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Son goes down on Sutton era
Surname is Sean's downfall
OSU's Holder calls coach victim of expectations
STILLWATER — Eddie 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.
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Sutton Era Over
Apr 1OSU Athletics Director Mike Holder announced the firing...
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Mike Holder will now begin his first coach search as athletic director at Oklahoma State.
by CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
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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.
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