They say he drove over the center line, caused an accident, he couldnt tell any details except what city he was in, and who he was, didnt know the date, time, etc.....Witness said he was belligerent with answers, smelled of alcohol, and could see his pills on the seat of the car....
Now i am not out to attack the man, he problem really has a "problem" and thank god no one was more seriously hurt in the accident, and he says he will seek help, i hope he does....the guy has been a great coach for many years, however, this story sure doesnt seem to get the "attention" you would expect on ESPN.....
Imagine if this had been Bobby Knight driving that car, HOW MANY TIMES do you think we would have heard about it on ESPN by now? how many "specials" into the career and actions of Coach Knight would we have seen?
Seems a sort of double standard here, as Coach Sutton is well liked older man, probably a good family man, etc.....So they are kinda "ignoring" it for the most part.....I can guarantee we would have been sick of the story by now if it had been coach Knight....Remember how they pounced on the story of him arguing with another coach at the Salad Bar in Lubbock a year or so ago.....thats all we heard about for days, and that was an argument, at a salad bar is all....
Below is the story, in case anyone missed it....
Sutton slapped with DUI charge
Stillwater, OK (Sports Network) - Oklahoma State head men's basketball coach Eddie Sutton was officially charged with driving under the influence on Friday, one week after being involved in an alcohol-related car accident.
Sutton, who is taking a medical leave of absence for the remainder of this season while he recovers from injuries sustained in the accident, was also charged with driving left of center in a marked zone and speeding by the Payne County District Attorney's office.
The announcement culminates a tumultous week for the 69-year-old Sutton, who admitted a problem with alcohol during a news conference on Wednesday night.
If convicted of the misdemeanor DUI violation, Sutton could receive anywhere from 90 days to one year of jail time as well as a fine of up to $2,500.
According to police reports, Sutton had a blood alcohol level of .22 -- well over Oklahoma's legal mark of .08 -- at the time of the accident, which also involved another vehicle. A witness at the scene told police that Sutton was unable to give the date, time or his current location after the accident and was only able to provide his name and that he was in Stillwater.
The witness also described Sutton of having "a slight fruity odor to breath with confusion and sometimes loud, angry verbal remarks towards questions." In addition, the same witness saw a prescription bottle of hydrocodone in Sutton's car.
Sutton said Wednesday that he did consumer alchohol after taking medication for a back problem prior to the accident.
"For the past two years I have experienced a number of health challenges," he remarked. My back and hip situation is well documented. The pain at times has been unbearable. Last Friday, the pain was so bad that I took a lot of pain pills, but that didn't seem to work, so I succumbed to temptation and went and bought a bottle.
"That said, I make no excuses for what has happened. I have a problem with alcohol. I recognize it and I will be seeking treatment for it; and I know I have let many people down. I seek your help and I trust, as I address my health challenges and my problem, I will once again be worthy of earning your trust and respect."
Sutton said he went to the Betty Ford Clinic in the 1980s and said he would be checking into another treatment center in the near future.
Sean Sutton, son of the successful head coach, has assumed the reigns of the OSU program on an interim basis and is expected to do so for the remainder of the season.
Eddie Sutton has a career record of 794-311. The wins are fifth-most on the NCAA Division I list, trailing Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876), Bobby Knight (867) and Jim Phelan (830). Under Sutton's guidance, OSU has advanced to postseason play in 14 of 15 years, including 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. He has won 20 games or more on 13 occasions in his tenure at Oklahoma State. He is in his 16th season at Oklahoma State and his 36th season overall at the Division I level.
Sutton, who previously coached at Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky, was the first coach in NCAA history to lead four different schools to the national tournament and was joined in the exclusive club by Lefty Driesell and Jim Harrick following the 2000-01 campaign. Last year, the Cowboys spent the entire season ranked in the top 10 nationally for the first time since the 1953-54 season.
Now i am not out to attack the man, he problem really has a "problem" and thank god no one was more seriously hurt in the accident, and he says he will seek help, i hope he does....the guy has been a great coach for many years, however, this story sure doesnt seem to get the "attention" you would expect on ESPN.....
Imagine if this had been Bobby Knight driving that car, HOW MANY TIMES do you think we would have heard about it on ESPN by now? how many "specials" into the career and actions of Coach Knight would we have seen?
Seems a sort of double standard here, as Coach Sutton is well liked older man, probably a good family man, etc.....So they are kinda "ignoring" it for the most part.....I can guarantee we would have been sick of the story by now if it had been coach Knight....Remember how they pounced on the story of him arguing with another coach at the Salad Bar in Lubbock a year or so ago.....thats all we heard about for days, and that was an argument, at a salad bar is all....
Below is the story, in case anyone missed it....
Sutton slapped with DUI charge
Stillwater, OK (Sports Network) - Oklahoma State head men's basketball coach Eddie Sutton was officially charged with driving under the influence on Friday, one week after being involved in an alcohol-related car accident.
Sutton, who is taking a medical leave of absence for the remainder of this season while he recovers from injuries sustained in the accident, was also charged with driving left of center in a marked zone and speeding by the Payne County District Attorney's office.
The announcement culminates a tumultous week for the 69-year-old Sutton, who admitted a problem with alcohol during a news conference on Wednesday night.
If convicted of the misdemeanor DUI violation, Sutton could receive anywhere from 90 days to one year of jail time as well as a fine of up to $2,500.
According to police reports, Sutton had a blood alcohol level of .22 -- well over Oklahoma's legal mark of .08 -- at the time of the accident, which also involved another vehicle. A witness at the scene told police that Sutton was unable to give the date, time or his current location after the accident and was only able to provide his name and that he was in Stillwater.
The witness also described Sutton of having "a slight fruity odor to breath with confusion and sometimes loud, angry verbal remarks towards questions." In addition, the same witness saw a prescription bottle of hydrocodone in Sutton's car.
Sutton said Wednesday that he did consumer alchohol after taking medication for a back problem prior to the accident.
"For the past two years I have experienced a number of health challenges," he remarked. My back and hip situation is well documented. The pain at times has been unbearable. Last Friday, the pain was so bad that I took a lot of pain pills, but that didn't seem to work, so I succumbed to temptation and went and bought a bottle.
"That said, I make no excuses for what has happened. I have a problem with alcohol. I recognize it and I will be seeking treatment for it; and I know I have let many people down. I seek your help and I trust, as I address my health challenges and my problem, I will once again be worthy of earning your trust and respect."
Sutton said he went to the Betty Ford Clinic in the 1980s and said he would be checking into another treatment center in the near future.
Sean Sutton, son of the successful head coach, has assumed the reigns of the OSU program on an interim basis and is expected to do so for the remainder of the season.
Eddie Sutton has a career record of 794-311. The wins are fifth-most on the NCAA Division I list, trailing Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876), Bobby Knight (867) and Jim Phelan (830). Under Sutton's guidance, OSU has advanced to postseason play in 14 of 15 years, including 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. He has won 20 games or more on 13 occasions in his tenure at Oklahoma State. He is in his 16th season at Oklahoma State and his 36th season overall at the Division I level.
Sutton, who previously coached at Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky, was the first coach in NCAA history to lead four different schools to the national tournament and was joined in the exclusive club by Lefty Driesell and Jim Harrick following the 2000-01 campaign. Last year, the Cowboys spent the entire season ranked in the top 10 nationally for the first time since the 1953-54 season.
