Back in 2019 when the XFL was building toward their 2020 relaunch the league rocked the sports world when Bob Stoops was announced as the head coach and general manager of the Dallas Renegades. With the announcement of the leagues first head coach, they made the impact they wanted. The world was now aware that the new XFL wasn’t messing around. Fast forward to present-day.
Earlier this month we learned that Bob Stoops would be headed to FOX this fall. This time he won’t be on the sideline, rather the booth. Stoops signed a multi-year deal to join the BIG NOON KICKOFF college pregame show.
Yesterday Coach Stoops took to Twitter to let the world know that the ink was finally dry and the news was official.
Just signed the contract, it’s official-joining #BigNoonKickoff with FOX this fall. Excited to join this great Network and Team. Thanks to all who have posted positive comments. https://t.co/VWJM5HTP8d
— Bob Stoops (@CoachBobStoops) March 19, 2021
Stoops joins analysts Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn and host Rob Stone Saturdays at 10:00 AM ET heading into the network’s biggest matchup of the weekend, BIG NOON SATURDAY, at 12:00 PM ET on FOX.
According to the press release from FOX:
Coach Stoops’ Hall-of-Fame resume speaks for itself, and that success, along with his passion for college football, makes him the perfect fit for BIG NOON KICKOFF,” said Brad Zager, Executive Vice President, Head of Production & Operations, FOX Sports. “His impact on the sport is still felt in Oklahoma’s continued success and the multiple former assistants who are now head coaches all over the country. We are excited to add someone who mentored multiple top draft picks and Heisman winners, coached in multiple championship games and has gone head-to-head against some of today’s greatest active coaches.”
Stoops was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in January 2021, his first year eligible. Since he was named Oklahoma’s head coach in December 1998, he amassed a program-record 190 victories and school-record 18 consecutive bowl berths. He led the Sooners to the 2000 national championship and 10 Big 12 titles in his career, posting double-digit wins in 14 of his 18 seasons. Behind the six-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and two-time national coach of the year, Oklahoma racked up more victories than any other Power Five program from 1999-2016.
I’m looking forward to joining such an incredibly talented team on FOX Sports’ BIG NOON KICKOFF,” Stoops said. “Over the past two seasons, FOX has assembled an insightful, engaging and entertaining pregame show that has become destination viewing for today’s college football fan, and I’m excited to be part of it beginning this fall.”
With the XFL’s 2022 seas still in the air until discussions are complete with the CFL, the league is slowly but surely losing more former talent to new gigs. If the league is to return in 2022 they will need to start securing coaches, executives soon.
Regardless, I’m excited for Stoops and look forward to watching him, every weekend this fall on FOX.
Will you be tuning in? Who can the XFL get to replace Bob Stoops? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord.
