Sherri…
First off, the above link comes with a PG warning…It is ugly. For those in a hurry, let me speed up the process by telling you the link is the airing of Sherri Coale’s post-game press conference following the OU-Baylor game. It was as intense a post-game show as I have ever seen. In short, Sherri tore her team a new one.
While I am not a huge women’s basketball fan, I am an OU and Sherri Coale fan. You see I came to know Sherri back when she was at Norman High School. Sherri was simply one of the best high school coaches (male or female) that I had ever seen.
As for basketball, Sherri’s “in your face” style made the opposition look like girl’s teams in those days. Tony Robinson, the Norman High School boys coach would have his team scrimmage Sherri’s teams. Those games were unbelievably physical.
Both Norman High School teams improved from these encounters and both the NHS boys and girls won state championships during this time. It was the golden age of Norman High School basketball. As we know Sherri parlayed this career to become the head coach at OU after the program had been dropped by Donny Duncan.
Like most college players Sherri probably majored in basketball in college with possible minors in English and Psychology. As a high school English teacher, she learned the art of articulating her message to her players, the press and fans. She uses her Psychology background to play mind games with these same groups.
A few weeks back OU lost to OSU by thirty in Stillwater and Sherry went off. Three days later the Sooners beat Texas Tech by forty. After her latest tirade her Sooners beat Iowa State by thirty on Saturday.
Here’s the bottom line…By using reverse psychology on her players Sherry is setting up OSU for a big fall un the Big 12 tournament. She is also sending a message to this year’s starters. Get better or get gone.
Waiting in the wings for next year Sherri Coale team are players ranked #12 and #60 in the country. The 12th best player in next year’s class is a five star 6’9”post player. Sherri has a commitment from the 29th best player for the following year as well. If these players materialize as expected OU women’s basketball will be back on top and yes like most OU out-fronters I will be right out front with them.
In the short term I expect Sheri’s Sooners to dispatch of the Cowgirls in the Big 12 tournament as she awaits better times for her Sooner teams in future years…
Boomer Sooner…