They could, of course, mean just what they say. And if they do, well, paint me a cynical naysaying sportswriter, which may be redundant. Because I don’t believe it.

Oh, yeah, I believe Rhett Bomar will play. But early? I’ll believe it when I see it. And with great consequence? I’ll believe it when Paul Thompson quits starting. Which I don’t see happening.

You must admit, it’s more fun this way.

And I must admit, I’m not even clear what the law firm of Stoops and Long would even have us believe.

That Thompson will start, yes. And that Bomar will play, yes. But that the competition will continue because the position has yet to be settled? Or that even while Thompson is a clear No. 1 now, we have to see what happens for a couple Saturdays to really be sure?

I honestly don’t know.

But that’s small potatoes.

What the head coach and offensive coordinator believe themselves is a very different guessing game.

So, we begin again.

When they say both will play, they really mean …

That the competition will continue because it always continues; because just like Chij … oh, do I really have to spell that name out? Because just like anybody must earn his keep from week to week, be it an offensive lineman, a safety or a corner, so too must the quarterback?

That could be the real story.

Or …

That deep down, really deep down, so deep and down any memo purporting such a theory has already been shredded, they know it’s going to be Bomar sooner or later so they’re going to give him every chance to take the job and Thompson every chance to lose it?

That could be it, too.