STILLWATER — Now that we’ve seen stunning back-to-back results — a 66-point humiliation followed by a home-field loss to the University of Tulsa — I’ve stopped pretending to know what to expect from the Oklahoma State football program.
I thought there would be a 38-13 type of setback at Oregon, and I thought Mike Gundy’s Cowboys would find a way to get past TU.
Instead, there was the 69-3 result at Oregon and a 19-12 disappointment against the Golden Hurricane.
In a figurative sense, a mushroom cloud floats above Boone Pickens Stadium.
The OSU fan base and university officials see now that the 2025 Cowboy season might actually be worse than the 2024 season — and that’s saying a lot.
The first steps in a repair process must be taken now, and there are signs that the process starts this week.
There are signs that there will be closure on the Chad Weiberg mystery.
In advance of OSU’s Big 12 opener against Baylor, the Bears are favored by 12½ points.
Before Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff, it is expected that there finally will be clarity on the 53-year-old Weiberg and whether he gets a new contract to continue as OSU’s athletic director.
It would not be a surprise if such clarity becomes evident before sundown on Wednesday.
When a decision is made and action is taken, I believe donors will have been the most vocal and influential of all OSU people.
As Weiberg’s original four-year deal expired on June 30, he has worked for nearly three months without a contract. One possible explanation for the lack of a resolution: Weiberg continues to recover from a six-hour open-heart surgery that was performed on Aug. 2.
During a Sept. 12 meeting of OSU’s Board of Regents, I asked a university official whether he could state unequivocally that Weiberg will get a new contract.
The reply from Kyle Wray, OSU’s senior vice president for system affairs: “Oh, no — I’m not saying that at all. That would be putting words in the mouth of the president and the board.”
Oklahoma State University President Jim Hess, Wray added, “is committed to Chad’s energy and dedication to (OSU athletics personnel).”
“I think the (Weiberg) contract will be addressed in due time,” Wray said that day. “Today wasn’t (the right time), but when it’s time to have that discussion, we’ll have it.”
Based on information and predications from Oklahoma State sources, this week feels like the right time.
During Mike Gundy’s Monday news conference, OSU’s beleaguered head football coach said he knows none of the Weiberg details but did compliment his longtime associate.
“I think Chad is good,” Gundy stated. “I think he’s very innovative. I think he loves OSU.”
For four years before Weiberg’s 2021 promotion to the athletic director position, he was OSU’s deputy athletic director. Weiberg was then-athletic director Mike Holder’s administrative liaison for football and worked closely with Gundy on scheduling.
Gundy said he hasn’t talked recently with Weiberg or other university leadership figures about the current plight of the Cowboy football program.
“I think that they share the same vision that I have,” Gundy said. “I think maybe the conversation hasn’t really had to take place because I’ve been (the head coach) for 21 years.
“I think they know what’s on my mind, (and) I probably have a pretty good feel for what they want.”
As the OSU program is 16-21 since midseason 2022, Gundy acknowledged that his employment status is an everyday topic of speculation.
Gundy also said he is “100%” interested in coaching the 2026 Cowboys.
Considering the condition of the football program and the uncertainty of the Weiberg situation, OSU’s donations operation can’t possibly be functioning at a desired level.
OSU didn’t sell as many football season tickets this year as it did last year. When that revenue reduction is bundled with what is said to have been diminished donations, there is a doubling of pressure on Gundy and the university to fix football.
While it might seem obvious that a Cowboy head-coaching change is imminent, the launching of a search for a new coach can’t begin without stability in the athletic director’s office.
At what level should or could Weiberg be held accountable because the OSU football team can’t block or tackle or win?
At $750,000 a year, Weiberg has been paid well below the industry average for Power Four athletic directors.
Most Power Four athletic directors have a contract of no fewer than five years. Salaries range from $900,000 to $2.8 million. Seven Power Four athletic directors currently make at least $2 million.
If Oklahoma State decides to move on without Weiberg, a starting salary of $1 million would attract some of the more highly regarded athletic directors from conferences like the American, Sun Belt and Mountain West.
I can state this with total confidence: the University of Tulsa’s Justin Moore belongs on the “best and brightest” list. At 44, he is a talented guy who raised tons of money at Texas A&M and has been very impressive through his first 15 months at TU.
If OSU does decide to hire a new athletic director and insists on that person being a current Power Four AD, the number on first-year pay probably has to be at least $1.5 million.
A year ago, OSU had a 3-0 football record and was ranked 13th in the nation. Every ticket for every 2024 home game was sold.
Now, there is an 11-game losing streak against FBS opponents.
Before the Tulsa-OSU game, I talked with tailgating Oklahoma State donors. They’re not happy.
This week, the Cowboys are double-digit underdogs for a conference game on their home field.
It’s time for action, and it seems inevitable that it starts this week with the university’s Chad Weiberg decision.
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Bill Haisten
Tulsa World Sports Columnist
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today