Oklahoma football: Five best things we learned from Big 12 Media Days

NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 29: Oklahoma Sooners fans wait to enter the east side of the stadium before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks October 29, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 29: Oklahoma Sooners fans wait to enter the east side of the stadium before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks October 29, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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If there were those who though recruiting would fall off because of the change in head coaches, they were dead wrong. It has been anything but that since Riley took over. The new Oklahoma head coach has actually picked up the pace, adding eight more commitments to the seven that Stoops had on board prior to the change.

At his Big 12 Media Days interview session, Riley said it is much easier when you have a great program to sell, like at Oklahoma, one with a long history of championships and a winning tradition.

Facilities have much to do with it, as well, and it doesn’t get a whole lot better than what the University of Oklahoma has to offer football recruits.

The Sooner players and coaches have moved into spanking, new 132,000-square-foot locker room facilities that rival those anywhere in the country. The locker room has been upgraded with all new amenities, including a spacious training room, nutrition area, coaches offices and player meeting rooms.

“You mean the Taj Mahal,” said Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, when asked to describe the new football locker room and training facility. “The place is beautiful, and we have access to it nearly all day. It’s for sure one of my favorite spots on campus.”

Who wouldn’t be impressed after having to work out of cramped trailers the past couple of years.

Don’t for a minute think that the new locker room and football training facilities at Oklahoma haven’t been a prime sales message on the recruiting trail.

And it’s working.