Our son this afternoon, proving "man's best friend" begins as "boy's best friend"...

In [Nelson laugh] "ha ha!" [/Nelson laugh] sporting news today... Steve Spurrier has turned the Gators down flat once and for all. Of course when such a thing happens and any coaching job in the U.S. becomes available — be it in the NCAA, the NFL, or the local Tampa Bay pee wee football league — Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops always has his name tossed into the hat (whether he wants it there or not).

Regarding the Florida job post-Zook firing, Bob Stoops issued a formal statement on October 27th, 2004, that read — and I quote:

"I'm not here to talk about other jobs, and I'm not going to," Stoops said [Tuesday]. "There's nothing to talk about. I'm the head coach at Oklahoma, and that's enough said. I've got a great job."

The talent Stoops has stocked up at Oklahoma right now, to put it quite bluntly, is sick. We have one of the top running backs and Heisman contenders in the nation — a freshman — in addition to another senior quarterback and Heisman contender. (Lest ye forget the same Oklahoma quarterback who also won the Heisman last season.) And waiting in the wings behind White are only Rhett Bomar (the number one quarterback in the nation according The Sporting News 2003), Tommy Grady ("considered one of the top five prep quarterbacks in the country"), and Paul Thompson (a number ten high school athlete in the nation by Rivals.com).

Exactly what are you bringing to the table, Florida? A 1996 National Championship, you say? Oklahoma can trump that with 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985 and 2000. (The BCS National Championship in 2000 won under Stoops himself.) How about Heisman winners, Florida? You offer Danny Wuerffel from 1996 and Steve Spurrier from 1966. Thanks. But we counter with Jason White from 2003, Billy Sims from 1978, Steve Owens from 1969, and Billy Vessels from 1952. How about those excellent Gator athletic facilities? Oh sorry, beaten yet again by Oklahoma with the state-of-the-art Barry Switzer Center, the Bud Wilkinson Practice Facility, the Everest Training Center (featuring the Roy Williams Strength Training Facility), and the Freede Sports Medicine Facility.

Other than a great game of golf and close proximity to area beaches and Disney World, you're pretty much throwing up the big "L" sign on your forehead when faced with just about every side-by-side comparison chart. You have your name. Florida. Say it. It might make you feel better. But at Oklahoma we have our tradition. See, that's something you earn after you have DECADES of success. Not a couple of good runs.

Bob Stoops has lived and coached in Gainesville. He's lived and coached in Norman. Guess where he put down roots and decided to raise his kids? He turned Jeremy Foley down flat in 2002 when you were forced to then hire Ron Zook. He turned you down flat for the second time less than two weeks ago. It seems about the only thing you have to offer Stoops is the best crack in the land, which you are obviously smoking to release this statement to MSNBC today:

"Stoops, who spent three seasons as Spurrier’s defensive coordinator at Florida, has repeatedly denied any interest in the Gators job. But a university source speaking on the condition of anonymity said Stoops might reconsider with Spurrier out of the picture."

Give it up. No means no. The SEC really ain't all that, no matter what their legions of brainwashed fans would have us believe. So in other words, get a clue and back off .