Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Meet The Media
September 07, 2009 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 7, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected Cowboy players visited with members of the media Monday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview Saturday's contest against Houston. Here are some of the highlights:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement
"We're looking forward to practice today to get back on track after a good victory for Oklahoma State. Our players are very excited. We had meetings this morning and corrected mistakes from the last game. We talked about coming together this afternoon and getting ready for the next game. We're going to play a very good football team that can score a lot of points and is very dangerous. I think our players understand that from watching tape last year. Overall [last Saturday] may have been one of the best days we've had here for everybody involved. There are a lot of people who had a lot of commitment to last Saturday's game and there was a lot on the line. It worked out well for all of us but we have to move forward now. We're looking forward to playing a good football team. Everybody's is probably aware of their quarterback, running back and receivers they play with because they've been very successful. We've seen on tape that their defense has improved. They can run to the football and we're going to have to have a great week of preparation for Saturday's game."
On the importance of Houston game for recruiting purposes
"All of our games are big now. We've had players in the past and that are currently on our team from Houston that contribute to us having a lot of success. It will always be important when we play teams from the state of Texas that we perform well. We've had a great recruiting season up until now. We don't have a lot of scholarships left, which is a good thing. It is very important that we continue to play well and develop and build this program to where we want it to be."
On defensive coordinator Bill Young
"He knows that we have a ways to go on the defensive side of the ball here and I think our players understand that. Our players played very well Saturday, but this will be a different challenge for them this week because of the style of play. I think there is some relief with Coach Young after last game, but that's human nature with all of us. I know that he had a lot invested in this because he's the new guy on the block and we haven't played very well on defense here in a long time. And so when you have a new guy come in all of a sudden people think `wow you're going to fix all the problems instantly.' I think that he has corrected some mistakes and I think that he's pulled the players together and they're playing together. But we have a long way to go. It's a long season."
On quarterback Zac Robinson
"I thought Zac was a great leader for us and that's the most important thing he can do is be a great leader for our team. I thought he showed toughness and durability. He ran the ball effectively and threw the ball okay. Zac went through a period of times during two-a-days where he wasn't practicing very much. I've told this to the team that I have only know two people in 20 or 30 years as a player and coach that could not practice and still play well and Zac is not one of them. So for the amount of time that he practiced, he played pretty well."
On cornerback Perrish Cox
"Perrish made some big-time plays for us. I've studied the tape but I haven't gone into detail. You can probably get more information from Coach Young and Coach Jones on that. But there were times when he went up and made plays in the throwing game that he should make with his ability. He's starting to come around now. Our defense played tremendously but his return changed the game. It ignited the crowd in the second half and we were able to score points and it changed the perception of the game."
Freshman Punter Quinn Sharp
On former OSU punter Matt Fodge
"I talked to him on Thursday. He just told me, `Good luck. Just concentrate on what you're doing, don't get over anxious and just do what you've always done.'"
"We have two different styles when it comes to punting, but he gave me a mental side of the game and just how to handle things when you're in a game situation. He let me know how game speed was. I did take some tips from his style and tried to put them into my style too."
On OSU's punt formation
"Sometimes it is (scary). Sometimes you'll see a guy try to jump it. With how big our three guys are there, it doesn't really bother me too much. They're all big, powerful guys, so I think they can get a good push if anybody tries to come in and jump over or try to knock them back."
Sophomore Tight End Wilson Youman
On the sideline feeling after Georgia scored on its opening drive
"After that first opening drive when Georgia scored we didn't really feel pressured. Once they scored, I got up and was like, `Let's go ya'll. They scored, we can score too. We're just going to do the exact same thing.' Obviously it took us a while to get started, but once we got started we just kept pushing."
On what kept the Cowboys calm under pressure
"Just like the SEC defense is good, I feel like, within the past couple years, we've been finishing in the top offenses in the nation. So to be the top, you have to think like you're the top."
On moving on after a big win
"After the game Saturday we celebrated, but now it's time to look past that and start focusing on our next opponent."
On his catch in the game
"My catches are just a plus. Coming in here and being behind Brandon Pettigrew, I was doing mostly blocking. I didn't have any catches. So that really helped my blocking. When I got the catch it just boosted my confidence, now that I know I just got that first catch out of the way."
Junior Fullback Bryant Ward
On if the Cowboys are still talking about the Georgia win
"No, we're trying to move on past it. Everyone's still excited, of course, but we're trying to move on to the next game, but it was a big win. It's hard to move on, but we are."
On if Houston could be dangerous if they are underestimated
"Oh, for sure. Every opponent you have to prepare for the same way, or you try to prepare for the same way. If you let a big win like that get to your head then it can be dangerous."
On what kept the Cowboys calm after Georgia scored on its opening drive
"We knew they'd be tough, but you have to overcome adversity. When something like that happens, you have to just get it in your mind that not everything's going to go your way, but you have to come back and get ready to go so that you don't just put yourself out of the game."
Senior Defensive End Jermiah Price
On stopping the Houston offense
"We're just going to go out there and we're going to play hard. Our coaches will have a great scheme for this game and we're just going to execute it to the best of our ability."
On remembering Houston quarterback Case Keenum from last year's game
"He's a great athlete there's no doubt. He can throw the ball, he can run it. They're going to be very good, so we're just going to try to make plays."
"He's a fast guy. I haven't played too many quarterbacks that fast, except for maybe Colt McCoy and a couple other guys that actually get outside the pocket and move and make you actually work to get to him. He's a great guy so we're going to try to contain him with the ends and get pressure with the defensive tackles."
On the halftime score from last year's game keeping OSU focused this year
"That keeps us focused, definitely. Every game, once we go in at halftime, we're thinking it's 0-0. We're just going to come out and play harder and play faster than we played the first half."
Junior Defensive Tackle Shane Jarka
On if he thought the defense was able to perform like it did against Georgia
"Of course. We always have. We've always believed in ourselves and we've always thought that we could push ourselves to a whole other level, and I think we did that. I really do. I think that this week is going to be another challenge for us, and then the week after that and the week after that. We just have to keep getting better and building our defense as we have."
On what kept the Cowboys calm after Georgia scored on its opening drive
"Coach Young has really taught us to just stay focused and stay in line. `It's going to be OK. We're going to rally back together and we're going to keep pushing. They are a good team. They are going to make plays.' He said that all week. So did Coach Gundy. He was like, `They're a good team. They are going to make plays. All you've got to do is just rally back together and you'll become confident again. Just make the plays that you need to.'"
On the big hits by the OSU defense
"Defense is all about big hits. When we have big hitters like that it just inspires enthusiasm and charisma in everyone else. Coach Gundy said, `Defense is contagious,' so once everyone starts hitting and making big plays, everyone gets hyped up and we just want to make our own big plays. It's like a snowball effect. Everyone just wants to play better."
