Jenni Carlson

Opinions from The Oklahoman sports columnist

Another flaw in the BCS mess December 01, 2008 | Comment on this article

So, let me get this straight — a team routing a bottom-of-the-barrel opponent at home is more impressive than a team beating down a top-15 team on the road. Doesn’t make sense, right? Neither do a couple of the latest human polls in college football. Voters in both the Harris Interactive... Read More

More from The Q&A: Desmond Mason November 29, 2008 When I went to talk to Desmond Mason for my Q&A before a game the other night, he was toting a Starbucks cup. Had to ask. Here’s more from my chat with the Thunder forward: Jenni Carlson: So, what’s in the Starbuck’s cup? Do you do coffee, or are you fancy pants? Desmond Mason: I’m fancy.... Read More

Happy Turkey Day, sports fans November 27, 2008 Thanksgiving is in the air. Even with all the madness going on in the sports world this week, it’s impossible to avoid that holiday spirit. Besides, there’s so much to give thanks for in sports. I’m thankful for college football. It might be maddening. It might be unpredictable. But it never fails to... Read More

Memo to Brooks: Run, Thunder, run November 25, 2008 Scott Brooks has only been on the job a few days, but I’ve got some advice for the new Thunder coach. Play faster. The Thunder has gotten off to an abysmal start, winning just once in its first 13 games. What’s worse, this team has looked like it was playing in sludge much of the... Read More

More from The Q&A: Linda Cohn November 21, 2008 SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn loves to laugh. That quickly became obvious when I sat down to chat with her earlier this week in Norman. She was in town for the Delta Gamma Foundation Lectureship in Values and Ethics, and she answered all sorts of questions. Here are a few that didn’t make it into The Q&A... Read More

Calm amid the sports storm November 20, 2008 Talk about a busy week in our sports world. The best game of the young college basketball season took place Tuesday in Norman when Davidson and Stephen Curry squared off against Oklahoma and Blake Griffin. The biggest game of the college football season is Saturday in Norman when OU and Texas Tech lock it... Read More

Can Slingin’ Sam win the Heisman? November 19, 2008 Just in case you think the only thing on the line Saturday night in Norman is a leg up on the Big 12 South title, the Big 12 championship game and the national championship game, think again. The Heisman Trophy is on the line, too. Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell is the current front-runner... Read More

Griffin or Curry: Who should the Thunder take? November 19, 2008 Being inside Lloyd Noble Center on Tuesday night was a treat. Blake Griffin and Stephen Curry put on a show as promised. The Oklahoma big man and the Davidson sharp shooter are pre-season All-American, and both delivered on the hype in the Sooners’ narrow victory. But as I watched the stars battle it out, I... Read More

From Sooner football to Christian music November 17, 2008 For years, Vince Carter anchored the Oklahoma offensive line. Now, the former Sooner center hopes to provide stability to an entirely different group. Carter has turned his attention to Christian rap and urban music in recent years. Known by his stage name His Son, he is set to release his debut... Read More

Sport fights uphill battle November 14, 2008 While we were sleeping early Friday morning, softball was fighting for its life. Representatives of the sport went before the International Olympic Committee Program Commission to make the case for softball’s reinstatement into the Olympics. As you’ll remember, three years ago, the sport was voted off the... Read More

More from The Q&A: Mike Edwards November 14, 2008 Ah, the life. Bowling for a living. It’s not as easy as it sounds. So I learned when in talking with Tulsa native and resident Mike Edwards. He has been on the Professional Bowlers Association tour for almost three decades, and while he loves what he does, it takes work. Yes, bowling requires work. Jenni... Read More

NCAA must act on coach hirings November 13, 2008 Suggesting that the NCAA add another rule to college athletics makes me want to wash my mouth out with soap. Add a rule? The NCAA? The good folks there come up with rules as often as most of us breathe. But the truth is, the NCAA needs to legislate one more thing — the hiring of head football coaches.... Read More

Heisman fun for everyone November 11, 2008 For the most part, Heisman Trophy campaigns are a thing of the past. Too bad, too. It was always fun to see the goofy campaigns that schools came up with. A couple years ago, Memphis did a miniature race car to tout DeAngelo Williams. Earlier this year, Missouri sent out one of those old-school view finders... Read More

Former Sooner builds on young legend November 10, 2008 Little more than one season into his NFL career, Adrian Peterson has built himself quite a reputation. Sunday, he built on his legend. The former Oklahoma star turned Minnesota Vikings star had a fairytale afternoon. He went from goat to glory in mere moments. Facing fourth and short with nine and a half... Read More

Formula for OSU upset November 06, 2008 In the pages of The Oklahoman today, I went on the record saying Texas Tech will win Saturday. It’s a big game in Lubbock, as everyone knows. Both Tech and Oklahoma State are going after a conference crown and perhaps even a national title, and frankly, the teams are pretty evenly matched. Why do I give Tech... Read More

Sooner stalwart enjoying retirement November 05, 2008 Had a chance to chat with Marita Hynes earlier today. She was Oklahoma’s longtime associate athletic director who recommended the hiring of Sherri Coale and Patty Gasso. Both coaches turned their programs — Coale in women’s basketball and Gasso in softball — into national powers. Hynes was also... Read More

ESPN anchor coming to Norman November 04, 2008 Linda Cohn isn’t just on your television anymore. Later this month in Norman, you can see the SportsCenter anchor in person. Cohn will be speaking Nov. 20 as part of the Delta Gamma Lectureship in Values and Ethics. Cohn recently finished a book, “Cohn-Head: A No-Holds-Barred Account of Breaking Into the... Read More

Know what this team needs? More Westbrook November 04, 2008 Exiting the Ford Center amid the masses Sunday night, the buzz was obvious. Sure, folks were reveling in the first Thunder victory. But there was a name that seemed to be on everyone’s lips — Russell Westbrook. Watch my latest video commentary or continue reading below: The rookie point guard was... Read More

Curse the Thunder? October 31, 2008 I’ve got two important things to tell folks in Seattle. I’m sorry. Move on. Check out my latest video commentary or continue reading below: A couple nights back, the Thunder opened the NBA era in Oklahoma City. It was a rousing, rowdy, glorious night. It was sign of how far our fair city and state have... Read More

Cowboys need happy new year December 31, 2007 Happy new year, sports fans. No one needs a good ’08 more than Oklahoma State football. Watch my latest video commentary or read below: How will we look back on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2007? There’s one more game to come, of course. The Insight Bowl kicks off only a few hours before the new... Read More

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Jenni Carlson

Want a different take on sports? Jenni Carlson provides her unique insight on everything from the pros to the college ranks to the preps and everything in between.