Tilman Fertitta on the new era of Houston

NORMAN, Okla. – We are waiting in a private airstrip just a few miles from the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

I am sitting in a black-roofed all-terrain vehicle watching planes land with a University of Houston administrator and an offer from the Houston police, who will also serve as a driver and trainer. Escort for the day. We are waiting for Tilman Fertitta.

The name Fertitta has become almost synonymous with the city of Houston. It has restaurants and hotels all over the city. Forbes ranks him sixth among Houston's richest personalities with a net worth of $ 4.5 billion, invested primarily through his business conglomerate, Landry's Inc. He is the sole owner. Two years ago, Fertitta bought the Houston Rockets for a record amount of more than $ 2 billion.

But most relevant to us, Fertitta is the chairman of the University of Houston's system board, where he studied at the university in the 1970s. He also attended Texas Tech for a while before his transfer. The bad news for Tech? Fertitta is as Houston as Houston.

"I will tell you that since he got his hands on this program, we are going in the right direction," said the Houston police officer.

We are waiting for the airplane from Fertitta, but this day must be one of the busiest for the small private airport. Houston will face Oklahoma No. 4 in a few hours. If you have a private jet and you do not fly to watch the Sooners play a night game on national television, when on earth would you fly to Norman?

A few minutes later, a plane lands on the runway. He is noticeably taller than the others. There is a big black Houston Rockets logo on the tail. Out steps Fertitta, accompanied by his two sons and a business partner. He is greeted with a drink and gets into the car.

"Oh yes, I forgot that I agreed to do that," said Fertitta laughing. "Far fire."

"He raised the bar"

Fertitta's love for the University of Houston was deeply rooted in his father's childhood at his father's restaurant in Galveston.

"Even when I was small, it was the name of the school. It was a very athletic school, "said Fertitta, drawing names like Elmo Wright and Elvin Hayes from his childhood as we drove to the Oklahoma historic site.

After leaving Houston and becoming a resounding successful businessman, Fertitta continued to participate. He went to New York with Andre Ware to receive the Heisman, observed Phi Slama Jama and fraternized with Carl Lewis, "the best athlete of all time".

In 2014, Fertitta expressed his love for the official. He was elected Chairman of the University of Houston System Administration Board.

"I feel like I can do more when you're actually a university official," Fertitta said. "It shows in a way that I do not just support the sports program, but that I'm ready to do the routine work to make the whole university great."

Since then, Fertitta has donated $ 20 million, the largest donation in school history, to help rebuild the Fertitta Center as a leading college basketball stadium. The team rewarded him with a record of 33-4, a final ranking No. 11 and a trip to the Sweet 16.

He was president during the construction of the TDECU stadium, a $ 128 million football stadium that is among the best university footballers. And of course, he spent a lot of money keeping basketball coach Kelvin Sampson in town.

"Every sport seems to take off again," said Clyde Drexler, a member of the NBA's Hall of Fame and Houston alum, in a statement. "It's all about leadership. Under the direction of Tilman Fertitta, we have quality people again. He raised the bar. "

For his comprehensive efforts, Fertitta was inducted into the UH Hall of Honor last November. Nevertheless, his investment in the sports department came with a plan.

"Do not forget that it's a fact: when you have winning sports programs, including football and basketball, alumni are getting closer to the university," Fertitta said. "Everyone loves the winners. All of a sudden, your liberal arts school, your business school, your hotel and restaurant management school, your law school received money. It's just a fact. This creates energy that you will never get otherwise. "

This brings us to the main reason why we hold this conversation a 90 degree day in Oklahoma.

Not a springboard

A few days after Houston lost the Armed Forces Bowl to the army by an embarrassing score of 70-14, Sports Director Chris Pezman went on to Fertitta and offered to make a change. Dana Holgorsen was quick to get noticed.

Fertitta said that Houston had contacted Holgorsen in 2016, while his West Virginia team had just won a season of 10 wins in the Big 12. He was not ready to leave a team of mountaineers who appeared on the point to win the title Big 12. Championship conflict. Houston has instead been promoted by Major Applewhite, offensive coordinator, as head coach to try to continue the success that the university has known under the command of Tom Herman.

Clearly, that did not happen. Applewhite has won 15 games in two seasons, well below Herman's 21 wins in the previous two years. It was disappointing. The unforgivable number? The number of spectators increased from 38,953 spectators per game in 2016 to 29,838 spectators under Applewhite in just two years.

With the major realignment of colleges on the horizon, Fertitta had only one goal.

"I wanted and [athletic director] Chris Pezman wanted a coach who does not want us to be a stepping stone, "Fertitta said firmly.

He has a point. Since the split of the Southwest Conference, Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin and Herman have benefited from the Senior Coaching positions under the Power Five program. The other four coaches won 45% of their games. Since the beginning of the millennium, only one coach remained in school more than four years – a recruitment cycle.

"We wanted a coach who was not going to leave and Dana was the guy – a great coach who will not leave," said Fertitta. "Someone who's young enters, wins nine or ten games, he's hired again, that would have happened again."

Holgorsen is not Texan. He is from Iowan and was only coached in that state eight years after graduating from Iowa Wesleyan. But after a long stay at Texas Tech under Mike Leach, Holgorsen spent two years as offensive coordinator in Houston. It was a special connection right away.

"I loved so much this city and this university," said Holgorsen when he was named head coach of football. "I always came back, coming back two, three, four or five times a year. [Fertitta is] a big part of the reason this city is what it is. "

Houston had heard that before. He did not want to take risks. Holgorsen is the best-paid coach of the group of five – by far – but he comes with a big catch. Holgorsen owes $ 12.9 million to the university if he leaves before the end of the year. He owed him $ 9.1 million after two years and $ 7.1 million after three years.

In comparison, Houston received $ 2.5 million two years after the departure of former coach Tom Herman for Texas. Houston has proposed reducing the redemption in exchange for a schedule agreement in football and basketball; Texas has not moved.

"After Tom left, I said it would not happen again," Fertitta said. "Many people have followed my example and no longer have cheap buybacks. It's not fair. Why should I fire you, I have to pay that, but if you leave, can you pay me a million dollars? So, if Dana wants to leave, it will be very expensive for someone.

Fertitta sits on his chair and laughs.

"But he does not go there."

& # 39; We belong to the Big 12 & # 39;

There is a good reason for Fertitta to be skeptical about the discussion. He and the University of Houston have already been fucked.

In 1996, the Southwest Conference is over. When the Big 12 was formed, political maneuvers prevented Houston from entering. This sent the interest to the sports department in a lineage that allowed the program to recover in many ways. Three years ago, the Big 12 talked about expansion. Houston was considered a prime candidate. All ended up being just talking.

"It's a pity.We belong to the Big 12," said Fertitta. "All of these people, a few years ago, said that they were going to help us and it was all about conversation and bullshit. We want to participate in one of the major Power Five conferences.

"We start the season with $ 30 million less than all the big schools have to play on TV, just that. Give us that $ 30 million, we have a much fairer level of play. "

The common thought is that Texas schools are holding back Houston to try to prevent Houston from competing on a footing of equality with them. Fertitta adheres to this theory.

"It seems like this way," said Fertitta. "It's disappointing, but the simple facts speak for themselves. Why would you want another school to compete for this athlete? You can tell a kid from Houston, hey, you have the option to go home and have dinner with your family on Sunday. Friends and parents can all come to see you. I understand."

Fertitta leans back in the car and looks out the window while acknowledging that Houston could have looked outside the Big 12 to join a Power Five conference because of the policy. He also mentions that the conference does not matter much; Houston can still qualify for the playoffs. "You just can not stumble."

Regardless of the conference, the realignment is on the horizon. The assignment of Big 12 rights expires in 2025 and no one knows what will happen next. Other conferences could change even sooner. This year alone, UConn announced that it was leaving the American Athletics Conference. Other movements will occur later.

It is therefore all the more essential to find people who wish to be part of the long-term vision of the university. The university has made great progress with Fertitta on the board of directors and Renu Khator as eleven-year president. The plan is to include the sports program as well.

"Well, obviously, I took a bad judgment when I took Hunter Yurachek to appoint him sports director," Fertitta said. "I was not even going to interview him, but I really liked him a lot and he said," I have no desire to go anywhere else, I want to raise my kids in Houston. "In 18 months, he is going to Arkansas."

With Holgorsen in the lap and a sports director and basketball coach in place, Fertitta believes he has his triumvirate for the future of Houston Athletics.

"We have people there who want to be there," said Fertitta. "Kelvin Sampson wants to be in basketball. you have [athletic director] Chris Pezman who went to the University of Houston and was a linebacker for all conferences. He has no desire to go anywhere. You have Dana, who has no desire to go anywhere. No. He wants to train in Houston the next 10-15 years. "

In the future

We arrive at the Oklahoma stadium with a little delay compared to the schedule due to the traffic. Fertitta still insists on going to the hatchback. These are the times when you realize that you are spending time with the royalty of Houston.

Supporters of cougars and Sooners stop to watch the iconic billionaire walk around the stadium with his entourage. Some cast the Coogs' hand sign, holding their ring finger with their thumb and their other three fingers up. Fertitta answers them. Others whisper that this man walking casually with black jeans and a polo shirt is the owner of the Houston Rockets. A few have probably even recalled his old reality show, Billion Dollar Buyer. There must have been some CNBC fans at home.

At the tailgate of the former students, Fertitta poses for each photo and shakes each hand. All those who talk to him leave the interaction smiling.

"I just appreciate that people appreciate me," Fertitta said. "That's how it's all about Houston, between Rockets, Houston and all my businesses … I'm a normal guy. I will be going back to Houston tonight, going out and having a drink in a small bar. Just because you are worth a few billion dollars, why does that make me different? I like to be with people. "

"Thanks for all you've done!" Exclaimed a Houston alum taking a picture.

"I'm just doing my part," said Fertitta.

We spend about half an hour on the hatchback, mingling with the Coogs, then walk through the gates of the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The magnitude of the moment is lost to no one.

"The simple opportunity to come here and do that is amazing," said Fertitta. "It's huge. Oklahoma is Oklahoma, I wish we played them every year."

We move to the sideline. Fertitta goes on the field to talk to Holgorsen and some players before the match. After a few minutes, he moves to the side line and sits on the air-conditioned football benches to avoid the stifling heat.

"We want to be a team of 9 wins, 10 wins each year and play in a big bowl," said Fertitta. "There will be a realignment of the conference and you have to win. If our basketball program is strong and our football program is strong …

"We have done a great job raising the school from level 1 to level 1. There are 6,000 colleges in America and I think we are now ranked No. 172. It's not just athletics, it's is all. You want to be a leading school, you have to be strong in studies, you have to be strong in athletics. "

I ask him how important it is for such a match on national television against a team that has played in the playoffs at university football over the past three seasons.

"You start the tradition where Dana is a coach, and we expect a lot," said Fertitta. "I hope we play well."

With that, Fertitta went to his private box and I headed to the Oklahoma press gallery. Houston played well, but not enough to beat the country's No. 4 team. The Cougars lost 49 to 31 in the Holgorsen debut.

Two weeks later, Houston prepares to face Mike Leach and the Washington State Cougars, another of the best teams in the country, but this time at NRG Stadium in Houston. There will be more possibilities. It's like the program at the University of Houston.

But this game – this season – is gone now. It's a construction issue, as did Fertitta when he created a $ 5 billion business empire from scratch. Houston hopes that he can do the same thing.

"He knows a bit about creating an organization, but also about creating a sports franchise," said Holgorsen. "His expertise and knowledge are great. We have excellent leadership at the University of Houston. "