Boone Pickens Can't Buy O-State Love

by ccmachine on Apr 11, 2008 12:48 AM CDT in News Comment 8 comments

"Yeah, it was my idea to fire Sean on April
Fool's Day. That way everyonr would wonder
if it was a joke. Speaking of jokes let's talk
about the search for a new basketball coach!"

In five seasons as the head basketball coach for the Kansas Jayhawks Bill Self has won games, four Big 12 titles and a national championship. Let's face it, he's the kind of guy just about any school would love to have coach their basketball team but only few would be qualified to employ him. Among the hundreds of schools that rank among the unqualified you'll find Bill Self's alma mater, the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

I'm not one to get into the great debate of where O-State's basketball program ranks nationally but I can say with all confidence that they aren't in the same class as the Kansas Jayhawks. In fact, the only other schools you'll find in that class are Duke, North Carolina and Indiana. Those are the jobs that any coach would leave their current position for without thinking twice.

Oklahoma State thought that they could play the "home" card and park a dump truck load of cash in front of Bill Self's house with a love note from Mike Holder and T. Boone saying, "there's more where this came from!" and Self would leave basketball Mecca for Stillwater.

"Home called," Self said. "And we love home. But this is home now."

"There was never serious interest on our part in leaving the University of Kansas, but there was serious interest in listening and helping Oklahoma State in a way that would put their basketball program in the position they want it to be in. We visited and slept on it and came to the conclusion that I felt all along that the time is right for my family to be in Lawrence, Kan., and lead this program, hopefully, to bigger and better things in the future."

Turns out that Self didn't have to leave Lawrence to become one of the highest coaches in the NCAA which sends OSU back to the drawing board but now with a slightly bigger problem. Self was their guy and they were prepared to pay an astronomical amount of money to get him. Now, unless they are going after Duke's Coach K, UNC's Roy Williams or Texas' Rick Barnes, they're not going to get a top tier coach like Self but they will have to explain to the candidates from the lower tier why they suddenly aren't willing to pay as much as was rumored.

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And what...

... was OSU not to offer Self the job? If they didn't, you'd probably jab them for that too. Now imagine if you are a coach looking for a job. Since Self is out of the picture, I'd say that looks good for interested candidates. Money? As Self said, no dollar amounts were even discussed probably because of the reason you now attribute to as a "slightly bigger problem". An entry level coach won't be bickering about not getting his 3 million or whatever package was rumored around, if OSU goes that route. OSU will land a good coach. They have the facilities, the money, a tradition better than OU's, and the fanbase.

by inocybe on Apr 11, 2008 12:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ridiculous.

I like how you title this post "Boone Pickens Can't Buy O-State Love" when money was never mentioned during Holder and Self's meeting.

Awesome.

by KurtTGS on Apr 11, 2008 1:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Come on now

Both of you guys know Boone Pickens was going to throw a ridiculous amount of money at Self.

by Sooner23 on Apr 11, 2008 6:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If You Think Money Wasn't Mentioned

You're fooling yourself. If the media knew how much was being offered, and the general public as well, what in the world would make you think that Self didn't know? Also, if you think that that settling for an "entry level" coach won't be a huge step backwards you're also fooling yourself.

Sure you have to admire them for swinging for the fences but striking out with Self will leave the impression that OSU is desperate and will pay whatever which is something that they were willing to do for Self.

by ccmachine on Apr 11, 2008 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

OSU is not desperate

I didn't say money was not mentioned. It most likely was, but both sides probably agreed not to leak details so as not to negatively influence the job search in subsequent rounds.

I have no idea who OSU will get... entry-level, high-brow, veteran or otherwise, but I am confident they'll land somebody good. The search is hardly bumbling along... it's just started.

by inocybe on Apr 12, 2008 6:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs