Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Players Preview Texas A&M Game
September 19, 2011 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 19, 2011
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team visited with the media Monday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview Saturday's clash at Texas A&M. The highlights:
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement
"It's good to be back to work. We've carried on with our normal schedule. We went ahead and practiced last night and we're on a day off. The coaches are back in the office on a normal routine and actually feel pretty good today. Maybe later today it might catch up to us but we feel pretty good. The players were in the right frame of mind last night. We've got a big week ahead of us. We play a good football team on the road that is very deserving of a top 10 ranking. They are one of the few teams that I've seen over the last few years that are really solid in all three phases of the game. They're playing really good on offense, they're playing really good on defense and they're sound in the kicking game. They've become a complete football team. Their coaching staff has been intact for a number of years and must feel pretty good about what they're doing in those three phases and comfortable in the direction they're going."
On how the players handled the late start of the Tulsa game
"They did a nice job and you don't really know what to expect. We had an incident at Troy a few years ago which was a 45-minute to an hour delay but this one was much more extensive and I thought they really handled it very well. You're in a visitors locker room, you're in confined quarters and you have around 160 people in there coming in and out based on personnel and the team and it got hot in there. We found out that they like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but I guess if you are hungry enough you'll eat whatever is available. The players ate them and the coaches ate them, then they became stir crazy after a couple of hours. They were up moving around which concerned us as coaches and Rob Glass our strength coach because they were on their feet for so long, but we were able to kind of regroup and focus and I thought we played pretty well in the first half. We didn't play very well against the run throughout the game. We were really soft, but other than that I thought we played pretty well."
On Playing At Kyle Field In College Station
"It's a great home-field advantage. We've had success there and won before. Fortunately we have mature players and I expect them to play well. You never know, obviously some guys will be playing on the road for the first time but there should be enough leadership in our locker room and guys that when you get on the field between those lines, we're 11-on-11."
On TAMU's Defense
"They have 11 sacks in two games. A lot of people would argue who they're playing or whatever, but I'm not sure you can take away 11 sacks. Their scheme is good; they have good blitz packages and that's allowed them to have success on that side of the ball."
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken
On preparing for A&M's defense:
"The first game we played against Louisiana, that prepares us probably just more schematically because they're three-down and the same kind of system, so we'll have something to rely on. The last two weeks have been all four-down. I think it's enabled us to play in preparation for what they do. Playing three games and not losing anybody, the preparation from what we do is getting better."
On playing at Kyle Field:
"You don't want to go backwards. You don't want to give up lost yardage plays, you don't want to give up pre-snap penalties. You have to commit to what you're going to do offensively, you have to keep it simple, you don't want to have a lot of checks for your quarterback. If you look at last year at the start of the game against A&M - pre-snap penalties, lost yardage plays, quarterback getting hit - that's what they try to do, they try to disrupt your rhythm and try to get after the quarterback, which is smart. And they come from all angles; there's not one guy on their team that won't blitz. You have to be sound in everything you do and make sure you're able to run the ball and throw the ball with equal efficiency."
On getting back to a normal game week:
"Like I've always said, you don't control that. We were going to play late (against Tulsa) anyway, but you can't control it. If you're good enough that people want you on TV, you don't get to decide, you just have to go play. It won't be about the week, it will be about our preparation, but it is nice to be back on a regular schedule."
Defensive Coordinator Bill Young
On the defensive approach to A&M:
"We have to have a solid plan to stop the run first and the play-action pass to get them in third down and get our ears back and rush the passer. They've got a tremendous scheme, an excellent coaching staff and excellent players, so we're going to have our hands full."
On playing at Kyle Field:
"That's a heck of a place to play, there's no doubt about it. They march the Corps in there and their crowd gets behind the team. It's a tough place and we have to get ready for some noise."
On Ryan Tannehill:
"They cut down on their turnovers. They had a ton of turnovers with their previous quarterback. Not all of them were his fault; some of it was bad luck. But Tannehill is an excellent quarterback, he throws the ball well, moves around the pocket and they've got a great group of receivers and running backs to help him out."
Cornerback Devin Hedgepeth
On Texas A&M:
"They have a great offense over there. As far as receivers, they have a great receiver, in Jeff Fuller. He's big, strong and physical. Their receivers are all physical, they like to block, and they also have two awesome backs. So, we have to be prepared for the run and the pass. We have to step up."
On how practicing against Justin Blackmon helps to prepare for defending Jeff Fuller:
"It's great preparation. Justin has the size and speed, so basically any receiver we need to prepare for, Justin is a great preparation."
On preparing to stop the run after giving up 365 yards rushing to Tulsa:
"It's not too much of a concern at all. We're not concerned. We got in the film room the day after and made our corrections. We saw they weren't major corrections at all, just little minor stuff, so we're not too concerned. We'll be ready."
Quarterback Brandon Weeden
How excited are you for this week's game?
"Kyle Field is obviously a fun place to play and it's just exciting to start Big 12 play. Also the fact that A&M might not be in our conference anymore adds another element to the whole deal. I believe that everybody is excited for the game and looking forward to the opportunity."
How does this team perform so well on the road?
"I think that we're oblivious to what goes on around us. Guys don't really think about the fact that we're on the road. We prepare the same way we do at home. We're basically like clockwork. It is like Groundhog Day every day. Every Friday and Saturday because we're on the same routine and the only difference is when we do something well, not as many people cheer. That's the only real difference and that is fine, we enjoy that."
On getting back on schedule from the late start in the previous game
"Yesterday was the hardest day because we basically had a game and practice in the same day. I feel great today and I feel like it is behind us. We have today off and we will get back at it tomorrow. Ultimately the tough times are behind and it's time to focus on A&M."
Running Back Joseph Randle
How excited are you for this week's game?
"It is another chance to show what we can do on national television in front of a national stage."
Expectations for the Texas A&M game
"To win."
Are you worried about playing at a hostile environment this week?
"We don't care about their crowd. We're going to try and go in there and take the crowd away."
Offensive Lineman Jonathan Rush
What will it mean for you to get a victory over A&M?
"Another win is great for us and I am just looking for a win for Oklahoma State, not Jonathan Rush."
Do you feel like everybody will be rested up this week after the late game this past weekend?
"Yes, I am going to take a big nap today and get ready for practice tomorrow since my sleep schedule is off."
What is like playing for Coach Gundy who is a former Cowboy himself?
"You can see his drive and passion for the team. A lot of teams don't have coaches that played at the same place. You can see that he has a lot of investment in this university because he played here. He is an alum and this is his home and he wants us to respect this university like he did."
Linebacker Shaun Lewis
How does the team plan on correcting its mistakes from the previous week?
"To correct those mistakes, we will practice harder and focus in more at practice. We will need a good week of practice to get ready to play A&M because there a real good team down there at College Station."
How will the loss of Coach Spencer affect the linebackers this week?
"We don't see Coach Spencer that much on game days other than halftime. It will be a lot different because he and Coach Young are the masterminds behind the whole operation. He would want us to go out and play like he was there. If he is there or not we are still going to execute the game plan and hopefully execute enough to pull out a victory."
How do you plan on stopping A&M's offense this week?
"The first step is to have a good week of practice and we have to dominate in practice so we can have a clue of what they are going to try against us Saturday."
Receiver Isaiah Anderson
On playing at Kyle Field
"It's hard. It's even harder on the sideline when the coaches are trying to talk to you, or trying to hear the calls through the crowd's chants. It's something you have to get used to if you want to be productive and win."
On playing in his home state in front of family
"Anytime you go home and play in front of friends and family, it's that much more important to you. But we're just going to try and go down there and execute."
On recovering from such a late kickoff
"We bounced back pretty well. We got back around 6 a.m. and got a couple hours of sleep. We've gotten back on a regular schedule for this week."
Receiver Tracy Moore
On blocking out crowd noise
"When you play on the road, especially at A&M, it gets so loud that you can't really hear. You get that little ringing in your ear, but it just becomes noise. The game goes on. With all the reps we do in practice, it becomes natural. I don't pay as much attention to what the crowd does now as I did when I was a young guy."
On preparing for a loud stadium
"Last year, we used crowd noise and turned it all the way up. But it was still tough because it was our crowd, and they're beating paddles and stuff, but we won't get that in College Station. It's tough. There's not a whole lot we can do to prepare for an environment like this."
Safety Daytawion Lowe
On recovering from the Tulsa game
"I feel great. I got plenty of sleep last night, and I'm getting back to normal."
On what was done in the locker room to pass the time during the delay
"I just joked around and had fun. I was trying to take my mind off of waiting during the delay, but still staying focused for the game."
On playing in a game with such a late kickoff
"It was different, but it's a football game, so when we kicked off, I was ready to play. I didn't care when we played, I just wanted to play. The biggest decision for me was whether the game would be played or not, so I didn't care."
On the versatility of A&M's running backs
"It depends on coverages we are in and whatever defensive concepts we're doing. It's up to the whole team. We really need to run to the ball this week."
