Holder Says Oklahoma State has $6.5 Million Debt Service, but Football Needed and Fans Will Be Treated Right

Debt Service really comes into play if there is no college football this fall. Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder vows to treat fans right regardless

STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State vice-president for athletics and athletics director Mike Holder told me on Thursday of this week that he along with the rest of the Big 12 athletic directors discussed earlier in the week that they are determined to try to get in the football season this fall and the objective is a full season with 12 regular season games. 

"Our (Big 12) intent is to play football and our focus is on playing 12 games (full regular season)," Holder said of the attitude in Tuesday's meeting. "Until we're told by the health experts out there and forced to do something different, our focus is on playing 12, getting ready to play 12. That's our goal and I have my fingers crossed that we won't have to fall off on that commitment."

In our story on Thursday, Holder also talked about filling the empty space that the Pac-12 and Oregon State left for the Thursday, Sept. 3 opener for the Cowboys. He said all option are on the table including hinting that a trip to Arlington to replace USC in that match-up with Alabama has been considered. 

It is also known that the Big 12 is in with the SEC and ACC in discussing the schedules for this season and potential scheduling alliances for the future. That is potentially a big plus. Notre Dame is missing a lot of games and for a trip to Stillwater in September, I'm sure Oklahoma State would reciprocate in the future. 

The same day that I spoke with Coach Holder about the season, the NCAA Medical Advisory Committee issued recommendations for schools as they continue to train and potentially head toward fall sports competition including football. 

The guidelines are designed to inform schools in responding appropriately based on their specific circumstances and in the best interest of returning college athletes’ health and well-being. Among the recommendations put forth:

• Daily self-health checks.
• The appropriate use of face coverings and social distancing during training, competition and outside of athletics.
• Testing strategies for all athletics activities, including pre-season, regular season and post-season.
• Testing and results within 72 hours of competition in high contact risk sports.
• Member schools must adhere to public health standards set by their local communities.

“Any recommendation on a pathway toward a safe return to sport will depend on the national trajectory of COVID-19 spread,” said Brian Hainline, NCAA chief medical officer. “The idea of sport resocialization is predicated on a scenario of reduced or flattened infection rates.”

Now, if they can't play football this fall there will be a lot of financial concerns that will come up. By the way that's a big if, because of the determination of the Big 12, SEC, and ACC conferences that are plotting any possible way to play full football seasons within health guidelines for the student-athletes and staff.

In his letter to Iowa State fans earlier this week the Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard mentioned the depth service that Iowa State owes. The $10-million of debt service is a fixed cost for Iowa State athletics. 

Mike Holder has always worked to avoid debt service, but told us that Oklahoma State currently has approximately $6.5-million of debt service. By the way the other fixed costs for athletics include salaries (contractual), scholarships, and utilities. Variable costs include sports programs operations; academic, nutrition, and medical; facilities and events; and administration. 

Holder said that no matter what happens, a full season with all or partial crowds in the stadium, a full season with no fans included, or no season that Oklahoma State has one rule guiding their relationship with the fans, their customers. 

"We're going to go by the Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Holder said of how the athletic department will handle ticket buying customers."

Holder made it clear whether it is refunds or adjustments based on the seating arrangements that might be allowed. The department will be dedicated to making each ticket buyer feel good about the exchange.  

"Football carries our whole athletic department," Holder reminded. "It provides for every single program we have in athletics."

That is why your experience if there is no season, a limit on fans. or no fans allowed might include a pitch to donate some or all of your ticket purchase to the department. It will only be a pitch. In the end they will refund all fans that can't use their tickets or chose not to with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The commitment to customers is just one of the commitments that Holder says he intends to honor.

"Our commitment regardless of whether we have a season or not, is to honor every scholarship to every athlete including those that had their season cut short last spring and want to come back and take another shot at it this next spring," Holder said. "We're going to honor all those scholarships and we are going to keep our coaching staffs in place. We're going to keep training and hopefully, we'll get to play the games."