What Are the Odds?

The Internet has changed the way companies do business. Sporting events are consumed different as well. Technological advances thrust news, weather and sports updates upon us instantaneously.

There is no such thing as "news" these days. Every item of varying importance is "breaking news" to the masses. When Steve Jobs died last week my social networking site of choice was cluttered with two dozen "friends" breaking the news within hours of each other.

In a way, this is fantastic. No more waiting until the following day to check box scores in the daily paper or obituaries. Now you can check your preferred sports website and know instantly.

With a click of the button, an organization can bring information to the fanatics. However, there is a downside. Very rarely do these people bother correcting old data still circulating in cyberspace.

For instance, if you visit our old arena football team's website it politely advises visitors of its temporary disabled status. Kudos to them for not auto-directing Tulsans to the new city's domain.

But here is the problem. A search for Tulsa sports yields 24 million hits. How many still lists the arena league squad as a Tulsa team? One of the sites is responsible for bringing sporting events to Tulsa. They might want to keep up-to-date with the happening in our city.

There will always be fly-by night websites with incorrect information. Some foolishly believe they can make a buck and abandon the site and idea once reality sets in.

But what about our so-called go-to websites still listing the team?

The organization has moved on. Perhaps it is time for the rest of us. We will always have Wikipedia for historical information. Who cares if it is haphazardly updated with half-truths? What more do we need?

It is time to rip the bandage off. Do it fast. Do it hard. Don't look back.

Express

The University of Tulsa over the past few years has ranked close to the top in total offense in the nation. We have been spoiled witnessing one of college's most explosive offenses. Now, after a brutal schedule to start this season, they are ranked 59.

On the other end of the spectrum, the defense ranks 110 out of 120 listed on the NCAA website. This is about right over the past few years. Then again, when you play OU and OSU these things happen.

The point? Right. The TU Express looks to get on track when the UAB Blazers visit T-Town on Saturday night at 7pm. Can Coach Blankenship right the boat? Survey says: yes.

The nation's defensive powder puffs read like a who's who in Conference USA. Rice, UAB, Memphis and UTEP all rank below Tulsa in total defense.

Expect TU to make another run at conference glory. As long as quarterback G.J. Kinne remains upright and healthy the Golden Hurricane will remain a force.

Visit tulsahurricane.com for schedule and ticket information.

UnAlignment

Egad. Universities skip from conference to conference these days like a first grader at recess. The motivating factors are clear.

Football drives the bus. The bus is always headed in the direction of money. With any luck, the road they travel is sturdy and secure.

By the time you read this article, Missouri may or may not be part of the Big 12. OU may or may not have declared interest in the Pac-12 again. Oklahoma State may or may not have taken the crimson and cream leash off their necks and made a decision based on their school's best interest.

Forget about the big boys for a minute, if that is possible. What about the University of Tulsa?

C-USA may or may not lose members during the conference silver rush. Rumors have also swirled of a possible merger with a western located conference.

Some have dared to mention TU in the same breath as the Big 12.

I know. I had to do a triple take as well. In fact, we probably all did the conference three-step shuffle.

First you laugh-out-loud. Legit laugh-out-loud, not the fake "lol" you text someone throughout the day. I mean, if football is leading the way, we all witnessed what happened when TU scheduled OU and OSU in the same season.

The second step is the feeling of greed. Hey, why not? Tulane has been mentioned as a possible addition to the Big 12 because of the New Orleans/Louisiana connection. Tulsa makes more sense geographically. Tulsa also destroyed Tulane 31-3 a month ago. Added bonus, Tulsans would happily trade a Central Florida visit for an Iowa State visit, I think.

The final stage of the three step shuffle is desperation. The Big 12 "needs" to firm up their cast of characters. TU "needs" to have a viable conference.

So will this happen? Probably not, but then again, five years ago you did not think Nebraska was a Big Ten school. After a couple of games, it is tough to tell if the Cornhuskers are Big Ten worthy.

So why couldn't TU be the next Nebraska? Decent little school taking on the big boys?

Yay Tulsa!

Send all comments and feedback regarding Left Field to ddavis@urbantulsa.com