Few question the loyalty and commitment to success T. Boone Pickens has for his beloved alma mater at Oklahoma State. When thew Cowboys are winning, Pickens is smiling. It was not too long ago Oklahoma State was among the top programs in the Big 12, but the relationship between Mike Gundy, the head football coach of Oklahoma State, and the largest donor to the school had reportedly become strenuous. In some worlds, this creates a divide that can go against the football coach, but the two seem to be trying to make things work.
“There’s no question we kind of drifted apart,” Pickens said in a story for The Dallas Morning News. That changed following a recent meeting and talk this offseason. “When we visited, we both agreed that we loved the university. We might not be identified as weekend fishing buddies together but the most important thing is Oklahoma State and we both understand that.
In other words, they both want what is best for Oklahoma State, even though they may see things a bit differently. In any event, they decided to let bygones be bygones. That’s not a bad way to go about it. That said, Pickens still wants to have a presence around the football program, including coming and talking to the team at spring practice. That happened this afternoon.Mike Gundy and Boone Pickens watching practice #besties pic.twitter.com/QQNzwKOx8c
— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) April 10, 2015
Gundy appears to be happy establishing a better relationship as well, and why not? Pickens has plenty of influence around Oklahoma State, and if he wanted to pay to bring in a new coach he could probably make it happen.
“My goal is for it to become great over six months to a year from now,” Gundy said to The Dallas Morning News. “If you’re trying to have a good relationship, it doesn’t develop overnight.”
As is the case with most sports teams, winning tends to have a way of patching up rocky relationships pretty quickly.