Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Bullard
Q&A With Joe Bob Clements
November 04, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - This weekend's game at Kansas State provides the opportunity for Oklahoma State to pick up its seventh win of the season. It also represents a trip to familiar territory for OSU defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements, who played and coached in Manhattan prior to his move to Stillwater. Okstate.com talked with Clements about his career and his ties to Manhattan. See what he had to say below:
On learning he had a scholarship offer to Kansas State:
"I was out quail hunting with my dad. I got a phone call from my mother. She had been called by the tight ends coach at the time, Larry Kramer, who was a family friend. He let her know then she called me and my dad to let me know."
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On what that moment meant to him:
"It meant a lot. Back then it was a struggle to be a walk-on, financially, and try to prove yourself every day. It was a big sigh of relieve that you had accomplished something. You feel pretty good about yourself."
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On how Bill Snyder's helped him in his early coaching days:
"Just being a part of the program and seeing how he does things. His attention to detail, his diligence in doing things the right way. Him giving me an opportunity and having faith in me at the moment when I was a young coach and thinking I could do a good job."
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On what he's taken from Snyder's coaching style:
"I think whoever you're around in this profession, if you can just take anything you feel like can help you, and learn it and apply it in your own way, I think it's always beneficial. There's a lot of things he does that are good things, otherwise he wouldn't have the success he does. So just anything I can apply and do it my own way, I take anything I can from anybody."
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On whether he has written hand-written thank you notes:
"Not as many as he has but I do try to do that. I wish I was more diligent in that. It does cross my mind quite often."
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On the secret behind Bill Snyder's success:
"His persistence. There are a lot of guys in this profession that use words like 'hard word', 'dedication' and 'toughness.' Coach Snyder doesn't waiver. He's persistent and consistent on a daily basis on what he wants to accomplish."
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On the emotions of being on the visitor's sideline at Kansas State:
"This will be my second time going so it will be less strange than the first time. I have to admit that was a little awkward wearing a different color other than purple in that stadium. This is a profession and I have a wonderful opportunity here at Oklahoma State. I like working for Coach Gundy. I like living in Stillwater. I like doing the best job I can do for Oklahoma State University and our job on Saturday is to try to win a football game."
On learning he had a scholarship offer to Kansas State:
"I was out quail hunting with my dad. I got a phone call from my mother. She had been called by the tight ends coach at the time, Larry Kramer, who was a family friend. He let her know then she called me and my dad to let me know."
Â
On what that moment meant to him:
"It meant a lot. Back then it was a struggle to be a walk-on, financially, and try to prove yourself every day. It was a big sigh of relieve that you had accomplished something. You feel pretty good about yourself."
Â
On how Bill Snyder's helped him in his early coaching days:
"Just being a part of the program and seeing how he does things. His attention to detail, his diligence in doing things the right way. Him giving me an opportunity and having faith in me at the moment when I was a young coach and thinking I could do a good job."
Â
On what he's taken from Snyder's coaching style:
"I think whoever you're around in this profession, if you can just take anything you feel like can help you, and learn it and apply it in your own way, I think it's always beneficial. There's a lot of things he does that are good things, otherwise he wouldn't have the success he does. So just anything I can apply and do it my own way, I take anything I can from anybody."
Â
On whether he has written hand-written thank you notes:
"Not as many as he has but I do try to do that. I wish I was more diligent in that. It does cross my mind quite often."
Â
On the secret behind Bill Snyder's success:
"His persistence. There are a lot of guys in this profession that use words like 'hard word', 'dedication' and 'toughness.' Coach Snyder doesn't waiver. He's persistent and consistent on a daily basis on what he wants to accomplish."
Â
On the emotions of being on the visitor's sideline at Kansas State:
"This will be my second time going so it will be less strange than the first time. I have to admit that was a little awkward wearing a different color other than purple in that stadium. This is a profession and I have a wonderful opportunity here at Oklahoma State. I like working for Coach Gundy. I like living in Stillwater. I like doing the best job I can do for Oklahoma State University and our job on Saturday is to try to win a football game."
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