In his introductory press conference earlier this week, new Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny made it clear that he understood the OU standard, so as fans beg for Denny's first big move to be firing OU men's basketball coach Porter Moser, Denny's words and Saturday's result in the Red River Rivalry magnify why.
The Sooners on Saturday lost to Texas 79-69 at Lloyd Noble Center after blowing another lead down the stretch to put their losing streak even closer to embarrassing history at eight games in a row and counting. The longest losing streak in program history is 10, and the Sooners are dangerously close to making history.
Sooners lose to Texas again under Porter Moser
Denny this week said Oklahoma deserves dynasties. Oklahoma then doesn't deserve Porter Moser. If that's the standard, then the minimum expectations are to beat the Longhorns and to make the postseason. A coach does that, and OU fans will be pretty content, but Moser hasn't met even the bare minimum but once.
What saved Moser's job last year was accomplishing both of those for the first time. The Sooners rattled off a late winning streak last season that included a victory over Texas in the regular-season finale at Austin that ultimately snuck OU into the NCAA Tournament. That was OU's first Red River Rivalry win and trip to the NCAA Tournament under Moser.
After the Sooners' loss on Saturday, Moser is 1-8 against OU's biggest rival. He lost his first seven games against Texas before last season's win. Barring an even bigger miracle turnaround than last season, the Sooners will also miss the Big Dance once again this year under Moser.
Denny admitted, after just getting to Norman, that he doesn't know yet the answer to the men's basketball problem. He said it's not as easy as just hiring a new coach, so he plans to meet with Moser and discuss what needs to change. However, as Denny already understands the expectations at OU, that's all that needs to be known to realize Moser hasn't met that standard.