by DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist , Tulsa World

The nickname "Riverboat Gambler" took on a whole new meaning Thursday for Bob Stoops when Oklahoma's football coach confirmed that Justin Chaisson is a Sooner. Stoops' decision to take Chaisson dwarfs any of the many times he decided to roll the dice on the field. This isn't like going for it on fourth down, deep in your own territory at Texas A&M; or faking a field goal at Missouri; or faking a punt from your own 31-yard line at Alabama. All three gambles paid off with huge OU road victories.

And thus was born Stoops' legend as a "Riverboat Gambler." But allowing Chaisson to keep the scholarship OU awarded the Las Vegas defensive end last February could blow up in Stoops' face worse than his gamble to try an onside kick against West Virginia in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. Stoops called for that kick after OU had cut West Virginia's lead to 20-15 in the third quarter and had finally grasped the momentum. The No. 9 Mountaineers recovered the kick, used the short-field advantage to score in six plays and the their 48-28 rout of the No. 4 Sooners was on. That was the fourth of five straight BCS bowl losses, a streak that has tarnished Stoops' other nickname "Big Game Bob." Now, with his decision to take what seems to be a huge chance on Chaisson, Stoops has become "Big Gambler Bob." Ranked by several scouting services as Nevada's best prospect, Chaisson's 4-star status isn't limited to recruiting. Last March, he faced four felony charges, which included committing coercion, coercion with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment. OU doesn't sign convicted felons. But Chaisson's chance to become a Sooner remained alive last month when all four felony charges were reduced to gross misdemeanors. Chaisson, whose ex-girlfriend had accused him of putting a screwdriver to her neck and threatening to kill her, plead guilty in a plea agreement to two counts of false imprisonment, one count of malicious destruction of private property and one count of conspiracy to commit coercion and/or false imprisonment. Like many coaches, Stoops believes the media often doesn't follow up when charges are reduced or dropped. Stoops had a point when he was miffed over a recent story about All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham being arrested after police served a warrant for Gresham's failure to pay a seat belt citation. Would a columnist make the front page of the sports section if he faced charges similar to Gresham's? Probably wouldn't even make the paper. But he'd make the front page of the entire paper if he kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and threatened her life. This state's largest newspapers reported the news when Chaisson's charges were reduced. They did it again Friday while reporting that Stoops had put out a release confirming OU was honoring its scholarship commitment to a player who is ranked among the nation's top 50 prospects. That included the part of Stoops' statement that referred to the screwdriver, when he said "all allegations of the use of any weapon have been dismissed and are not the basis of any charge against or plea by him." Stoops' track record at OU has earned him benefit of the doubt. But why risk one of the most pristine reputations in college football on a player who obviously has some serious anger management issues? Wait a minute, Stoops critics. How many coaches would have kicked their starting quarterback off the team less than a month before the season like Stoops did with Rhett Bomar? Many, many, many coaches would have suspended Bomar a game or two and kept him around. Especially on a team that had serious depth questions at the position. Stoops earned a 5-star reputation when he took such immediate and drastic action. He continued that hard-line approach last summer with wide receiver Josh Jarboe, who was offered an OU scholarship after he had charges reduced to a misdemeanor for carrying a gun onto the grounds of his high school. When Jarboe made a rap video about killing people shortly after he arrived in Norman, Stoops sent him packing. Stoops' supporters can also point to the chance he took with defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek. Suspended a year for a serious off-the-field incident, Dvoracek become a poster boy for second chances when he returned a year later and capped a successful college career by staying out of trouble. The difference, however, is that Stoops had a good idea of Dvoracek's character because he'd been around him four years. When he dismissed Jarboe last July, Stoops acknowledged that part of his decision was based on the fact he didn't know the incoming freshman very well. Stoops' statement indicated OU had conducted a thorough investigation of the facts surrounding Chaisson's case. So the man who will enter his 11th season as OU's coach obviously believes he knows enough about Chaisson's character and makeup to roll the dice on the stud from Vegas. People who care about Stoops hope this is one gamble he cashes in on big time.

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