Son goes down on Sutton era
Surname is Sean's downfall
OSU's Holder calls coach victim of expectations
Son goes down on Sutton era

By John Rohde
Published: April 2, 2008

STILLWATEREddie Sutton thought he did the right thing five years ago when he insisted — rather vehemently to Oklahoma State officials — that his son be anointed head coach designate.

What father worth a darn wouldn't want what's best for his child?

But in the end, Sean Sutton's surname wound up being a curse, not a blessing.

Without the last name of Sutton, Sean would not have inherited the job as OSU men's basketball coach.

And because of that last name, Sean will now start receiving severance pay.

Sean leaves OSU with a career winning percentage of .574 (39-29).

Eddie's career winning percentage, pending his next job out of the blue, stands at .710 (804-328).

Two-plus seasons ago, the Cowboys went from playing for "Coach Sutton” to playing for "Coach Sean,” and there's a world of difference between the two.

Through absolutely no fault of his own, Sean is no Eddie.

But expectations were disgustingly similar.

OSU athletic director Mike Holder admitted as much when he bid adieu to Sean on Tuesday.

"I think at the end of the day, I think that Sean was probably a victim of those expectations,” Holder said. "He was put in a tough situation. It's hard enough to follow a legend. But when that legend is your father, it's probably tough to the third power. Perhaps in a different set of circumstances he would have enjoyed more success.”

Eddie exited with a massive fall from grace, which didn't do Sean any favors.

In many ways, Sean was done before he started.

Holder insisted the firing of two Suttons was purely business.

"A lot of people say this has personal issues involved. None, whatsoever,” Holder said. "I like coach Sutton, both Sean and Eddie.”

Holder said Sean's fate was not sealed during the season.

"I've got to tell you, I was back and forth for a long time,” Holder said of deciding to fire Sean. "A lot of sleepless nights. No one ever told me when I became athletic director it was going to be this tough. It's a tiring period of time for me.”

Rather oddly, Holder began his news conference by thanking Eddie for all he did for OSU.

"He came back and restored the swagger in basketball,” Holder said. "I can't say enough about what he did for OSU.”

If you walked in late to the news conference, you'd swear Holder was firing Sean and Eddie.

While Holder rules the athletic department with an iron fist, he allows coaches to do their own thing.

"I'm not a micromanager,” Holder said. "I'm not one to come in there and tell a coach how to run his program. I didn't want that from an athletic director (when I was a coach). I'm sensitive to that for coaches. If they come to advice, I'm willing to give my input. But I don't profess to be a basketball coach, a football coach, a track coach.”

Several times Holder said Sean's firing "is what it is.”

Sean needs to view this as a blessing.

He needs to get a job on his own merits, not his father's.

If Eddie offers to help in his son's job search, Sean needs to say, "Thanks, Dad. I'd rather do this on my own.”

Sean is a good enough coach to succeed on his own.

And it's time his father allowed that to happen, no matter how good his intentions.

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Comments

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I'm a cowboy fan, and I've been watching Sean for two years. I don't think we need to be defensive or in denial about this. Sean did have big shoes to fill, and maybe Eddie shouldn't have insisted that Sean be given that job. Darren, I think you're being rather dramatic. Sean wasn't cut out for the job, and he is being replaced. It happens. And his name DID get him the job. As far as the deal with Self - I don't want to see a coach that Pickens "bought". The school needs to find a coach and BP's decisions and money should stay out of it.
Stephanie, Oklahoma - Apr 8, 2008 3:49 PM
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Hire the brother (Scotty) and the sun will rise again in Stillwater. All this specualtion when there is a chance to make a great hire and boost your program is rediculous. Have we Sooners took so much of your optimism away your cannot see a silver lining. Harden up if you want to compete, that is how thing are. Not always what seems fair. This is real life and uncommon moves have to be made to have uncommon results. T-Bone's money can buy you a shot at happiness but someone has to make it happen. Sean wasn't his man and right now in Stillwater T-Bone says what goes so get behind him and get the results you want. This could be a dream come true. T-Bone isn't afraid to dream.
Arron, Holdenville - Apr 3, 2008 3:17 PM
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Sean Sutton shouldn't worry too much. I hear there's a guy out in S.F. who wants to hire him.
John, Ardmore - Apr 3, 2008 11:43 AM
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This action by the AD does not surprise me. I've watched the program for years, since I was a student at Panhandle A&M, years ago. I am an OU fan but seems to me like Sean got a raw deal on this thing. Check some of the history of OSU and you will find out that this is common for them. First off, only one or two of their board members qualify to be there, not having ties with agriculture. Secondly, in order to have one of the members appointed as Pres. they had to go to the Gov. and have him assist in changing the law so an acting member could be installed as president without waiting a year. With all these crooked moves, why should we wonder???
sd kp
doug, hollis - Apr 3, 2008 9:59 AM
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Sorry I read this piece of garbage. Holder not a micromanager. Wow! I guess he has rewritten Webster's definition of the term. Fire Holder.
bob, portland - Apr 3, 2008 7:12 AM
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osu, T-Bum and Holder are going to ruin osu. they both should be fired. how stupid is "he is going to be a great coach but we don't want him" Saying his dad's record hurt him. how stupid is that. To think he is running the athletic program per T-Bum. T-Bum and holder should be fired.
Brian, Owasso - Apr 2, 2008 10:25 PM
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I can't believe Rhode finally wrote a column I agree with.
Phil, Oklahoma City - Apr 2, 2008 8:26 PM
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Maybe they need to change the name of the school OSU to mean Only Sutton Understood it seems no one else does in the recent firing.
Larry, Pauls Valley - Apr 2, 2008 6:40 PM
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huh??
Ryan, Dallas - Apr 2, 2008 4:52 PM
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Get a bunch of osu homers lock them in their trailer with a ouija board and ax Mr.Iba who he likes
lildab, enid - Apr 2, 2008 4:45 PM
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For a major league wannabe city, this story should NOT be on the front page. The paper should reflect a broader world view, not a provincial rag.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Apr 2, 2008 3:41 PM
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FIRE MIKE HOLDER
Randy, Oklahoma City - Apr 2, 2008 3:28 PM
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Fire incompetent Mike Holder. He's a better golfer than he is a leader! He didn't know that Sean's buy-out agreement on his contract was a "PUBLIC RECORD"!
Randy, Oklahoma City - Apr 2, 2008 3:28 PM
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David, I heard the reason Knight quite so unexpectedly is because TTU did not want to honor the "designate" title. So Knight quit, without warning in the middle of the season, to force TTU into naming the kid as coach.
Barry, Fort Collins - Apr 2, 2008 2:40 PM
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While I admit I am not a OSU fan, I must say I don't think this if fair at all. Sean should have been given one more year. I think this will come back to haunt Holder! I do wish the best for Sean and the University!
Billy, Paris - Apr 2, 2008 11:07 AM
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Wonder if same thing will happen in Lubbock?
David, Norman - Apr 2, 2008 10:28 AM
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John, how on EARTH can you be so arrogant? To say Sean "wouldn't" have gotten the job with a different name is a vast assumption on your part pretending to be fact. Sean was an outstanding assistant at a top program with deep ties to the university, certainly at LEAST as qualified if not more so than Mike Gundy when he was hired.
Sean is a good enough Coach to succeed on his own, he EARNED the job at OSU, and it's a disgrace that he wasn't given the time to make the program work.
I'm 42 years old, a 3rd generation Cowboy, and thanks to Mike Holder for the first time in my life I am embarrassed of Oklahoma State. I've taken boxes...it took more than one...of OSU clothes, ballcaps, and souveniers and put them away. I cannot be a Cowboy today, Mike Holder has robbed us of what this University stands for an what being a Cowboy is all about. All I can say is thank God Mr. Iba isn't around to see this dark, dark day.
I'll be very happy to start cheering for the Cowboys again the day Mike Holder cleans his things out of Harry Birdwell's office and leaves the office of Athletic Director to someone who has the foggiest idea what the devil he's doing.
Darren, Columbia - Apr 2, 2008 9:55 AM
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"I'm not a micromanager,” Holder said. "I'm not one to come in there and tell a coach how to run his program. I didn't want that from an athletic director (when I was a coach). ------------------------------- I thought the mantra was, (paraphrased), "Boone offered to build Miles a practice field and Miles never returned his call... that's why Miles was out." -------------------------------- I also seem to remember Gundy having to move practices to Ponca City High School his first year because he yeilded to Boone's decision to lay new turf during Fall practice. ------------------------------- Now that I think of it... didn't the Holder camp insist that Miles hire Gundy as his Offensive Coordinator? -------------------- No, it's not like Holder or Boone to micromanage any program. LOL!
richard, Stillwater - Apr 2, 2008 8:34 AM
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