Pickens originally had a basketball scholarship to Texas A&M but lost it and was forced to transfer to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State). Boy did the Aggies miss out on a lot of money. And we mean a lot of money. Pickens has donated over $400 million dollars to OSU, $265 million of it (or 66 percent) have gone towards athletics. The football stadium, geology school building, the wing of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and a lodge at the Oklahoma State golf course are all named after Pickens (the school might want to ask for cash next time as the money went into hedge funds that were devastated by the financial crisis and has Okie State scrambling).
Not known as a patient man, he is constantly asked for his opinion on football coach Mike Gundy, as many know Pickens’ disapproval would be the kiss of death. Said Pickens last year: “We have to move fast, because I want to see it. I don’t want them plugging away and doing a good job, and I (die) and five years later they’ve got a championship team. I want it as soon as we can get it.” Further fueling the pressure on Gundy, Pickens recently stated: “Well, it’s been five years, so how long do I get [until] I’ll be identified as a patient guy instead of an impatient guy?” Gulp.
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