Bob Stoops Helps Out After Moore Tornadoes

Nov 24, 2012; Norman OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops with his players during the third quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma Sooners head coach is idolized in Oklahoma and vilified over much of the country based on his success on the football field and his knack for saying what is on his mind without censoring himself. However, too many people only see his role as a head football coach, and not as a man off the football field. If you want to know what Stoops is like, take into account what he did after the Moore tornadoes that ripped through the town and left numerous people homeless.

A lot of time, people will make public acknowledgments about a tragedy, and some even dig into their own pocketbooks and give to help those in need. People like Kevin Durant donated $1 million of his own money to help the disaster relief fund. Country superstars like Blake Shelton and his wife Miranda Lambert put on a concert to raise money to help the efforts. Even David Mickey Evans, the director of The Sandlot, offered up the proceeds from a screening of his movie at the Bricktown Ballpark to help those in need.

All of that is wonderful and helpful, and these people have done wonderful things to help out those in need.

However, what Bob Stoops did was more than just sending in a check or making a public appearance to help raise money. Without telling anyone, not even the Oklahoma Sooners athletic department, Stoops drove to Moore, threw on a pair of gloves, and started helping to clean up the debris and help out with the clean-up.

Stoops didn’t approach anyone to let them know he was there to help – he just started working. It wasn’t until someone recognized him and snapped a picture to throw up on Facebook that anyone knew Bob Stoop was there helping clean up the debris. He wasn’t there to pose for photo ops or shake hands. He was there to be a regular Oklahoman and helped lend a hand.

However, word got out and people learned that Bob Stoops was there helping clean-up after the Moore tornadoes. I’m sure Bob Stoops has donated some money to help out, but the fact that he showed up to actually lend a hand tells me more about his character than anything he has ever accomplished on the football field will.