Amid Sports Illustrated's allegations this week of rampant money and academic fraud and drugs at Oklahoma State, it seems like a good time to review coach Mike Gundy’s record with disciplining football players.
It is, as was written in this space in August 2012, nebulous.
Sometimes Gundy has taken a hard, fast stance against players who cross the line too many times. Sometimes Gundy’s stance is softer and slower.
Here is a link to that blog, which was about how Gundy took his time in dealing with ex-Cowboy Christian Littlehead’s third legal transgression in eight months.
Littlehead was a middling talent at defensive tackle, yet he got lots of chances before he left OSU with the intent of transferring to Northeastern State.
Bo Bowling, a hard-working wide receiver with good hands but otherwise common athletic ability, was arrested for multiple drug offenses and was quickly kicked off the team, but was soon allowed to return after serving a short jail sentence and had a productive season.
Prentiss Elliott, one of the most electrifying players Gundy ever had, had multiple indiscretions when Les Miles was head coach, and Gundy gave him but one chance before telling him to pack up and get out.
The list of players Gundy has cut loose is long, guys who were full of talent and guys who were just average college football players. It started the day he took over, and it continued through this past offseason.
Gundy’s disciplinary measures certainly don’t follow a playbook or a script. They can’t. It’s not like that card that tells a coach when to kick an extra point or go for two. Every case must stand on its own.
Maybe a blue-collar kid with a great attitude goes out with the wrong crowd and makes a series of mistakes. He probably gets another chance. Maybe a lazy kid with a fetid disposition gets caught with pot. He probably has a significantly shorter leash.
It’s a part of the job that no coach in America likes. And some are more predictable at doing it than others.
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