Here are some reasons why this is so:
•Self is the guy who can remember the name of a junior varsity assistant coach he met eight years ago.
•Self is the guy who will walk past a worker who's sweeping the arena floor, give him a nod hello and say, "Appreciate it. You're doing a helluva job.” And Self will actually mean it.
•Though Self is the center of attention, he'll make you feel like you're the most important person in the room.
•Self is a chameleon. His communications skills have no bounds. Rich or poor, young or old, man or woman, boy or girl, black or white. Doesn't matter.
•Within the first 10 seconds of a conversation, Self will be the one asking the questions, not you. How's the family? What's going on? Anything new?
•Strangers strike up a conversation with Self and he'll eventually ask their name. Self will shake their hand and introduce himself. "Hi, I'm Bill Self,” to which the stranger will reply, "Uh, yeah. No kidding.”
•Self's primary goal is to make you feel as comfortable with him as he feels with you.
•Self is the guy who proclaims his wife, Cindy, is "the best coach's wife in the country.”
•Self is the guy who came to Oklahoma City in February to watch two stud high school recruits. But before he watched them play, he attended a girls game at Edmond Memorial High School to see his niece play, even though he could stay for only the first quarter.
•When he was named the new Kansas coach and flew into Lawrence on a private plane, Self approached airport worker Troy Jantz and said, "Good to see you. What do you do here?” Jantz replied, "I refuel airplanes.” Self smiled and said, "Well then, you must be the man around this place.”
•While playing in a fourball match, Self is the guy who can hit a 7-iron within 3 feet of the cup from 210 yards away, then claim the reason he was able to do it was because you're such a great golf partner. (Self probably misses the putt, but that's not the point here.)
•Self doesn't hire jerk assistants.
•Former assistant Barry Hinson describes Self's brain as "organized chaos” and insists he's one of the most organized disorganized people he's ever met. "You show him a list of things, he doesn't write anything down, but when you check back with him, everything's already been done,” Hinson said.
•Self is the guy who approaches media to say hello. Nobody does that.
•Self is the guy who telephones friends in Oklahoma to let them know he'll do all he can to round up some Final Four tickets. He does this two measly hours after beating Davidson in the Midwest Regional final, his most important moment as a coach.
•Amid all the chaos at the Final Four, Self asks Cindy to invite 40 or so friends to a hotel suite Saturday night after KU's semifinal game against North Carolina — win or lose. Self feels guilty he hasn't been able to say hello because he's been in lock-down mode all weekend.
The gathering includes family and friends, KU staff members and assistant coaches, plus former assistants from Self's days at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois. Not a jock-sniffing booster in sight.
Self eventually joins the party and effortlessly works the room, holding court with pocket gatherings of five or six people at a time. Hinson's wide-eyed daughter tells her father, "He actually seemed to care how I was doing,” to which Hinson playfully responds, "Hey, remember I'm still your father.”
After a 45-minute visit, Self exits quietly at 1 a.m., walks across the hall and studies game film with his staff until 3.
•Self is the guy who out of the blue visits your wife in an Oklahoma City hospital while she's struggling with the premature birth of your son 11 years ago. When your child is born nine weeks early, Self and Cindy soon deliver a framed keepsake that reads "God's blessings are never early nor late ... they are always on time.”
Bill Self is one of God's blessings.
This is why the Cowboys want him, and why the Jayhawks want him to stay.
One last tidbit: Self's team won the national title Monday night, beating Memphis 75-68 inside the Alamodome.
Turns out the guy can also coach a little bit.
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Barry, speaking of delusional, look in the mirror. Sutton and Tubbs were both good coaches, and neither has a National Championship. Neither of these schools are a dominant force in college basketball, no matter how rowdy the students can get in gia. No wonder Self won't be coming to osu, delusional fans/boosters are not good for job security in this industry.
Jeff, I will take your word for Tubbs taking Lamar and TCU to the tournament. I do not recall it but who cares, they are poor schools and once in a blue moon appearances hardly qualifies as significant. As for your statement about, "Nobody said...", you obviously can read so try looking at Wayne's post again. He clearly states that Tubbs is as good a coach as Sutton. Unequivocably incorrect. As for the seeds, who cares? With the exception of this year, seeds have proven to be what they are, opinions. If they were so stellar with all the #1 seeds, where are their championships? Ranked finishes, again, hang your hat on opinions. Delusional Sooner fans fearful of progress in Stillwater are the only ones who believe Tubbs was a great coach.
Barry, you're not very bright. First, Tubbs took 3 teams to the NCAA Tournament, not one. Second, no one said that Tubbs career compares to Sutton's. What was said is that Tubbs had more success at OU than Sutton did at OSU, which is pretty much true. OU was a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament 4 times. OU won 4 Conference regular season Championships. OU had Five Top 10 finishes & Four Top 5 finishes. I could keep going, but you get the idea.
Self would be a great hire for OSU. I hope they get him. I'm an OU fan and have a bunch of OSU friends. I don't agree with what happened to Sean but that's life. He seems like a class guy, either way KU or OSU would be lucky to have him. I'm quite happy with our coach as well :)
I am an Oklahoma fan, grad and former resident, now living 1200 miles away from my lifelong home. If I had a lucrative opportunity to return to my home state/university, I'd jump on it immediately. I would not be surprised at all if Coach Self makes the move to Stillwater if offered.
My apologies to most OU fans from my last post. Not all OU fans are like Wayne and should not be lumped in with my statement to Wayne and those like him.
And Wayne, only an OU fan would consider personal demons, a disease like alcoholism to be worse than knowingly and repeatedly breaking NCAA rules at two prestigious universities leading to his (Sampson's) dismissal at both in a three (or is it two-who cares) year period. If you look into the Kentucky issue, Sutton is not the one who sent the money, but I do agree it was his ship so he was dismissed as he should have been. That is a little different than Sampson personally doing the activities that lead to his dismissal.
Wayne, Tubbs can no way be considered in the same sentence as Sutton. Tubbs had his day while at OU and some success at Lamar and TCU, but nothing compares to the track record of Sutton. Close to 150 fewer wins, only took one team to the tournament. Sutton had more tournament appearances before he even came to OSU. Ludicrous to compare the two as equals.
Nathan in Norman, the OSU/OU series record is weighted due to early 1900's games. Since the OU Championship Game in 1988, the teams are 21-21 including OSU winning the only two meetings in the Big 12/8 tournament. Sure seems like a hotly contested battle in my book. For the record, UNC/Duke overall record is only 3-4 games different than the OU/OSU record. Think the Blue Devils care that UNC has a 30-game lead in the overall record? No, and neither do we.
Jim in Rockwall...trash talk is cheap both ways. The way I see it, you are just as you describe some OU fans. May I remind you of the time the rats never considered jumping ship, during the long and painful Football years after Coach Switzer. NO true OU supporter...former Student or just Fan even considered as you say "jump ship to avoid going down with it, since we aren't really a part of it anyway"...talk about trash and hate speech! ("wise-ass Tubbs and "cheater Sampson"??) I believe I could easily find comparable bad former OSU coaches and Tubbs did take OU to the final game...in this century. And for the Olympic record...OU coach Bruce Drake was the assistant Olympic coach that beat the Russians twice. He's also the father of the "Drake Shuffle"...look it up. Mr. Iba will always be king, but Billy Tubbs is as good as any other coach OSU has had, including Sutton ...and Kelvin's problems pale compared to the shame Eddie brought to both Kentucky and OSU. Lastly...Alvin Adams (a native Okie) certainly is the equal of Bob Kurland (St Louis). I truly hope Bill Self comes home to Stillwater, my son is an OSU grad and yes Dad is a true blue Sooner fan and no I am not a graduate of The University of Oklahoma. My loyalty is no less than that of any other Sooner. Beware of your own text and how others perceive you for your distasteful comments. You sir are not a true fan of sports in the great state of Oklahoma...just my opinion...
My experience with Bill Self is the same as John's. I have worked a number of Final Fours. Bill is a friend of my sisters...when I mentioned that at a Final Four, he treated me like we had been friends for years. As an OSU alum, I say stay at KU Bill, at least until T Boone is gone. First class place and AD. Stay away from two people who think money can buy anything.
Good post Brian. As usual, the OU grads are completely different than the other 75% bandwagon fans that never attended ou. Education makes a huge difference. Thanks for the intelligent post.
Would you believe Bellichek wants to coach the Texans because his wife went to school there. How about Popovich coaching the Grizzlies because Donald Trump offered three times what the spurs can pay. This is billyboy logic.
"No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby." H.L. Mencken
As an OU grad and former student athlete I can tell you that hiring Coach Self would be a great move for OSU, in my opinion. Yes the OSU program has taken some bumps and bruises and Bill Self would be the perfect fit to clean up the problems and make OSU a perennial power. I know my logic as a Sooner may be questioned, but competition makes all of us stronger. If OSU gets better than OU must get better as well. Not saying anything negative towards Coach Capel, just saying that there is room for 2 great basketball programs in the state of Oklahoma. I personally hope that OSU can bring a man of high character and an Oklahoma native home.
Brian, Sunny Southern CA - Apr 8, 2008 at 10:54 am
Jess, have you talked with Self? Do you know what he's thinking? I'm not sure taking 10 million in the first year is "foolish." That coupled with the fact that Coach obviously loves OSU and there's a very good chance he returns to Stillwater.
Jess, have you talked with Self? Do you know what he's thinking? I'm not sure taking 10 million in the first year is "foolish." That coupled with the fact that Coach obviously loves OSU and there's a very good chance he returns to Stillwater.
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Kansas' Bill Self can now add something else to his resume, national championship-winning coach. The Jayhawks defeated Memphis in OT. Associated press
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