Blair, Oklahoma City (4/2/2008 2:12:02 AM)

Dave, I have been critical in the past. But bravo, you are absolutely on the money. This is an embarrassment, and though I may not agree with you all the time, I certainly respect your willingness to 'call it like you see it.' This is excellent work.

John, (4/2/2008 2:35:40 AM)

Fully agreed! Today, I am ashamed to be an OSU fan and alum.

Don, Bixby (4/2/2008 5:20:14 AM)

Fully agree Dave. Even though I am a proud OSU Alum, I am done with everything associated with the athletic program as long as Holder is AD.

pokefan, broken arrow (4/2/2008 7:03:11 AM)

While I'm sure Pickens is in on most big decisions - Sean did nothing to actually KEEP his job. 2 1/2 years of embarrassing losses (ORU, North Texas, Iowa State, etc), player defections, swept by in-state rival, 3 straight one-and-dones in the NIT, losing every single road game except for 2 (99%?) and on and on...

Sittler - even you had to chuckle when typing "just two respectable seasons into a five year contract". REALLY? Respectable? There was nothing respectable about them.

Everyone needs to stop their crying and get on board. I am PROUD to be an OSU fan. I'm glad Holder had the guts to make this very tough decision.

Steve, Claremore (4/2/2008 7:03:34 AM)

"The best revenge is to live well." Best of luck to Sean wherever he lands. Hope Eddie's name stays on the court so Boone and his cronies will have to live with it.

Eric, OKC (4/2/2008 7:16:00 AM)

I've supported Sean in the past, but after reflection it is time for him to go. I think he wasn't ready to coach a program with high expectations. Stiller, you sound like all decisions are made by Boone. I don't believe that to be the case. Two years of road losses? Either all of the players from the last three years that have come and left were so badly scouted or poor choices were made. Coaches coming and going doesn't make for a stable program.

I think Sean was correct to begin recruiting more high school players instead of focusing on juco's, but he apparently struck out on more than a few.

Finally, with high fan, media and school expectations, the small mistakes were magnified two fold. All of the rumors did not help either.

Dave, OKC (4/2/2008 7:37:22 AM)

Wow, this is groundbreaking. Sean was fired and Pickens has power. Thanks for the amazing insight. Where do you apply for the Pulitzer?

Janice, Jenks (4/2/2008 7:48:10 AM)

As a Sooner, I'm very sorry to see the pokes lose Sutton and his "respectable" record.

Seasonticketholder, (4/2/2008 7:48:12 AM)

Dave, as I was reading your article I got the feeling that you were childishly jealous that Mike Holder did not consult you before making his decision. While I can honestly say that none of us can know for sure how many decisions Boone Pickens makes in OSU athletics, I am sure he has some influence just as sure that I am sure that one/some of your mentors has had an influence on you.

What has happened is truly unfortunate, but I am not suprised or disappointed. Like Scott, Sean had an opportunity to go elsewhere to "prove" himself as a head coach, but failed to do. I am neither excited nor disappointed about this action.

The basketball team rarely exhibited sound fundamental basketball and with intensity for 40 minutes every game for Sean. Is this the players fault, or is it the coach for condoning mediocre performance? In my mind, it is certainly not about wins/loses, but always competing with great effort, intensity and discipline by the players and stong leadership by the coach. Over the last two years, this basketball team and Sean Sutton have failed to do just that. Where would the women's team have gone had they played proportionately to the men's team? I would venture to say they would not have made it to the sweet sixteen.

Yes, it is a sad day for OSU and this is not a feel-good story, but Mike Holder is doing what he is being paid to do and that requires making tough decisions. Sean had a job to do as well and like the players, he failed to perform. I would not be completely surprised if the decision made by Mike Holder was not totally on the performance, but we may never know.

Like Americans every day who are released from their job, Sean will have another opportunity to prove himself and unlike many of the aforementioned Americans, Sean will be very fairly compensated by his former employer.

AMK, OKC (4/2/2008 7:55:44 AM)

The past doesn't matter, only the future in this case. Mike saw that the coaching staff was unstable at best, and don't forget that Sean had no control over the players (or even their respect). None of these items Sittler will mention. Great journalism Dave.

FIRE GUNDY, (4/2/2008 8:03:14 AM)

Today I'm ashamed to be an OSU fan not because I don't think it was time for Sean to go (it was), but because of the fact that we can justify firing him, but keeping Gundy.

Willy, (4/2/2008 8:12:29 AM)

Dave, I hope in the future you continue not to attend anything at OSU. I don't recall any critical articles when Schnellenberger went a "respectable" 5-5-1. Schnellenbergers name is on a huge building in Louisville and he is respected in Miami but you didn't write any articles defending him or about how that situation was handled. I wonder if Gaylord had any knowledge of that situation? Sean lost to Marist, North Texas, ORU, and Southern Ill. to name a few. 2 road wins in 2 years and 10 games as interim coach. He was swept by OU, and lost in the first round of the NIT 3 years in a row (Maimi, Marist, S.Ill). He only had three 2 star recruits in the upcoming class. Holder had every right to fire him for not meeting expectations and he will hire a successful coach but you probably won't write about it. Oh, by the way, you forgot to slam Gundy in this article. You are slipping Dave????????

TJ, Tulsa (4/2/2008 8:35:05 AM)

If you want to read an article that better explains that there were plenty of off-the-field issues with the basketball program and written by someone with no axe to grind with OSU - read Berry Trammel's article in today's Daily Oklahoman. Holder would have kept Sean for a LONG time had he shown leadership off the court. This is why Gundy is still coaching and Sean isn't - Mike is in control of his staff and has done a tremendous job of managing his staff. That said, Holder also made clear it's also about wins and losses.

no longer a fan, tulsa (4/2/2008 8:56:30 AM)

Holder is pathetic.

Sittler hit the nail on the head. The real issue is that Holder said this was a "mutual agreement" and that Sutton resigned. BS. I would respect Holder more if he was just honest and say he fired him.

Holder is no leader. He doesn't treat each coach the same. Gundy gets all the rope. Who cares if a football player RAPES A CHILD. No problem, "he's a good kid" and we'll give Gundy a contract extension for bringing disgrace to Stillwater. Sutton works his tail off and gets shown the door.

This past fall, he said "gundy is a young coach that needs time to develop" Yesterday, he shows his true colors and doesn't give Sutton the same opportunity.

Personally, I'm looking forward to tomorrow when another ticket price increase will be announced.

dave, houston (4/2/2008 9:09:57 AM)

Boy I would love to have been a fly on Mike Gundy's wall the momment he heard the news of Sutton's firing...errr, resignation. Good luck Gundy! Anything less than a Cotton Bowl win and us fans are gonna eat you alive!!!!

John, (4/2/2008 9:39:39 AM)

Of course it is. It's big time athletics and big time money. Win or get fired; see ANY pro franchise.

Willard Roker, Las Vegas (4/2/2008 9:48:29 AM)

So I wonder how many loosing years Picken's money will but Holder?

NN, (4/2/2008 9:49:57 AM)

People, please stop comparing basketball to football, Sutton to Gundy. They are two vastly different programs with vastly different histories. You are comparing apples to oranges. Success in football is expected to come in smaller steps than in basketball. We have higher expectations in basketball than football at this time. Besides the basketball program was obviously in a slide. The football program is competing and improving. You can't say the same about basketball the past two years.

NN, (4/2/2008 9:51:19 AM)

Dave, your disdain for the OSU powers is tarnishing your columns. You need to focus on something else. You sound like a whiny little punk who no one will listen to on the playground.

no longer a fan, tulsa (4/2/2008 9:56:34 AM)

#19. You don't get it.

It's the inequity that is so apparent in how the coaches are treated. Gundy signs a kid that RAPED A 12 YEAR OLD and he gets a contract extension. Are you willing to "win at all costs"??

There is a reason that other major schools passed on that kid. They have more respect for the reputation of their schools and don't allow their desire to win to be put before all other things. When, after a player PLEADS GUILTY TO RAPING A 12-YEAR OLD, the football coach says the "he's a good kid" , I'd have to say the coach has his priorities messed up. Either way, it reflects poorly on the school, which is after all: an academic institution.

You either have integrity or you don't. You can't just have a little of it when it suits you...

Tom, (4/2/2008 9:58:07 AM)

A forced resignation huh? Well certainly OSU should have issued a release stating that, "today we'd like to announce we have forced the resignation of Sean Sutton." Grow up. And don't give me any of that Eddie Sutton savior stuff. The Sutton-OSU relationship was one of conveniece for both. Eddie had nowhere else to go after KY and OSU did not have the means to hire a coach of his caliber unless it was willing to accept certain flaws and take certain risks. Eddie showed he did not truly care for OSU when he could not bring himself to gracefully step aside when he had his falling. I certainly grew tired over the last couple of years of hearing Eddie say how much he owed Patsy and the grandkids and then turning around and expressing interest in every community college job that had a potential opening. Eddie certainly rebuilt a floundering program at OSU. An amazing achievement. But he clearly did it to feed his own ego rather than out of duty and committment to OSU. Eddie, like most coaches, is a mercenary that just so happened to be locked into OSU at that late point in his carreer. If he had be in his 40's during his OSU success, he would have "crawled to KY." Congrats on the 800 wins.

pokefan, broken arrow (4/2/2008 9:59:11 AM)

willard - they speak english in Vegas?

TJ - I read that article as well and it is very well written. Unlike this cry-baby stuff by Sittler. I had heard from several people (and Tramel confirmed it in his article) that Sean was not at practices quite often. What is up with that? Who was running them? Dickey?

okiedave3, tulsa (4/2/2008 10:09:30 AM)

I hope Holder realizes that money can't buy championships. If it could, Texas would be a perrenial national champion. Coaches are hired to produce or be fired. Simple. I would have given him one more year, because whomever they hire will not have the success he would have had next year. Look for some lean years ahead, 'Pokes.

pokefan, broken arrow (4/2/2008 10:19:03 AM)

Okiedave3 - what happened when Eddie took over in 1990? I'll tell you - after a 25 yr span with only 1 NCAA tourney appearance, he took them to the tourney in his first year. A good coach can turn a program around quickly. The players are there to at least get to the tourney. But this offense they've been running is horrible (pass the ball until 2 seconds left and heave a 3).

Midsouthpoke, Germantown, TN (4/2/2008 10:19:34 AM)

Dave, when you're right, you're right. I guess since Holder and OSU have Pickens money, they don't need mine anymore.

I'm do not "ride with pride" today.