JimBob
02-09-2008, 07:39 AM
Comments clarified
By BILL HAISTEN & JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writers
2/9/2008
Eddie Sutton would be "shocked" if OSU fires his son Sean.
During a Thursday radio interview, Eddie Sutton made comments that seemed to suggest that the employment status of his son, Oklahoma State basketball coach Sean Sutton, might be in jeopardy.
". . . For (Sean) not to get an opportunity to show what he can do really upsets me," the elder Sutton said.
On Friday, Eddie Sutton attempted to clarify his position. Asked whether he believes Sean Sutton might be in danger of being dismissed, Eddie Sutton replied, "I certainly don't think so. I think he's got a five-year contract. I think the administration will certainly honor that."
"I can't see Mike (OSU athletic director Mike Holder) and the administration doing that," added Eddie Sutton, who was OSU's coach in 1990-2006. "I feel like (Sean) is OK. I just wish he had a few more players."
Eddie Sutton said he would be "shocked and extremely disappointed" if a coaching change occurred this year.
"And a lot of other people would be, too," Eddie Sutton said.
Because Sean Sutton's roster has been hurt by the loss of several players, Eddie Sutton said, "He certainly is deserving of more time.
"I just wish the university would come out in support of him," Eddie Sutton said.
On Friday, Holder was asked about the status of Sean Sutton and the Cowboy basketball program. Holder did not comment.
On Jan. 28, Holder said this: "I'm supporting Sean Sutton. He's our coach. We've got a lot of games left to play. Let's win some games. Everybody get on board and let's help him. Let's get this turned around."
Oklahoma State is 11-11 overall, 2-6 in the Big 12 and occupies 11th place in the conference.
On Saturday, the Cowboys play at 20th-ranked Kansas State (5 p.m., ESPN cable 25). OSU has lost in 18 consecutive road games -- a streak that dates to Feb. 4, 2006, when the Eddie Sutton-coached Cowboys beat K-State.
Eddie Sutton now is the interim coach at the University of San Francisco. He spoke on Friday by telephone from Moraga, Calif., where on Friday night his USF squad faced 25th-ranked Saint Mary's in a West Coast Conference game.
Through 12 home dates, OSU's home attendance average is listed as 12,147. But that figure reflects tickets sold. Actual attendance has sagged this season. For OSU's final four nonconference home contests at 13,611-seat Gallagher-Iba Arena, the attendance average was 5,037. For four Big 12 home games, the average is 10,106.
During the 2007 football season, OSU recorded its second consecutive 6-6 regular season. Less than a week after a 49-17 setback at Oklahoma, Holder recommended to OSU's regents that coach Mike Gundy's contract should be extended to a sixth year (lengthening the deal through the 2013 season). After three seasons, Gundy's record is 18-19 overall and 12-16 in the Big 12.
"I do see progress with our football program," Holder said in December.
Five games into Gundy's second season as the Cowboy football coach, his record was 7-9 overall, 1-8 in the Big 12. At that time, Holder issued a declaration of support for Gundy, who in October 2006 essentially was at the same point in his head-coaching career that Sean Sutton is now.
"There are a few people who are naysayers when you have adversity, but I think everybody will like what transpires down the road," Holder said in 2006. "I think five years from now, we'll sit down here and we'll have a pretty good idea of exactly what kind of football coach we've got."
Gundy's guaranteed compensation is $953,000 a year. Sean Sutton's is $750,000.
As OSU's head basketball coach, Sean Sutton's two-season record is 33-24.
Eddie Sutton said an expression of support from OSU for Sean Sutton would benefit the Cowboy recruiting effort and boost the morale of current players. Eddie Sutton said such an expression could blunt possible negative-recruiting tactics by rival coaches.
By BILL HAISTEN & JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writers
2/9/2008
Eddie Sutton would be "shocked" if OSU fires his son Sean.
During a Thursday radio interview, Eddie Sutton made comments that seemed to suggest that the employment status of his son, Oklahoma State basketball coach Sean Sutton, might be in jeopardy.
". . . For (Sean) not to get an opportunity to show what he can do really upsets me," the elder Sutton said.
On Friday, Eddie Sutton attempted to clarify his position. Asked whether he believes Sean Sutton might be in danger of being dismissed, Eddie Sutton replied, "I certainly don't think so. I think he's got a five-year contract. I think the administration will certainly honor that."
"I can't see Mike (OSU athletic director Mike Holder) and the administration doing that," added Eddie Sutton, who was OSU's coach in 1990-2006. "I feel like (Sean) is OK. I just wish he had a few more players."
Eddie Sutton said he would be "shocked and extremely disappointed" if a coaching change occurred this year.
"And a lot of other people would be, too," Eddie Sutton said.
Because Sean Sutton's roster has been hurt by the loss of several players, Eddie Sutton said, "He certainly is deserving of more time.
"I just wish the university would come out in support of him," Eddie Sutton said.
On Friday, Holder was asked about the status of Sean Sutton and the Cowboy basketball program. Holder did not comment.
On Jan. 28, Holder said this: "I'm supporting Sean Sutton. He's our coach. We've got a lot of games left to play. Let's win some games. Everybody get on board and let's help him. Let's get this turned around."
Oklahoma State is 11-11 overall, 2-6 in the Big 12 and occupies 11th place in the conference.
On Saturday, the Cowboys play at 20th-ranked Kansas State (5 p.m., ESPN cable 25). OSU has lost in 18 consecutive road games -- a streak that dates to Feb. 4, 2006, when the Eddie Sutton-coached Cowboys beat K-State.
Eddie Sutton now is the interim coach at the University of San Francisco. He spoke on Friday by telephone from Moraga, Calif., where on Friday night his USF squad faced 25th-ranked Saint Mary's in a West Coast Conference game.
Through 12 home dates, OSU's home attendance average is listed as 12,147. But that figure reflects tickets sold. Actual attendance has sagged this season. For OSU's final four nonconference home contests at 13,611-seat Gallagher-Iba Arena, the attendance average was 5,037. For four Big 12 home games, the average is 10,106.
During the 2007 football season, OSU recorded its second consecutive 6-6 regular season. Less than a week after a 49-17 setback at Oklahoma, Holder recommended to OSU's regents that coach Mike Gundy's contract should be extended to a sixth year (lengthening the deal through the 2013 season). After three seasons, Gundy's record is 18-19 overall and 12-16 in the Big 12.
"I do see progress with our football program," Holder said in December.
Five games into Gundy's second season as the Cowboy football coach, his record was 7-9 overall, 1-8 in the Big 12. At that time, Holder issued a declaration of support for Gundy, who in October 2006 essentially was at the same point in his head-coaching career that Sean Sutton is now.
"There are a few people who are naysayers when you have adversity, but I think everybody will like what transpires down the road," Holder said in 2006. "I think five years from now, we'll sit down here and we'll have a pretty good idea of exactly what kind of football coach we've got."
Gundy's guaranteed compensation is $953,000 a year. Sean Sutton's is $750,000.
As OSU's head basketball coach, Sean Sutton's two-season record is 33-24.
Eddie Sutton said an expression of support from OSU for Sean Sutton would benefit the Cowboy recruiting effort and boost the morale of current players. Eddie Sutton said such an expression could blunt possible negative-recruiting tactics by rival coaches.