Clifton, Wall — it’s a euphemism
Rivals.com is reporting that Baylor will hire Dwon Clifton as its Director of Player Development tomorrow (Friday). You may be asking ‘Who?’
Well, here’s the deal. In writing “Baylor will hire Dwon Clifton” you’re actually writing “Baylor will be signing the Class of ’09’s top prospect, John Wall.”
Of course, neither facet is official, yet. I just got off the phone with Baylor athletic spokesman Chris Yandle, who said “Nothing has crossed my desk” when asked about Clifton’s hire.
If true, this is a big blow to Oklahoma State fans and coaches, all of whom had their hopes up for the 6-foot-3 point guard. Coach Travis Ford also had a similar position open, which he could have used to hire Clifton, the younger brother of Wall’s AAU coach, Brian Clifton.
More as it develops …
-andrea cohen
Football: Pettigrew on watch list
By Scott Wright
Brandon Pettigrew continues to draw notice as one of the top tight ends around. The OSU senior is one of 30 players on the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s best tight end.
Pettigrew was already named to the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award, which goes to the nation’s top lineman.
With so many young receivers, Pettigrew will be relied on as a key passing target for Zac Robinson. Pettigrew was a first-team all-Big 12 Conference selection last season, after catching 35 passes for 540 yards and four TDs. For his career, he averages more than 14 yards per catch and his 978 career receiving yards ranks 21st all-time at OSU.
Football… it’s almost here
By Scott Wright
We’re still two days away from turning the calendar to August, but only one day away from Cowboy football practice. I can’t tell you how much that excites me.
To get you primed, here are a few thoughts on what to watch for over the next week or so both on the field and in The Oklahoman.
Thursday’s paper will tell you why coach Mike Gundy is stressing the need to find a backup quarterback so quickly. It might seem odd at first thought, but figuring out who will back up Zac Robinson really is a pressing need when you have two guys who haven’t taken a meaningful snap.
Along with that, I’ll break down a few of the QB recruits Gundy and Co. are chasing for 2009. And yes, Tyrik Rollison of Sulphur Springs, Texas, is on the top of the list.
Highlight Reel: Top 10 basketball recruits for 2009
It looks like there’s a chance Oklahoma State could land John Wall, the top-ranked basketball player in the nation. But what’s he look like in action? Here’s a YouTube roundup of the Rival.com’s Top 10 basketball recruits, including Xavier Henry of Putnam City (No. 2) and Daniel Orton of McGuinness (No. 10).
1. John Wall, 6-4, G, Word of God Christian, Raleigh, N.C.
2. Xavier Henry, 6-6, G, Putnam City
3. Derrick Favors, 6-9, F, South Atlanta, Ga.
4. Renardo Sidney, 6-10, 230, F, Fairfax, Los Angeles
5. John Henson, 6-10, 200, F, Round Rock, Texas (Committed to North Carolina)
6. DeMarcus Cousins, 6-9, 250, Leflore, Mobile, Ala. (Committed to UAB)
7. Lance Stephenson, 6-5, 195, G, Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y.
8. Kenny Boynton, 6-2, 187, G, American Heritage, Plantation, Fla.
9. Milton Jennings, 6-9, 200, F, Pinewood Prep, Summerville, S.C. (Committed to Clemson)
No YouTube. Try this link
10. Daniel Orton, 6-10, 260, C, McGuinness
Wishing I was in Vegas, but not to gamble
John Wall to Oklahoma State rumors are hitting a fever pitch this week. The Class of ’09’s top-ranked overall player (by rivals.com) has been out in Las Vegas playing this week.
Says Dick Weiss of The Daily News:
“Word out of this city indicates Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford may be close to locking up guard John Wall, a top 5 prospect from Word of God Academy in Raleigh, who made a huge statement when he scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, had 8 assists and outplayed Kenny Boynton of Plantation, Fla., in a headline matchup at the Reebok Summer Championships at Football HS.”
Try as I might to get ahold of Wall and his AAU coach Brian Clifton, who is handling his recruitment, I don’t have any official, on-the-record information to add to this, as of yet. Working on it, I promise.
Finally — and perhaps related, perhaps unrelated – here’s an interesting read from CBS Sportsline.com’s Gary Parrish. Note that Travis Ford has not yet hired two positions on his staff. http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10908967
-andrea cohen
Watching Youtube with the Youtube superstar
I have a story for you guys.
So last night (after a ridiculous day of just putting at the media golf day at Karsten Creek) I went to Tulsa to cover the Cowboy Caravan. Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World and I set up our computers at a table in the back of the room so we could write while Kurt Budke and Mike Gundy spoke. After the thing was over Gundy was a good sport and stayed around, talking to fans and having his picture taken with everybody who asked.
After that, while waiting for the parking lot to clear out before he headed to his car, he came over to chat with me and Bill. The Justin Timberlake ESPY deal came up. Turns out Gundy hadn’t seen it yet. So Bill gets the clip up on Youtube and Gundy, SID Kevin Klintworth, voice of the Cowboys Dave Hunziker, Haisten and I watch it (yeah, we were on deadline, but whatever).
I have to tell you, it is a little bit surreal to re-watch the famous rant with the famous ranter. His assessment of Timberlake’s skit?
“That’s it? That wasn’t bad.”
-andrea cohen
Happy camping in Tulsa and OKC
As we mentioned last week in the paper, Travis Ford is adding satellite camps to the already-past Cowboy basketball camps in Stillwater. Here are the details:
Cowboy Basketball To Host Two Additional Summer Camps
STILLWATER, Okla. (OSU Athletics <http://www.okstate.com>) < A pair of
two-day events have been added to the 2008 Travis Ford Basketball School it
was announced this week.
The first-year Cowboy head coach and his staff will conduct the first camp
August 6-7 at Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City. The camp will run
from 1-6 p.m. each day with registration beginning August 6 at noon.
The camp will then head up the turnpike to Tulsa and Jenks High School on
August 8-9. Each session will run from noon to 5 p.m. Registration is set
for 11 a.m. on August 8.
Tuition for each camp will be $100 and is open to players in grades 1-8. For
more information, contact the Cowboy basketball office at 405-744-5845 or
800-438-5481.
I’m not very good at video games
By Scott Wright
Sorry Cowboy fans. I offer my apologies for the poor display of video gaming that you read about in Wednesday’s paper. Jake Trotter and the Oklahoma Sooners gave me and the Pokes quite a beating in NCAA Football 2009. But don’t be discouraged. The 47-10 loss was more my inadequacy on the PS2 than the Cowboys lack of skill on the game. Still, I’m sorry I didn’t represent your team better.
There was a day, back in 2002, when I’d beat anybody wishing to challenge me in the NCAA Football series (except for my little brother, Kelly, who has always been like kryponite to me in video games). But I was 24 then. And those days are long gone. I’m sure some of you know the feeling.
But let me calm your sorrows with some real-life football news. OSU was voted No. 4 in the Big 12 South by the media in the conference preseason poll which was released today. The preseason all-conference team comes out Thursday, so look for that.
In case you’re curious, I didn’t vote in the poll. I’m not big on preseason polls of any kind. But here are the rankings:
Big 12 Preseason Football Poll (Media Vote)
South
1. Oklahoma (49) 304
2. Texas (2) 230
3. Texas Tech 227
4. Oklahoma State 140
5. Texas A&M 118
6. Baylor 52
North
1. Missouri (51) 306
2. Kansas 234
3. Nebraska 183
4. Colorado 181
5. Kansas State 108
6. Iowa State 59
(First-place votes in parentheses)
Lots of news for a Tuesday in July
OSU media relations just sent out the following regarding football camp. More on exactly what this means in tomorrow’s paper.
Fan Policies
:: Fans are invited to attend the first seven periods of the first seven practices of camp. Seven periods equates to roughly one hour. Once the seventh period ends, practice will be closed to the public.
:: Fans are invited to attend the Cowboys’ Aug. 2 practice in its entirety.
:: Scrimmage policies to be announced as scrimmages approach
the favorite floor
http://www.okstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=200&ATCLID=1512990
