Gundy faces tough decisions
Published: 8/2/2010 9:03 PM
Last Modified: 8/3/2010 10:53 AM
Jamie Blatnick, left, and Steve Denning
In Mike Gundy’s office at Boone Pickens Stadium, it might feel like 207.
Gundy is dealing with two difficult situations – the felony charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon filed on Monday against Oklahoma State defensive end Jamie Blatnick, and a marijuana-possession charge filed last week against safety Victor Johnson (who also recently appeared in court to enter a not guilty plea on a DUI charge).
After studying the facts of each case, will Gundy dismiss either or both of the players? What will Gundy think when reading the Stillwater police report indicating that several witnesses identified Blatnick as having instigated a fight with former teammate Steve Denning? In a Stillwater bar, at around 1 a.m. on Sunday, Blatnick allegedly struck Denning in the face with a beer bottle.
Losing Blatnick or Johnson would be a blow to the Cowboys. Losing both would really diminish the team’s defensive makeup.
In 2005 (his first year as Oklahoma State’s head football coach), Gundy was a no-nonsense disciplinarian, dismissing eight players from the program. More recently, he suspended Perrish Cox from the Cotton Bowl because of a curfew violation.
Apparently, however, Gundy is flexible. In June, wide receiver Bo Bowling was allowed to return to the Cowboy program only days after serving a two-week jail sentence on a drug conviction.
OSU’s image must be considered. University personnel responsible for selling football tickets and raising funds must be disgusted when they read newspaper articles reporting the alleged misdeeds of Cowboy players.
Gundy can’t be expected to monitor the off-the-field actions of more than 100 players, but he is accountable for his own response and the reputation of the program.
It will be interesting to see how the coach handles the Blatnick and Johnson situations. Gundy is being paid $1.925 million not only to win football games, but to make tough decisions.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
