Talks Ongoing as Gundy, Shrum and Weiberg Work Toward to Getting Deal Done
STILLWATER – All I can say is don’t believe social media and non journalistic sites with regards to the final disposition on Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy. Our sources report that Gundy, OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum, and athletics director Chad Weiberg are still hammering out a suitable contract that will fit the ramifications apparently demanded by the Oklahoma State/A&M Board of Regents in a specially called meeting. Pokes Report will keep you posted as we learn more about the continuing discussion with Gundy, Shrum, and Weiberg.
The special regents meeting that took place during the time they normally eat breakfast and discuss university topics prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the regents. The special meeting notice was put out earlier this week, actually on signing day and said the topic was employment evaluation/review of Oklahoma State football staff.
The Regents gaveled into session at 7:30 a.m. and almost immediately the motion was made to go into executive session and that motion passed unanimously. The meeting went on for just over two hours.
Both Shrum and Weiberg joined the meeting just before 8:20 a.m., roughly an hour after it began at 7:30. They left the meeting around 9:20 a.m. Shrum and Weiberg left with identical looks on their faces that seemed to be a mix of shock and disppointment.
Harrel was the only member of the regents to speak and reportedly the person most responsible for all of this.
Regents chairperson Jimmy Harrel told the media, including Pokes Report “No Action. We have a plan and it will be enacted soon.” All other regents deferred their comments to chairman Harrel.
The regents left for the fourth floor of The Student Union and their regularly scheduled meeting that ran until mid afternoon. The regents dspursed and there was obviously not going to be a follow up or an expected report or response to the “plan.”
Pokes Report learned the plan was a restructured contract for head coach Mike Gundy that had less salary and some monitored control over the hiring of staff, particularly coordinators. No report what that is. Gundy had been discussing personally donating to the NIL efforts for his players. He also had begun interviewing candidates to replace offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo, who both were let go on Wednesday. Gundy actually had left the day after the loss to Colorado that ended the 3-9 season. It is the worst season under Gundy, but one of only two losing seasons in 20-years as head coach.
Mike Gundy and his staff have worked hard for this rebuilding period in December. Now they will have to work harder.
The hiring of at least one coordinator was imminent and the other hiring was reportedly very close. Gundy and his staff had worked hard to be prepared for the opening of the NCAA Transfer Portal at midnight on Sunday to Monday, Dec. 9. Now because of the negative publicity created by this scenario today that started with the regents executive session and apparent demands. There will be some major clean up needed of the Oklahoma State football, athletic, and institutional reputation.
That is provided a contract is hammered out. We do know that Gundy, Dr. Shrum, and Weiberg want it to get done. The president and the athletic director were supporting the head coach. Now, we just wait for the i’s to be dotted and the t’s crossed. Then it will be time to get to work changing the image that was splashed in the regional and national media from the situation.
