When in doubt, tweet it out.
Oklahoma State AD ‘regrets’ criticism of Cowboys’ recruiting that Mike Gundy emoji-subtweeted him for
Cowboys athletic director Mike Holder said he ‘would approach recruiting a little differently’ than Gundy two weeks ago.
A couple of weeks ago, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy tweeted out two emojis that were perceived to be directed at his boss, Cowboys athletics director Mike Holder:
(I’m imagining Gundy tweeting this from a deer stand in the middle of nowhere, but I digress.)
Wait, what’s he annoyed with Holder about? Earlier that week, the AD appeared on Pistols Firing, a popular Cowboys podcast, and had this to say regarding Gundy’s recruiting:
“You’ve got to give credit to Mike Gundy,” Holder said, as transcribed The Oklahoman. “He’s really matured into a difference-maker as a coach. I would approach recruiting a little differently than he does. I’d want to finish higher in those recruiting rankings than we consistently do. I think that ultimately puts a ceiling on what you’re able to achieve … I think sometimes we settle when we don’t have to.”
On Wednesday, Holder told the Tulsa World that he regretting his comments about Gundy’s recruiting:
“What I should have been doing is encouraging me, as the athletic director, to do a better job of getting the message out that this is a great place to get an education and further your dreams as an athlete, not just in football but across the spectrum of every sport that we offer here,” Holder said via the newspaper. “And challenge myself to do a better job of that. That’s what I regret.”
While it’s true that Oklahoma State hasn’t exactly ranked high in the recruiting rankings under Gundy, it’s not like the Cowboys had a recruiting powerhouse historically. Over the last 10 years, OSU’s recruiting classes averaged a 34th-place ranking in the 247Sports Composite, about normal for OSU in the ratings era.
Gundy tweeted again the following Saturday:
Recruiting aside, Gundy has compiled a 114-53 record in Stillwater, along with 12 straight bowl appearances and a Big 12 title in 2011.
This isn’t the first time Gundy has had some sort of a public dispute with his bosses — Gundy and Cowboys megabooster T. Boone Pickens have been open about their rocky relationship a good bit over the years.
Despite how much emphasis programs place on recruiting, Holder’s comments weren’t exactly common things for ADs to say in public. Either way, Gundy’s success in Stillwater gives him a pass when it comes to his recruiting rankings. We’ll see if we get any deer stand subtweetin’ in the near future.
