Big 12 Classes of 2007: Oklahoma State
7 comments so far
February 21, 2007 by
It was only a matter of time before the dollars lavished on Oklahoma State showed up in recruiting. The Cowboys put together an impressive class that would be the envy of most of the Big 12 North. Oklahoma State took a page out of the Sooner playbook and landed eight of their twenty-two member class in the last two weeks of the recruiting season.
The Cowboys added seven players that received a four-star rating from either Rivals.com or Scout.com. Among them was four-star linebacker (and Nebraska decommit) Jared Glover. A number of other Husker targets also chose OSU including wideouts Hubert Anyiam, Dez Bryant, and William Cole, cornerback Jacoby Reed, defensive end Richetti Jones, linebacker Marcus Richardson, and defensive tackle Ahmad Jones. The class had only a single junior college player in four-star defensive tackle Tonga Tea (son of Lipton and Tetley, no doubt).
This is the second year in a row the Cowboys have assembled a class of this caliber. On that basis, you'd expect OSU to be no worse than third best in the Big 12 South on the field. This is not your father's Cowboy program anymore. These guys are for real (as we sadly learned in 2006).
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Gregory Feb 21 07
There's a team in the Northwest, Oregon I think, that I've heard has a defacto owner- sugardaddy type benefactor.
Okie st. has always been parallel to Missouri, in my opinion. Obviously, not now. If the Huskers start making runs to the Big XII title game, I still don't expect Nebraska to face these Cowboys, with six-guns drawn. Collective will beats out money, at this level anyway.
Andrew Feb 22 07
Nike, that is who your talking about. I don't thing Okie St has that kind of power, but with enough money anything is possible.
Gregory Feb 22 07
If Warren Buffet and Phil Knight whent out to lunch, Warren would pick up the tab (with Phil insisting on leaving the tip, no doubt). I'm not really familar with Buffet (or T. Boone Pickens) I may do some research one day. I've heard his grandkids get tuition and el zilcho else. So, I'm not sure where that leaves Nebraska. Any help?
Steve Feb 23 07
Hi Greg,
I read a few books on Buffett after getting burned on tech stocks and there was one written by a former daughter-in-law that said that each year he gave $10K or $11K in stock to his heirs (that's the legal limit for a gift before gift taxes apply). In many ways, those gifts were worth more than $10K or $11K because you're getting stock picks from the world's greatest investor. Assuming that's true, then they're getting a little more than tuition but not WAY more.
I wouldn't doubt he also takes advantage of the ability to donate to 529 plans or IRA's for his heirs (more tax free donations that can be used for education). But by all accounts he does not spoil his kids to the degree he could. I thought he had a daughter that was supposed to be responsible for his foundation (which was set to receive the bulk of his estate, at least prior to his huge donation to Bill Gates charity).
Buffett may give something to Nebraska, but I doubt we'll ever see him drop a Pickens-sized donation on the University. He just respects the power of his money too much. He'd rather see it go to fighting overpopulation, poverty, disease, etc. He's looking to do as much good with his estate as possible.
Andrew Feb 23 07
I think NU would be a worthy cause?
Steve Feb 23 07
Hi Andrew,
It's possible he might make a donation to support academics at UNL. But a major donation to athletics just doesn't fit his profile. There are just more efficient ways to help people and he's all about wielding his power in the most responsible way. I wouldn't expect anything more than a token donation toward UNL athletics from Buffett.
Gregory Feb 24 07
Thanks, for the info Steve!
Obviously, there are some strong, deep, principles at work here. Fascinating, that one of the 2 or 3 richest men in the world, live in Omaha, in apparantly an extremely modest home, in an extremely modest neighborhood.
Just our luck!