Something I don't remotely understand

Oklahoma State officials have said that even though Eddie Sutton is on a medical leave of absence, any Cowboys victories will go on his record.

Sorry? Is there any precedent for that? Maybe there is, but imagine if Sutton's son Sean, the current coach, wins another five games this season to reach 800 "for Eddie" and Eddie's not on the bench to celebrate it? That'd be an anticlimactic-disingenuous smoothie. Yuck.