No Father's Son
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Chapter Forty-Nine: Like A Fiddle
“If it’s a NCAA violation to follow through with your commitments, then fine me,” I said flatly. I was already tired of Specter’s smug face, and we’d only been in the conference room for twenty minutes at that point. Twenty minutes and the only topic we’d touched was Specter trying to frame my visit to Ms. Skaggs as anything but what it really was, one human caring about another.
Roger Denny cleared his throat at that, while Donna shot me a quick look, eye brows raised, that said to keep my composure.
“Armando, I think we can all agree that checking in on a widowed woman is commendable, but you have to understand that optics matter. Are you sure that at no point in your conversation with Ms. Skaggs did you imply the desire for Damian Skaggs to enter the transfer portal and transfer to the University of Oklahoma?”
Same smug look, same accusatory tone. In Specter’s eyes, he was the judge, jury, and executioner and he’d already made his determination.
“You know, Michael,” I started. “I noticed that the leak about my visits to the Skaggs’ home, a leak I’m sure you know nothing about, it didn’t mention that every time I’m in the Temecula area, I’ve checked on Ms. Skaggs.”
“Every time. My second and final year at Oregon State, after Damian was already under scholarship, my first and only year at Maryland, and my first year at Oklahoma. If anything, that consistency should show that the visits weren’t geared towards trying to poach Jonathan Smith’s players, but merely checking up on the mother of a former player, one I personally vouched for.”
Specter flipped through the packet in front of him, clicking his pen every time he switched pages, straightening his tie as he found the next document he was looking for.
“Your actions at Maryland aren’t under investigation here, Armando, just what you’ve done while employed by Oklahoma. You mentioned that your first year in Norman, you visited the Skaggs home. How about this year, any visits to the Temecula area, or Ms. Skaggs?”
“No, I-“ I began to answer, before Specter abruptly cut me off.
“Convenient, no? Now that you’re being watched, suddenly Ms. Skaggs’ well-being isn’t a priority.”
“My recruiting hasn’t taken me to the area,” I said defensively, before veering off script in an attempt to win the argument—a task I would soon learn was impossible.
“If we’re being real, Michael, Damian Skaggs would be a fringe starter at best at Oklahoma. I love him as a person, and as a young man, but his skill level isn’t where some of our top players are. If he had entered the portal, I would have advised him that it would be best for his career—if he intended on trying to go to the NFL—to go to a lesser program where he had a chance to compete at a higher level and continue to grow.”
“A program like Texas,” I added with a chuckle, earning a snort from Roger Denny before he could contain himself.
“All that tells me is you’ve already scouted the idea of poaching Skaggs and determined he wasn’t worth the effort,” Specter shot back.
Between Leslie less than 36-hours earlier and now Specter, my patience had already started wearing thin. Specter taking my own words and flinging them back in my face finally cracked my facade.
“God damnit! This is a bullshit witch hunt and you fucking know it Specter. You don’t have shit on me except for some circumstantial evidence and an off-hand comment by my agent, who I can’t control.”
Just as Specter leaned forward in his seat, ready to strike back, Donna cleared her throat, gesturing at the recorder on the table. It was still silently listening, capturing everything. My heart sank. This was what Specter had wanted, and he played me like a fiddle.
“I think what my client is trying to say, maybe a little less eloquently than we would like,” she reasoned, with a side-eye at me that cut through the momentary calm, “Is that unless you have anything else to address, then we are done here. I won’t sit here and let you berate my client and honestly, we don’t think you have enough evidence to substantiate this bogus and frankly, careless attack of character against Armando Leon and this university.”
Specter’s lips turned up slightly, his smug smirk playing just under the surface before he smoothed the edges to a more professional grin.
“Sure, Donna. Let’s just skip the small talk. You have all the info I have. If Mr. Leon wants to turn over his personal and professional phones, so we can do one final sweep to ensure no wrongdoing has occurred, we can wrap this up and give our final determination.”
Roger Denny and Donna Zane both nodded approvingly, as if the decision had already been made, turning to me at the same time, waiting for my final approval.
I sat there, with all eyes on me, staring down Specter across the table. Without breaking eye contact, determined not to be the one to flinch, I gave my answer.
“No.”
Donna clicked her pen once, loudly. Denny choked back a cough. Specter simply sat there, meeting my eyes, waiting for me to break.
“Can we have a moment to discuss this request with Mr. Leon,” Donna asked earnestly, hoping the request would be granted, but knowing the answer before Specter’s mouth opened.
“No,” he answered, smug smile fully plastered across his face now. “Armando turns over his phones now, in this room, or it’ll be marked as a refusal. And I’m sure you understand how that will look, Donna.”
“Armando, this is a pretty normal request in this situation,” Donna asserted, her eyebrows narrowing as her patience wore thin.
“It’s an invasion of privacy. I’m not going to sit here and let him poke his nose through my personal business just because he’s already made up his mind,” I re-affirmed, crossing my arms across my chest, still maintaining the unblinking eye contact with Specter.
“My work phone? Fine. But not my personal.”
Specter made no attempt to hide his growing smirk this time, sweeping up his paperwork in one smooth motion. His briefcase clicked shut a moment later with a definitive snap.
“Then I guess we are done here,” Specter proclaimed, rising from his seat without an attempt to shake my hand.
“You’ll have the results of our inquiry when we’ve finalized our investigation. There isn’t a timeline for this sort of thing, you understand,” he added with one final smirk, before striding out of the room.
When the door clicked shut, Donna and Roger spoke in turn:
“What the hell, Armando!?”
Donna exchanged a glance with Roger before taking a measured breath, letting Denny take the lead.
“You know what guilty people do, Armando? They withhold information. The NCAA isn’t going to give a damn that Harvey’s comments are circumstantial, or your visit to Chanetelle Skaggs can be explained away. You just gave them the smoking gun.”
“Sometimes, you have to stand up for what you believe in, even if you stand alone,” I said quietly, not avoiding making eye contact with Roger, but not wanting to escalate his anger.
“For fucks sake,” he mumbled to himself, before rising out of his chair so swiftly he rapped his knee on the conference table.
“I’ve got to go call Joseph and the Board of Regents. They’re going to shit themselves,” he continued, ignoring the impact with the desk. Either he didn’t notice it, or his anger dwarfed the pain undoubtedly blooming above his knee.
He stormed out of the office without another word, leaving Donna and myself in the silence.
“Remember how I said this was manageable unless new information surfaces?”
I nodded solemnly at Donna.
“We’re officially out of manageable territory, Armando. I hope whatever you’re trying to hide is worth it.”
With that, she followed Denny’s lead and stormed out of conference room, leaving me to sit in the silence alone.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket, thumbing the screen alive in the process.
One notification sat on the screen. From Leslie.
“Good luck with Specter, Pequeño León. Don’t do anything your father wouldn’t do.”
Was it worth it? It was a question I couldn’t answer. Not definitively.
I absentmindedly rubbed the scar on my left palm. That had been the lowest moment of my life. But the last 36-hours was rapidly approaching the second.
With a deep sigh, I finally rose from my chair and slunk out of the conference room.
I stopped at the lounge on the way back to my office, grabbing my third energy drink of the day already.
“Too many of those are going to give you a heart attack,” joked Patrick Surtain Sr. as he walked by, “Isn’t that your third already today?”
“Didn’t see you there, Jessica,” I shot back, cracking the first smile I’d had since saying goodbye to Jessica and the kids this morning.
“Come on,” Pat laughed with a wave of his hand. “The boys are already in the film room. They’re about to announce the playoff brackets.”
The NCAA investigation was officially out of my control. But, I could still control how this season ended. If this was going to be it, I damn sure intended to go out on top.
“Why are they doing it on Monday instead of Sunday again?” Pat asked as we approached the film room door.
“Something about wanting to make sure they ‘got it right,’ personally, I just think they’re tired of competing with the NFL on Sunday for viewership. Announce it Monday morning and you get that time slot all to yourself, then become the talk of the day.”
Pat stopped right before we entered the door, the buzz of the team engaged in their own separate conversations just under the surface.
“Real talk, coach. Who you think we’re getting?”
I took a long pull of the C4, the sour apple flavor biting against my tongue and drawing a grimace out.
“I don’t give a damn, Pat. We’re gonna take the belt to whoever it is.”
Pat chuckled. “To quote the infamous Lil’ John: if you don’t give a damn, we don’t give a fuck,” he answered, walking into the film room and repeating the line for the team, who roared their approval back with a chorus of cheers and applause.
“Alright, boys,” I announced as the ESPN telecast began projecting on the wall, “Let’s see what pack is gonna be in the air next.”
The room roared approval one more time before hushing as Rece Davis began the lead in.
“If it’s a NCAA violation to follow through with your commitments, then fine me,” I said flatly. I was already tired of Specter’s smug face, and we’d only been in the conference room for twenty minutes at that point. Twenty minutes and the only topic we’d touched was Specter trying to frame my visit to Ms. Skaggs as anything but what it really was, one human caring about another.
Roger Denny cleared his throat at that, while Donna shot me a quick look, eye brows raised, that said to keep my composure.
“Armando, I think we can all agree that checking in on a widowed woman is commendable, but you have to understand that optics matter. Are you sure that at no point in your conversation with Ms. Skaggs did you imply the desire for Damian Skaggs to enter the transfer portal and transfer to the University of Oklahoma?”
Same smug look, same accusatory tone. In Specter’s eyes, he was the judge, jury, and executioner and he’d already made his determination.
“You know, Michael,” I started. “I noticed that the leak about my visits to the Skaggs’ home, a leak I’m sure you know nothing about, it didn’t mention that every time I’m in the Temecula area, I’ve checked on Ms. Skaggs.”
“Every time. My second and final year at Oregon State, after Damian was already under scholarship, my first and only year at Maryland, and my first year at Oklahoma. If anything, that consistency should show that the visits weren’t geared towards trying to poach Jonathan Smith’s players, but merely checking up on the mother of a former player, one I personally vouched for.”
Specter flipped through the packet in front of him, clicking his pen every time he switched pages, straightening his tie as he found the next document he was looking for.
“Your actions at Maryland aren’t under investigation here, Armando, just what you’ve done while employed by Oklahoma. You mentioned that your first year in Norman, you visited the Skaggs home. How about this year, any visits to the Temecula area, or Ms. Skaggs?”
“No, I-“ I began to answer, before Specter abruptly cut me off.
“Convenient, no? Now that you’re being watched, suddenly Ms. Skaggs’ well-being isn’t a priority.”
“My recruiting hasn’t taken me to the area,” I said defensively, before veering off script in an attempt to win the argument—a task I would soon learn was impossible.
“If we’re being real, Michael, Damian Skaggs would be a fringe starter at best at Oklahoma. I love him as a person, and as a young man, but his skill level isn’t where some of our top players are. If he had entered the portal, I would have advised him that it would be best for his career—if he intended on trying to go to the NFL—to go to a lesser program where he had a chance to compete at a higher level and continue to grow.”
“A program like Texas,” I added with a chuckle, earning a snort from Roger Denny before he could contain himself.
“All that tells me is you’ve already scouted the idea of poaching Skaggs and determined he wasn’t worth the effort,” Specter shot back.
Between Leslie less than 36-hours earlier and now Specter, my patience had already started wearing thin. Specter taking my own words and flinging them back in my face finally cracked my facade.
“God damnit! This is a bullshit witch hunt and you fucking know it Specter. You don’t have shit on me except for some circumstantial evidence and an off-hand comment by my agent, who I can’t control.”
Just as Specter leaned forward in his seat, ready to strike back, Donna cleared her throat, gesturing at the recorder on the table. It was still silently listening, capturing everything. My heart sank. This was what Specter had wanted, and he played me like a fiddle.
“I think what my client is trying to say, maybe a little less eloquently than we would like,” she reasoned, with a side-eye at me that cut through the momentary calm, “Is that unless you have anything else to address, then we are done here. I won’t sit here and let you berate my client and honestly, we don’t think you have enough evidence to substantiate this bogus and frankly, careless attack of character against Armando Leon and this university.”
Specter’s lips turned up slightly, his smug smirk playing just under the surface before he smoothed the edges to a more professional grin.
“Sure, Donna. Let’s just skip the small talk. You have all the info I have. If Mr. Leon wants to turn over his personal and professional phones, so we can do one final sweep to ensure no wrongdoing has occurred, we can wrap this up and give our final determination.”
Roger Denny and Donna Zane both nodded approvingly, as if the decision had already been made, turning to me at the same time, waiting for my final approval.
I sat there, with all eyes on me, staring down Specter across the table. Without breaking eye contact, determined not to be the one to flinch, I gave my answer.
“No.”
Donna clicked her pen once, loudly. Denny choked back a cough. Specter simply sat there, meeting my eyes, waiting for me to break.
“Can we have a moment to discuss this request with Mr. Leon,” Donna asked earnestly, hoping the request would be granted, but knowing the answer before Specter’s mouth opened.
“No,” he answered, smug smile fully plastered across his face now. “Armando turns over his phones now, in this room, or it’ll be marked as a refusal. And I’m sure you understand how that will look, Donna.”
“Armando, this is a pretty normal request in this situation,” Donna asserted, her eyebrows narrowing as her patience wore thin.
“It’s an invasion of privacy. I’m not going to sit here and let him poke his nose through my personal business just because he’s already made up his mind,” I re-affirmed, crossing my arms across my chest, still maintaining the unblinking eye contact with Specter.
“My work phone? Fine. But not my personal.”
Specter made no attempt to hide his growing smirk this time, sweeping up his paperwork in one smooth motion. His briefcase clicked shut a moment later with a definitive snap.
“Then I guess we are done here,” Specter proclaimed, rising from his seat without an attempt to shake my hand.
“You’ll have the results of our inquiry when we’ve finalized our investigation. There isn’t a timeline for this sort of thing, you understand,” he added with one final smirk, before striding out of the room.
When the door clicked shut, Donna and Roger spoke in turn:
“What the hell, Armando!?”
Donna exchanged a glance with Roger before taking a measured breath, letting Denny take the lead.
“You know what guilty people do, Armando? They withhold information. The NCAA isn’t going to give a damn that Harvey’s comments are circumstantial, or your visit to Chanetelle Skaggs can be explained away. You just gave them the smoking gun.”
“Sometimes, you have to stand up for what you believe in, even if you stand alone,” I said quietly, not avoiding making eye contact with Roger, but not wanting to escalate his anger.
“For fucks sake,” he mumbled to himself, before rising out of his chair so swiftly he rapped his knee on the conference table.
“I’ve got to go call Joseph and the Board of Regents. They’re going to shit themselves,” he continued, ignoring the impact with the desk. Either he didn’t notice it, or his anger dwarfed the pain undoubtedly blooming above his knee.
He stormed out of the office without another word, leaving Donna and myself in the silence.
“Remember how I said this was manageable unless new information surfaces?”
I nodded solemnly at Donna.
“We’re officially out of manageable territory, Armando. I hope whatever you’re trying to hide is worth it.”
With that, she followed Denny’s lead and stormed out of conference room, leaving me to sit in the silence alone.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket, thumbing the screen alive in the process.
One notification sat on the screen. From Leslie.
“Good luck with Specter, Pequeño León. Don’t do anything your father wouldn’t do.”
Was it worth it? It was a question I couldn’t answer. Not definitively.
I absentmindedly rubbed the scar on my left palm. That had been the lowest moment of my life. But the last 36-hours was rapidly approaching the second.
With a deep sigh, I finally rose from my chair and slunk out of the conference room.
I stopped at the lounge on the way back to my office, grabbing my third energy drink of the day already.
“Too many of those are going to give you a heart attack,” joked Patrick Surtain Sr. as he walked by, “Isn’t that your third already today?”
“Didn’t see you there, Jessica,” I shot back, cracking the first smile I’d had since saying goodbye to Jessica and the kids this morning.
“Come on,” Pat laughed with a wave of his hand. “The boys are already in the film room. They’re about to announce the playoff brackets.”
The NCAA investigation was officially out of my control. But, I could still control how this season ended. If this was going to be it, I damn sure intended to go out on top.
“Why are they doing it on Monday instead of Sunday again?” Pat asked as we approached the film room door.
“Something about wanting to make sure they ‘got it right,’ personally, I just think they’re tired of competing with the NFL on Sunday for viewership. Announce it Monday morning and you get that time slot all to yourself, then become the talk of the day.”
Pat stopped right before we entered the door, the buzz of the team engaged in their own separate conversations just under the surface.
“Real talk, coach. Who you think we’re getting?”
I took a long pull of the C4, the sour apple flavor biting against my tongue and drawing a grimace out.
“I don’t give a damn, Pat. We’re gonna take the belt to whoever it is.”
Pat chuckled. “To quote the infamous Lil’ John: if you don’t give a damn, we don’t give a fuck,” he answered, walking into the film room and repeating the line for the team, who roared their approval back with a chorus of cheers and applause.
“Alright, boys,” I announced as the ESPN telecast began projecting on the wall, “Let’s see what pack is gonna be in the air next.”
The room roared approval one more time before hushing as Rece Davis began the lead in.
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Caesar
- Chise GOAT

- Posts: 15833
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 10:47
No Father's Son
Harvey Specter 
This man keeps these texts from Leslie? What kind of rookie shit...?

This man keeps these texts from Leslie? What kind of rookie shit...?
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Captain Canada
- Posts: 7218
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Harvey is Harvey Ross, Leon's agent
Specter is Michael Specter, the NCAA investigator
the legal advisor is Donna Zane....and if anyone else gets involved they'd be Rachel Paulson
Yes, they are the names of Suits characters re-arranged

And, if he turns over his phone they can recover deleted messages, in addition to continue to monitor it from that point until the investigation is closed. Leslie only gave him a month to drop $500K into her account. You think she just gonna go radio silent until then, or remind Armando as the deadline approaches. Which would then be seen by the NCAA

if you don't give a damn, we don't give a fuck

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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son


Miami Overtakes Oklahoma For #1 Overall Seed, Path To Atlanta Clear
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: December 16th, 2030
I'm not going to pretend to understand what the College Football Playoff committee is thinking, but somehow they decided that a 12-1 Miami Hurricanes team was worthy of the #1 overall seed in the playoffs over the undefeated and defending National Champions.
We see what the real play is here, folks. The committee can posture all they want. It's about giving the Miami Hurricanes an easier path to Atlanta, while setting up a third showdown between the Georgia Bulldogs and ourselves.
They're the only team currently in the playoff to challenge these Sooners, after being blown out in the first meeting, and something tells me the committee is hoping that we lose before we reach Atlanta to add some parity to the league.
Good thing these Sooners simply don't care.
"You can line Georgia up for a third time, it ain't gonna change a lick," proclaimed Terrance Butcher on X after the Selection Monday show concluded with Oklahoma securing the #2 seed and awaiting the winner of #7 USC and #10 Georgia, a game many expect Georgia to win.
Coach Leon was more reserved when reached for comment later in the day, simply stating: "I can't control how the committee views our accomplishments. We defended our title all year and we'll continue to do so as we march relentlessly toward Atlanta."
Big Twelve Champion and fellow undefeated Texas Tech secured the third seed, while Clemson secured the fourth. Ohio State and Tulane rounded out the field as the final two conference champions to secure automatic entry into the playoff.
Oklahoma will host the winner of USC vs Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
Miami will face off against the winner of #8 Ohio State and #9 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.
Texas Tech will look to keep their undefeated season alive in the Fiesta Bowl against either #6 Cal or #11 TCU.
And finally, Clemson will await either #5 Tennessee or #12 Tulane in the Rose Bowl.
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son


Georgia's Avery Bigsby Wins 2030 Heisman Memorial Trophy
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: December 16th, 2030
Avery Bigsby's breakthrough 2030 season was cemented on Saturday when the Georgia Bulldogs' junior receiver accepted the Heisman Trophy in New York, becoming the first wide receiver to win college football's most prestigious award since Travis Hunter in 2023.
Bigsby's statistical dominance was undeniable. The 6'2", 205-pound receiver led the entire nation in receptions with 121 catches and receiving yards with 1,769, ranking fourth nationally in touchdowns with 18 total. His monster campaign stood out even among an elite group of finalists.
But here's where the narrative gets interesting, folks. Brad Thorne—Oklahoma's dynamic running back who doubled as the team's leading receiver—led the Heisman voting for much of the season. Thorne's dual-threat brilliance had him positioned as the frontrunner until an AC joint sprain in practice prior to Week 14 forced him to miss both Oklahoma's regular season finale and the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. In that SEC Championship contest, Bigsby managed just four receptions for 42 yards in a losing effort, yet still captured the hardware.
The timing raised eyebrows. Thorne's resume—97 rushing attempts for 849 yards and nine touchdowns, coupled with 53 receptions for 594 yards and four more scores—was the kind of versatility the Heisman has historically celebrated. But the award ultimately went to Bigsby, who also secured the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.
On the Sooner side, the hardware didn't go unnoticed. Safety DeMarco Slayton claimed the Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back, anchoring Oklahoma's elite secondary with 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and five interceptions—a reminder of why Leon's defense held Georgia to just 17 points in their SEC Championship matchup.
Brad Thorne, despite missing crucial games down the stretch, still earned the Doak Walker Award as the nation's premier running back. The award recognized his prolific all-purpose production and cemented his status as one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the country, injury or not.
It's a bittersweet finish to the regular season narrative for Oklahoma fans. Thorne's injury cost him what many believed would be his Heisman moment. But as these Sooners prepare for their playoff run, one thing is certain—Thorne is healthy and ready to prove why the Heisman was his to lose in the first place.
| Award | Name | School |
| Heisman | WR Avery Bigsby | Georgia |
| Maxwell | WR Avery Bigsby | Georgia |
| Walter Camp | WR Avery Bigsby | Georgia |
| Bear Bryant Coach of the Year | Joey McGuire | Texas Tech |
| Davey O'Brien | QB Tony Volk | Texas Tech |
| Chuck Bednarik | DE Carter Slovis | Miami |
| Bronko Nagurski | DE Carter Slovis | Miami |
| Jim Thorpe | SS DeMarco Slayton | Oklahoma |
| Doak Walker | HB Brad Thorne | Oklahoma |
| Fred Biletnikoff | WR Avery Bigsby | Georgia |
| Lombardi | DE Carter Slovis | Miami |
| Unitas Golden Arm | QB James Casey | Sam Houston |
| Defensive End of the Year | DE Carter Slovis | Miami |
| Outland | G Sean Starr | Ohio State |
| John Mackey | TE Tyronne Augustine | Michigan State |
| Broyles | DC Shiel Wood | Texas Tech |
| Dick Butkus | MLB Kristian Trahan | Texas |
| Rimington | C Glen Engle | Texas A&M |
| Groza | K Andres Ramos | Tulsa |
| Ray Guy | P Buck Breckner | Eastern Michigan |
| Jet Award | WR Willie Moncrief | San Jose State |
| Shaun Alexaner | WR Jalen John | Boise State |
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
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No Father's Son


Jerry Mack Announced As Newest Mississippi State Head Coach
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: December 21st, 2030
Jerry Mack had already been a head coach at the collegiate level for four years when he accepted the offensive coordinator position under Armando Leon at Oklahoma. And unlike other head coaches turned coordinator, Mack was not fired. Instead, he made the decision to parlay a successful four years at Kennesaw State into the position in Norman, hoping he could use it as a springboard to a power 4 job in the near future.
It is safe to say that Mack's gamble paid off. In Mack's first year as offensive coordinator, the Sooners ranked in the top five in most offensive statistics nationally in addition to coaching Heisman winner Oscar Robledo to a career year on the way to a National Championship victory for Oklahoma. Year two was more of the same; another top five statistical offense, despite a true freshman quarterback, as the Sooners are heavy favorites to defend their National Championship in Atlanta this season.
"I'm extremely grateful to Coach Leon, AD Roger Denny, and the entire Oklahoma Sooners staff and organization for this opportunity. Coaching in the SEC is the 'Holy Grail' of coaching for a reason, and I don't think I would be continuing my career in the greatest conference this sport has to offer if it wasn't for the experience I gained over the last two years in Norman. I may be leaving Oklahoma and becoming an adversary, but I will always hold my time in Oklahoma in high regard," Mack said in a prepared statement when his hiring at Mississippi State was announced. Jeff Lebby was fired after the Bulldogs went 2-10 this year, with a 52-42 loss to Southern Miss early in the season spelling the beginning of the end for the coach.
When reached for comment, Leon thanked Mack for his contributions over the last two years and wished him the best, with a small caveat.
"I hope he has nothing but success in Starkville," Leon said, a small grin forming as he spoke, "as long as he realizes it'll be business as usual when he runs into us again."
Leon announced that running back coach DeMarco Murray will be the interim offensive coordinator for the remainder of the playoffs. Quarterback coach Mitch Militello, who followed Mack from Kennesaw State to Oklahoma, was the first choice to take over as offensive coordinator, but opted instead to join Mack in Starkville as his new offensive coordinator.
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son


2030 College Football Player Quarterfinal Preview - #7 USC (11-2) @ #2 Oklahoma (13-0)
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: December 31st, 2030
The 2030 Sugar Bowl looks a lot like the 2029 version, and I for one am hoping for the same results. The USC Trojans prevented a third showdown between the Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners with their 31-28 victory over Georgia last week, advancing out of the First Round of the Playoffs and setting up a rematch of last year's Sugar Bowl, where the Sooners defeated the Trojans 38-28 on their way to their National Championship victory.
We're going to see how this year's teams match up in the upcoming graphic, then dive into a Sugar Bowl edition of the "Schooner Scoop" where Coach Leon will talk about the return of Brad Thorne, how the offense will look without Jerry Mack calling the shots, and his defensive focus against a familiar foe.
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#1 Oklahoma Sooners (13-0) | Description | #7 USC Trojans (11-2) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 99 Overall // 99 Offense // 99 Defense | Team Rating | 91 Overall // 91 Offense // 91 Defense Armando Leon (39-4) | Head Coach | Lincoln Riley (89-34) Spread | Offensive Scheme | Air Raid 3-3-5 | Defensive Scheme | 3-4 Multiple 43.0 (3rd) | Offensive Points Per Game | 42.6 (4th) 17.0 (3rd) | Defensive Points Per Game | 21.5 (15th) 491.7 (4th) | Offensive Yards Per Game | 462.7 (12th) 285.2 (2nd) | Defensive Yards Per Game | 342.5 (18th)
Oklahoma Sooners | Description | USC Trojans --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 114-65 | Combined Record | 93-69 Oregon (8-4) W 44-14 | Week One | South Alabama (5-7) W 45-3 @ Oklahoma State (10-3) W 49-30 | Week Two | BYE @ Nebraska (7-6) W 56-21 | Week Three | FCS W 67-12 @ Mississippi State (2-10) W 55-13 | Week Four | Penn State (10-3) L 49-32 Texas A&M (7-5) W 33-7 | Week Five | @ Washington (8-4) L 32-31 Alabama (9-4) W 55-6 | Week Six | Wisconsin (5-7) W 28-23 Texas (9-4) W 37-21 | Week Seven | Nebraska (7-6) W 38-28 @ Ole Miss (6-6) W 44-27 | Week Eight | @ Minnesota (8-4) W 56-14 Georgia (10-4) W 49-17 | Week Nine | BYE BYE | Week Ten | @ Michigan (6-6) W 36-10 Notre Dame (8-5) W 30-27 | Week Eleven | Rutgers (3-9) W 62-10 @ Auburn (10-3) W 31-21 | Week Twelve | @ Maryland (6-6) W 35-25 BYE | Week Thirteen | @ UCLA (4-8) W 44-17 LSU (7-5) W 48-0 | Week Fourteen | Notre Dame (8-5) W 49-28) Georgia (10-4) W 28-17 | Conference Champ| BYE BYE | CFP First Round | Georgia (10-4) W 31-28
Oklahoma Sooners USC Trojans ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DE Damian Gumbs (87) Mild Concussion (1 Week)| Injuries | T Jarius Felix (85) Broken Tailbone (7 Weeks)
Oklahoma Sooners USC Trojans --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FR Markelle Nickey (79) 289/433 (66%), 3,381 Yds, 39 TD, 12 INT| QB | SR(RS) Brian Pennel (91) 345/491 (70%), 4,372 Yds, 36 TD, 8 INT JR Terrance Butcher (96) 177 Att, 1,423 Yds, 9 TD | HB | JR(RS) Caleb Shurmur (90) 192 Att, 865 Yds, 23 TD SO TE Maurice Lucky (79) 39 Rec, 495 Yds, 8 TD | WR | FR(RS) Jake Bloom (88) 102 Rec, 1,407 Yds, 14 TD SR(RS) Darren Lyles (91) 27 Rec, 480 Yds, 7 TD | WR | SO(RS) LaMont Barnes (88) 75 Rec, 1,248 Yds, 10 TD SR MLB Alan Breckner (88) 90 Tkl, 26 TFL, 8 Sacks | DEF | SR MLB Barry Morrison (91) 95 Tkl, 6 TFL, 3 Sacks, 3 INT JR MLB Gordon Paul (86) 71 Tkl, 16 TFL, 5 Sacks | DEF | JR LB Devin Kugbila (90) 50 Tkl, 21 TFL, 13.5 Sacks SR LB Tyler Jacques (88) 45 Tkl, 24 TFL, 14 Sacks | DEF | FR(RS) DE Anthony Valerio (83) 35 Tkl, 11 TFL, 6.5 Sacks SR(RS) SS DeMarco Slayton (90) 73 Tkl, 6 TFL, 1.5 Sack, 5 INT | DEF | FR(RS) CB Juan Peters (83) 58 Tkl, 3 TFL, 2 INT
First Round Results
35 #12 Tulane (12-2) @ #5 Tennessee (11-2) 42
38 #9 Arizona State (11-2) @ #8 Ohio State (11-3) 24
38 #11 TCU (12-2) @ #6 Cal (11-2) 35
28 #10 Georgia (10-4) @ #7 USC (11-2) 31
Quarterfinal Matchups
Rose Bowl: #5 Tennessee (11-2) vs #4 Clemson (11-2)
Peach Bowl: #9 Arizona State (11-2) vs #1 Miami (12-1)
Fiesta Bowl: #11 TCU (12-2) vs #3 Texas Tech (13-0)
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Schooner Scoop
BT: "Coach, talk to me about Brad Thorne. Our one-time Heisman favorite missed the last two games of the season with a bum shoulder, but everything I'm hearing out of Norman this week is he's a-okay and rearing to go. How's he looked to you? Still a bit of rust to knock off, or is it like riding a bike?"
AL: "I think when you take a month off, there's always some nerves. But once you work through those, muscle memory takes over for the most part. He's ready. And what should scare the rest of the field the most, is he's ready to prove he deserved that Heisman, injury or not. He's going to have a full workload in the Sugar Bowl and I expect him to eat."
BT: "We know Thorne will be back, but Jerry Mack won't be after he was hired to replace Lebby at Mississippi State. With DeMarco Murray running the offense in the meantime, how do you think that changes the approach?"
AL: "I think biggest effect you'll see is on the passing game. DeMarco has learned a lot under Mack, but there is a reason Mack has been so successful everywhere he goes. He knows the game and as a former wide receiver, passing concepts are his bread and butter. DeMarco is learning, but I fully expect him to lean on the running game. It's our strength, so it plays into what we already do well, but where I think we'll really see a difference is in the deep passing game. I would never say never, but I expect far less deep shots than you've seen previously under Mack. We'll definitely pick our battles carefully, in that regard."
BT: "I know we're running short on time, Coach, so I have a two-part question. Brian Pennel is no stranger to you, with this being the third meeting in three years against him. He tore you up in 2028 with Washington and while he had a lot of yardage in last season's Red River Shootout, he also threw a pair of interceptions. What do you have to do to keep him from deciding this game, and how do you do it without Damian Gumbs on the defensive line?"
AL: "I'll address Damian first, then circle back to Pennel. Damian isn't the flashiest player on our defensive line, and he wouldn't have it any other way. He does the dirty work that lets Ty, Leon, and the rest of the pass rush go to work. You don't replace that with one guy, it's going to be a committee rotating out of his usual left edge spot. As for Brian, you have to pick your spots. He's cerebral, but also has the legs to make you pay if you let him. So you have to understand he is going to get his at times, you just have to make sure that when push comes to shove, you come out on top."
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I got to say folks, I expected this to be a third showdown with Georgia, and for that I'm pleasantly surprised to see USC on the docket. But, this Trojans team is certainly no slouch. They've got an explosive offense led by a dual threat quarterback who can turn into Michael Vick circa 2004 in a heartbeat if you let him get in a groove. We're going to have to be disciplined and win our one-on-one matchups defensively to keep them in check.
The other thing that scares the life outta me, and I hope this is just a matter of Leon's gamemanship, but if the passing game is as limited as he made it sound without Jerry Mack, the margin for error shrinks dramatically. If we can't beat the Trojans over the top, we're going to have to play nearly perfect to keep the chains, and scoreboard, moving. That's a recipe for disaster and if that truly is the case, could spell the beginning of the end for our repeat hopes.
But until I see the offense stuck in the mud on the field, we're going to ride the Leon train to glory.
20 USC, 31 Oklahoma.
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Captain Canada
- Posts: 7218
- Joined: 01 Dec 2018, 00:15
No Father's Son
So the Trojans will be the first victim of the run. Here we go 

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Caesar
- Chise GOAT

- Posts: 15833
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 10:47
No Father's Son
Armando better hit all his bonus metrics on this CFP run so Leslie don't drain his account like a findomme.

