Okay, where do I even begin with this?

The annual Big 12 Media Days event is in the books, and talking season is picking up steam across the league. Unfortunately, that means hot takes are also upon us, but I don’t even know if I could categorize this article by Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a hot take. It’s written more as a salty hit piece on the Oklahoma Sooners’ Lincoln Riley. Proceed with caution.

Let me break this down bit-by-trash bit. First of all, Engel — the writer who just last November was all in favor of Texas Tech hiring Art Briles — composed this Riley article to sound like a too-long-didn’t-read rant on a message board. Coming across as a fire-breathing fan in their feels is not what I would call the right way to journalism, but if that’s his style, pay the bills however you so choose, man.

Engel’s main point is that Riley is not yet deserving of the praise he’s received because he’s not won a College Football Playoff game with two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, and his prediction is that the soon-to-be 36-year old head coach will be “exposed” this season because he won’t be able to rely on talent like a Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray.

Sounds a lot more like wishful thinking, Mac, and get in line because you’re not the first. Many are crossing their fingers and toes in hopes that Riley isn’t the real deal, but anybody who wasn’t born yesterday already knows the cold, hard truth, and that ain’t it.

Engel goes on to say “Oklahoma’s Godzilla-grip on the Big 12 is over, and life for Lincoln Riley is about to get real, real quick.” I don’t understand how the Sooners’ grip on the Big 12 could be over when they’ve literally won four consecutive titles and are the overwhelming favorites to finish on top again. Sounds like Engel’s real beef should be with his fellow media members, because that’s who voted for OU.

For the record, Engel has been throwing OU doomsday takes at the wall since Bob Stoops’ retirement. Does it not seem like he’s just waiting for one of them to finally stick? His most recent article would certainly give you that impression.

He added, “Losing [talent like Kyler Murray, four offensive linemen and Marquise Brown] exposes a coach, and now we will see just how good, and smart, Lincoln Riley is.” Everybody, save this part in your drafts, because this has the potential to be pure necro-bump gold come December.

A running theme throughout this drivelous word garbage is Engel calling out Riley and his football intelligence. To me, the man sounds hurt, and he’s attempting to take his frustrations out on someone he claims isn’t as much of an offensive genius as the record has shown. The proof is in the pudding, as OU has broken offensive efficiency records and piled up unprecedented stats over the course of Riley’s four years in Norman. But please, continue to shake your fist at the sky until the cows come home.

Now for today’s Hot Links! Big 12 Championship Game tickets are about to go on sale, FaceApp is taking over in Sooner territory, Zlatan 51 sounds like the place to be and more!

OU Links

• Big 12 Championship Game Tickets for Dec. 7 at AT&T Stadium will go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. CT. For OU fans, based off of recent and overall conference history, purchasing tickets as early as possible would not necessarily be a bad decision (in spite of what Mac Engel might try to tell you).

• Jalen Hurts and former Sooners QB Austin Kendall both made Athlon Sports’ top 10 for college football’s most impactful quarterback transfers in 2019.
• Junior WR CeeDee Lamb was picked by Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller to be Oklahoma’s MVP in 2019. There are plenty of choices to go around on this team, so it could certainly happen.
• You’ve likely seen FaceApp’s aging filter trending across social media platforms, and the various application’s have ranged from quite hilarious to mildly unsettling. Now check out this Oklahoma Sooners edition brought to you by OU Daily.

• Don’t forget to check out the latest Blatant Homerism Podcast episode following Big 12 Media Days. Allen Kenney caught up with USA Today’s George Schroeder to talk all things Big 12, including topics on Alex Grinch and Sam Ehlinger.

Around the Sports World

• After it seemed as though Chris Paul would not be remaining with the Oklahoma City Thunder for very long, trade talks with possible destination organizations have stalled, and now it appears as though the nine-time NBA All-Star will tip-off the upcoming season donning OKC blue.
• Former long-time Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan, 77, is reportedly suffering from the worsening effects of dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
• Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies have received the verbal commitment of Haynes King, a four-star QB who has been trending upwards with recruiting services with his promising showing at the Elite 11. This potential five-star prospect from the 2020 class could be exactly what the former Florida State Seminoles head coach needs to take his new program to the next level.
• Rory McIlroy opened the 2019 British Open with a quadruple-bogey, but that’s nothing compared to David Duval’s 13-hole blunder. How did this happen, Dave? Oh, you played another golfer’s ball. A lot of people failed here.
• Whatever your opinion is on the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović, he’s always been one of the best interviews in all of the MLS. I bet his Area 51 is a lot more fun than that other Area 51, too.

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