Comparing the Gundy and Rodriguez programs
Published: 5/24/2010 10:04 PM
Last Modified: 5/24/2010 11:28 PM
When reviewing Mike Gundy's first five seasons as the Oklahoma State coach, you can lean in either of two directions.
* You can dwell on his 2007 news-conference rant and his 0-10 record against Oklahoma and Texas. Defensively, OSU was terrible in the Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon. Offensively, OSU was terrible in the Cotton Bowl loss to Ole Miss. Each of the bowl setbacks killed Cowboy bids to reach the 10-win mark for the first time since 1988.
* Or you can dwell on Gundy's streak of four consecutive bowl appearances. Or that his program set school records last year for season-ticket sales and attendance. Or that for two seasons, OSU has been a fixture in the Top 25. Or that OSU's Big 12 win total has improved from 1-7 (2005) to 3-5 (2006) to 4-4 (2007) to 5-3 (2008) to 6-2 (2009).
Critics and supporters must agree, though, that Gundy has run an apparently clean program. During the Gundy era, the only NCAA situation centered on the Dez Bryant-Deion Sanders relationship. In that deal, Gundy was a victim – not a participant.
How does Gundy look when compared to Michigan's Rich Rodriguez?
Through two seasons at mighty Michigan, Rodriguez is 8-16 overall. He is 3-13 in the Big Ten and he is in NCAA hot water. The NCAA alleges that Rodriguez "failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program." Michigan staff members allegedly monitored offseason voluntary workouts. That's illegal. Michigan is alleged to have routinely worked its players far beyond the NCAA limit of 20 hours per week. Who blew the whistle? Wolverine players.
Also, a graduate assistant is accused of having provide "false and misleading information" to NCAA officials.
On Tuesday, Michigan's response to the allegations will be made public. In August, Rodriguez faces the NCAA infractions committee.
If you were buying stock in the immediate future of Mike Gundy or Rich Rodriguez, you'd go with Gundy and it would be an easy call.
And if this does happen to be Rodriguez' final season at Michigan, we might be reminded that college football is a small world. Former OSU coach Les Miles, a Michigan man through and through, could wind up at Ann Arbor.
Instead of laboring in Nick Saban's shadow at LSU, Miles -- who in 2001 hired Gundy as OSU's offensive coordinator -- could be the new coach and a hero at Michigan.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
