Oklahoma State seeks Charlie Strong deposition in play-calling lawsuit

Oklahoma State notified University of Texas officials that they are seeking sworn statements from head football coach Charlie Strong and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson about the play-calling duties at the school

Oklahoma State notified University of Texas officials that it is seeking sworn statements from head football coach Charlie Strong and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson about the play-calling duties at the school, reports the Associated Press.

Oklahoma State and Texas co-offensive coordinator Joe Wickline sued each other in October, with Oklahoma State saying Wickline breached his contract because he lied about his new position at Texas. Oklahoma State is seeking $593,487 in damages because it claims that Wickline made a lateral move to Texas.

Wickline’s previous contract with Oklahoma State stated he would be required to pay the school the balance of his contract if he left for a job with another Big 12 team. Wickline would not have to make the payment if his new job included "play-calling duties." He was Oklahoma State’s offensive line coach during the nine years before he left for Texas.

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"We believe they have relevant and material information that will be important to a jury in Oklahoma deciding why the (Wickline) contract is not being honored," Sean Breen, Oklahoma State's Austin-based attorney, said to the AP.

Wickline’s countersuit against Oklahoma State was dismissed.

Wickline says he calls plays for the Longhorns. Strong says Watson, the team’s quarterbacks coach, has final word on the plays that are called. Neither Strong nor Watson is named in the lawsuit, but Texas officials said they will not fight the depositions if they are subpoenaed to testify. Oklahoma State had threatened to seek depositions from anyone privy to the play-calling at Texas.

Strong was hired by Texas in January 2014 and went 6-7 in his first season.

- Scooby Axson