Hazing ends Titus era at OU

“They don’t have to do anything they don’t want to do, but that is thing the administration has a problem with, so they tell me,” Titus said.

In the gauntlet, players said, team members run about 80 feet while others shoot at them with paintball guns from 30 to 40 feet away.

The 14-year coach, who won his 300th game this season, was fired April 11. Assistant Athletic Director Tom Taldo has filled in as the interim head baseball coach.

Provost Dennis Tyner said that the school does not comment on personnel matters but did say that the university uses an external law firm for all legal matters.

That law firm reported to Tyner and Athletic Director Arabie Conner that hazing did take place.

Conner said it was a serious case of hazing.

“No gray area. This day and age, it’s not tolerated,” Conner said.

According to OU’s 2007-08 Student Handbook, hazing is defined as “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are, or include, students at an educational institution.”

Ottawa junior pitcher Eric Cordell said that a player or players called the school campus hotline to report an incident that occurred during the preseason. He said he was the only upperclassman interviewed by the lawyers. Eight freshmen and a sophomore transfer student also were interviewed.

The event leading to Titus’ dismissal began last fall with an annual team-building event competition called “Rookie Night,” which is followed by a camping trip over Christmas break.

The losing team from the fall competition has to run the gauntlet.

Titus said the trip and the activities were meant to build camaraderie among the team.

“It was guys being guys. I got shot more than anyone on that camping trip. It was a chance to get Coach Titus. It was a team building thing,” Titus said.

Cordell agreed with his coach.

“Nothing we do as a team outside of practice is mandatory. It is encouraged because it is a very simple way to build team unity. It may be seen as barbaric, but damn it, it works,” Cordell said.

The lawyers also talked to Titus.

“The new guys talked to the lawyers. Both lawyers were asking them ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions. I got called in and I got to explain myself. Stemming from what the lawyers said is why I got fired. I didn’t resign,” Titus said.

After the investigation, Titus stated that he was faced with a situation in which he could sign a contract allowing him to stay on for the rest of the season with a stipulation that he couldn’t tell anyone what was happening. Titus didn’t sign the contract resulting in his termination.

“No way I was going to sign. I wanted to tell my players and alumni and wanted the real story to be known. We haven’t done anything wrong,” Titus said.

“Both the lawyers didn’t understand what I was telling them. I don’t expect them to know athletics but I do expect them to have a little smarts if they are deciding my job and the lives of the players,” Titus said.

Titus said that the whole process made little sense to him. He felt no one let him share his side of the story and that the lawyers made up their mind before the interview started.

“They didn’t want to listen to what I had to say,” Titus said.

Conner said the lawyers consulted the school handbook when judging whether  the incident was hazing. She said that school policies prevent her from sharing information involved in personnel matters.

“No one knows the whole story and no one is going to know,” Conner said.

Titus maintained that everything in preseason was done for the right reasons.

“To build a team year in and year out, you’ve got to do something. Mistake passion for a little psycho. I was always in coaching for the right reason: loyalty, kids and alumni. It’s not about the money. I have had my run-ins with the administration; none of which were too bad. I always say what I mean, I’m too honest to people. It’s one of my faults,” Titus said.

Titus put together a 308-259 record while winning six conference championships and producing 14 All-American and 95 all-conference players during his OU tenure.

Titus plans to take a vacation — his first in 14 years —  and look for baseball jobs as they arise.

That is a very different future than Titus imagined at the start of this season.

“I wanted to work for another eight or so years. Then work on the field for Herb Orr, make it in the Hall of Fame. None of that is going to happen now,” Titus said.

Conner said that there is no time frame for hiring a new coach but there have been more 20 applicants so far.