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The Gundy saga: After two wild days, still more questions than answers
Published: 12/6/2012 12:15 AM
Last Modified: 12/6/2012 12:15 AM

So perhaps the Mike Gundy job saga is finally over.

After a second straight day of "will he or won't he," Wednesday ended with Gundy still the Oklahoma State coach -- even if Tennessee is still without a coach.

With information flying so furiously these days in coaching searches, it's a little hard to know what to believe. Are Gundy's flirtations with Arkansas and Tennessee rumors run wild or strategic leaks from the schools' or Gundy's representatives?

It seems pretty clear Gundy is shopping around. It also seems clear it's because of a rift that has developed inside the Oklahoma State athletic department.

That leaves us with more than a few questions: Is Gundy done job searching for the winter? If so, did he get any concessions from OSU to stay? Does OSU really owe him anything? And one that has become popular among Cowboys fans -- who made who?

I'm not sure about the first two, but I can definitely take a stab at the last two. Gundy has done of nice job of making OSU a national program, but the coach owes a huge debt of gratitude to his alma mater.

When Gundy took over the OSU program, there wasn't one other BCS school in the country that would have made Gundy a head coach. And Gundy was gifted with the kind of financial support via Boone Pickens usually reserved for the Sooners and Longhorns of the world.

Given those two factors, Gundy's negotiating tactics the last two years seem especially distasteful. It's a conclusion more easily reached when you remember the school made Gundy one of the highest paid coaches in America last offseason.

If Gundy truly believes he'd like to coach somewhere else, few would hold that against him. But to continually make yourself available to other schools with the hope of squeezing more money, power or praise out of OSU is disrespectful to the Cowboy administration, dishonest to the schools courting him and indifferent to the OSU fan base.

It's a fan base that's been behind Gundy through the rebuilding process, the rant, the Bedlam losses and this year's 7-5 season -- a year, that despite the injuries, would have disappointed a more hard core fan base.

It's a free pass Gundy wouldn't likely get at Arkansas, Tennessee or Auburn -- two of which have fired national championship winning coaches when results failed to exceeded expectations.

The scheduling issue is a good example of why it's wise OSU athletic director Mike Holder remains the final say on such matters.

Coaches want to win as many games as possible. But sometimes a coaches' resume building isn't in the best interest of a school's finances or its stature nationally.

Playing one good nonconference opponent each season isn't too much to ask. And it's absolutely the right answer if you want to build a championship-caliber program.

At least for now, Gundy is going to try to accomplish that goal at OSU. He'd be wise to remember he didn't get this far alone.



Reader Comments 8 Total

modoggie (2 months ago)
All this game playing just so he can play Savannah State every year?
mgsooner13 (2 months ago)
Who made who
Who made you
Who made who
Ain't nobody told you
marvin the martian lives (2 months ago)
Not familiar with this writer, but he is obviously an OU homer.
marvin the martian lives (2 months ago)
You didn't build that Gundy!
Rapid Robert (2 months ago)
Marvin, if you would read the name plate at the top of the page, you would know who this writer is.

As a Gundy supporter, I fail to see a "OU homer bias." The article does not contain any comparison to the two state universities.

Why must you assume that only Gundy is responsible for the power of the university's football program.

I believe Mr. Pickens financial help with builinding the nicest facilities in the Big XII help greatly in recruiting. Just ask the players.

If it is correct that the OSU football program would gain a considerable amount of money and street cred by playing one name brand team a year,
Holder should stand firm on scheduling.

Are you not tired of seeing teams like Lamar next year at home?

I remeber the year we stunned Georgia in the home opener. That was rather fun.
marvin the martian lives (2 months ago)
Seems like an ax grinding article to me.
Da5id (2 months ago)
Kudos to the Editor.

Greed isn't an attractive quality in a coach.

I thought is was interesting to see that the confirmation of Gundy "staying for sure" came via an internet sports reporter who specializes on OSU coverage. He's typical of the sports press - help the coach manipulate public opinion in aide of a bigger piece of pie.

Obeisance doesn't do much for sports journalists.

Kudos also to John Hoover, another independent voice.
Jimmie Tramel has a nice blog about how Holder and Gundy share the responsibility for the saga. I'm sure Mike Holder has an ego. I just think Gundy owes the school a little more loyalty than he's shown. Others may pick a different side.
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The Editor's Desk

Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters has nearly 20 years of daily newspaper experience. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M, he worked at papers in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas, before joining the Houston Chronicle as High School Sports Editor in 2008. While in Houston, he coordinated coverage of the 2008 Texas Class 5A state football championships and the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four.

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Michael Peters
mgpeters23
Hurricane avoid low water mark with gutty win RT @TWSportsExtra: TU edges Houston in triple OT, 101-92 http://t.co/wMajhgMs
12 hours ago
@skhanjr Brutal. All Tulsa has to do is hold onto the ball for five seconds and can't do it.
14 hours ago
RT @GuerinEmig: Final word on court storming; It's like autograph seeking. Kids? Have at it. But post-college adults who do it should be ...
15 hours ago
Made it to the Reynolds Center for TU-UH after watching Bedlam on TV. Lets just say the intensity level isn't exactly the same.
16 hours ago
RT @GuerinEmig: #Sooners stretch it to 45-34, #okstate closes to within 45-42. Not sure if Marcus Smart or GIA crowd going to let Pokes ...
18 hours ago
Boone Pickens to Mike Gundy: You got what you wanted. Now you better win more than seven games. http://t.co/EHIOz4CY via @twsportsextra
1 day ago




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