Travis Ford

StatGeek said:
A lot of truth about Ford in this article: http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=22437110&ref=http://news.google.com/
Click to expand...

I could have written the first couple of paragraphs in this article. I described the same scene that caught the reporter's attention with this post:

AdaSooner said:
To further support the idea that Ford doesn't have control, look no further than what happened right after Smart returned to the bench.

An official was trying to talk to Ford about the incident and the call. But Smart was right in the middle of the conversation, pointing his finger at the official, while continuing to rant about the whole affair. Ford didn't so much as put an arm or a hand out to move Marcus away. At the very least, an assistant should have stepped in to take charge of the situation so Ford could talk to the official.

One has to wonder who is running the team now?
Click to expand...

IMO, Ford didn't use good judgement by doing what he could to diffuse what was taking place at the other end of the court. Most coaches would have been right in the middle of an obvious volatile situation in an effort to protect their star player the moment he went into the stands to confront a fan. I'm not sure even Ford can explain why he stayed glued to the bench the whole time. Nothing about that makes sense to me.
 
What we've seen since is Exhibits A through Z in selling your moral soul in an effort to win basketball games.
Click to expand...

This can be said of osu and Booger Pickens. Most all have an inferiority complex that won't quit. They think the world is out to get them (and OU is at the root of it all!). It all begins with the leadership of that institution (or lack thereof) and Ford fit perfectly in that role. You reap what you sow!
 
Implosion complete? Or are there depths of depravity we can't even imagine forthcoming for the poor bastards?
 
They owe Ford $13 million.
And only about $2 million next year (contract is backloaded - 2.8 for final four years).
So even if they hold onto him for another year, they are still on the hook for $11 million.

The question is - is it worth it to them to pay (let's say) $2 million a year for the next 7 years just to fire him. I have to think the answer would be 'no' but consider this:

1) If you are Holder and you truly believe you'll fire this guy at some point before June 2016, you might as well do it right now. Because they'd still owe him about $9 million at that point. Point is - it's a big payout regardless, so what's the difference? Especially if they believe holding onto him will tank the BB program.

2) The Big 12 TV contract for football pays out $20 million per year (increasing over the duration of the remaining 11 or 12 years) to each Big 12 member. No, you don't want to dedicate that much money to paying off a fired coach but it has happened before - see below.

3) The way it often works in football (such as the case with both Phil Fulmer and Derek Dooley at Tennessee) is that they pay it out over several years.

So OSU can afford it with the TV contract money (but especially if T Boone wants to $ee it done and 'assists' the process), so IMO, there's nothing really preventing his firing aside from the idea they think things will actually turn around.
 
Last edited:
Lost 7 in a row & 8 out of 9. Currently in sole possession of 9th place in the Big 12.
 
Ham said:
They owe Ford $13 million.
And only about $2 million next year (contract is backloaded - 2.8 for final four years).
So even if they hold onto him for another year, they are still on the hook for $11 million.
Click to expand...

That's not exactly how the buy-out works. We won't owe him what he would have been paid had he stayed here the entire time. We'll owe him the contracted buy-out amount based on what was negotiated in the contract, which is rarely ever 100% of the money left in the contract.

It's usually a percentage of what's left in the contract and also based on why the buy-out is being triggered (leaving for another job vs. getting fired for poor performance vs. any other reasons).

My "in-the-know" person tells me that it would be in the neighborhood of $5-6 million if he's fired after this season. Nothing to sneeze at, obviously, but not 8 figures.

The question is - is it worth it to them to pay (let's say) $2 million a year for the next 7 years just to fire him. I have to think the answer would be 'no' but consider this:

1) If you are Holder and you truly believe you'll fire this guy at some point before June 2016, you might as well do it right now. Because they'd still owe him about $9 million at that point. Point is - it's a big payout regardless, so what's the difference? Especially if they believe holding onto him will tank the BB program.

2) The Big 12 TV contract for football pays out $20 million per year (increasing over the duration of the remaining 11 or 12 years) to each Big 12 member. No, you don't want to dedicate that much money to paying off a fired coach but it has happened before - see below.

3) The way it often works in football (such as the case with both Phil Fulmer and Derek Dooley at Tennessee) is that they pay it out over several years.

So OSU can afford it with the TV contract money (but especially if T Boone wants to $ee it done and 'assists' the process), so IMO, there's nothing really preventing his firing aside from the idea they think things will actually turn around.
Click to expand...

Despite your numbers being a bit off, I agree with this line of thinking.

Next year is bound to be worse than this year, and the fans that were previously somewhat divided on whether or not to get rid of Ford and now practically united in the idea that he needs to go.

Attendance for basketball will continue to plummet and I shudder to think what GIA might look like mid-season next year for a team at or below .500 overall record and a coach that nobody wants.
 
4-9 in the Big XII when predicted to finish 1st or 2nd...good times.
 
ford doesn't have an osu side buy out .. they would owe him the full amout .. over 11 mil

now they could also force him not to coach .. for the rest of the contract ...

so both sides would likely agree to a lower amount .. but if ford didn't care about coaching he could get the full amount
 
BoulderSooner said:
ford doesn't have an osu side buy out .. they would owe him the full amout .. over 11 mil

now they could also force him not to coach .. for the rest of the contract ...

so both sides would likely agree to a lower amount .. but if ford didn't care about coaching he could get the full amount
Click to expand...

I find that hard to believe. But IF it's true, if osu signed Ford to a 10 year contract with no buy out, that is inexcusable, and somebody (Holder?) should probably lose their job.
 
The "Ford has to go" crowd seems to grow with every loss. So, whether the buyout is a negotiated-down $5 to $6 million or the full amount, that may not be the biggest problem OSU will have to face in deciding if he needs to go or stay.

If Travis is perceived as a lame duck coach by Poke fans, that can't help but affect recruiting next year and in the years ahead. If he is not given a vote of confidence in a meaningful way, which is highly unlikely, Grandstaff may not be the last recruit who will look in another direction.
 
AdaSooner said:
The "Ford has to go" crowd seems to grow with every loss. So, whether the buyout is a negotiated-down $5 to $6 million or the full amount, that may not be the biggest problem OSU will have to face in deciding if he needs to go or stay.

If Travis is perceived as a lame duck coach by Poke fans, that can't help but affect recruiting next year and in the years ahead. If he is not given a vote of confidence in a meaningful way, which is highly unlikely, Grandstaff may not be the last recruit who will look in another direction.
Click to expand...


Yeah, the lame duck effect makes them almost HAVE to find a new coach. Hell, hiring a new caoch might bring about enough new revenue next year to make up for having to double pay for coaches.


And they absolutely have to get rid of Holder. They've alienated the best football coach in school history to the point that he has very seriously considered making lateral coaching moves away from his Alma Mater. He offered this ridiculous contract to Ford, and has overseen all the numerous OSU athletics debacles.



The OSU athletic department is a flat out embarrassment to the school at this point.
 
sperry said:
Yeah, the lame duck effect makes them almost HAVE to find a new coach. Hell, hiring a new caoch might bring about enough new revenue next year to make up for having to double pay for coaches.


And they absolutely have to get rid of Holder. They've alienated the best football coach in school history to the point that he has very seriously considered making lateral coaching moves away from his Alma Mater. He offered this ridiculous contract to Ford, and has overseen all the numerous OSU athletics debacles.



The OSU athletic department is a flat out embarrassment to the school at this point.
Click to expand...

Can't say I disagree about Holder. He seems like a really nice guy. But good golf coaches don't always make good administrators.
 
sperry said:
Yeah, the lame duck effect makes them almost HAVE to find a new coach. Hell, hiring a new caoch might bring about enough new revenue next year to make up for having to double pay for coaches.


And they absolutely have to get rid of Holder. They've alienated the best football coach in school history to the point that he has very seriously considered making lateral coaching moves away from his Alma Mater. He offered this ridiculous contract to Ford, and has overseen all the numerous OSU athletics debacles.



The OSU athletic department is a flat out embarrassment to the school at this point.
Click to expand...

holder is tboone's guy .. he is not going anywhere ..
 
You guys worry way too much about Travis Ford and the buyout clause in his contract.
 
sperry said:
Yeah, the lame duck effect makes them almost HAVE to find a new coach. Hell, hiring a new caoch might bring about enough new revenue next year to make up for having to double pay for coaches.

And they absolutely have to get rid of Holder. They've alienated the best football coach in school history to the point that he has very seriously considered making lateral coaching moves away from his Alma Mater. He offered this ridiculous contract to Ford, and has overseen all the numerous OSU athletics debacles.

The OSU athletic department is a flat out embarrassment to the school at this point.
Click to expand...

Good lord.

Hyperbole much?

I don't particularly like Holder all that much, but you make it sound like the OSU athletics department is a giant dumpster fire.

The fact of the matter is that the athletic department overall is in just about the best shape it's ever been, in terms of competitiveness of the programs, facilities and financially.

In retrospect, the Ford hire was a mistake and the 10-year contract was an even bigger mistake.

But outside of that, Holder has done an OK job.

It's also hilarious to me the level the Gundy/Holder "rift" has been taken to on message boards and sport talk radio.

They disagree about scheduling philosophy. That's it. Gundy doesn't want to play anyone with a pulse in the non-conference and Holder wants to play a big game every now and again.

I (along with many other fans) actually side with Holder on this. I like playing big non-conference games of consequence in football.

I loved opening last year with Mississippi State and I love that we're opening with Florida State next year.

Gundy would play Louisiana Monroe three times during the non-conference if he got his way. No thanks.
 
They disagree about scheduling philosophy. That's it. Gundy doesn't want to play anyone with a pulse in the non-conference and Holder wants to play a big game every now and again.
Click to expand...

it might be exaggerated in media but I think you are underexaggerating it.

You are fooling yourself if you don't think it pissed gundy off that they wouldn't give him the deal they gave ford.

And competitveness isn't everything. OSU has had quite a bit of bad press lately. I think you guys should feel pretty lucky that the NCAA didn't do more investigating of the SI piece
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Thoughts on the game
4 5 6
Replies
111
Views
4K
BulldogSooner
B
O
Midrange game
Replies
0
Views
417
outest
O
B
I have no defense
Replies
5
Views
221
Boom Soon
B
N
Official Practice Starts Today
5 6 7
Replies
127
Views
7K
WichitaSooner
W
N
Remind me: the true story of the "donor program" from 40 years ago
Replies
12
Views
391
NorthCarolinaSooner
N
Back
Top