The news hit like a lightning bolt across the Big 12.
"Bob Stoops to retire as Oklahoma football coach after 18 seasons," came the headline. "Lincoln Riley to take over."
Stunning, it was, to the Big 12, as I'm sure the news of Ohio State's ouster of basketball coach Thad Matta was to the Big Ten two days earlier. News like this at the beginning of June?
As you'll no doubt read and hear over and over, Stoops was the longest-tenured coach in college football. And perhaps that's why he's stepping down. The demands, the work schedule and, of course, the pressure has to weigh on these guys. Stoops' net worth has been estimated at $18 million, though, so why not call it a day and enjoy the fruits of labor at age 56? Quite frankly, with the money ladled on these coaches, I'm surprised more don't get out earlier.
Yet back to the news - and what it might mean.
I'd think the initial reaction at Oklahoma State would be high fives all around. Ditto - maybe even more so - at Texas. Ding dong the witch is, well, gone, right?
Even within West Virginia's program there had to be smiles. I mean the guy has 10 Big 12 titles on his resume, including last season's 11-2 mark and Sugar Bowl victory over Auburn. His league record was 121-29. Mountaineer coaches have to be thinking, "Good riddance, pal."
But Oklahoma is Oklahoma. It's Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer. It's Billy Sims and Lee Roy Selmon. It's Adrian Peterson and Lucious Selmon. Shoot, it's Demarcus Murray and DEWEY Selmon.
So big-picture, over time, OU will be fine. Even this season, the Sooners should kick tail. When Athlon magazine's preseason edition hit the grocery stores, there was OU predicted to finish No. 8 this coming season. And why not with Baker Mayfield returning at quarterback?
Yet might there indeed be a window of opportunity for the other Big 12 teams to sneak through? The answer is yes. There MIGHT be.
It all depends on the performance of Riley.
The Big 12 has been criticized for hiring assistants rather than "name" head coaches from other schools - with the exception of Texas' Tom Herman. And here we go again. Riley was OU's offensive coordinator the last two years before landing the gig Wednesday. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator for five seasons at East Carolina under Ruffin McNeill. He was a former walk-on QB at Texas Tech, where he got his start in coaching with Mike Leach.
I mean, I get it. All is going well at OU, so why rock the proverbial boat? The Sooners' offense has been clicking. Shoot, Riley won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant in 2015.
But that's my point: assistant. It takes a while to morph from assistant to head coach. I've known that. I've seen that. I've covered football now for 37 years. Trust me on that one.
Also, will Riley succeed in regard to recruiting? Yes, he's young at 33 and he'll be able to relate to players. But will his name resonate with recruits? Also, if you think opposing coaches will avoid the topic of his head coaching newbieness, well, I have some beach-front property at Spruce Knob you might like.
According to 247 Sports, Oklahoma is in decent shape in the current recruiting cycle. The Sooners have the No. 22 class so far for 2018. So something to watch is how that class finishes.
Last season, however, OU had the nation's No. 9 recruiting class, tops by far in the Big 12, way ahead of No. 29 Texas, No. 30 Baylor and the others.
But 2018's class will be big for Riley. In 2016, Oklahoma's class was No. 22, behind Texas (No. 10) and TCU (No. 18). In 2015, OU was No. 17, behind No. 9 Texas.
So, yes, there is a small window of opportunity now open for the rest of the Big 12.
It's up to Riley to leave it that way. Or start pushing it back down this coming season.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.