Dean's Blog: Whitney Hand Could Help Sooner Football In 2012

Dean Blevins, News9 Sports Director

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The biggest reasons OU could make a title run in 2012 are: Good coaches, Good players and Whitney Hand is a junior. But does the fact that the fiance of Landry Jones might want to savor a swan song senior season with the OU women's basketball team carry much weight in the decision of whether Jones returns or goes to the NFL.

Ironically, OU fans are caught in the odd position of hoping Jones doesn't shine so much down the stretch that his NFL stock rises so high he just couldn't say no.

Lots of experts believe his ultimate NFL evaluation will not be as high as ESPN draft gurus predict. They love his accuracy and overall history of chunking the laced-up piglet. But as one NFL guy told me, "we don't like him getting antsy in the pocket under pressure and think he needs to come off his first receiver better….he waits for the receiver to win his one on one matchup too much."

Regardless, the numbers Jones has put up are staggering. I guess the guy is saying if he did those things, he would have thrown for 700 yards in three-plus quarters in Manhattan and not the 505. Ha.

Nick Saban is 44-5 in his last 49 games, but he's only 2-2 against Les Miles. Some around here will have a hard time choosing for whom to root. All OU and many OSU are not on board with Miles and Miles,but the cat can flat-out coach. Imagine if LSU and OSU play for the title. Weeden and Blackmon will not be the headliners, it will be about Les turning OSU around and setting it up for the Gundy impact.

Meanwhile, Saban is in his ManCave conjuring up ways to save a foot of Saturday's sod in Tuscaloosa. Bama is favored but LSU the better team. Lost in all the hysteria about the latest "Game of the Century" and "biggest game in SEC history" is the fact that for all their talent, many schools in the country have better players at the most important position in football: QB.

So keep in mind that as we begin hearing the winner of this game is the greatest to ever be assembled, it's not. Put a stud QB with it and the debate begins. Having said that, watching the large, athletic and lightning-quick players on the rosters of these teams is overwhelming. Les put a fence around his Louisiana borders where immensely talented teenagers play prep ball. And Alabama football has no boundaries. Or so it's said.

It's hard to give politics a black eye. But a Dem congressman from Illinois just did—in typical politico hyperbole-speak. Most of these guys can't just make a statement. They attempt to make the mundane or inaccurate look profound while in the meantime making themselves look foolhardy.

Representative Bobby Rush compared the NCAA to the Mafia over how it controls the lives of student athletes. "I think they're just one of the most vicious, most ruthless organizations ever created by mankind."

The NCAA is not perfect. But they've done to help hundreds of thousands of young kids than this pinhead will ever do. Suggestion: Go work on Health Care.

Finally, if I'm Thunder CEO Clay Bennett, I give in a little in the bargaining table. If for no other reason I'd be afraid Kevin Durant is going to sustain a serious injury. I get the feeling KD's gonna box, play hockey, parachute, UFC—or anything that screams of fun and danger. Seeing him play flag football had to make Thunder brass queasy. Maybe that's the method behind the madness.

Fairways and greens,

Dean

Follow me on Twtitter @deanblevins.