Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy Previews Holiday Bowl
December 17, 2008 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy met with members of the media in Stillwater Wednesday to preview the Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl game against Oregon. Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say:
Opening Statement:
“We're having good bowl practices up to this point. We don't practice very long but our attitude has been good with the team. Now they get a chance to relax a little bit because classes are over and we have practice this week and this weekend. Then we'll turn them loose to go home for four days. We've had a chance to watch some tape on Oregon now and they're a very quality opponent. They're a team that doesn't get enough credit for what they've accomplished over the last 10 to 15 years. The coaching staff has been together for a while now. I think they've performed at a higher level because of their continuity. They've always got some skill players that can make plays and they're running up big numbers on offense right now. Defensively they've got guys on the perimeter that match up pretty well with our guys. It should be a really good game. We just need to stay focused in preparation and our guys have a nice holiday break and our coaches get a chance to spend some time with their families."
On 20 year anniversary of Gundy's Holiday Bowl Game:
"It's really neat to get back out there. We're looking forward to it. My boys have seen a lot of pictures and they're excited about it. Our team is very excited. I don't think there is a better location to have a bowl than San Diego. It's a beautiful place. Our players are really looking forward to getting out there."
On preparing for the bowl game:
"Our preparation will be the same. Coach Glass in the strength and conditioning area has a certain amount of lifts and runs that we need to get accomplished before we go home and a certain number that we have to get accomplished out there. We feel that gives our players a chance to be in good physical condition in the game. From an X's and O's standpoint, we have a certain number of practices and team periods and then there's a certain time we'll go against each other that we feel gets us prepared to play in the game. I don't know if anyone has a perfect recipe for success but we feel pretty comfortable about ours. So we'll stay with the same plan we've had the last few years."
On a bowl win affecting next year's team:
"I think it's good. I think the win against Alabama and against Indiana carried over into the off season with the players. Early in the season before we started there were a lot of comments about our defense. I had said that I thought they played very well in the bowl game and it helped them in spring ball and with the addition of the junior college players that we brought it in January. This will be even more of a challenge for our defense because we're without our defensive coordinator and this team is running up even bigger numbers that what Indiana did a year ago."
