re: Tennessee Interviews Mike Gundy

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decision coming tomorrow it looks like.

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SEC Mike @MichaelWBratton Brett McMurphy confirms Mike Gundy met with Tennessee today, UT has made "hard sell" now it's wait and see if he leaves Oklahoma State or not. Conversations have gone well over phone, leading to face to face meeting. Believes Gundy not attempting to get raise from OSU

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TBoone would easily pony up whatever it takes.....if he wants to.

UT cannot go $ for $ with him.

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Source: John Currie was "confused" at the beginning of his meeting with Mike Gundy. Despite claiming to do his homework, Currie was unaware that Gundy had a mullet. Supposedly thought he was speaking to Gundy's plumber.

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We absolutely know that Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy sat down in Dallas on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and spoke with Tennessee athletic director John Currie about the vacant coaching position with the Vols. Our friend and college football insider Brett McMurphy reported that nothing had happened and that Mike Gundy was not going to make a decision today. We have confirmed that, likely crossing sources with McMurphy. Go Pokes and yours' truly is tapped into sources from both the Mike Gundy camp and the Oklahoma State camp. Yes, there are two camps there and linking those together has to be the goal of fans that are sensible enough to realize, and I believe that is the majority of Cowboy fans.

Our sources informed us that when Mike Gundy notified Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder on Monday that he had been contacted by Tennessee about that job that Gundy informed Holder that it was not about money and that Gundy had a list of improvements and additions to the facilities and recruiting that he thought would really help the program. Our source said Holder looked the list over and told Gundy he thought they could do some of those, but wasn't as enthusiastic as Gundy had hoped. One thing the head coach has really wanted is a auxiliary academic study center in the west end zone for the football athletes. There is the signage that Gundy has been pushing for the Sherman Smith Training Center that pays homage to bowls, all-Americans, award winners, and history of the program.

Our sources all confirmed that Gundy was less than excited about the response.

"I know that people have reached out and are reaching out and that basically pretty much what you told me was the jest of what went on and is factual," said an anonymous source that is close to the situation and leadership at Oklahoma State. "I agree that was the subject of the meeting that took place. Coach Gundy said he had been contacted and that he had some ideas on some items that could help the football program."

Another source told us that Gundy was a little discouraged that the response was not stronger and that little concern was shown over the potential of Tennessee coming after the Cowboys coach. To be fair, this has happened before in the past with the likes of Arkansas, Baylor, and even Tennessee previously.

"We feel good about the job that Mike has done," said our source connected to Oklahoma State. "We feel that Coach Gundy is our long-term coach, but I don't think that Oklahoma State is equipped to get into a bidding war with a program like Tennessee. I do feel that we need to do the best that we can to provide Coach Gundy with what he needs to be successful and feel good that this is not all about salary. We should be able to do some of those things."

I know Mike Gundy has spoke personally to me about the excitement he has about the potential prospects coming in and as much as he said, "I hate to see this senior class go," that the talent coming behind it leads him to believe that anything is possible in the Oklahoma State program.

Both sources we spoke to on the actual Tennessee situation, even others we have spoke to realize and admit this is not about money.

"Money, how much money do you need? In the end I appreciate someone that listens to somebody that is willing to pay you a lot more than you currently make," said our anonymous source within the University structure. "You have to do what is best for you."

Another source confirmed that on the Tennessee side that Tennessee did enlist Peyton Manning to call Gundy and have him "sweet talk" the Cowboys coach.

"I know that he talked to him and I know that he was told that plenty of Oklahoma State players love that he has been, is and will be their coach," another source told me.

In the end this is very likely to come down to family. Mike Gundy has a home in Stillwater that he and his wife built. He jokes all the time about being a "gentlemen farmer" and some day doing that full-time. His boys are in the schools, have plenty of friends, and have had plenty of success playing sports in Stillwater schools. Now, don't underestimate that it can be difficult being the son of the Oklahoma State head football coach and playing football and being in school. The same fans that call up and badmouth a coach on the radio or on social media are undoubtedly spreading that poison to their kids. It is never easy being a high profile coach's kid.

"I do think that Coach Gundy is comfortable and feels good about his situation," said our first source at the University. "Stillwater is his home and folks here like Coach Gundy and his kids are in the schools here and having success playing sports. I think he likes and has pride in Stillwater and in this University."

It would seem that there is a lot of communicating going through different sources. It sounds like Mike Gundy has heard plenty of support coming from different avenues at Oklahoma State and Stillwater. Then it is also interesting when a future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback calls you and says he would like to see you in a lighter shade of orange. Now, Mike Gundy needs to decide if it is in his best interest to stay home and move the program he has built into a higher level in college football, say from a top 20 program to a top 10 program, or take over a blue blood that has recently spit up blood and needs a transfusion to get back to it's previous glory.

So, Mike Gundy, which door are you going to choose?

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