We hope OU football head coach Bob Stoops leads OU past TCU to open the season Saturday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. We hope Bob Stoops leads OU to season-opening victories for years to come.
Which is why we also hope Stoops remains at OU. He has done immeasurable good for OU's football program, its other sports programs and OU's overall national prestige.
He has been good to OU, and OU has been good to him.
But in June, things got too good for our tastes when the OU Board of Regents approved an amendment to Stoops' already lucrative contract, bumping his guaranteed income to $2.4 million for this season and extending his contract one year through the 2011 season.
Meaning, he had already signed a contract through 2010.
And meaning, when regents also approved an incentive that Stoops receive a $3 million bonus if he stays at OU through 2008, OU's popular coach was essentially being guaranteed money for keeping his word; for not breaking a contract he had already signed.
Except it's not that simple.
Stoops will still receive the bonus if he exits his contract after 2009 or 2010. Better yet, he can leave (bonus in hand) in 2007 or 2008 if OU President David L. Boren exits, too.
But Stoops wouldn't do that, would he? Who would accept $3 million and all the other generosities bestowed upon him and still leave? We have to take the man at his word, because Article 10, Section 25 of Oklahoma's constitution requires that multi-year state contracts be renewed yearly.
Of course, OU fans should take Stoops at his word. But that word (his signature) was signed at the bottom of a contract years ago and should stand without incentives.
We believe OU regents could have earmarked that $3 million for more pressing university matters and that, if any single OU employee is underpaid, it certainly is not Bob Stoops.
We are immensely proud of what he has accomplished at OU, but we were equally disappointed by this recent contract amendment that is thoroughly representative of the unfortunate sides of collegiate and professional athletics.
And, in the end, how much can Sooner fans say Bob Stoops' word is worth? Apparently, $3 million.
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