STILLWATER, Okla. — A few minutes into Bedlam, during a timeout, a familiar tune came wafting out of the speakers at Boone Pickens Stadium. The melody centered around a city 620 miles away from here, a place among the Louisiana swamps, in the heart of SEC country, amid the oak trees rooted in the soggy ground.
I spent last night in the arms of a girl in Louisiana And though I’m out on the highway, my thoughts are still with her Such a strange combination of a woman and a child Such a strange situation stoppin’ every hundred miles Callin’ Baton Rouge
This wasn’t necessarily an accident. It was a not-so-subtle jab from one rival, Oklahoma State, to another, Oklahoma, whose coach, Lincoln Riley, was/is at the center of LSU’s search for a head football coach. The same LSU that is located in, of course, Baton Rouge.
About three hours after the tune filled this raucous orange-painted pit of college football, Riley’s team collapsed late in a 37–33 rivalry loss that, if nothing else, lived up to its name. Oklahoma State returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Each team scored a TD after the other muffed a punt. OU forced a fumble that led to a safety. In all, a whopping 23 points were scored off turnovers or special teams miscues.
In the end, the No. 10 Sooners (10–2) gave away a nine-point second half lead, their offense scoring zero points in the second half against the seventh-ranked Cowboys (11–1), who march onward to next weekend’s Big 12 championship game against Baylor with their CFP hopes still firmly alive.
This story should probably be about the Pokes and their magical run this season. They possess one of the nation’s best defenses, an electric quarterback and a high-flying running back. They’re fun to watch. And they’ll be given their due later this week ahead of that meeting with the Bears (10–2)—a rematch of OSU’s 24–14 victory on Oct. 2.
For now, it’s time to call Baton Rouge, where LSU fans, boosters and even some school officials were left completely stunned by Riley’s admission after the game that he is, in fact, not a candidate for their job.
Riley during the 2021 edition of Bedlam.
Alonzo Adams/USA TODAY Sports
“I’m not going to be the next head coach at LSU,” he said when asked about the reports linking him to the gig.
Let’s first get something straight. The reports connecting him to the job—some even claiming he accepted it already—were wholly unsubstantiated and, for the most part, not credible.
However, this writer spent six years in Baton Rouge, five of them covering the football program. Over the last week or so, I have never witnessed the kind of buzz out of that city about one name since the 2015 season, when the university was poised to hire Jimbo Fisher before deciding to keep Les Miles.
Whatever happened between LSU and Riley wasn’t a complete fabrication. Influential boosters and others around the university expected him to be the program’s next leader. After all, how could he turn down a chance to be college football’s highest-paid coach?
If this Silly Season has shown us anything, it’s that money—even resources, recruiting territory and conference affiliation—doesn’t always win out. It’s just not worth it, accepting a job at such a pressure cooker. LSU has fired the last two coaches, each of whom won a national title.
Riley’s decision, if there even was one, wasn’t the first. With three big-time openings available this offseason—LSU, Florida and USC—coaches around the country are standing pat, and getting paid to do so. Mel Tucker at Michigan State. James Franklin at Penn State. At Texas A&M, Fisher got a new contract before the silliness even began.
Most expect Luke Fickell to remain at Cincinnati. Brian Kelly has made it publicly known that he doesn’t plan to leave. Dave Aranda has made a commitment to agree to a new contract at Baylor. Even Kentucky’s Mark Stoops shot down a question about him leaving Big Blue Nation.
Sometimes, it’s just not worth it.
And so what now for the big three programs with open jobs? Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is an attractive option who could make a move. At Florida, Louisiana’s Billy Napier has emerged as the top candidate in a deal that could be finalized soon.
Is Napier now an option for the Tigers? Is Campbell heading to USC?
One thing seems certain: Baton Rouge might have called, but Riley didn’t answer.
More College Football Coverage:
• Michigan Finally Gets Its Moment vs. Ohio State • Bama’s Version of The Drive Keeps Its CFP Hopes Alive • Cincinnati’s Opportunity of a Lifetime Is Within Reach
What if Seth Small didn’t have the wildest evening at Kyle Field during Texas A&M’s upset victory over Alabama? Sure, Small hit the game-winning kick that sent the 12th Man into rapture, but the person Small took a picture with in the locker room had an even more improbable night.
Alex Sunderland isn’t an Aggie. He’s a student at UTSA. He’s 22 years old, and had never been to an A&M game before he found a VIP pass on the ground outside of the stadium. What happened next is the stuff of social media legend:
“I didn’t buy tickets to the game at all,” Sunderland says. “I had no plans to go to the game. This VIP pass that I found, it’s not even to get into the game, it was an event for a local radio station in College Station. I should not have gotten into everywhere I got into.”
Sunderland isn’t kidding. The pass designer even uploaded a TikTok echoing that exact sentiment.
Sunderland was outside the stadium drinking at a Latino community tailgate—he wasn’t even watching the game, and he wasn’t even at the tailgate that the pass granted him access to when he came across it on the ground. But it said VIP in bold letters, so he thought to himself that he might as well try. Best case: He gets into the game. Worst case: He comes back to the party.
He ended up making it into the stadium around halftime, and didn’t feel like sitting in the nosebleeds.
“I’m not gonna go to the nosebleed section; I’m gonna go front row,” Sunderland says. “I’m trying to get the best seats in the house. As I’m going down the stairs in between the stands I remember when I was a senior in high school I got recruited by UTSA to be a kicker. So I knew that the recruits, we all sat in a special designated section and they always had great seats. So I was like, I’m just gonna say I was a recruit. I know that they treat football players and the football staff like royalty in College Station. Everyone treats them so well, so that’s why I said, ‘Ya know what, I’m gonna pretend to be a recruit and I’m gonna get the special treatment I deserve.’ ”
So Sunderland told an usher he was a recruit, and while he waited for the usher to figure out what to do with him, some teenage Aggie fans showed him some hospitality and let him sit in their seats. He got directed onto the field toward a sideline club area where recruits are hosted. That’s when his heritage kicked in.
Sunderland’s parents are Mexican, although he was born in San Antonio. He joked that his house growing up might as well be the Mexican consulate. He wasn’t allowed to speak English at home because his parents wanted to preserve his roots. He learned both languages simultaneously as a child and is fluent in both, but A&M’s recruiting staff didn’t have to know that.
“I see her go get this guy, and this guy’s coming at me and right there it hits me. I’m like ‘Oh my gosh, these recruits have been with each other the entire day,’ ” Sunderland says. “They’re gonna know I’m not supposed to be there with them. This guy’s been with them, he’s gonna recognize I’m not supposed to be there. What do I do? So when he comes up to me and says ‘you’re a recruit?’ I saw it in his face. He just did not believe me and then the first thing that came to mind is: I’m gonna pretend I don’t speak English. So I just go, ‘Yes, me kicker, me kicker from Mexico. Me kicker recruit.’ And he goes, ‘Oh yeah, of course; follow me.’ I said under my breath, ‘There’s no way this is happening.’ ”
But it was.
Sunderland did have a cup of coffee with the UTSA program as a Roadrunners walk-on after kicking at a local San Antonio high school, and it was his first time at Kyle Field, so not everything was a complete fabrication. From A&M’s Hall Of Champions, he ended up in the third row. He figured the kicker excuse would hold up because although he’s 22, the athletes A&M actually recruits look older than he is. He told those sitting next to him he wasn’t sure whether he’d commit because he planned to go to Clemson next week. He ended up speaking to an A&M recruiting official in fluent Spanish, claiming he was lost and that’s why he didn’t show up until halftime. They let him sit and enjoy the game. And then it ended thanks to Small’s game-winner.
Sunderland joined the group that rushed the field.
“I’m on the field. I’m like, ‘This is crazy; what am I doing here?’ Literally an hour and a half ago I was drinking at a tailgate and now I’m rushing the field for a school I don’t even go to. So after like two or three minutes, I’m on the field and everyone’s having a good time. I realize I don’t wanna just be on the field, I wanna try and go into the locker room. I find the first player I see, I tap his shoulder, I say, ‘Yes, me kicker, me recruit. Locker room? Locker room?’ And the guy goes, ‘They told you to go to the locker room?’ Just follow me.’ ”
Somehow, the player he ended up meeting was backup kicker Randy Bond. He followed him into the tunnel, where his ruse met its stiffest test.
“I see five police officers and I’m like, ‘Game over, they’re stopping all the fans from going in,’ ” Sunderland says. “So first Bond goes in and I’m like five inches behind him and I just flash my pass and go ‘VIP,’ and the cop goes ‘O.K., go ahead.’ I’m like, ‘This is insane; this pass is getting me everywhere. I’m just in the Texas Aggies locker room. I can’t believe I’m here.’ ”
He figured if anyone came up to him while he was in the locker room he’d claim he was with Bond “… but nobody ever asked me anything. That’s the craziest part out of this entire experience, nobody doubted me a second.”
Those non-doubters included quarterback Zach Calzada, who is also Latino and, shortly after playing the game of his life, met the kicking recruit from Mexico.
“And in Spanish [Calzada] goes ¿Que onda, guey? ¿Hablas español?” Sunderland says. “He spoke Spanish to me. So he spoke to me for like 10–15 seconds. Some of the players were laughing. And I’m like, ‘Let’s take a picture.’ So I took a picture with the quarterback. I’m like, ‘Good game.’ He’s like, ‘Dude, hopefully you come here. It’s an awesome school.’ ”
@thealexsunderland/TikTok
He got a picture with Calzada, then asked Bond (also pictured above) who the head coach was. Sunderland says he’d never even seen a picture of Jimbo Fisher.
“[Fisher] was just sitting on a bench with his head between his hands. He was in his moment. He can’t believe what just happened. He just beat Alabama,” recalls Sunderland. “So I’m like, ‘I’m gonna go talk to him.’ ”
He tapped Fisher on the shoulder, thanked him for the invitation for his “recruiting visit,” and then he got a pitch.
“He goes ‘I’m glad you had a great time. We have a great program here. We have a great family and a great community. I hope you really consider it.’ And I’m laughing to myself, this guy is actually recruiting me right now. He has no idea I’m 22.”
He took a picture with Fisher …
@thealexsunderland/TikTok
… then got a prime location for Fisher’s hoarse postgame speech (Sunderland plans to sell the recording as an NFT on the urging of a friend).
Texas A&M Athletics/YouTube
Before he left, he met the true hero of the evening, Small.
“I go up to him and I go, ‘Great game, kick: más o menos.’ Then I go, ‘Nah, I’m just kidding.’ ” And then Sunderland spilled to his fellow specialists.
“I was like, ‘I gotta tell these guys; I feel bad not telling them the truth.’ So I go up to the two kickers and I was like, ‘I speak fluent English. I’m not a recruit. I go to UTSA, I am actually a kicker, I did kick in high school. Just found this pass on the ground. I just found my way in here. I can’t believe this is happening.’ Instead of them being mad, they just start laughing. They’re like, ‘What? That’s crazy; you’re a great actor. I totally believed you. Good luck to you; don’t steal anything.’ And then I just walked out, and that was my adventure.”
With his secret divulged, he left and went to a bar with his friends and then later a house party where he was the star of the show (at that point, his 24-hour Instagram story had tipped his followers off about his night). He went back to San Antonio on Sunday and has been shocked at how a story he initially didn’t even plan to record as a TikTok with a one-take voiceover has blown up.
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He’s done a radio interview and been quoted in his local paper, all thanks to some liquid courage, some faked broken English and a pass that looked just real enough to get him all over Kyle Field. And if it is his last time, he’ll have quite the story to tell about going from a tailgate to the winning locker room.
“If they ban me from the stadium I don’t care. I’m never gonna come back here; it’s not a big deal.”
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• Which One-Loss Teams Are Still Playoff Contenders? • Best Backup Quarterback Situations • Evaluating College Football Rivalries
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Tyler Booker is one of the top football prospects in the 2022 recruiting class. Watch the above video to see him announce his college decision exclusively with Sports Illustrated.
The college football and recruiting world anxiously awaited the calendar’s flip from May to June. It played out like a child’s anticipation ahead of an early birthday, a combination of wonder and adventure as prospective athletes could make traditional visits to college campuses for the first time in 15 months.
Many dove right in as the pandemic-induced restrictions were lifted, meeting with coaches, participating in camps and touring facilities. Others, like Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s Tyler Booker, had a more focused and fulfilling approach: 12 flights in 21 days.
“I’ve never been more tired in my life,” said Booker.
The 6′ 5″, 325-pound offensive lineman, who had trimmed his list of 30 scholarship offers down to five finalists, locked in official visits with each before the NCAA’s recruiting dead period kicked back in on June 28. Booker visited Florida the weekend of June 4 before flying back to IMG for the Under Armour All-America Game Future 50 camp the following weekend.
The pace then intensified in short order.
Oregon would host him right after the camp, and less than 24 hours after his return home to New Haven, Conn., Booker would be on a flight to see Georgia. The quick turnaround was duplicated with a trip to Ohio State immediately after. An official visit to Alabama on the weekend of June 25 rounded out America’s most ambitious visit plan.
“I made it!” he said as the dead period was back online.
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
The summer vision for the rising senior recruit was to make the visits, reconnect with his family and make a college commitment before relocating back down to IMG ahead of the 2021 football season and academic year.
After the Oregon trip, the SI All-American candidate considered pushing the decision into the fall in order to take in collegiate games early in the season. Ohio State and Oregon play in Week 2 and Alabama hosts Florida the following weekend.
Game day trips would have made sense, but as the family was able to convene back in New Haven, the original plan came back into play. Enough information was collected as each member of Booker’s immediate family made at least one of the visits. His parents went on each trip.
Following the seemingly unprecedented travel itinerary, it was Tashona Booker who helped her son come to the biggest decision of his young life.
“It was my mom,” Booker says. “She has a decent knowledge of college football, like she can hold a conversation … but to hear it from my mom was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ If she sees it, it has to be.
“Hearing it from Mama feels different.”
The original plan of committing in the month of July was by design, in order for Booker to get back to IMG—where he reports on Monday—to help the Ascenders defend their high school national championship. The team finished 8–0 in 2020.
The 2021 team will feature plenty of changes, common at the nationally known boarding school, including a new head coach in former NFL great Pepper Johnson and a bevy of new players. For the team’s tone-setter and third-year leader, there will be a new position to perfect ahead of the opener on Aug. 20.
Booker will move from right tackle to left tackle this fall, replacing former SI99 prospect JC Latham, now playing college football at Alabama.
Transition is nothing new for one of America’s top offensive line prospects, who plans to enroll at his college destination in December.
Booker began his high school career commuting about 90 minutes each way from New Haven to Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey. Always in search of competition, he wound up starting on varsity as a freshman in 2018.
“I basically grew up with my mom on FaceTime,” he says. “Every time I would come back, I would be an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier.”
Around the same time, Rutgers gave him his first scholarship offer, and his recruitment—and national profile—took off. The buzz was coming on the other side of the football, though, as Booker played on the defensive interior at tackle. He remained a “defensive guy” through the move to IMG before fully committing to the offensive line in 2020.
His recruitment intensified after the move, especially with the elevated spotlight.
“I always say I’m the best lineman in the country,” he says. “I’m the best player in the country. That’s just mental conditioning, mental training. My mental game sets me apart from everybody else.”