Back in January, after nine years with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, offensive coordinator Joe Wickline accepted a job with newly-hired Texas Longhorns’ head coach, Charlie Strong.
Unfortunately for Wickline, Oklahoma State had a clause in his contract where he would have to pay a buyout of close to $600,000 if he left Stillwater to go coach at another FBS school, where his new job wouldn’t entail play-calling.
Immediately following the hire, Coach Strong stated that Wickline would, in fact, be calling plays, but in the spring time. Strong said that assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, Shawn Watson — his former offensive coordinator at Louisville — would be the play-caller for the Longhorns’ offense, and have “the final voice.”
Strong went on to say, “Wickline is going to be involved in it… He’s going to make some calls. Shawn is going to make some calls. When we go down the stretch and we have to have a call made, I think Shawn, because he’s been doing it for a long time and I’m comfortable with him.”
This sudden shift in duties and relegation sparked the interest of Oklahoma State, and a letter was sent to Wickline soon after demanding payment for the buyout. Now, several months after OSU athletics director Mike Holder expressed written intent to sue, a breach of contract suit has been officially filed. But not without a countersuit, of course.
Wickline is countersuing Oklahoma State on grounds that he is a play-caller, and wants to be released from his contract in full.
Wickline was offered a previous job at Texas, and when that offer came in, OSU made an amendment to his contract that laid out the framework for his new buyout criteria; which included the increase of his contract by $200,000 on January 1, 2011, and this: “That in addition to employment as Head Football Coach, Coach shall also be released from the obligation to pay liquidated damages upon assumption of employment as an Offensive Coordinator (with play calling duties) at a NCAA Division 1-A institution or as an Assistant Coach in the NFL.”
That particular clause is about as black and white as a contract is going to get, and I don’t see Wickline avoiding the claim entirely. But with the confusion as to who actually calls the plays for the Longhorns, and confirmation from players and staff that Wickline is introducing new approaches, it’s a safe bet that this suit will likely end in a settlement in OSU’s favor.
Of course, this news had to come before the Longhorns head up to Stillwater to play Oklahoma State on Nov. 15, so if you have the pleasure of watching this showdown from the comforts of your recliner, this is likely the storyline you should prepare yourself for.
*Section Photo credit to Michael Thomas, AP; Featured Photo (above) credit to Matthew Emmons, USA Today Sports.
