Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Preview Colorado Game
November 15, 2009 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 15, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected Cowboys met with members of the media Sunday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview this Thursday night's nationally-televised clash with Colorado. Some of the highlights:
Coach Mike Gundy Quotes
On Colorado
“I don't have a lot of information for you on Colorado. We've watched some tape. It's so early in the process. On defense, they're really, really blitzing. They blitz every two or three plays. They're bringing guys from everywhere all the time. Offensively, I've visited just a little bit with Coach Young and I know they've had a quarterback change and their running back is making some plays for them. So I don't have a lot of information from that standpoint.”
On QB Zac Robinson
“An update on Zac Robinson: He's over here today and has been around and had some tests done and I think he's fine. When you are involved in an incident like that, they are going to continue to test you every day. Up to this point, his tests went very well. He was over here. I saw him at 2:30 or 3:00 today. He was down there and he was getting ice on his shoulder and they were doing all those tests on him and he was very responsive. So from that standpoint, we're anticipating him being able to play this week, but they'll evaluate him each day.”
“We want to do what's best for him first. If he's not ready to play then we're not going to play him. Just sitting him because of the opponent we're playing, we're not in a position to do that, especially with a guy that means as much as he does to our football team. We want to do what's best for him and his future. Then we'll do what's best for the team next.”
On the short week
“Obviously, you've got to cut down what you do. You get one real practice, which is tomorrow. For us, it's new this far into the season. I think we feel like we have to be really smart from a fatigue standpoint of how we handle the players. They'll be with us tonight and less than 24 hours they were just playing in a game; a very exhausting, very physical football game. In most cases they've had all day today off and all day tomorrow and we catch them at 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock on a Monday night. We just try to take all those things into consideration and keep the guys moving forward.”
On playing Thursday night
“Obviously, there's some exposure. There's probably some type of financial reward for playing on a Thursday night. They schedule them and we play them. I don't know that it's negative. People talk about the differences. I don't think any of it's negative. I just think that there's adjustments that have to be made.”
“I'm pretty confident that our players will be excited about playing on Thursday night and obviously, there is a lot of attention around it. I would like to stay focused on the task at hand, personally, and not get caught up in everything else and just stay with the flow.”
On the OSU senior class
“The other day at practice I heard Russell Okung visiting with some guys and talking about what this class was able to accomplish. Everything moves so fast during this time of the year. It seems like we were just taking off going to the movie before we played Georgia and there were guys out here trying to buy tickets holding up those signs. It seem like that was just a few days ago. It moves so fast, so there's not a lot of time to really reflect. Most of that happens after we play our final game and start doing some recruiting and traveling around and have a little bit more time to think. You think and kind of reflect back on what certain players or the team was able to accomplish and the things that we need to work on and get better and change in the future and you continue to build and grow. These guys have really done a good job. They've accomplished a lot. It's very important that they stay focused and prepare and practice well this week in order to keep moving forward.”
“They are a good group of guys that continue to work hard and they've been able to absorb the highs and the lows of college football. I think that the future is going to give us more of that. I think that college football is going to be that way for a long time now, so it's important that you have a good core unit and guys that continue to push forward and work hard and get ready to go play the next game.”
Offensive Coordinator Gunter Brewer
On Zac Robinson getting hit hard against Texas Tech
“Your heart sinks into the bottom of your toes. Then you see some limbs move and you just have to hope for the best. As a parent or a coach you just have to hope for the best.”
On if Zac Robinson's competitiveness got the best of him on that play
“I think there is a point in time where he wanted to put the team on his shoulders and win the football game for us. But I don't think he saw that guy coming.”
Defensive Coordinator Bill Young
On if the game against Texas Tech was the team's best defensive showing all year
“I think it was really close. We had a good plan going in and we executed it well.”
On the defense and the senior leadership
“Our defense has been getting better and better throughout this year and a big part of that is the veterans on this team.”
On having to turn around for another game during a short week
“We have to get a great plan together, get our players back and get ready to play some Buffaloes.”
LB Andre Sexton
On being the only game on Thursday night
“It's going to be a good opportunity for us to showcase to the nation how much of an improved team we are. Since that Houston loss, we've bounced back and people haven't really heard of us. We kind of fell off the map. It's just an opportunity for us to get some exposure to show that we've bounced back from that loss.”
On playing his final game at Boone Pickens Stadium
“I guess you really don't know how it's going to hit you until you're actually in the moment and you're walking out on the field with your family and the crowd is going crazy. It's going to be a big moment for all of us because we've been here and we've seen the whole program change. It's going to feel good for us that we're kind of leaving something behind for the younger guys to keep carrying on.”
RB Keith Toston
On Zac Robinson's injury
“It's big for us to just see him walking around. It gives us a sign that he could play. If he doesn't, just as I was a guy that had to step in because of injury, I'm sure we have a guy that can step in and help the team win.”
On the mental preparation for a Thursday game
“You don't have to wait as long. Our normal Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning is kind of long. It's going to feel good to go play a game on Thursday and get the rest after.”
LB Patrick Lavine
On watching the hit on Zac Robinson from the sideline
“I saw it when it happened. Zac has been hit like that before. It's not really a big surprise. He's one of the toughest players on the team. I think he's going to rally back from it.”
On the change of routine for a Thursday game
“I have two classes on Thursday. Eventually, the schoolwork is going to catch up with me. It puts me a step backward in school. Fridays we are usually in the hotel. Now, it's pretty much just go to class. It's something to look forward to. Sunday is usually our day off and we're here now getting ready to go to practice. Everything is a day ahead, but I think it will be alright. It's not too big of an adjustment.”
RB Kendall Hunter
On being back on the field after injury
“It feels good to be out there trying to help the team. I was happy to be back out there on the field.”
On the one-two punch of himself and Keith Toston
“All of us like to compete against each other and push each other to be better.”
OL Russell Okung
On the normal Thursday routine
“It's a lot of polish and a lot of clean-up. It's our way of making sure we're prepared for the game.”
On the toughness of Zac Robinson and his playing style
“I always tell him 'Zac, man you need to slide. You can't do this. We need you.' I guess that just shows the type of competitor that he really is.”
