Birdwell quit because he was not allowed to do his job as AD and conduct a search for a new football coach. It wasn't that he wasn't going to consider Gundy, he was basically told Gundy was the guy so don't bother looking.

And then later Pickens was quoted in the paper saying if Miles hadn't left on his own, he was actively looking into buying out his contract. Said he knew Les wasn't going to be loyal long-term and therefore he was anxious for him to move on so somebody who was loyal could take over. Clearly, he was trying to slot Gundy in for quite a while


And I don't think it's a coincidence the president of the university took what could only be described as a lateral move (U. of New Mexico) only a few years after being hired and announcing all types of ambitious plans.

Then, Burns Hargis is seen getting of Boone's private jet and you knew what was to come.


So, Gundy, Holder, Hargis were all the people Pickens wanted in place. Sean was never one of his guys so he didn't have the necessary support. From the very beginning, people in the know started rumbling about Sean not lasting long.