I like to play Madden 12 quite a bit and my daughter has become enamored with the Raiders. So much so that any time football is on OR I'm playing the XBox 360 she runs into the room with this appropriate cheer:

Yes, here it is... the photographic proof that Dennis Allen and I are best friends forever.

Well... we at least played golf together once.  Dennis Allen was on the TU staff for one whole season (2000-2001) thus everyone in Tulsa should now claim the Raiders. 

This is from 2001 and the KB Open.  (get it... KB... Keith Burns... ) Thats Mark Wedel, A Somewhat Skinnier Me , Coach Burns, Mike Wolfe, and Oakland Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen.  Allen left shortly after this picture to join the Falcons.

Pop said he cried after the 49ers win... do you think it went something like this?

The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to the BOK... Jacob "Hops" Tucker was in studio. Here are a few of his dunk videos

Eric Bailey with the scoop... Damaris Johnson is not returning to TU and will likely try to turn pro. 

 UPDATE 3:40PM -- TU has made the move official with this release,

Damaris
Johnson Chooses to Leave School
Johnson opts to leave
TU and pursue professional career
Tulsa, Oklahoma ––
University of Tulsa football receiver/kick returner Damaris Johnson has chosen
to leave school and pursue a professional football career, Golden Hurricane Head
Coach Bill Blankenship indicated today.

Johnson played
three seasons for the Hurricane and was entering his senior season in August
when he was indefinitely suspended from the football team for his involvement in
an off-campus incident. He was given a one-year
deferred sentence in October after pleading guilty to embezzlement
charges.

“It’s unfortunate that
Damaris has decided not to complete his education and return to the football
team at The University of Tulsa. We hope nothing but the best for Damaris and
his future. He sure has the ability to reach the next level,” said
Blankenship.

Johnson played in 39 career games
for the Hurricane. He finished the 2010 season as the NCAA's all-time
record-holder for all-purpose yards (7,796) and career kickoff return yards
(3,417). He led the nation as a sophomore (224.4) and junior (202.2) for
all-purpose yardage. He also completed his career with 2,746 receiving yards and
1,062 rushing yards.

As a junior in the 2010
campaign, Johnson earned second-team Associated
Press All-America honors as an all-purpose performer and was
named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year.
 

Kudo's to Berry Tramel for the scoopage on Mike Gundy's new deal... now the question becomes what is next for OSU?  Wil they have to battle to keep assistants?  Is Chelf or Walsh ready to step in and be the next engineer of the offense?  The first step has been taken towards maintaining as a big time program, according to Coach Gundy.  Good stuff from Bill Haisten on the details of the deal.

OU may be gaining a new co-defensive coordinator but it did lose one of its top defensive back committs.  Devante Harris tweeted that he was no longer a committ to the Sooners.  Beyond that there isn't to much news but it was a shock to just about everyone involved in the process.  My thought, Harris was pretty much informed that the guy responsible for recruiting him might not be involved with the program.  Just my opinion BUT its the only logical change that could have taken place.  Harris was a STRONG Sooner committ.

Couple of quick recruiting follows on Twitter... as always @1430TheBuzz... BUT, for some really good recruiting information follow @JLMcCuistion and @Eddie_Rado.  Both were in San Antonio for the Army All American game where Barry Sanders Jr. made it official that he would attend Stanford.

In Hoops... TU lost its second straight...ORU won its 7th straight...and Bedlam is set for tonight. 

Tonight... I like LSU over Alabama 56-49.  Like the Alama Bowl all over again... or not.

Here is what Oklahoma State released on Saturday:

Oklahoma State University Head Football Coach Mike Gundy Receives Contract Extension

At A Glance

• Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis and Vice President for Athletics Mike Holder announced today OSU head football coach Mike Gundy has agreed to the framework of an eight-year contract, which extends his current contract by four years.
• The contract is subject to the approval of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.
• Details are being finalized.
• The contract will be funded by the Department Of Athletics.

“Mike Gundy has done an exceptional job of leading our football program to unprecedented success. More importantly, this success has been achieved by doing things the right way. Coach Gundy has created a family atmosphere in which he stresses the importance of playing by the rules, good sportsmanship, excelling in the classroom, and representing OSU in a manner that will make everyone associated with the university proud of the product on the field. This agreement recognizes the value of his leadership and rewards him for establishing himself as one of the bright young coaches in college football.”

“Mike Gundy has done an exceptional job, not only this season, but also since he was hired in January of 2005 in building a championship football program at Oklahoma State University. He’s done it the right way. He demands his student athletes give the same dedication and effort in the classroom as they do on the field. We are excited about the future of our football program and Oklahoma State University.”

Burns Hargis, President, Oklahoma State University

“I love Oklahoma State University. This is a special place. The sea of orange at the Fiesta Bowl reminded me and our exceptional coaching staff, as well as players, what an honor it is to play for the finest fan base in college football. I am humbled and appreciative for the new extension. Oklahoma State means a lot to me and my family. My duty is to continue building on the success we have enjoyed the past few years and make sure our program compliments the academic mission of OSU. And, we do things the right way. I want to express my thanks to President Hargis and Coach Holder. I also want to express enormous gratitude to those who have stepped up to transform our facilities, especially my fellow alumnus Boone Pickens. Finally, we have assembled the best football coaching staff anywhere in my book. It is a pleasure to work with each one of them. They are dedicated and enthusiastic about OSU. I am proud of them and the incredible and critical role they have played, and will continue to play, in our program’s success.”

Mike Gundy, Head Football Coach, Oklahoma State University

Mike Gundy is unavailable for comment. He is traveling this weekend. On Sunday he will be presented the Eddie Robinson Award in New Orleans by the Football Writers Association Of America as that organization's national coach of the year. He then heads to San Antonio for the annual football coaches convention. 

Here are all the details...

Landry Jones, the all-time leading passer in Oklahoma history, announced today
that he will remain at OU and compete for the Sooners in his senior
year.