Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Meet The Media
March 13, 2013 | Cowboy Football
March 13, 2013
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and members of the team spoke with the media for the first time this spring Wednesday in Boone Pickens Stadium. Their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On building from the Cowboys' bowl win:
"We've had a great offseason. I've said this before, but Rob Glass is, in our opinion, the best in the country at what he does. Our players are in really good physical condition. They increased their strength. It leads right in to spring ball. We need to have a good spring and good offseason and get ready for August."
On his assessment of the four new coaches on his staff:
"The honest answer is that I haven't seen enough because we've only been out there one day. When we're in helmets and shorts, we can get some things accomplished, but not a lot. I'm looking forward to watching each coach as we progress through the spring. I know that they've worked hard in our facility and Tim Duffie just got here, so he's trying to learn our system. They're good people, they're very intelligent football coaches, so they'll do very well here during their time at Oklahoma State."
On his view of the new coordinators' interaction with the team:
"I haven't really seen them around the team much. Coach Yurcich has been here a while and Coach Clements and Jason Ray - I've seen them more. Obviously, Tim Duffie just got here. The players are spending time with them, in their meetings and in their offices and that's what we want. It's important to us that we have a great player-coach relationship and I think that has started."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On the biggest differences he's seen at Oklahoma State from his previous job at Shippensburg:
"The biggest difference for me is when you step in here - and I don't care where you come from - when you come from somewhere else and you step into these facilities, it's different. There's no question about it. It's just tremendous. The players are great. Another thing is Coach Glass and the way he operates his strength and conditioning program was something that was very impressive when I first came."
On Clint Chelf, Wes Lunt and J.W. Walsh:
"They're great young men and I'm not going to comment on the quarterback situation until I've seen them a little bit more down the line."
On Chelf, Lunt and Walsh getting along well:
"They get along real well and I think that speaks volumes about their maturity level and who they are as people. I know they care more about this program than they do their individual needs and that's when you know you've got something special - when you see unselfishness, you see leadership and you see those qualities and those young men have that."
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
On the defense:
"We're looking for a little something different intensity-wise. We still don't think we're there yet. The first day with shorts - that's an easy one. After you get through these pounding pads days and all, then that's going to test their toughness. We're going to try to test their toughness every day - we're going to challenge them physically and mentally. You only have 15 opportunities to do that, so that's the big thing we're concentrating on."
On the differences between being a co-coordinator to being the defensive coordinator:
"You have to stay ahead in your planning, which is fine for me - I enjoy that. I'm taking care of today's business, but I'm planning for tomorrow. If something needs to be worked upon or stressed, I've got to make notes and bring it up to the staff and say `hey, we've got to get this corrected - what's the best way for us to do that?', so I'm in charge of overseeing all those issues that need to get taken care of. There's really a sense of urgency on my part to make sure nothing is missed and if there are corrections to be made or planning that needs to be done, that I'm a day ahead so when I get everybody in the room, there's no wasted time and I'm as efficient as possible."
DT Calvin Barnett
On areas for improvement:
"For me, taking care of my body more. What we don't realize being young with all the extra activities, they really do wear out our bodies. Something as simple as eating right, you'll perform way better."
On the defensive line:
"It was big losing the senior leaders, they'd been in the program for a long time and knew what to expect. Last year was my first year. We know what to expect at this point, those of us who have been here - guys like Tyler Johnson, Jimmy Bean, people like them know what to do because of the guys who just left."
QB Wes Lunt
On his freshman season:
"The best way to describe it is a rollercoaster. I had so many ups and downs. That's expected your freshman year, but I've got to thank my team and my coaches for backing me up all the way."
On his reaction to being named starting quarterback as a freshman:
"I was pretty shocked. I didn't know what to expect because it was my first time being a collegiate starter. Just kind of shocked. That's what the coaches are here for and Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh really helped me through it."
On the first time he ran out on the field:
"That was awesome. I came here and saw the Bedlam Game. It was just like that. It was amazing."
On the quarterback position in the spring:
"It's a competition between all three. Clint is getting the most reps, which he should - he did a great job ending the season. J.W. and I are going to push him every day and whatever happens, happens."
RB Jeremy Smith
On Mike Yurcich's personality and how it compares to his predecessors:
"He relaxes us more and makes us calm down and understand the offense. We just go out there and do what we know to do and that's the type of guy that he is."
On if Yurcich has reached out to the running backs to learn the offense:
"No, that's pretty much quarterback and o-line stuff."
On if he's focusing on catching more passes this year as the featured running back:
"That's always something to work on because it really helps your game and it makes you more of a dual-threat running back, too. It's always important, every year."
QB J.W. Walsh
On the biggest difference between spring, 2012 and spring, 2013:
"I don't really think there is much of a difference. We're all trying to do the best thing for the team and prepare as best we can and help each other out. Like you saw last year, you never know what's going to happen and all three of us have to be ready to hit the field. I think right now, we're just making sure we're taking care of the team and everyone's ready as part of the team."
On what the quarterbacks have done to help Mike Yurcich adjust:
"He did a really great job of learning a lot of it on his own and picking it up really quickly. There were some little nuances where he wanted to pitch in and there are some things in the offense where maybe we had done things a little differently. He would ask questions about what we were most comfortable with. He wanted the best for us."
WR Tracy Moore
On how he feels:
"I feel pretty good. I'm glad to be back."
On what he's looking to accomplish in the spring:
"To be more of a team leader. Leadership can get us to a Big 12 championship."
On his initial impressions of Mike Yurcich:
"At first, he was quiet. He's a lot more laid-back than the last two offensive coordinators were, but he's all about business. You don't get many wasted words with him. When he talks, people listen."
On his advice for the young receivers:
"I tell them to just make the plays that come to you. You never know who it's going to be each game, so don't force it and don't get down on yourself."
