STILLWATER – New Oklahoma State University President Dr. Kayse Shrum showed her ability to stay adept at the modern social media communicating taking to both Twitter and Facebook to show her disappointment with fellow Big 12 member and Bedlam rival Oklahoma as they used covert and secretive measures for the past year and longer to explore, plan, and now execute a move along with Big 12 co-founder Texas to the Southeastern Conference.
“We are disappointed by the lack of engagement and transparency from our colleagues at OU over the past months on a matter with serious ramifications for our state,” Dr. Shrum started on the first Twitter entry in a series of three. “We have historically worked together to advance our state and address issues based on a partnership built on trust.
“To that end, we will continue to work with purpose to the advancement of our state and the betterment of our fellow Oklahomans,” she continued in the second entry. “In the ever-changing college athletic landscape, we will honor our values and ethics as we consider the next steps.
“Our commitment to our student-athletes is top of mind, and their best interests will be represented prominently,” Shrum continued. “We enjoy a proud athletic heritage with more National Championships than any other Big 12 university, and we will aggressively pursue the opportunities ahead.
“Additionally, our university enjoys a great brand known for education, research, and service, and we will move forward with strength. #okstate”
I kind of look at it as Dr. Shrum blowing off a little steam. Everyone outside of Oklahoma and Texas in the Big 12 is again frustrated over the covert action that the two co-founding Big 12 schools used to make their exit.
As for Dr. Shrum, athletic director Chad Weiberg and the new leadership core at Oklahoma State in the President’s office and in the Athletic Center, they actually had knowledge of what was going on before the story broke and have been planning for solutions that put Oklahoma State University and its athletics in the best position. That leadership combined with the place that Oklahoma State and head football coach Mike Gundy and his staff and players have put the football program give the athletic department and the school a certainty of landing in a good position in the Power Five landscape.
