveland Browns have put together a mighty fine coaching staff. Combined with a strong core of young players on both sides of the ball, this team could be one to watch in the AFC next season.
• Making it in the NFL is obviously one of the most difficult things an athlete can do. Securing a spot and keeping it is one thing, but for many players, life is about relocating time after time as a practice squad member. Often times the pay is little to non-existent, and with practically no consistency, breaking through that barrier is something few can do.
• At the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, golfer Shane Lowry took a swing out of a landfill that was right there next to the course. What the heck?

Stick to Sports!

• Is it time for video game developers to unionize like so many other laborers in history? With the ever-increasing popularity of the gaming world, company CEOs and other executives are pocketing millions of dollars, while the grunts who actually create, design and develop the games themselves are not seeing the same type of wallet growth.

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