Berry Tramel, Sports columnist

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David Stanley Ford

OSU AD Mike Holder still eyeing Big D
Playing in Dallas: OSU is only Big 12 South school without a Dallas game

By Berry Tramel    Comments Comment on this article43
Published: May 14, 2009

OU and Texas have played in the Cotton Bowl every year since 1929.

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Cheers & Jeers: Okie Managers in MLB

Cheers
→To Oklahoma-bred managers. The D-Backs’ hiring of Midwest City’s A.J. Hinch means our state’s high schools have supplied 10 percent of the current major league managers. Norman’s John Russell leads the Pirates, and Okmulgee’s Ron Gardenhire skippers the Twins.

→To college basketball’s new foul-shot proposal, in which the opposing coach gets to choose from the four remaining players on the court to shoot foul shots when the fouled player is injured and unable to shoot himself. If you don’t believe the rule is divine providence, check out the name of the chairman of the men’s rules committee: New York-Maritime athletic director Dick Hack.

Jeers
→To the Maverick fans who created such a hostile situation for the families of the Denver players. Dallas fans don’t have a bad reputation, so maybe this will be an isolated incident, but take note, Oklahoma City fans. When the Thunder gets good, stay classy.

→To the upset Orlando fan who demanded an apology for his son, who was bumped into by Boston’s Big Baby Davis. If you don’t want large men barreling into you at NBA games, stay out of the Nicholson seats.

Texas A&M and Arkansas have agreed to play in Arlington each of the next 10 seasons.

Baylor will play Texas Tech in Arlington this October and in the Cotton Bowl in 2010.

Is anyone missing from this picture?

Oklahoma State now is the only Big 12 South school without an annual game in Greater Dallas. Is no Big D a big deal?

State athletic director Mike Holder isn’t crazy about the exclusion, especially since he worked hard to establish a neutral-site series with Tech.

Dallas is prime recruiting ground for every South school, plus Arkansas, which is a Big 12 South member emeritus, having been in the Southwest Conference from 1915 to 1991 and having played OSU 28 times from 1950 through 1980.

Playing in Dallas has been beneficial to the Sooners and Longhorns for almost a century. Now others want to share that stage.

"We’re the only team in the South that doesn’t have a game in Dallas,” Holder said. "We’re probably forced to look outside the conference.”

Holder said a lot of names have been mentioned but nothing has gone past brainstorming.

So let’s toss out a couple of names for public consumption. Louisiana State and Texas Christian.

Enticing LSU to Dallas might be difficult; if the Tigers are going to play an off-campus game, New Orleans will be their first choice. But the Tigers recruit in Texas, and the Dallas promoters — Jerry Jones and the Cotton Bowl — are well-organized and well-funded.

The Les Miles/Mike Gundy matchup would be rich in plot, but an OSU-LSU series has to rise above personalities. Maybe it would.

An OSU-TCU series definitely would. The Cowboys would be at a geographic disadvantage, since the Frogs would be playing either 15 or 30 miles from their Fort Worth home.

But OSU has a ton of alums in the Metroplex, maybe approaching the number of TCU alums.

OSU-TCU would be a very competitive matchup; the Frogs have grown fangs under coach Gary Patterson.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with playing no off-campus games. Every Big 12 South school has sunk a ton of money into stadium renovation, so it seems weird to take games elsewhere.

But with every peer going to Dallas for a big autumn weekend, OSU doesn’t want to be left out from playing in a very important territory.

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Sports, Football, College Athletics, College Football, Bowl Championship Series, Professional Football


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Mizzou has been eyeballin' the Big 10 for years. I say "leave Tigers", bring in the Horned Frogs and move OSU to the North. I like the idea of getting rid of Colorado and Iowa st and bringing in either Iowa, TCU, or Arkansas too.
JD, shawnee - May 19, 2009 at 3:24 pm
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Typical sooner fan J. When you can come up with anything intelligent to say, let me know. I'm sure graduating 4th grade was a huge deal for you but us adults are trying to have a meaningful discussion. Go sit at the kids table and drink your juice box until you have something with any kind of substance to add.
Mike, Tulsa - May 15, 2009 at 3:18 pm
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Thanks j, for your insightful point of view...next!
David, Albuquerque - May 15, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Typical pokies.....trying to be like the mighty Sooners. It must be hard playing second fiddle to the more prestigious university. Thanks to OU, people around the country know who the pokies are. Too bad it is only because OU beats them down on national TV each year. We understand though, at least you pokies have raslin and golf...
J, Oklahoma City - May 15, 2009 at 1:13 pm
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Nococa, thanks for keeping the strong OU stereotype alive and well. Sounds like your proud OU education is getting you places.
Jacob, Kansas - May 15, 2009 at 10:48 am
Speaking of Nococa, you graduated from ou in '99 which would make you about 32 or 33 years old, right? So you are near your mid 30's on a newspaper website on an article that has nothing to do with your school, talking trash in the most remedial of fashions? How pathetic is that? You sir, are a bucket of failure.
Mike, Tulsa - May 15, 2009 at 9:50 am
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Bob, I don't think swallowing Skoal counts as "food."
Mike, Tulsa - May 15, 2009 at 9:42 am
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Mike the "BIG BUSINESS" Banker from Coppell. The businesses like Wal-Mart and Sonic may make money from selling OU hats and cheap burgers, but the tipped employees HATE IT when the Swooners are around. OU fans aren't as "classy" as they'd like to think they are when it comes to tipping. Owho may bring in money, but so does a lot of redneck NASCAR fans. Doesn't make them any smarter or prettier. Texas could be playing Norte Dame or Florida that weekend and just as easily make money, too.
I know what I'm talking about.
Danny, Vail - May 15, 2009 at 8:20 am
Nocona, how do you chew food with only your one tooth?
Bob, Signal Hill - May 14, 2009 at 5:07 pm
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the only big "D" osu will get is destroyed, when it plays OU!!!
nocona, santa fe - May 14, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Class of '99 Univ. of Oklahoma!!!Boomer Sooner! Will be in Dallas for the BYU game. You hillbilly!!
nocona, santa fe - May 14, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Someone named 'nocona' from santa fe making redneck/hillbilly jokes? Are you kidding me?
Chris, Jones - May 14, 2009 at 4:30 pm
OSU doesn't need a game in Dallas. Television has every dang game on these days. Recruits know how to use the remote to watch a game. Screw Dallas. Go POKES!
Chris, Jones - May 14, 2009 at 4:24 pm
OSWho can't even sell out a home game, why would they consider a game in Dallas? The city of Dallas would not benefit by having the pokies from stoolwater eating the value menu at the downtown KFC. The real reason OSWho is the only team omitted from playing in Dallas is because Dallas doesn't want anything to do with them. I don't blame them. Too bad for Danny though, he could serve all his brethren when they show up at the fast food joint he works.
J, Oklahoma City - May 14, 2009 at 4:24 pm
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no one wants the OSU redneck hillbilly fans around!!! they dont know how to act in the metroplex. besides their trucks wouldnt make it that far and they would get lost on the way.
nocona, santa fe - May 14, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Ed Lova, try to do some research before spouting such idiocy. OSU reached past 40,000 every single game last season. Ed Lova, you don't need to worry about posting remedial comments, you need to concentrate on getting off of food stamps.
Mike, Tulsa - May 14, 2009 at 3:51 pm
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If OSU can still swing 7 home games and one Dallas game I say why not? It would be cool to see them play an SEC team there.
Scott, Indian Territory - May 14, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Let's get a pro-team in the State of Oklahoma... Play Bedlam at a neutral site!
AC, Tulsa - May 14, 2009 at 3:08 pm
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Louis the loser doesn't even go to any college football games. How would he know? Thanks to all you loser OU fans for your educated and classy comments. I am sure OU is proud to have all of you as alumni. Oh....wait, you guys are not OU alumnus?
Jacob, Kansas - May 14, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I say kick out Colorado or Iowa St., bring in TCU or Arkansas(unlikely) and realign the Big 12 conference into East/West divisions placing texas in the West and ou in the East. OSU playing a yearly game in Dallas does make sense relative to national exposure, and it can be done without giving up a home game in Stillwater. These are my choices for yearly opponents (not in any particular order - Arkansas (unlikely), LSU, TCU, or Houston.
David, Albuquerque - May 14, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Danny, I don't know who your sources are in Dallas but I live here and trust me, the businesses here all cheer for OU because they spend a lot of money here. Especially when they win. I see it first hand as a business banker covering the metroplex.
Mike, Coppell - May 14, 2009 at 12:45 pm
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Danny, try this....OSUcks need to sell out a football game. Stoolwater needs the lOSUrs to sell out a football game. ANY football game. Just once. But it won't happen unless they let OU fans buy single game tickets every other year when we come there to give you your annual butt kicking.
Louis Friend, Norman - May 14, 2009 at 12:40 pm
LSU vs. OSU in Dallas would be AWESOME!
A, mustang - May 14, 2009 at 10:37 am
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danny,vail- I'm sorry your lobotomy operation was not successful; of course, having a vet grad from lOSUr perform it didn't help. lol
Gary, Oklahoma City - May 14, 2009 at 10:35 am
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Danny, I promise to stop by whatever game you'll be working along the Midway at the Texas State Fair this year when OU plays Texas!
- May 14, 2009 at 10:34 am
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Arkansas would never leave the more lucrative SEC conference. And actually, it makes more sense for Dallas if the Sooners win the RRSO as like someone said, they would stay around instead of heading home mad. Texas fans will be in big D regardless. Baby Okie doesn't need a game in Dallas, they need to worry about breaking 40K at their own stadium.........
Ed Lova, Oklahoma City - May 14, 2009 at 10:28 am
Wow, Berry. You're a complete idiot.
Trying to make it sound like OSU needs to have a game in Dallas like OU. That figures. It's just like Tramel to make a story out of nothing like we're just not going to be noticed unless we do what OU does.
What a stinkin' idiot Tramel continues to prove himself to be.
OSU had a chance to play Tech in JJones new stadium in Arlington. The numbers weren't right, Berry.
OSU is better off playing in front of a home crowd in Stillwater than taking a home game on the road to DFW.
Let's just hope ou continues to play 2nd fiddle to Texas in the Cotton Bowl. I can certainly speak for most of the restaurant, hotel and other tipped employees in Dallas that ALWAYS prefer UT win over ou. The Swooners are lousy tippers. They lose - they go home. Better that Texas Longhorn fans stick around and spend money Swooner fans don't have. Believe me. I've worked several Red River Shootouts and it was ALWAYS good to see Swooners packing.
OSU needs home games. Stillwater needs home games.
Tramel needs to get a clue.
Danny, Vail - May 14, 2009 at 10:06 am
Holder has said many times (I guess berry wasn't present at those press conferences) that OSU was not likely to give up a home game to play a neutral site game at this time. OSU doesn't need to play in Dallas to recruit Texas. That assumption is just plain stupid.
Few travel better than OSU fans, so saying OSU would be at a disadvantage in Dallas at drawing a big crowd is again stupid. Berry, you're a tool. This story is just another backhanded smack attempt.
curtis, durant - May 14, 2009 at 9:51 am
"Holder eying the 'Big D'" that sounds so dirty. You people are sick!
Jason, Seattle - May 14, 2009 at 9:48 am
We build a facility (palace) in Stillwater, spend hundreds of millions for it, then consider moving one of the better games 300 miles south. This makes no sense. In most years we have six or seven home games. At least a couple of the games are lesser schools and we want to take one of the feature games out of town. What a waste of money to build such a facility and only use it five or six times a year. This is cheating Stillwater businesses, the biggest part of the alumni base in the northern half of Oklahoma which has no ties to Dallas, and especially the students. Stillwater is another one and one half hours farther from the DFW area than Norman. If we do this it is only for the elite boosters and recruiting. To heck with the students and the grassroots fans. By the way, many of us in the northern half of Oklahoma actually do have more ties to the Big XII North and would consider yearly games with KU, K-State, Missouri, and Nebraska as more interesting rivals and more geographically relevant than Baylor, A&M, and Tech. The other schools in the South are playing in BIG D because 4 of them are Texas schools and OU is much more geographically close to the Dallas area. I suppose Michigan, Ohio State, and USC all need to move games to Dallas since they have some recruits from Texas.
Jerry, Pond Creek - May 14, 2009 at 9:29 am
Stop the nonsense! We don't need to play in Dallas, if we do it had best be part of a season ticket package. That is ridiculous
berry, arapaho - May 14, 2009 at 9:28 am
Since the Big 12 was created, OU and Texas have benefitted from playing each year in Dallas. A neutral field is much easier to win at than a away game. Last year I bet Texas wishes that they would not have gone to Lubbock and Tech wishes they would not have had to play in Norman. I do not think OU has enjoyed the last couple trips to Lubbock either. OU/Texas is awesome in Dallas, but it is not fair to the rest of the league.
b, Oklahoma City - May 14, 2009 at 9:18 am
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Kicking out colorado would make better lay out, colorado doesn't bring much if any thing at all if other areas. Whereas as Iowa
State brings track and wrestling. But if you want do get into what other sports bring Kick them both out Get Iowa which would bring a strong showing in Wrestling, Baseball, Track, Soccer and a growing football program and Arkansas which is good is almost every sport it has.
Which makes the big 12 more North/South then east/west
Big 12 north would have NEB, KAN, KSU, Mizzou, Iowa, OSU
Big 12 south would have TEX, TECH, A&M, Baylor, Arkansas OU
and for those who say what about bedlam make it a end of the year non-conference game or employ Gundy's extra conference game theory where you have 9 conference games
Patrick, sapulpa - May 14, 2009 at 9:11 am
well, with $500 per seat tickets they will sell 12 of them and i guess we will have to bail them out again so they dont fold like T Boone's hedge fund. lol
Joe Bob, Norman - May 14, 2009 at 9:03 am
A game in Dallas would be hard to set up until OSU's home games are sold out, and the stadium packed.
UnSub, Yukon - May 14, 2009 at 8:52 am
Lois must have a little man complex... and speaking of Buttholder... What does a quarterback without an offensive line become......Stoops not only said they where the weakest link this spring....but called them a dissapointment ...I am sure you have heard that word a lot.....lois
cl, edmond - May 14, 2009 at 8:48 am
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why cant they have a 4th place tiebreaker in dallas?
david, Newcastle - May 14, 2009 at 8:45 am
Obviously, the thing to do is kick out Iowa State, bring in Arkansas, and move osu to the north and they can play Nebraska every year in KC.
Gary, Oklahoma City - May 14, 2009 at 8:28 am
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Why would DFW even want to make much of an effort at all for OSU?
Ken, Kingfisher - May 14, 2009 at 8:05 am
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I like the TCU idea. That's a game that would be competitive and well attended. I don't like the idea of moving a conference game to a neutral site every year. As competitive as it is in the Big XII South, I can't see the up-side of giving away home-field advantage once every two years in a conference game.
James, New Milford - May 14, 2009 at 7:56 am
I doubt there is a team that would play an annual game with them in Dallas. All the others make sense, and build off a good rivalry.
John, Oklahoma City - May 14, 2009 at 7:10 am
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Thinking outside the box, how about playing Nebraska every year in Dallas. On the two years when it is not a conference game, it can be a non-conference game for the two schools. Nebraska travels like crazy and needs to recruit Texas. The game would be a sellout every year and help the strength of schedule for both schools.
Raymond, Chesterfield - May 14, 2009 at 6:49 am

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