Daily Bullets (May 24): Eddie

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OSU Bullets

Not many in OSU world get the one first name treatment. Eddie is among them. He passed on Saturday night, and his players shared some sweet words.

• Goodness, Berry Tramel was good on Eddie.

I have covered the Thunder since it first hung up a shingle. I grew up an OU football fan and consider myself a Sooner historian. I have covered OU basketball, from Dave Bliss to Lon Kruger, with tons of great teams. I have covered OSU football, from Pat Jones’ contagious personality to Mike Gundy’s wildly entertaining teams.

But I never felt an affinity for a program the way I felt about Sutton’s basketball teams.

The Cowboys became the little engine that could. A program with no reason at all to bust through to the national stage did exactly that, with a native son leading the charge, energizing a fan base and making a university believe that most anything was possible. [NewsOK]

• RA was really good on Eddie. I enjoyed it. So was John Helsley, by the way. Love hearing war stories from folks who actually covered him.

• This obit was outstanding.

• This photo gallery of Eddie and just watching him age through the years is astounding.

• Three key recruiting areas OSU is focused on.

• Not the greatest look here for college coaches and ADs to be receiving bonuses based on academic success during a pandemic. Seems like an easy win to not take that money, but it’s also easy for me to spend other people’s money.

• This on how the Big 12 is working to exist alongside this virus is really interesting. Using the same firm as the NFL.

“A key message we relay just about any time we get the opportunity to is, listen, there is no such thing as a zero-risk scenario. We’re going to do our best, but infections with this virus are going to happen whether or not sports occur,” said Anderson. “So if we all kind of accept that’s the baseline that we’re living in, we then have to say it certainly has to be recognized that sports activities by their very nature will increase that risk.” [NewsOK]

• If you’re on the “they’re definitely returning too early” side, you’ll enjoy this column. I’m not sure I totally agree with it, but it’s certainly thought-provoking and really gets at the NCAA conundrum within CFB specifically.

Public health experts expect additional waves of COVID-19 in the fall (just in time for football). With no mandatory NCAA protocols, player safety is in the hands of coaches, medical staff and administrators who are desperate to generate revenue. It’s not a good situation for athletes. [AJC]

• There were some great Eddie tributes and photos on Saturday and Sunday.

A builder of men. pic.twitter.com/x2ciZQEShP

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) May 24, 2020

Seems like just a few days ago we were celebrating the news that Coach Eddie Sutton had been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Now this very sad news of his passing. So grateful I had a chance to get to know him & his family. Thinking about Steve, Sean & Scott. RIP Coach

— Joe Castiglione (@soonerad) May 24, 2020

Eddie Sutton has passed away. He had a HOF career and touched many lives, including mine. He was always kind to me and my family when I was a young coach and we’ve stayed in touch throughout his life. He’s going to be missed. RIP, my friend. He and his family are in my prayers. pic.twitter.com/JxoFliDvyx

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 24, 2020

I grew up going to games with my dad in Old Gallagher & listening to the Eddie Sutton postgame radio show on the way home. Eddie felt like a family member. Never have I seen a coach make an impact at halftime like him. If OSU got to half within reach — they were winning. Legend. pic.twitter.com/k5qkSNlDff

— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) May 24, 2020

RIP, Coach Sutton, and thank you. #okstate #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/qIrhVmVtnq

— Doug Shivers (@casdas29) May 24, 2020

• I thoroughly enjoyed these NBA Jam tips and tricks.