Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Preview Cotton Bowl
December 15, 2009 | Cowboy Football
Dec. 15, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team visited with members of the media Tuesday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview the Cotton Bowl game against Ole Miss. Some of the highlights:
Coach Mike Gundy
On Mississippi
“Ole Miss is a very good football team. They're a very blitzing, attacking style of defense. They want to pressure the quarterback and do a lot of run blitzes. They play man coverage. They've got interior guys that have made a lot of plays this year. I think they have 30-something tackles for loss in the interior, so they've got a number of guys that can make some plays. They play a lot of man blitz from the secondary. Offensively, I don't think there's any secret what they want to do. They want to run the football. They're going to run downhill. They're going to run power. They're going to run counter. They're going to run inside and try to get you to play the run, play the run; and then throw the ball over the top. That's what they've done all year.”
On the Cotton Bowl
“I think it's a great matchup. We're looking forward to it. Obviously, we're getting into the arrangements for the bowl game. We've seen some of the off the field functions we have set up for the team and we're very excited about that. We're looking forward to the Cotton Bowl hospitality.”
On if it's tough getting over the Bedlam loss
“First off, they don't have a choice. You have to move forward and that's something we talked about after the game. I think the coaches have to be enthusiastic about getting back on the practice field and the chance to go to the Cotton Bowl and spend time together. That's the way we've approached it. I know that getting back to work as a coaching staff is what I enjoy doing and getting back on the field. It's like somebody pours cold water over you when you get back on the field and when you're out there with the players it's just enjoyable to be out there. That's another part of it - the preparation and hard work that goes into being able to play in this game and then guys going out playing hard in the Cotton Bowl.”
On the senior class
“Senior night was somewhat a wakeup call for me, in that it lasted so long. Normally there's 13 or 14 guys and they just kept coming on. I couple of them came on and I thought, 'I didn't know that.' I thought Burton was coming back. I didn't realize that this many guys were out of here. It is special because of what these guys have accomplished. You get attached to a group and we go through cycles at times. This group of seniors is the guys that started for three or four years. We'll be cycling through next year. We'll have new guys up front and new guys in the secondary and a new quarterback. We'll start the second cycle, but these guys have done a great job and we've asked them to continue to prepare hard and put in the time and effort in order to get ready to play in this game and finish on a strong note.”
On former Oklahoma State assistant coach and Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt
“I think he's a people person and he's very likeable. Players enjoy being around him at practice and I feel like some of the lessons, or things that were instilled in him when he was coaching here, whether it was with Coach Johnson or Coach Jones, when you watch them on tape you're seeing some of the same mannerisms come in their team. It doesn't surprise me that he's had as much success as he's had because I think his players buy into what he's trying to accomplish.”
Offensive Coordinator Gunter Brewer
On the last time he faced Ole Miss while coaching at Marshall
“The last time I went up against them as a coach was in the Motor City Bowl. It was one of the heaviest watched games. It was in Detroit. Unfortunately, we didn't come out on the winning end. It was a very exciting game. I'm looking forward to getting the opportunity to play them.”
On his ties to Ole Miss
“My son, Keaton, goes to school there. Dad has been at practice all year long, so I've got a great scouting report. Keaton has been to about every game and I've had a chance to go back every spring and sit in their meeting rooms and visit with their staff about things. Then you play each other in a bowl game and it's kind of unique to have the opportunity to be around their staff and in their meetings.”
On if his family will attend the game
“Keaton definitely is and I'm not sure about my dad. But there's no question, Keaton will be in orange. He knows where his bread is buttered. Last year, I had to buy a $100 ticket for my son to watch them go play Texas Tech which hurt me a little bit, but now I can give him his ticket and he can pay me for it. Obviously, I've had a lot of ticket requests with the family history. Dad has been involved in the coin toss at a couple games this year. He's on the all-century team there. We've got a lot of history with Ole Miss. Everybody in the family will be cheering for the Cowboys and they're excited about that.”
Defensive Coordinator Bill Young
On Ole Miss's offensive philosophy
“They're going to try to run it down your throat and so, you better bow up and be strong against the run and sound in all of those issues.”
On RB Dexter McCluster
“He's a very talented guy. There was an article in the paper the other day if would have been the tailback all year, he might have been a Heisman candidate. He's got excellent speed and he has that ability to evade the tackle. He can jump sideways as fast as he can move forward. He's a lot stronger running the football than you would think with his size.”
On QB Jevan Snead
“He's a big, physical guy. He runs a little better than you would anticipate for a guy his size. They will run some option, not a lot. He'll take the ball and take it up and run with it. He does the same thing from a scrambling standpoint. We were watching film yesterday and they were third-down and 15 and he ran for first downs in both situations.”
QB Zac Robinson
On the seniors from Texas playing close to home in their final game
“I think a lot of guys are really excited to be in Dallas. We have a ton of guys from Dallas and they are excited having their families in Houston or around there. Playing in the new Cowboys Stadium is bringing a lot of excitement to team. We can't wait to get down there. We're expecting a great week and it's going to be a lot of fun.”
On his health
“I'm getting better. It's obviously frustrating not being completely healthy. We've still got a lot of time and I continue to get better every day.”
On returning to the field after the loss to OU
“OU beat us in every phase of the game. They were a lot more physical than us and we couldn't really get anything going on offense. They played really inspired. We've forgotten about it and we forgot about it quickly. We've had a couple weeks off to rest our bodies and get ready for the bowl practices. We've come back and everybody is fresh, there's been a lot of enthusiasm. I think guys are ready to play a game again and get that out of the way.”
RB Keith Toston
On playing in the Cotton Bowl
“The Cotton Bowl is one of those bowls if you miss the BCS; there is really no drop off by going there. That's how our team feels. We didn't get to make the BCS this year, but the Cotton Bowl is one of the bigger bowls that is out there. A lot of great teams have played there. This year we get the chance to play in that stadium and that's big. There aren't a lot of college teams that have had the opportunity to play in that stadium and we're fortunate to be one of them.”
On Ole Miss's defensive ability
“Anytime you play an SEC team, their front four is going to be big. They are big guys that can make plays. Their skill guys in the secondary are big and fast and they can tackle. We're going to have to buckle down and try to make plays and come out with a win.”
LB Andre Sexton
On playing in the Cotton Bowl
“It's great. It shows how much we've accomplished as a senior class. We've got a good opportunity to go there and play in Cowboys Stadium and play against a very talented Ole Miss team. We've got a chance to solidify ourselves in OSU history with the chance to get 10 wins.”
On being one of the most-accomplished teams in OSU history
“It would be something great. It would be something you could always hang your hat on in the career after college football. It would be something you can always brag to your kids about when you come back to OSU games. It's something to talk about with the fans. It would be something nice that all of us could have forever.”
On facing Ole Miss's backfield
“It's going to be a great challenge. The SEC is a very physical conference. We're going to have to bring our 'A' game, especially on defense. Dexter McCluster is a very talented running back. He's small and he's shifty and he has a lot of speed. Jevan Snead is one of the top quarterbacks in the country. He makes great decisions. They don't throw the ball much; they try to pound it down your throat. But, when he does the throw the ball, they're going to make you pay for it.”
FB Bryant Ward
On earning All-Big 12 honors
“It's a great honor. I'm very excited. People are always saying congratulations. It's just huge. I didn't even know I was in the running for it. We don't use the fullback a lot, but a lot of had to do with special teams.”
On importance of special teams against Ole Miss
“On special teams, there is always that one play that's going to break and it could seal the deal in a game. It could seal your fate or help you seal the game. Someone is going to take a play off and you have to be the team that isn't the team taking the play off.”
OL Andrew Lewis
On if the loss to Oklahoma is still looming
“It definitely wasn't a pleasant experience. But after having two weeks off to regain your focus and come back to bowl practice, I think our offense is confident in coming back. I think it's a lot easier to get over this than it was two weeks ago.”
On Ole Miss's front four on defense
“Their defense is just as good as OU's. They have great defensive linemen and great speed at the linebacker position, so they're definitely going to be a challenge also. If you watch film, you can always see their defensive linemen making plays and doing special things for them.”
DE Jermiah Price
On playing Ole Miss
“I know a lot of the players and I know a lot about the team. They're going to try to run the ball and we're going to stop them.”
On facing Ole Miss's offensive backfield
“Jevan Snead is a great quarterback. He's been off a little bit here and there, but so far, he's been pretty good. Their running back is an awesome player. If he gets to the edge, he's going to hurt you. We're going to try our best to keep him from getting to the edge and hitting the hole.”
On earning a Cotton Bowl bid
“We're happy with what we got, because we've earned everything we've got. We're playing in the Cotton Bowl; it's the closest bowl to going to a BCS bowl. We're happy with that.”
