BA and Bubba

I had two topics I wanted to blog about today and couldn't decide on which one I wanted to chat about more. So, I'm combining the two into one, thought-provoking (hopefully) uber-blog de jure.

First topic, Bubba Cunningham pitching TU to the Big 12. Second topic, Broken Arrow's 6A title chances.

Thursday a lot of the local media types, like myself, gathered for what has become a monthly chat with Tulsa athletic director Bubba Cunningham. They dub it ‘Brunch with Bubba', and since free food is served, we media types, like myself, flock to the meeting with speed and a hungry determination.

I can't speak for all the attendees, but I prefer the chat to the food. Nothing against the food, I just like hearing what Bubba has to say.

This week, he dropped in cute little references to TU wanting to join the Big 12, or any BCS conference, a few times. They were a bit tongue-in-cheek, but somewhat serious, too.

He laid out what Tulsa has to offer to a big conference like the Big 12: (in his words)

-Competitive sports programs like football and basketball

-Strong academic standards

-regional appeal

-the fact that TU is private, compared to the rest of the public institutions already in as members

He said that a mix of public and private schools would make for a better overall product. He likes how TU has fared on the football field and thinks that is attractive. They've won 36 games the past 9 years. Not many other schools have done that.

The big negative in TU's argument is the size of the school. Just around 4,000 students total. That's the smallest in Division-I. That isn't helping.

Still, when talking about the TU-OSU matchup, he joked that they could play every year, "if we were in the Big 12". Here's hoping.

As for topic No. 2, I spent a while on the sidelines Friday night at the Broken Arrow – Union game. It was 7-7 when I got there just before halftime. I was able to stay for the better part of the second half before leaving for the show, and was REALLY impressed with BA. They gave Union all they could handle. On the first possession of the third quarter, they marched 80 yards in a handful of plays to score the go-ahead TD. It was easy for them.

They gave up two more TDs in the game and lost by 7 points, but I saw enough to make the prediction that they will not lose another game ALL SEASON. Not just the regular season, ALL SEASON.

Yes, I think BA will win the 6A title this year. It's odd to say that the Tigers could do it WITHOUT Archie Bradley at QB. If the Sooners want you, you're good. The Tigers haven't missed a beat without him. They are tough. They are fast. They are physical.

They destroyed Owasso in Week 1, beat Permian by a bazillion points 500 miles from home the following week, and nearly beat Union on the road. They host Jenks on October 28th. I expect them to win that, and the gold ball in early December.

Book it.