JimBob
03-13-2008, 11:16 AM
Sutton has right to tell Holder to shove it
By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
3/13/2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If I'm Sean Sutton, I go Johnny Paycheck on Mike Holder the day Oklahoma State's basketball season ends.
Paycheck is the late country music singer who is best remembered for making a hit out a song with this title: "Take This Job And Shove It."
That's precisely the six words OSU's beleaguered basketball coach should tell his athletic director after the final game. And that could come as soon as Thursday if OSU loses to Texas Tech in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
The deplorable way Holder has treated Sutton this season, leaving the coach's future with the Pokes twisting in the wind, borders on cruel.
Think about it. Name me a coach in any sport at any school who gets fired after just two seasons. And a lot of second-year coaches haven't had near the success Sutton has brought to OSU.
That's what is so crazy about this situation. There is no way, given both his accomplishments (38 wins and counting) and the short time he's been on the job, that Sutton's future should even be up for debate.
But it is, and Holder's the reason why. He's steadfastly refused to confirm that Sutton will be back for a third season.
His stubborn silence has once again cranked the rumor mill up to warp speed.
The rampant speculation on Sutton, which had slowed when OSU won five straight, started heating up again when the Pokes lost their final two regular-season games.
It was a hot topic Wednesday in the media room at the Sprint Center, where the eight coaches who are playing in today's first-round games met with the press.
It was why a writer from the Kansas City Star felt compelled to ask Sutton if it's been difficult to operate without a vote of confidence from his athletic director.
"I just try to worry about the things that I can control," Sutton said. "And that's coaching this basketball team."
But the pressure has to be incredible. How, I asked Sutton in a follow-up question, has he been able keep his wits about him and turn OSU's season around to the point that other coaches have lavished praise on his work?
"I'm just trying to coach and do the best job that I can do," Sutton said. "And concentrate on what I can control."
What Sutton can't control is Holder, who will be totally out of control if the latest rumor is true -- that he intends to fire Sutton within 48 hours after the Cowboys' last game.
Hey, I'm not making these rumors up. They're all over place, including in the minds of the players Sutton's trying to coach.
That negative effect and the pressure on the players is the overlooked part of this soap opera Holder's allowed to continue by remaining silent.
Several Cowboys have acknowledged that they know they are playing to save their coach's job.
Senior forward Marcus Dove, who has been in the program five years and watched the difficult circumstances Sutton inherited, spoke passionately yesterday about his coach's ability to deal with the negativity and unfair challenges he's faced.
"The one thing that kept our ship steady was coach Sean," said Dove of OSU bouncing back from a 1-6 start in Big 12 play. "He never showed any signs of panic. Coach Sean never let us stop believing.
"When we saw that our head coach had such a calm head at times of trouble, we calmed ourselves down too."
That's called leadership. It's what a lot of AD's would kill to have in a coach. Especially a second-year coach who is still finding his way.
Sutton's love for OSU has undoubtedly been a motivating factor in the professional way he's dealt with a situation that would have unquestionably freaked out a lot of his peers. I know plenty of coaches who would have gone into a total meltdown by now had they been forced to deal with the stress and uncertainty that's shadowed Sutton the past three months.
Boone Pickens, who is Holder's biggest cheerleader, often talks about how much love the Cowboys' AD has for OSU. Well that feeling is no stronger or more genuine than what Sutton also holds for his alma mater.
Just like Holder, Sutton's devotion to OSU comes from all the hard work he's put into the school over the years as a player, an assistant and now a head coach.
It's that sincere passion for OSU that wouldn't allow Sutton to ever go Johnny Paycheck on Holder.
But there are many who have watched this unneeded situation unfold who wouldn't blame Sutton if he gave Holder precise instructions on what he could do that job.
And they wouldn't sing it.
By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
3/13/2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If I'm Sean Sutton, I go Johnny Paycheck on Mike Holder the day Oklahoma State's basketball season ends.
Paycheck is the late country music singer who is best remembered for making a hit out a song with this title: "Take This Job And Shove It."
That's precisely the six words OSU's beleaguered basketball coach should tell his athletic director after the final game. And that could come as soon as Thursday if OSU loses to Texas Tech in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
The deplorable way Holder has treated Sutton this season, leaving the coach's future with the Pokes twisting in the wind, borders on cruel.
Think about it. Name me a coach in any sport at any school who gets fired after just two seasons. And a lot of second-year coaches haven't had near the success Sutton has brought to OSU.
That's what is so crazy about this situation. There is no way, given both his accomplishments (38 wins and counting) and the short time he's been on the job, that Sutton's future should even be up for debate.
But it is, and Holder's the reason why. He's steadfastly refused to confirm that Sutton will be back for a third season.
His stubborn silence has once again cranked the rumor mill up to warp speed.
The rampant speculation on Sutton, which had slowed when OSU won five straight, started heating up again when the Pokes lost their final two regular-season games.
It was a hot topic Wednesday in the media room at the Sprint Center, where the eight coaches who are playing in today's first-round games met with the press.
It was why a writer from the Kansas City Star felt compelled to ask Sutton if it's been difficult to operate without a vote of confidence from his athletic director.
"I just try to worry about the things that I can control," Sutton said. "And that's coaching this basketball team."
But the pressure has to be incredible. How, I asked Sutton in a follow-up question, has he been able keep his wits about him and turn OSU's season around to the point that other coaches have lavished praise on his work?
"I'm just trying to coach and do the best job that I can do," Sutton said. "And concentrate on what I can control."
What Sutton can't control is Holder, who will be totally out of control if the latest rumor is true -- that he intends to fire Sutton within 48 hours after the Cowboys' last game.
Hey, I'm not making these rumors up. They're all over place, including in the minds of the players Sutton's trying to coach.
That negative effect and the pressure on the players is the overlooked part of this soap opera Holder's allowed to continue by remaining silent.
Several Cowboys have acknowledged that they know they are playing to save their coach's job.
Senior forward Marcus Dove, who has been in the program five years and watched the difficult circumstances Sutton inherited, spoke passionately yesterday about his coach's ability to deal with the negativity and unfair challenges he's faced.
"The one thing that kept our ship steady was coach Sean," said Dove of OSU bouncing back from a 1-6 start in Big 12 play. "He never showed any signs of panic. Coach Sean never let us stop believing.
"When we saw that our head coach had such a calm head at times of trouble, we calmed ourselves down too."
That's called leadership. It's what a lot of AD's would kill to have in a coach. Especially a second-year coach who is still finding his way.
Sutton's love for OSU has undoubtedly been a motivating factor in the professional way he's dealt with a situation that would have unquestionably freaked out a lot of his peers. I know plenty of coaches who would have gone into a total meltdown by now had they been forced to deal with the stress and uncertainty that's shadowed Sutton the past three months.
Boone Pickens, who is Holder's biggest cheerleader, often talks about how much love the Cowboys' AD has for OSU. Well that feeling is no stronger or more genuine than what Sutton also holds for his alma mater.
Just like Holder, Sutton's devotion to OSU comes from all the hard work he's put into the school over the years as a player, an assistant and now a head coach.
It's that sincere passion for OSU that wouldn't allow Sutton to ever go Johnny Paycheck on Holder.
But there are many who have watched this unneeded situation unfold who wouldn't blame Sutton if he gave Holder precise instructions on what he could do that job.
And they wouldn't sing it.