Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Talks Bedlam
November 24, 2008 | Cowboy Football
OSU Football
Media Luncheon
Monday, November 24, 2008
Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
“Kendall Hunter will practice today. We fully expect him to play on Saturday. We did not practice him last week. We rested him. Everybody else seems to be healthy at this point. They're all back from a few days off and we are eager to get back to work today."
On players not watching the OU-Texas Tech game:
"They know they will see it all week. Watching film is a different way of watching the game just on TV. They get a chance to get away from it, so they really don't watch a lot of football. I saw the majority of it. Because we had an open date I had more free time. I didn't just sit and focus on it because I had kids around me. But I did get to see the majority of the game. One of the few games I've seen this year on TV."
On the Bedlam game:
"I think it's a big game for everybody in the state. From a business standpoint, I see it as any other game. I think it's very important and has a lot of high expectations for people involved in the game. I don't know any other way to prepare for it other than to come up with a good game plan and work really hard and try to stay mentally focused. There are a lot of distractions involved with this game. But that's part of it. We just try to stay focused and get prepared to play."
On Oklahoma State's fans on Saturday:
"I think they'll be excited. I think it will be loud. I don't think there's any question that our people will be fired up for the game. It will be a great environment. They'll be loud, excited and ready to go."
Offensive Lineman David Washington
On watching Bedlam growing up:
“The game that stands out most to me [before arriving at OSU] was down in Norman when Rashaun Woods caught that game winner. That was one of my favorites. As I got older, I started liking OU because they were winning championships, and that is who everyone was going with. My mom liked them, so that is who I was cheering for. When I got to the recruiting process, I liked OSU better.”
On importance of bye week:
“We had a good off week. We had some good practices in there. I think they were good quality. Guys had fun. It just seemed like the guys were really motivated.”
On facing the Sooners:
“We are expecting a big game. I know they are going to be ready, and we just have to be ready. We have to bring our ‘A' game. It is just going to be a showdown. We have Gameday coming in, and that is always a fun deal. I was here the first time they came. It will just be fun to play in this one.”
Fullback Bryant Ward
On what the game means to the average Oklahoman:
“It seems like it is bigger than Christmas, especially since we do not have a professional football team. A lot of people rely on the college games and the thrill of it. That is why you will find a lot of OU fans here, because they are traditionally the powerhouse.”
On what makes the Bedlam rivalry special:
“I guess because we are so close. They are just right down the street. They are traditionally a powerhouse, and we are trying to make a name for ourselves.”
On playing spoiler in OU's quest for Big 12 Championship:
“For most of us, it would be a thrill. We wanted to be in that game, and I think that is something we will get to eventually. Not going to it and being able to knock someone out who has a chance kind of makes you feel a little bit better.”
Linebacker Seb Clements
On facing OU's offense:
“They are very balanced. They have a great offense. We have seen them on film. We have seen them all season. Thankfully, we have played a lot of high-powered offenses and been very successful against them. We just have to continue to prepare this week and really study them to know what they are coming at us with. I think we have a good game plan.”
On offensive differences between Texas Tech and OU:
“Oklahoma is pretty balanced, like you said. They can run the ball, and they can pass the ball. They have been really successful doing both. We are not just worried about pass coverage. We have to worry about the running game also. I think we can mix things up a little bit by rushing the passer and stopping the run. I think we will be alright.”
Punter Matt Fodge
On being named a finalist for the Ray Guy award for nation's top punter:
“First of all, it is a great honor to even be put in the same category as those other two guys. Just by looking at their numbers, they are great punters. I would not even think to put myself in the same class as those guys. They have had such solid seasons. Hopefully, I can fit in right there with them. It is something that I have not ever experienced before. I think it will be a fun weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it.”
On making an impact upon arrival in Stillwater:
“We struggled a little bit my freshman year. We had to play some true freshman. At that point, we were kind of down by having that 4-7 season. Just to see us improve to 9-2 is pretty incredible. It is all a credit to those guys and all the guys that have helped us along the way. It is cool to see all of that hard work pay off.
On playing the last game in Boone Pickens Stadium:
“It is going to be a cool experience, but kind of bittersweet. It is going to be my last game at Boone Pickens Stadium. It will be last time to play in front of a home crowd. It has flown by. I am just going to enjoy every minute of it and just go out there and have fun. The only thing I can control is what I do, and hopefully it will work out for the best.”
Co-Offensive Coordinator Gunter Brewer
On adapting game plan to accommodate for the speed of the OU front four:
“We have not changed a thing. We have seen some pretty fast front fours this season. They are extremely talented. They obviously present some problems up front. They know us. We know them. We have every film of every snap they have taken, so there is a way to overanalyze. I think OU's simple approach to Texas Tech was a pretty good game plan.”
On OU's defensive improvement:
“I think one thing is you look at how many starters they replaced from last year's unit. I think there were nine new players going through the process. I think they are just growing up. Also, I think you have to give some credit to the Big 12 offenses. You look at some of the national standings, and there are some Big 12 teams putting up some numbers. I think it is easy, when you are used to holding offenses to under 10 points, for people to wonder why it is not happening anymore. You got to give us credit. We can move the ball too.”
Defensive Coordinator Tim Beckman
On OU's play against Texas Tech:
“As with many of the games the Sooners have played, it comes back to the basics of football. You better tackle in space. They have a lot of talented guys out there. They have players out in space who can make plays. You better tackle in space, and you better get off of blocks. You have to create a pass rush. It is the same things we faced against Missouri, Texas and Texas Tech. Our kids will have a plan, and they are excited to be on center stage again.”
On OU being the best run game OSU will face all year:
“It is the offensive line that is so good, and the two backs are great too. The offensive line is big, strong and athletic. They do some good work.”
On Sam Bradford's ranking among Big 12 quarterbacks:
“They all are very good quarterbacks. They all have names to be Heisman candidates. I think Sam ranks up there with the other ones that we have played. He is very good. He does what he is asked to do. He fits their scheme very well.”
Media Luncheon
Monday, November 24, 2008
Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
“Kendall Hunter will practice today. We fully expect him to play on Saturday. We did not practice him last week. We rested him. Everybody else seems to be healthy at this point. They're all back from a few days off and we are eager to get back to work today."
On players not watching the OU-Texas Tech game:
"They know they will see it all week. Watching film is a different way of watching the game just on TV. They get a chance to get away from it, so they really don't watch a lot of football. I saw the majority of it. Because we had an open date I had more free time. I didn't just sit and focus on it because I had kids around me. But I did get to see the majority of the game. One of the few games I've seen this year on TV."
On the Bedlam game:
"I think it's a big game for everybody in the state. From a business standpoint, I see it as any other game. I think it's very important and has a lot of high expectations for people involved in the game. I don't know any other way to prepare for it other than to come up with a good game plan and work really hard and try to stay mentally focused. There are a lot of distractions involved with this game. But that's part of it. We just try to stay focused and get prepared to play."
On Oklahoma State's fans on Saturday:
"I think they'll be excited. I think it will be loud. I don't think there's any question that our people will be fired up for the game. It will be a great environment. They'll be loud, excited and ready to go."
Offensive Lineman David Washington
On watching Bedlam growing up:
“The game that stands out most to me [before arriving at OSU] was down in Norman when Rashaun Woods caught that game winner. That was one of my favorites. As I got older, I started liking OU because they were winning championships, and that is who everyone was going with. My mom liked them, so that is who I was cheering for. When I got to the recruiting process, I liked OSU better.”
On importance of bye week:
“We had a good off week. We had some good practices in there. I think they were good quality. Guys had fun. It just seemed like the guys were really motivated.”
On facing the Sooners:
“We are expecting a big game. I know they are going to be ready, and we just have to be ready. We have to bring our ‘A' game. It is just going to be a showdown. We have Gameday coming in, and that is always a fun deal. I was here the first time they came. It will just be fun to play in this one.”
Fullback Bryant Ward
On what the game means to the average Oklahoman:
“It seems like it is bigger than Christmas, especially since we do not have a professional football team. A lot of people rely on the college games and the thrill of it. That is why you will find a lot of OU fans here, because they are traditionally the powerhouse.”
On what makes the Bedlam rivalry special:
“I guess because we are so close. They are just right down the street. They are traditionally a powerhouse, and we are trying to make a name for ourselves.”
On playing spoiler in OU's quest for Big 12 Championship:
“For most of us, it would be a thrill. We wanted to be in that game, and I think that is something we will get to eventually. Not going to it and being able to knock someone out who has a chance kind of makes you feel a little bit better.”
Linebacker Seb Clements
On facing OU's offense:
“They are very balanced. They have a great offense. We have seen them on film. We have seen them all season. Thankfully, we have played a lot of high-powered offenses and been very successful against them. We just have to continue to prepare this week and really study them to know what they are coming at us with. I think we have a good game plan.”
On offensive differences between Texas Tech and OU:
“Oklahoma is pretty balanced, like you said. They can run the ball, and they can pass the ball. They have been really successful doing both. We are not just worried about pass coverage. We have to worry about the running game also. I think we can mix things up a little bit by rushing the passer and stopping the run. I think we will be alright.”
Punter Matt Fodge
On being named a finalist for the Ray Guy award for nation's top punter:
“First of all, it is a great honor to even be put in the same category as those other two guys. Just by looking at their numbers, they are great punters. I would not even think to put myself in the same class as those guys. They have had such solid seasons. Hopefully, I can fit in right there with them. It is something that I have not ever experienced before. I think it will be a fun weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it.”
On making an impact upon arrival in Stillwater:
“We struggled a little bit my freshman year. We had to play some true freshman. At that point, we were kind of down by having that 4-7 season. Just to see us improve to 9-2 is pretty incredible. It is all a credit to those guys and all the guys that have helped us along the way. It is cool to see all of that hard work pay off.
On playing the last game in Boone Pickens Stadium:
“It is going to be a cool experience, but kind of bittersweet. It is going to be my last game at Boone Pickens Stadium. It will be last time to play in front of a home crowd. It has flown by. I am just going to enjoy every minute of it and just go out there and have fun. The only thing I can control is what I do, and hopefully it will work out for the best.”
Co-Offensive Coordinator Gunter Brewer
On adapting game plan to accommodate for the speed of the OU front four:
“We have not changed a thing. We have seen some pretty fast front fours this season. They are extremely talented. They obviously present some problems up front. They know us. We know them. We have every film of every snap they have taken, so there is a way to overanalyze. I think OU's simple approach to Texas Tech was a pretty good game plan.”
On OU's defensive improvement:
“I think one thing is you look at how many starters they replaced from last year's unit. I think there were nine new players going through the process. I think they are just growing up. Also, I think you have to give some credit to the Big 12 offenses. You look at some of the national standings, and there are some Big 12 teams putting up some numbers. I think it is easy, when you are used to holding offenses to under 10 points, for people to wonder why it is not happening anymore. You got to give us credit. We can move the ball too.”
Defensive Coordinator Tim Beckman
On OU's play against Texas Tech:
“As with many of the games the Sooners have played, it comes back to the basics of football. You better tackle in space. They have a lot of talented guys out there. They have players out in space who can make plays. You better tackle in space, and you better get off of blocks. You have to create a pass rush. It is the same things we faced against Missouri, Texas and Texas Tech. Our kids will have a plan, and they are excited to be on center stage again.”
On OU being the best run game OSU will face all year:
“It is the offensive line that is so good, and the two backs are great too. The offensive line is big, strong and athletic. They do some good work.”
On Sam Bradford's ranking among Big 12 quarterbacks:
“They all are very good quarterbacks. They all have names to be Heisman candidates. I think Sam ranks up there with the other ones that we have played. He is very good. He does what he is asked to do. He fits their scheme very well.”
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
