NORMAN — The name of Bob Stoops kept tumbling off the tongues of NFL analysts Monday, all speculating on the list of potential candidates to become the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
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Not so fast says Barry Switzer, offering his insight into a Cowboys job he once held and an owner he knows well in Jerry Jones.
Switzer said his sources in Dallas doubted Jones would turn to the college ranks to replace Bill Parcells.
"Based on conversations I had with people who are insiders, they told me that Jerry didn't want to go that route,” Switzer said Monday. "Because of where they are, the time of the year with the draft and the learning curve of the salary cap.
"I would be totally surprised if he went the college route. Totally, totally. And I've been told he wasn't going to go that route. I talked to somebody that knows, thinks they know.”
Stoops was mum on any interest in the Cowboys job. While he's always allowed that one day he could be intrigued by the challenge of coaching at the next level, Stoops has turned away interest from NFL teams several times while at Oklahoma.
Last January, Stoops was rumored as a candidate in Kansas City, a job that eventually went to Herm Edwards. He declined an interview request from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003 and previously turned down the Cleveland Browns.
"I don't know where that (NFL speculation) comes from, so no, that's not something I see right now,” Stoops said last year when the Chiefs rumors were flying. "I don't know why it always pops up, but it seems to, so I guess it's always decent if people are thinking of you.”
While money wouldn't figure to be a barrier for an owner such as Jones, Stoops is well taken care of at OU.
He earned nearly $3 million in 2006, based on guaranteed income of $2.5 million and another $460,000 in speaking engagements, endorsements and performance bonuses that pushed his total to $2,960,000.
Stoops, whose contract at OU runs through 2011, is due to receive a $3 million "stay bonus” if he remains at the school through 2008.
Beyond the money, Switzer said the college game carries other advantages over coaching in the NFL.
"You have to build through the draft in the NFL,” Switzer said. "If you don't have a quarterback, you don't have a chance. Taking a quarterback in the draft, if you're a terrible team and there ain't a Troy Aikman sitting there at the top waiting to be the first pick, you don't have a cut-dog's chance of getting any better.
"Sunday, you saw the three best quarterbacks in the league. And Rex Grossman had the best defense. You've got to have that guy. If you don't have one, you can't trade Herschel Walkers and get 13 picks anymore. That game's gone.”
At least, Switzer said, a college coach at an elite program controls his collection of talent.
"In college coaching, you go out and recruit some players,” Switzer said. "You've got a product to sell at like Oklahoma or LSU or Alabama. And you sell a great product to about 90 you want and get 20 of them and you've got a chance to win consistently.
"The draft, heck, it's seven picks and everybody gets a good player in the first round.”
Switzer wouldn't even recommend any top college coach making the jump.
"It would be a mistake for any of those guys,” Switzer said. "Because of going to the pros, Nick Saban lost a better job at LSU than he's got at Alabama right now.
"Let me tell you, if Bob Stoops took a pro job, more people would want the damn job he just left than the one he took.”
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Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops probably won't be a candidate to take over the Dallas Cowboys. BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Tramel's take
Some say no way will Jerry Jones hire a college coach. Others say Bob Stoops has been high on Jones' list since he realized Parcells was not the panacea he was purported to be.
Why not hire a college coach? Stoops, Carroll, Mack Brown, Les Miles, Crazy Chris Pedersen, I don't care. The notion that college coaches fail in the NFL is just plain wrong.
Since 1971, the NFL has hired 30 head coaches who came from the college ranks. Fifteen had winning NFL records. Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson built dynasties; Barry Switzer and Dick Vermeil won Super Bowls, although the latter won with his second franchise.
The last four hires from college — Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, Butch Davis and Mike Riley — have largely been busts, but heck, so were Art Shell, Mora and Dennis Green, long-time pro products who were fired since season's end.
If Jones is partial to Stoops, or any other campus commander, hire him.
By Berry Tramel
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