Recently, Jay wrote a column about a stranger he met who responded "I am a columnist" when asked what she did for a living.
Cronley went on to summarize in his column that everyone was a "columnist" in today's wired world.
Cronley said that to qualify as a "columnist" one must have a story to tell that is based upon an experience, idea or opinion.
So with access to the internet, in Cronley's world, everyone with an idea, experience or opinion is a "columnist!"
So with that said, here is my "columnist" story for the 2014 Sugar Bowl.
Sugar Bowl Redux
Admittedly, I am a a bit more qualified for Cronleys' "Columnist" description. I do have an official Journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and was a staff writer for my college newspaper, The Baker Orange, my freshman year in college.
I even have a certificate for my coverage of President Reagan's assassination attempt in 1981 to prove my bona fide credentials!
So, here is my story based upon my "experience, idea and opinion!"
In 2004, I was one of the over 72,000 fans in the Louisiana Super Dome when Bob Stoops' Oklahoma Sooners faced Nick Sabans' LSU tigers for the BCS National Championship.
I witnessed a stellar LSU defensive effort throttle one of the "best" teams in NCAA history as Sports Illustrated claimed as Stoops' Sooners lost to Saban's Tigers 21-14.
This was a classic "heavyweight" match between two excellent, well-coached teams.
But it wasn't what happened on the field as much as what I witnessed off the field that caught my attention.
Late in the first half of a 14-7 game, my binoculars caught some activity behind the Oklahoma bench that caught my eye.
A nattily attired man in a navy blazer and slacks was attempting to persuade a Super Dome usher to allow him access to the Oklahoma bench.
After a few minutes of standoff, the man gained access to the field, immediately proceeded to the huddle during an Oklahoma timeout, removed the headset of an Oklahoma assistant, pushed defensive coordinator Brent Venables aside and began screaming at the Oklahoma defensive players!
Surreal!
A closer look revealed the man in a hurry was Mike Stoops, younger brother of Big Game Bob and the recently named head coach of the University of Arizona!
It seems that the younger Stoops had seen enough and was anxious to help his big brother Bob!
Perhaps he knew that his big brother was outmanned.
Nick Saban had a young offensive coordinator named Jimbo Fisher and a Saban-clone defensive coordinator named Will Muschamp calling the shots.
Big Game Bob was outnumbered off the field and his Sooners succumbed to a stronger LSU defense on the field despite some peculiar play calls on the final drive.
Fast-Forward to 2014
So after a bizarre finish to the Auburn game and a miraculous finish to the OSU game, Big Game Bob and Nick Saban find themselves in a similar rematch in 2014!
Except this time, Stoops might just have the mismatch on the sidelines to Saban's #3 ranked Crimson Tide!
You see not only does Big Game Bob have little brother Mike on his sidelines this time but he also has two other secret weapons to use against Nick Saban!
In 2009, Bob Stoops and his staff spent a week visiting Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban's Crimson Tide as they prepared for their BCS National Championship game against Texas.
This act did not sit well with the Sooners arch rival in Austin.
Many Longhorns thought that Stoops was telling state secrets against Texas to Saban to sabotage a potential Longhorn upset in the Rose Bowl.
But Stoops maintained that was the furthest thing from his mind. He was only visiting Alabama to learn more about the Crimson Tide 3-man front and downfield rushing game.
But this was not the only thing Stoops stole from Nick Saban.
Later, Stoops would hire Alabama's quality control guru Chad Walker away from Saban.
Walker has been instrumental in not only installing the Bama 3-4 defense but also allowing the Stoops brothers to peek inside the Saban-led Crimson Tide and steal the "secret sauce" to Bama's success.
According to the Daily Oklahoman this week, Mike Stoops credits Walker with not so much as just installing the Bama 3-4 defense but "we had a lot of information" on the Alabama personnel, coaches and tendencies.
So much so that Stoops said that the Alabama coaches would "recognize a lot of stuff that's going on when we play."
A Game Changer?
So will the Stoops brothers advantage help Big Game Bob against Nick Saban?
Perhaps Walker's presence just reaffirms what the Stoops brothers already know about Alabama: the Crimson Tide is a well-oiled machine, angry over their last second loss to arch-rival Auburn and will be chomping at the bit to crush Bob Stoops Sooners.
Or, perhaps the Stoops brothers have another secret weapon up their sleeve?
You see, mama Stoops has a younger son named Mark who is the head coach of the University of Kentucky who lost to Alabama 48-7 this year.
Do you think that big brother Bob has talked to kid brother Mark about his thoughts on how to stop Nick Saban's Crimson Tide?
Of course, they have talked. That is what brothers do. And, what about Stoops mentor at South Carolina? Don't you think Big Game Bob has talked to his mentor Steve Spurrier on how to stop Bama's vaunted attack?
Summary
Yes, on paper this game is a mismatch for the Stoops brothers.
Alabama should just line up and run roughshod over the faster, smaller Sooners.
But a funny thing this game football is.
These are college-age kids 18, 19, 20 and 21 years old.
Emotion and coaching play big factors on motivation for these younger players.
The team that is the best on paper does not always win.
And, when there is a sibling rivalry involved and inside information from the enemy in play, anything is possible.
For the Sooner Nation and the Stoops brothers of Youngstown, here's hoping the Oklahoma Sooners finally have Nick Sabans' number!
Boomer Sooner!
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