JimBob
04-19-2008, 05:05 PM
Ford, Sutton's friendship may fix team's scars
By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
4/19/2008
STILLWATER — The healing process for Oklahoma State’s basketball program under new coach Travis Ford apparently got jump-started Thursday morning by the most unlikely of people – Sean Sutton.
Sutton has been unavailable for comment since his forced resignation as OSU’s coach on April 1. But an OSU insider confirmed that Sutton called his former secretary a few hours before Ford’s introductory press conference to pass along a message of congratulations and support to his successor.
“He left his (phone) number, and wanted to let Travis know he will assist him with anything he needs,” the source said. “He believes in extending his hand in friendship.”
It’s obviously up to Ford if he wants to return the call, which undoubtedly would be an emotional and delicate conversation between the two longtime friends. The two have known each other ever since a 16-year-old Sutton temporarily lived with the Ford family when he first moved to Kentucky and played on an AAU basketball team coached by Ford’s father.
“Coach (Eddie) Sutton and Sean, I know these guys extremely well,” Ford said after his formal meeting with the press.
“I’ve known them from through my years (living) in Kentucky and beyond.”
An extroverted and enthusiastic Ford won that first press conference as a Cowboy for a lot of reasons.
In addition to the genuine excitement he expressed over the opportunity to take charge of the tradition-rich program, the 38-year-old coach came across as being savvy beyond his year in the ways of both life and hoops.
Alot of that undoubtedly comes from running a college program when you’re only 26. Ford talked about the knowledge he gained with his first job at Campbellsville (Ky.) University, when he had to handle everything from coaching the team to meeting the budget.
So Ford’s wisdom has to tell him that Sutton’s magnanimous gesture can be a huge positive both immediately and in the long term. The immediate impact would be to calm the understandable fears of those players Sutton left behind. Byron Eaton and Terrel Harris, who attended Thursday’s press conference, will be fourth-year seniors next season. They have been around Sutton longer than any of the players Ford now inherits, and still maintain a great sense of loyalty to the coach who convinced them to leave their Texas homes for OSU.
“It was heartbreaking for me and the team when coach Sean resigned,” Eaton said. “It was big-time scary for me. And it was a big downfall for me and Terrell (Harris) because we’re seniors.”
Eaton acknowledged that his knee-jerk reaction was to hit the road. But an uncle encouraged him to wait and see who OSU hired before making such a drastic decision.
“I had thoughts in my mind of leaving,” Eaton said. “And there were some other guys thinking about it. But after coach Ford came in and talked to us today, I think everyone is going to stay.”
All of the returning players were not available Thursday.
So if any of them are still thinking about transferring after meeting theirnewcoach, Ford might find it useful to tap into Sutton’s o/er to help. An encouraging word to give Ford a chance from the man who brought them to Stillwater might do the trick.
Ford acknowledged that his no-nonsense, work-your tail- off approach might have created some fears when he addressed his new team before he met with the press.
“There are probably a lot of questions in their minds; they’ve been through a lot of anxiety,” Ford said. “It’s never easy when there’s change. I totally understand and appreciate how they feel.
“What I’m going to expecting out of these players may not be what some of them want. This may not be for everybody. They all seemed to be on board, but we'll see.”
As much as he doesn’t want any players to leave, Ford is just as eager to reunite the OSU fan base. He wants to bring back those supporters who are angry that the Sutton era ended in such a sad way.
“The Suttons are great people,” Ford said. “What attracted me to (OSU) is what they’ve done here.”
A gracious Ford said all the right words that the Sutton supporters needed to hear in this time of change. And news of Sean Sutton’s noble gesture is also something people on both sides of a diffcult situation need to know about.
Let the healing begin.
By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
4/19/2008
STILLWATER — The healing process for Oklahoma State’s basketball program under new coach Travis Ford apparently got jump-started Thursday morning by the most unlikely of people – Sean Sutton.
Sutton has been unavailable for comment since his forced resignation as OSU’s coach on April 1. But an OSU insider confirmed that Sutton called his former secretary a few hours before Ford’s introductory press conference to pass along a message of congratulations and support to his successor.
“He left his (phone) number, and wanted to let Travis know he will assist him with anything he needs,” the source said. “He believes in extending his hand in friendship.”
It’s obviously up to Ford if he wants to return the call, which undoubtedly would be an emotional and delicate conversation between the two longtime friends. The two have known each other ever since a 16-year-old Sutton temporarily lived with the Ford family when he first moved to Kentucky and played on an AAU basketball team coached by Ford’s father.
“Coach (Eddie) Sutton and Sean, I know these guys extremely well,” Ford said after his formal meeting with the press.
“I’ve known them from through my years (living) in Kentucky and beyond.”
An extroverted and enthusiastic Ford won that first press conference as a Cowboy for a lot of reasons.
In addition to the genuine excitement he expressed over the opportunity to take charge of the tradition-rich program, the 38-year-old coach came across as being savvy beyond his year in the ways of both life and hoops.
Alot of that undoubtedly comes from running a college program when you’re only 26. Ford talked about the knowledge he gained with his first job at Campbellsville (Ky.) University, when he had to handle everything from coaching the team to meeting the budget.
So Ford’s wisdom has to tell him that Sutton’s magnanimous gesture can be a huge positive both immediately and in the long term. The immediate impact would be to calm the understandable fears of those players Sutton left behind. Byron Eaton and Terrel Harris, who attended Thursday’s press conference, will be fourth-year seniors next season. They have been around Sutton longer than any of the players Ford now inherits, and still maintain a great sense of loyalty to the coach who convinced them to leave their Texas homes for OSU.
“It was heartbreaking for me and the team when coach Sean resigned,” Eaton said. “It was big-time scary for me. And it was a big downfall for me and Terrell (Harris) because we’re seniors.”
Eaton acknowledged that his knee-jerk reaction was to hit the road. But an uncle encouraged him to wait and see who OSU hired before making such a drastic decision.
“I had thoughts in my mind of leaving,” Eaton said. “And there were some other guys thinking about it. But after coach Ford came in and talked to us today, I think everyone is going to stay.”
All of the returning players were not available Thursday.
So if any of them are still thinking about transferring after meeting theirnewcoach, Ford might find it useful to tap into Sutton’s o/er to help. An encouraging word to give Ford a chance from the man who brought them to Stillwater might do the trick.
Ford acknowledged that his no-nonsense, work-your tail- off approach might have created some fears when he addressed his new team before he met with the press.
“There are probably a lot of questions in their minds; they’ve been through a lot of anxiety,” Ford said. “It’s never easy when there’s change. I totally understand and appreciate how they feel.
“What I’m going to expecting out of these players may not be what some of them want. This may not be for everybody. They all seemed to be on board, but we'll see.”
As much as he doesn’t want any players to leave, Ford is just as eager to reunite the OSU fan base. He wants to bring back those supporters who are angry that the Sutton era ended in such a sad way.
“The Suttons are great people,” Ford said. “What attracted me to (OSU) is what they’ve done here.”
A gracious Ford said all the right words that the Sutton supporters needed to hear in this time of change. And news of Sean Sutton’s noble gesture is also something people on both sides of a diffcult situation need to know about.
Let the healing begin.