The CheckerBoard

I navigate personal political situations like Helen Keller navigates a furniture store.

Having said that, I get the feeling Mike Gundy is playing Tennessee to get a raise at Oklahoma State. My reasons:

1) Gundy reportedly picked up Tennessee officials at the airport and met with them at his house -- a very visible move. He doesn't appear afraid of people finding out he's interviewing elsewhere. That's a classic leverage tactic.

2) Gundy is an Oklahoma State alum and has been at OSU for almost his entire professional life. He just built a house in Stillwater and enjoys a low-pressure job compared to the rigors of the SEC. While some would argue these are reasons to escape his comfort zone and test himself against the best, they're also compelling reasons to stay put.

3) Gundy's tenuous relationship with his AD has been widely reported. Perhaps that's a reason to leave. But perhaps he's making a power play, showing the AD he could have other jobs if he wanted them. If he doesn't really want to leave, it's a good way to build leverage against his boss and assume the upper hand in the relationship.

This is all speculation, of course. But I don't have a good feeling about Gundy's intentions. When he's wearing a UT orange tie at a press conference tomorrow, you are free to call me a fool.