OSU coach sidelined by car accident

By By Daniel Berk (Contact)

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

STILLWATER, Okla. — Even though Kansas left Stillwater, Okla., with a hard-earned victory, Kansas coach Bill Self was still disappointed after the game.

Self, who played and coached at Oklahoma State, had looked forward to coaching against his mentor, Eddie Sutton.

Sutton was absent from the Oklahoma State bench after announcing Monday that he was taking a medical leave from the team for the remainder of the season.

“It wasn’t very enjoyable,” Self said. “I wanted to compete against Coach. I wanted to play against his team. I wanted to show my mentor what we do. That’s something I am proud of. I hope the entire situation is handled as well as it possibly can be handled.”

Sutton missed Oklahoma State’s last game against Texas AM Saturday because he was in a car accident a day earlier on the way to meet the team for the plane ride.

It was reported Monday that Sutton was given a citation for driving under the influence at the time of the accident.

Sutton’s son, Sean, took his dad’s place on the sideline for the Kansas game and will continue to be the coach for the remainder of the season.

Sean Sutton thanked Oklahoma State fans after the game for their support after his dad’s accident and said he thought this could make his team stronger as the season moved forward.

“When adversity happens, you grow up as a person,” Sean Sutton said. “It’s not fair to the kids, but life isn’t fair. We talked before the game about keeping a positive mind. I think we did that. We played with a lot of heart and energy tonight.”

The younger Sutton was named the head coach designate before the season began. It was expected his dad would retire in the next couple of years. Now, it is unclear whether the legendary coach will ever return to the sidelines again.

Eddie Sutton has been a head coach for 35 years, including 15 years at Oklahoma State.

He amassed 794 total Division I victories, which ranks fifth all-time. He has also had a number of successful coaches start their career learning from him, including Self, who served as an assistant under Sutton from 1987 to 1993.

Sutton told Oklahoma State officials that he was considering taking a leave of absence after his team’s victory at Kansas State last week because of severe back pain.

Sean Sutton said after the game that his dad had been in a lot of pain during the past two years and that it had been a constant battle for his dad to feel healthy. He said he was hopeful that his dad would start feeling better now that he had more time to heel.

“It’s been a hard 72 hours, that’s for sure,” Sean Sutton said. “I’m going to hang in there, and I know the players are too.”

Self said after the game that he talked to Eddie Sutton Monday morning, and Sutton said he was still in a lot of pain.

“I think the quote he used was he feels like he got in a fight with Ali and lost,” Self said.

Sean Sutton and Oklahoma State will return to the court Sunday against Texas.

Wheeler: Jayhawks know how to treat coaches

After the Oklahoma State coach's resignation, KU is reminded that it treats ...

/news/2008/apr/11/wheeler/

Wheeler: Oklahoma State has faced lackluster season

Kansas will face the men’s basketball team this weekend.

/news/2008/feb/22/wheeler/

Self says he won’t leave for Oklahoma ...

Although linked to his alma mater, Self said the school hadn't contacted ...

/news/2008/apr/02/self_says_he_wont_leave_oklahoma_state/

Red Raiders bring new name, same legacy ...

Texas Tech coach Knight makes his Allen Fieldhouse debut at 8 p.m.

/news/2008/mar/03/pat_knight/

Eaton Up The Competition

Eaton scored a career high of 26 points in Saturday’s game and ...

/news/2008/feb/25/basketball_wrap/

Self returns to Oklahoma State

Kansas goes to Stillwater, Okla. this weekend, bringing coach Bill Self back ...

/news/2008/feb/22/self/

Rothman: Self is history in the making

Kansas’ win against Iowa State marked coach Bill Self’s 400th career victory.

/news/2010/feb/14/rothman-self-history-making/

Physical game doesn't bother Jayhawks

/news/2006/feb/13/sp_robinsonsider/

The high/low

Freshmen like K-State’s Michael Beasley are turning heads and leading their teams ...

/news/2008/feb/06/getting_younger_every_play/

Jayhawks destroy Cowboys 87-57

With Big 12 conference play underway, it was time for Brandon Rush ...

/news/2007/jan/10/cowboys_destroyed_jayhawks/

Dwyer: Self will steer clear of memory ...

Past acquaintances and experiences will come back this week to test his ...

/news/2011/mar/15/dwyer-self-will-steer-clear-memory-lane/

Schmidt: KU basketball has it good

Basketball coaches Bill Self and Bonnie Henrickson have led their teams in ...

/news/2007/oct/26/schmidt/

A clash of two different styles

North Carolina scores in bunches and plays fast, while Kansas banks on ...

/news/2012/mar/25/clash-two-different-styles/

Race for the Big 12 title

The Big 12 Conference regular season has reached its halfway point. The ...

/news/2008/feb/06/race_big_12_title/

Self says he'll stick with Kansas

Self said he had met with Oklahoma State about a vacant coaching ...

/news/2008/apr/11/self_stay/

Shroyer: Self announces frontcourt

At a media day in Oklahoma City, Self answered questions about his ...

/news/2006/oct/20/shro/

Oklahoma State coach and assistant killed in ...

Oklahoma State announced Friday morning a plane crash killed the women's basketball ...

/news/2011/nov/18/oklahoma-state-coach-and-assistant-killed-plane-cr/

What three men can do

How Johnson, Brown and Manning rejuvenated Kansas basketball.

/news/2008/feb/15/what_three_men_can_do/

Goble: Taylor’s play narrowly escapes disaster

Tyshawn Taylor played well despite two mistakes that could have easily cost ...

/news/2010/feb/01/taylors-play-narrowly-escapes-disaster/

Dar(r/n)ell off the bench

Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur took entirely different roads to Kansas basketball. ...

/news/2007/mar/13/mbb/

Two Jayhawks experience family tragedies

Stewart and Jackson said they appreciated the their teammates’ and each other’s ...

/news/2008/feb/25/basketball_deaths/

Texas’ Augustin disappoints in neck and neck ...

Augustin’s teammates picked up the slack and pushed for 72-69 against Kansas

/news/2008/feb/12/texas_augustin/

Conference features young talent, experienced coaches

All-American Brandon Rush, who would be in the NBA had he not ...

/news/2007/oct/26/conference_features_young_talent_experienced_coach/

Keefer: Russell Robinson’s performance overshadows Sherron Collins

Sherron Collins’ performance against Iowa State on Wednesday night proved disappointing, while ...

/news/2008/jan/24/keefer/

Kansas falls out of rhythm in Oklahoma

The men’s basketball team has lost three of its last four road ...

/news/2008/feb/25/mens_basketball/

Sullinger sits, Taylor plays through pain, Kansas ...

With a solid defensive effort and help from junior forward Kevin Young, ...

/news/2011/dec/11/kansas-leads-ohio-state-35-29-halftime/

Roesler: Slow start brings fast end

Frequent ugly starts by the Jayhawks were a warning sign for coaches ...

/news/2010/mar/24/roesler-slow-start/

Selby lands in Lawrence, discovers broken finger

Josh Selby, the top overall recruit in the 2010 class, finds out ...

/news/2010/jun/08/selby-lands-lawrence-broken-finger/

Aldrich plays without face mask

The sophomore center is most efficient; Blake Griffin’s concussion could hinder his ...

/news/2009/feb/23/mbb_sider/

The All-American Kansan

/news/2005/apr/07/sports_basketball_review_simien/

Morning Brew: Mid-majors not as spoiled as ...

Small conference NCAA tournament births feel less expected and means a lot ...

/news/2009/mar/09/brew/

Senior night to honor three players' careers

Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed and Mario Little will play their last game ...

/news/2011/feb/28/senior-night-honor-three-players-careers/

Self strives to make first trip to ...

Leading three different teams to the Elite Eight, Kansas coach Bill Self ...

/news/2008/mar/28/self/

University helps improve video game

The EA Sports March Madness 2008 game gives players the ability to ...

/news/2007/nov/27/university_helps_improve_video_game/

Second half focus key in defeat of ...

Despite a close first half score, the Jayhawks pull away for an ...

/news/2012/feb/02/second-half-focus-sooners/

Student hit by car back on his ...

He was released after being taken by helicopter to the University of ...

/news/2009/feb/27/accident/

Reed’s defensive play crucial in win against ...

Before Sherron Collins’ overtime heroics, junior guard Tyrel Reed provided a crucial ...

/news/2010/feb/02/Reed_crucial_victory/

Roadblocks to redemption

/news/2005/mar/16/sports_features_graves/

Arthur injures leg, out at least a ...

Stress fracture in lower leg will cause sophomore to miss FIBA U19 ...

/news/2007/jul/11/arthur_injures_leg_out_least_month/

Big 12 conference close-up

Kansas, Baylor and Texas are showing promise early in the season. Meanwhile, ...