Sourced Notes
As you know, my confidence level in OU's chances with David Stone started to rise early in the week because word from the Miami staff was that they were beginning to question whether David was on the same page as some in his family who had made it clear that they preferred Miami to be David's choice.
David Stone and his family met together for dinner after his game in Nashville to have a final discussion about the decision together. It was quiet for a few days about how that conversation went, and Miami sources were very confident at that point they were in a very good position.
On Wednesday, I received word that David had called the OU coaches on Monday to give them the good news that he would be committing to the Sooners. This information was corroborated by other sources including a source on the Miami side.
Shortly after OU sources confirmed to me that David had called them and committed, this source on the Miami side told me that some on their staff had heard about the results of the meeting held with the family on Friday night and that the decision was not in Miami's favor. This Miami source also told me he'd heard a rumor that Stone had already called OU.
Furthermore, this Miami source shared that they had been in communication with members of Stone's family but that David had not made a similar call himself to the Miami staff.
All of this combined gave me the confidence to put out my note where I was more definitive about my expectations.
Miami has done a very good job of building relationships with multiple members of Stone's family, and Miami's hopes have been built on the strength of those relationships and a belief that the family's opinion would ultimately win out.
Throughout the week, sourcing and information continued to come in that reinforced what had already been shared with me about Stone's decision. Other Miami sources were still hanging onto the hope that family could sway David from OU but it became clear the decision had been made and David was going to end up at OU.
This explains why I remained steadfast on social media while the rest of the industry started to hedge. I’d rather be flat out wrong than hedge.
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