Mike Gundy on the hot seat at Oklahoma State

Mike Gundy coached the Oklahoma State program to consecutive nine-win seasons. He has a long-term contract and collects nearly $2 million this year. His team has been bolstered by a dynamic new offensive coordinator (Dana Holgorsen) and an apparently excellent group of freshmen, and the 2011 recruiting class has a chance to be the best in school history.  After five years as OSU’s head football coach, Gundy’s report card includes an unprecedented run of four bowl appearances. Because he fielded competitive, compelling teams at a time when the university executed a $283 million renovation and expansion of Boone Pickens Stadium, the business of Cowboy football has never been better. Last season, OSU set school records for attendance, season-ticket sales and student season-ticket sales.  Gundy has never seemed more comfortable in his role as the head man. He has never seemed more relaxed during the countdown to the start of any season, and perhaps it’s because of a belief in the OSU camp that the Cowboys will be better – and perhaps a lot better – than expected. At 40, Gundy was the star of one of the more spectacular news-conference rants in recent sports history. At 43, he seems to manage stress much more effectively, and he doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by a national publication’s prediction of his demise.  “Anyone can express an opinion or write what they want to write,” Gundy said. “Everyone is free to predict whatever they want. That’s what makes the world go around, you know. – Tulsa World

Hawkins, Gundy, Sherman lead Big 12 Hot Seat List

Dan Hawkins, Colorado: Was supposed to use that upset of OU early in 2007 as a springboard to big things. Instead, the Buffs went 6-7 that season, 5-7 in ‘08 and 3-9 last year. It’s understood it will take a winning 2010 for Hawkins to return in ‘11…

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: First came the facilities upgrade. Now Gundy gets wizardly offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Sooner before later, Boone Pickens is going to want a higher return on his investment than last year’s 9-4 record and Cotton Bowl appearance…

Mike Sherman, Texas A&M: The Aggies’ 6-7 record was a step in the right direction from their 4-8 slip-up in ‘08, Sherman’s first year. With both league offensive and defensive preseason players of the year, he’ll be expected to take a bigger step forward this fall. – Tulsa World

Hold Everything: Big 12 may not be dead just yet

Three different sources at Big 12 South schools being targeted by the Pac-10 told Orangebloods.com Sunday morning that Dan Beebe’s attempts to secure a new TV deal on par with the SEC’s $17 million/school payout for the 10 remaining schools in the Big 12 is in play. The sources said they are proceeding cautiously with the new information provided by Beebe. But the information might slow down the rocket-like pace of Big 12 schools seeking a new home and possibly draw all the divided parties back to the table… Texas A&M has been in deep discussions with the SEC and as of Saturday night had enough votes on its Board of Regents to join the SEC (believed to be 6-3). But the dissenting votes on A&M’s regents board are apparently passionate about keeping Texas and A&M together and not breaking up a 100-year rivalry by having the schools head to different leagues. SEC commissioner Mike Slive was in College Station Saturday. Sources close to the situation say A&M has an invitation to the SEC if it wants it. The SEC has also been doggedly pursuing Oklahoma. But thus far, OU, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State have indicated they would stay with Texas. Up to this point, that appeared to be an announcement to join the Pac-10, starting as early as Tuesday of this week. But with news that Texas is now seriously considering the Beebe Plan, there is a growing chance the Big 12, which is now at 10 schools (the Big Ten, by the way, is now at 12 schools) just might survive after all. – Orangebloods.com

Oklahoma State sitting pretty, thanks to T. Boone Pickens

Oklahoma State is among the schools that look to have a soft place to land as one of the Big 12 programs that will likely join the Pac-10. It has always been lumped in with Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. It has always been part of that group of refugees that have been offered shelter. “We’re in,” Boone Pickens said of being among the Big 12 schools offered membership into the Pac-10. “It cost us, but we’re in.” Cost them to upgrade football. Cost them to move up in the pecking order. But consider the cost of not doing that. Where would the Cowboys be now? Every chance that they have gotten, OSU officials have shown off their new football palace. Any time any high-profile, well-connected person is in Stillwater, they get a tour of everything. “Either get competitive,” Pickens said, “or you’re gonna lose out.” Without Pickens, the Cowboys would’ve done the latter. They would’ve lost out in the conference realignment shuffle. They would’ve been calling the Mountain West or Conference USA and hoping for an invite. – Oklahoman

Oklahoma State paying $4 million for football coaches

For the first time in school history, Oklahoma State has committed a total of more than $4 million to football coaches’ salaries. According to figures released to the Tulsa World by the university, OSU will spend $4,460,000 on coaches’ salaries this year. Last year, the Cowboy coaches collected a combined total of $3,938,000. As was pre-determined in the seven-year contract he signed last year, head coach Mike Gundy is paid $1.925 million this year. Within the Big 12, Gundy’s compensation ranks sixth. He makes a few dollars less than new Kansas coach Turner Gill and a few dollars more than Kansas State’s Bill Snyder. Gundy made $1.8 million last year. In 2011, he is scheduled to make $2.1 million. – Tulsa World

Mike Gundy: Dana Holgorsen is ‘running the show’

After two seasons of overseeing the Oklahoma State offensive operation and handling the play-calling, head coach Mike Gundy said he relinquished offensive duties because he was “stretched too thin” and fatigued by the “wear and tear” of essentially juggling two jobs. “About a week after the (Cotton Bowl), I really started thinking about it,” Gundy said on Wednesday. On Jan. 15, only three days after indicating that he would remain in control of the offense, Gundy hired University of Houston offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. In 2009, Holgorsen’s Cougars led the nation in total offense, passing yards and scoring. “He’s running the show,” Gundy said of Holgorsen, who was given a three-year contract believed to be worth $360,000 annually. – Tulsa World

Colorado Likely to Fire Dan Hawkins

Leaving a successful mid-major for a wobbling traditional power is not a lock. For every Urban Meyer, there is a Hawkins. Just two weeks in, he is looking the least likely to make it home before the clock strikes 12. In two games of year 4, they’ve been outscored and mind boggling 43-6 in the first half. It’s hard for fire hydrants to give up that much offense. That was against Toledo and Colorado St. With road dates with West Virginia, Texas, and Oklahoma St, the Buffs appear headed for their fourth straight losing season, giving Hawkins the ignonimous quinella. This is one Cinderella story that won’t end happily. – AC

Scoop: New Names Emerge at Clemson

Three new names have emerged in Clemson’s new coaching search. With Vandy Coach Bobby Johnson, Wake Forest Coach Jim Grobe, Texas DC Will Muschamp, Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville and Interim Coach Dabo Swinney already in the mix, the hunt of off to a great start. Here are three more names that are sure to draw an interest from the Tigers…

Mike Gundy, Head Coach at Oklahoma State: Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips is quite fond of Gundy. Phillips brought the young coach back to Oklahoma State as an assistant a few years back. Gundy is sure to get a call, though he is unlikely interested in leaving his alma mater.

Lane Kiffin, Former Head Coach of Oakland Raiders: Phillips is reported close friends with Kiffin’s father Monte. The two have ties from their time at Arkansas. Kiffin could be a real player in this race.

Rich Rodriguez, Head Coach at Michigan: Richie Rod could be the ultimate wild card. He has told associates he is not happy with the talent level he inherited at Michigan. The natives are already growing restless with the Wolverines’ latest loss to… Toledo. It seems both Rod and Michigan may have buyers remorse. Clemson loves Rich Rodriguez from his days as Tommy Bowden’s OC. Rodriguez and his wife are quite fond of Clemson. Could he bolt Michigan after just one season? It’s unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibilities.