Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Begin Bowl Practice
December 14, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Dec. 14, 2013
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State football team practiced Friday inside of the Sherman E. Smith Training Center. It was the first bowl practice in preparation for the Cotton Bowl against Missouri, and afterward coach Mike Gundy and selected players spoke to the media about how the team has responded since the Bedlam game and the upcoming contest against Missouri.
Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement
"We're back to work today, we had an hour and a half practice and the players have all shown up from their break and finals are over so we're back to football one hundred percent now. We'll give them the weekend off and start back on Monday for seven or eight days before we let them off for Christmas and then they'll meet us down in Dallas for bowl prep."
On Missouri
"They have good players. It's interesting, there's quite a bit of similarities to when we played them years ago, it's been three or four years, but very similar. They have very athletic players that run to the ball and make plays. They've always had a couple linemen, safeties and linebackers that end up playing in the NFL and offensively they have great speed. They're tall and rangy at the wide-out position; the quarterbacks are playing good; running backs make plays, so it's very similar to what we've seen in the past from when we've competed against Missouri. As I mentioned, there's quite a few guys that we competed against. Their schemes are similar. They do a nice job. They're very well coached. They get a lot out of their players too, which Coach Pinkel has done for a number of years up there."
On preparing for Missouri
"I haven't watched a lot of tape yet. One thing that's very evident is that they're successful in the SEC this year and obviously played in the championship game and were very competitive. They have the ability to score points and score fast and, defensively, they're very similar to what we saw a few years ago. I think it's a great matchup and I think the audience will be large, I think people will be excited to watch this game and I think the Cotton Bowl will be very happy with the turnout of the game."
On how his team has responded since the Bedlam loss
"As I would expect, they worked out this week in the weight room and they were around. As I said after the game, these guys are accustomed to winning, so when you lose, it's difficult for them to take it; and when you lose in a conference championship game, it's even more difficult. But that's the way life is and they have to understand that the good news is we get to play another game and get to go out as a group and play a good team; a team ranked No. 11 in the BCS; and so-called redeem themselves, have fun and play a quality team in a great bowl game."
Receivers Coach Jason Ray
On facing Missouri
"It's going to be interesting. Right now I'm focused on what we're doing here at Oklahoma State and getting our players motivated, but once I get to the bowl site and we go through the different Cotton Bowl functions, I'll get to talk to the coaches that coached and recruited me, it'll be interesting and fun and I'm excited to get there and get to the Cotton Bowl. They do a great job and our players are excited, we've got some work to do in preparation but we're excited to get down there."
On speaking with people at Missouri
"I've talked with a couple people before the bowl announcement came out and then when we were going to be matched up with them – coach Andy Hill, their quarterbacks coach; I saw Coach Pinkel and got to speak with him in the spring; and former teammates. There's nothing uncommon with the contact I've had with my teammates from Wyoming and coming here, but it's really been similar contact that I've always had with former teammates."
On the similarities and differences between OSU and Missouri
"When I first got hired here I was able to see some of the differences that Coach Gundy implements here as opposed to Wyoming and Missouri. At Wyoming and Missouri, we were kind of a mirror image of what they did there. At Missouri, we took some of the things that he learned from Coach Pinkel and Don James. We're a disciplined program here at Oklahoma State, and they're a disciplined program at Missouri. We preach discipline and accountability here, body language and attitude, so there's not many differences from what we see here. You're going to see those implementations of discipline and what you want to see from an accountability stand point in all of your programs. Coach Gundy does a great job here and I'm excited to be here and there's not many differences here, just how you communicate to your players and what you want to do and what you feel is important."
Quarterback Clint Chelf
On coming back after the Bedlam loss
“We were in a little bit of a funk today and that's understandable. Guys obviously took that pretty hard that we let that slip away and we felt like we shouldn't have let that slip away. The older guys on the team need to refocus and regroup to get going for Missouri.”
On that matchup against Missouri
“Anytime you can play an SEC team, that's something that you want to do. Getting a shot at a team that was in the conference championship is something that we're excited about. It will be a good challenge for us.”
On the focus before the game
“I think we'll be focused. That's something that the older guys have to keep the younger guys focused on who haven't been through this process yet. That will be the biggest challenge for us as leaders.”
On being named to All Big 12
“That's exciting. That's something that at the beginning of the year you want to be on. It's really a tribute to my teammates. I get the ball in those guys' hands and let Desmond (Roland) run, let my receivers catch the ball and let the offensive line block. It's really a tribute to them how many we guys we had named on it. Our coaches had a great plan for us all year so it's really exciting for me as a player because that's something you would like to be on, but it's really a team effort.”
Offensive Lineman Parker Graham
On playing in the Cotton Bowl
“We're playing against a great team and a great defense in Missouri. They have some great pass rushers and some great run stuffers. We're really excited to put ourselves to the test one last time for the seniors. We're looking forward to getting out there and going up against a great opponent and putting the pads on one last time for OSU.”
On practices leading up to the Cotton Bowl
“This was our first practice back so we're just going with whatever things we needed to do differently from the last game. We're getting back in the groove of things and getting ready for a long month of practices.”
Offensive Lineman Jake Jenkins
On Playing Missouri in the Cotton Bowl
“I feel good about it. I think they're a great team and I think we'll game plan and I think we can come in there and have a good game."
On bouncing back from the losses
“The Cotton Bowl is a really good bowl and we're really excited to go. We always look back and say “Dang, that West Virginia” and after each win each week we'd say “Dang, West Virginia.” And now the season ended. We're happy to go to the Cotton Bowl and really perform and show who we are.”
On Michael Sam
“He's a pretty good guy. We watched him on film and he's going to be tough for our tackles. I think it will be interesting to watch him and see how we perform against him."
Receiver Brandon Sheperd
On playing Missouri
“I was pretty excited when I heard we were playing Mizzou. These are people I've been playing with since middle school that I'd be going against. It should be a pretty fun time. I was really excited. My old high school coach called me when he heard that we were playing them and everyone was just excited. So I'm excited for the game."
On the challenge of playing Missouri
“Every game in the Big 12 that we play is a challenge. We're just going to act like it's another game and go out and play physical like we always do.”
Fullback Kye Staley
On facing an SEC team for the second time this season
"We're very excited. Even though the Cotton Bowl isn't a BCS game, it's still one of the biggest bowls you can play in. We're excited to go down there and play Missouri, and it's a great chance to face good competition. Their coach is doing an excellent job, and they're having a great season. We just have to get prepared to get our minds ready and go play."
On Missouri's Henry Josey's similar past of recovering from an injury
"I had heard about him when they played A&M and he broke a long touchdown. They talked about how he had gone through a severe knee surgery, just like mine. We can both relate to that, so that's a testament of what he went through. He worked hard, stayed positive, kept faith and came back with a great recovery."
On facing a former high school teammate, Missouri's Kentrell Brothers
"When I found out we were playing Missouri, I kind of just shook my head. He actually got a hold of me and told me he was excited to play us. I kind of just said, 'I don't know why you're excited, we're coming to knock your heads off,' but we were good friends throughout our time at Guthrie, and we still communicate every now and then. It's going to be fun to finally play him."
Running Back Desmond Roland
On potentially getting his first start in a bowl game
"It's an exciting opportunity to go out there in front of a big crowd and play against an SEC team that has had a great year. My teammates and I have put a lot of hard work and preparation into everything we've done so far this season, so I don't expect that to change for myself or any of them. We can't wait to go down there and finish out the season on a strong note."
On facing a former Big 12 team
"They've done real well ever since they left for the SEC, so it'll be fun to play them again after playing them every year for such a long time. We're still going to prepare for them like we would for any other opponent, though, and we expect to come out there and give it our all."
On how he expects the team to finish out the year
"We have so many guys on this team that worked so hard to get to where we're at right now, and we've got a lot of seniors that the rest of us younger guys are going to be playing for. We want to end this year with a win, and we want those seniors to leave Oklahoma State with a win."
