OSU AD Mike Holder Says He Was Blindsided By Underwood Leaving

There is plenty of blame to go around in this mess of a situation, but Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder got out ahead of the story on Saturday and said he did not see Underwood’s departure coming. Apparently nobody did.

“We are saddened and disappointed in Brad’s decision to leave Oklahoma State after one year,” said Holder in a statement. “We are trying to digest this news. We wish Brad and his family well. In the meantime, we will consider the situation and move forward.”

So that sounds like Holder did not know this was coming which is also what he told Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World.

#okstate Underwood and Holder met at 2:45 p.m. Saturday at GIA. Holder: "I thought we would talk about the future. He resigned.”

— Bill Haisten ?? (@billhaisten) March 19, 2017

This is the right way to get out in front no matter what in the world happened. I suspect (and I’ll write on this a little bit later) that Underwood’s agent pushed for more either during or at the end of the season and Holder either balked or kept putting it off and putting it off.

Until 2:45 on Saturday.

Then, boom it’s 3:15 and Underwood is wearing somebody else’s orange.

Mike Holder says he met Underwood at 2:45 pm at GIA. This was tweeted at 3:15 pm. https://t.co/bU29xaqKLV

— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) March 19, 2017

So whether you think Holder botched this process or not, it’s not difficult to see that this hit him out of nowhere. Maybe that’s Underwood being slimy, or maybe it’s Holder not being prescient. We will likely never know.

Holder did tell Haisten that he’s moving on and looking forward.

#okstate Holder's search process has begun: "I won’t be able to get away from this, whether I’m awake or asleep, until it’s resolved.”

— Bill Haisten ?? (@billhaisten) March 19, 2017

#okstate Mike Holder's statement on one-and-done Brad Underwood's time at OSU: pic.twitter.com/DMbSsQJ35w

— Bill Haisten ?? (@billhaisten) March 19, 2017

One problem … he might have bigger rattlesnakes fish to fry.

I know Mike Holder needs to hire a Basketball coach soon.
He needs to get his Football coach to sign an extension sooner. #OKState

— Cayden McFarland (@caydenmc) March 19, 2017