This is not meant to be either a pro-Holder or anti-Holder topic.
Travis Ford took over a Sean Sutton team that finished 7-9 and 7th in the conference and in his first year lead OS to a 23-12 record, 9-7 in the Big 12 and to the round of 32 in the NCAA tourney. Excitement for BB was back at OSU and it looked like it was a possibility that Kentucky or even another national team might make run at him. Holder stepped up and did a very unusual OSU thing and offered Ford a long term lucrative contract. Holder had to take the heat for that for several years.
Brad Underwood took over an OSU team that finished 12-20 last year, 3-15 in conference and tied for 9th. He finished 20-13 and 9-9 in conference and lost in the first round of the NCAA. Excitement was back for BB at OSU and Underwood had given every indication he was at OSU for the long haul. Even as few as 2 weeks ago there was no indication that BU and MH had any type of problem so this has nothing to do with Holder being hard to work for.
I think any AD OSU would have had would have viewed the situation from a conservative view point given what had transpired with the previous coach. It looks like BU was offered in the neighborhood of a 1 million dollar raise. Not bad and certainly the type of raise that could be re-negotiated in a year or 2 with continued success. However, anything much more than that was going to put OSU back i a similar situation to the Ford contract-paying too much too soon to a guy that has not proven anything yet. Let's not forget hat against the very top teams in the league, BU was only 1-8.
Culturally, BU fit everything OSU BB stands for. Blue collar, fundamental BB but also BB that was exciting to watch. From that standpoint, losing him is a HUGE disappointment. I thought BU was genuine. Apparently, MH did as well. But something was awry for him to change his mind so quickly. If it is about the money, he should have indicated that earlier. It almost appears that BU and his agent were disconnected and the agent negotiated a far better contract than either thought possible and then there was no turning back.
Travis Ford took over a Sean Sutton team that finished 7-9 and 7th in the conference and in his first year lead OS to a 23-12 record, 9-7 in the Big 12 and to the round of 32 in the NCAA tourney. Excitement for BB was back at OSU and it looked like it was a possibility that Kentucky or even another national team might make run at him. Holder stepped up and did a very unusual OSU thing and offered Ford a long term lucrative contract. Holder had to take the heat for that for several years.
Brad Underwood took over an OSU team that finished 12-20 last year, 3-15 in conference and tied for 9th. He finished 20-13 and 9-9 in conference and lost in the first round of the NCAA. Excitement was back for BB at OSU and Underwood had given every indication he was at OSU for the long haul. Even as few as 2 weeks ago there was no indication that BU and MH had any type of problem so this has nothing to do with Holder being hard to work for.
I think any AD OSU would have had would have viewed the situation from a conservative view point given what had transpired with the previous coach. It looks like BU was offered in the neighborhood of a 1 million dollar raise. Not bad and certainly the type of raise that could be re-negotiated in a year or 2 with continued success. However, anything much more than that was going to put OSU back i a similar situation to the Ford contract-paying too much too soon to a guy that has not proven anything yet. Let's not forget hat against the very top teams in the league, BU was only 1-8.
Culturally, BU fit everything OSU BB stands for. Blue collar, fundamental BB but also BB that was exciting to watch. From that standpoint, losing him is a HUGE disappointment. I thought BU was genuine. Apparently, MH did as well. But something was awry for him to change his mind so quickly. If it is about the money, he should have indicated that earlier. It almost appears that BU and his agent were disconnected and the agent negotiated a far better contract than either thought possible and then there was no turning back.
