A nationwide disruption caused by the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to ground all flights left many college and professional sports teams scrambling to adjust their schedules. While most organizations quickly found solutions, the situation created a unique opportunity for one school to take a public jab at a rival conference.
Stan Wagon, the vice president of athletics at Central Oklahoma, released a statement on Saturday morning acknowledging the chaotic circumstances. In the message, he highlighted how most teams managed to resolve the scheduling conflicts, but singled out Ole Miss for a different approach.
Wagon’s statement noted that just like every other team in the country other than Ole Miss, their opponents were able to find a solution. The comment referenced the fact that Ole Miss, which was originally scheduled to play Oklahoma on Saturday, will now face the Sooners on Sunday instead.
According to ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti, the game between Ole Miss and Oklahoma was the only matchup to be moved from Saturday to Sunday. The decision to postpone the contest was made by the Southeastern Conference, a move that drew criticism from figures within the Oklahoma program.
Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny and former head coach Bob Stoops both voiced their displeasure with the scheduling change. Stoops, who is a prominent figure in college football, took to social media to voice his opinion on the matter.
On X, Stoops wrote that this decision by Greg Sanky is absolutely wrong. The criticism reflects the broader sentiment among some SEC stakeholders who felt that the delay to Sunday was an unnecessary complication during an already stressful period for fans and teams alike.
Amid the controversy, Central Oklahoma is hosting a busy slate of athletic events. The university has two major games scheduled for Saturday. The football team will take on Missouri Western, while the men’s basketball team will face Oklahoma Christian in a local matchup.
Wagon extended a friendly offer to fans who had originally planned to travel to the Ole Miss and Oklahoma game. He stated that if fans show their SEC game ticket, they will be granted free admission to Central Oklahoma’s Saturday events. This gesture was intended to provide a fun alternative for those whose travel plans were disrupted by the flight grounding.
For fans who were unable to make the physical trip to Edmond, Wagon encouraged them to support the Central Oklahoma programs from home. He specifically invited supporters to watch the university’s nationally ranked volleyball team compete in the conference championship match.
The volleyball game is scheduled to begin at 6 PM and will be broadcast on the MIAA Network. Wagon’s message concluded with a lighthearted challenge, suggesting that if SEC fans truly explored every avenue, they could still find a way to enjoy the weekend’s sporting action.
