Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Bullard
Cowboys Regroup, Start Alamo Bowl Prep
December 09, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – After breaking for finals, members of the Oklahoma State football team got back together for the beginning of their preparation for the Valero Alamo Bowl today. After team and position group meetings, Mike Gundy and several players met with about 25 members of the media in Boone Pickens Stadium.
Mike Gundy
Opening statement:
"I'm really excited about this matchup. (Colorado) is a good team. Defensively, they could very well be the best secondary we've seen this year. They have a nose guard that's really thick. They have a pass rusher that is really good. Their corners are really good. I would say they're a senior-dominated defense. I would say that three, maybe four could play in the NFL. That's why their numbers are so good on defense. Jim Leavitt is their defensive coordinator. He goes all the way back to Kansas State back in the early '90's with the Stoops brothers and all of those guys, and he's done a really good job. Jim was a head coach at South Florida.
"Offensively, their quarterback is the guy that has really made them go. Three receivers, at least, that I've seen. They've got guys that can really run. They've got a running back (Phillip Lindsay) who has rushed for almost 1,200 yards. They're a good team. They've had some success in the return game.
As I mentioned yesterday to the Alamo Bowl, they hit a home run on a matchup here. They have the No. 12 team and the No. 10 team, and I think it's going to be a very exciting game. If you rule out the playoff games from a national perspective, this will be a game that anybody will want to watch as much as any other bowl game."
On the team's motivation for the bowl game:
"Motivation is very important in a bowl game. Colorado hasn't been to a bowl in a long time, so they will be very motivated and excited to be in a bowl game. I heard somebody mention that they were hoping to get into the Rose Bowl, but I would not see motivation being an issue for them. I know how it was here when we got in our first bowl. Plus, they're in their first bowl. For us, our guys are back at it. We lifted and started meetings tonight. The coaches aren't all back yet from recruiting. In my notes for tomorrow's staff meeting will be our excitement and energy level because it starts with our coaches. I don't foresee that being an issue, the so-called hangover. We'll be two days on, one day off. They're going to get a break, but we have a good schedule for them. I don't see any issue with them being excited about practicing and playing in a bowl game."
On having so many players from San Antonio on the roster and the motivation that brings:
"It's interesting. You have guys that have had huge impacts. You talk about Tre Flowers, Vincent Taylor, Jordan Sterns, Zach Sinor, Austin Hays. In the end, we have a responsibility to be prepared any time we have a game. That hasn't ever been an issue, and everybody knows how that works here. I think they'll have enough motivation. They're playing the 10th-ranked team in the country, and that team lost to two really good teams."
On if there is any extra motivation to get to 10 wins for the season:
"I think that the public likes it, and probably the coaches. The players are so day to day. You could ask them, and I'm sure they would like to hear that, but I think they want to win a bowl game. We're going down there to have a good time the first couple of days. Then as we get closer, we'll start to pare that thing down. It's their goal to play well in a bowl game moreso than anything at this point in time."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On the Alamo Bowl being played in San Antonio:
"I've never been to San Antonio. I've been to Houston and Dallas, but those are the only places I've really ever been to in Texas. I have a good buddy from down there so I'll meet up with him, check the city out and enjoy the time."
On getting to play one more game with this team:
"It's always fun whenever you get to send your seniors out on a good note with one final game. You get to spend another month with these guys and enjoy all that time together. It's a good reward for the team to look forward to."
On Colorado:
"We've watched a good bit of them this past week and they have a very physical defense and some pretty physical corners. They play well all-around, but especially in space so it's going to be a challenge. I think we've been challenged all year and I think we've grown a lot from where we were back in August and I think we're up for the challenge."
Safety Tre Flowers
On getting to go home to San Antonio for the bowl game:
"I already made my request with my mom for what I want to eat each day, and then I'll be there from the day after the bowl game through January 14th. I might eat at a couple of restaurants that we don't have here in Stillwater, but I don't plan on spending any money at all."
On facing Colorado's offense:
"Their quarterback is very physical, he's almost like another running back with the ball. That lets them add another blocker in there and they've got very good running backs as well. They can throw the ball downfield as well, so they're a very good team."
On Colorado's running attack:
"They've got a very good running back. On film he looks kind of small, but film can deceive you. He looks a little bit shorter than most, but his feet are always moving and he's a good running back."
Safety Jordan Sterns
On how the team has been preparing for Colorado:
"Well today was our first day. We came in and watched film and worked with the corners a bit. Colorado is a very good team, they're explosive on offense, and they're someone that we've got to properly prepare for."
On playing in the Alamo Bowl:
"I get to go back home, so, personally, I'm loving it. I get to see some friends and family that haven't had a chance to come up here to see me so it's definitely fun. I'm looking forward to getting to play my last game back home."
On watching OSU in the Alamo Bowl as a junior in high school:
"I do remember watching them play on TV a bit, but I might be getting it confused with the Cotton Bowl. I'm familiar with the bowl game though. I remember watching Baylor and Washington play during what I think was my senior year. It's a good bowl game and it looks fun. I'm looking forward to it. I think our OSU fans will travel well and I think that just having people's family and friends from the guys that are from that area will help make it a good atmosphere."
Cornerback Ramon Richards
On going home to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl:
"It's crazy. We've been talking about this since I got here to Oklahoma State. We always want to play in the championships and get the big rings, but I've always wanted to go back home and play in San Antonio. Obviously we wanted to win against OU. Congratulations to them. But at the end of the day I get to go back home and perform in front of my family."
On the team's motivation going into the bowl game:
"I feel like we want to be there. Like I said, obviously we would have liked to have won the last game. But we don't have any problem going down to San Antonio and playing in the Alamo Bowl. The team loves playing football. Whether it's the Cactus Bowl a couple years ago or the Sugar Bowl last year. Wherever we're going, we're going to enjoy it and be excited."
Cowboy Back Blake Jarwin
On going to San Antonio:
"It's exciting. I've never been down to that part of the U.S. so I'm excited. I've got a couple friends on the team who are from down there and I've always heard good things about the bowl. I'm excited. One last go around with the team and I couldn't be more happy to go finish off my career there."
On Colorado:
"They play physical. They make a lot of plays. They've gotten this far in the season for a reason. They've done a great job of coming down and hitting people in the mouth. They've got good guys in the defensive secondary. A lot of seniors. That's just some old leadership that can get you to this point in the season."
On the importance of getting a win to end the season:
"It tops off a year of ups and downs. People never thought that we would get this far. To come out and get a win against a good Colorado team, that would be a good accomplishment for us. That would put us at 10 wins, too, and that's a great goal to get to. I'm excited. We're ready to go."
Offensive Lineman Zach Crabtree
On going to San Antonio:
"It's awesome. It's always great to get another month, another game to compete here with these guys and have fun with this team. San Antonio is a great place. I've been down there a little bit so I'm excited to get to go down there with these guys and do it one more time."
On ending the season with a win:
"It would mean a lot. Coach Gundy is always saying you hit double-digit wins and you're in a special category. Not a lot of teams can say they win 10 games a year. So it's very important to us to get to double-digit wins."
Mike Gundy
Opening statement:
"I'm really excited about this matchup. (Colorado) is a good team. Defensively, they could very well be the best secondary we've seen this year. They have a nose guard that's really thick. They have a pass rusher that is really good. Their corners are really good. I would say they're a senior-dominated defense. I would say that three, maybe four could play in the NFL. That's why their numbers are so good on defense. Jim Leavitt is their defensive coordinator. He goes all the way back to Kansas State back in the early '90's with the Stoops brothers and all of those guys, and he's done a really good job. Jim was a head coach at South Florida.
"Offensively, their quarterback is the guy that has really made them go. Three receivers, at least, that I've seen. They've got guys that can really run. They've got a running back (Phillip Lindsay) who has rushed for almost 1,200 yards. They're a good team. They've had some success in the return game.
As I mentioned yesterday to the Alamo Bowl, they hit a home run on a matchup here. They have the No. 12 team and the No. 10 team, and I think it's going to be a very exciting game. If you rule out the playoff games from a national perspective, this will be a game that anybody will want to watch as much as any other bowl game."
On the team's motivation for the bowl game:
"Motivation is very important in a bowl game. Colorado hasn't been to a bowl in a long time, so they will be very motivated and excited to be in a bowl game. I heard somebody mention that they were hoping to get into the Rose Bowl, but I would not see motivation being an issue for them. I know how it was here when we got in our first bowl. Plus, they're in their first bowl. For us, our guys are back at it. We lifted and started meetings tonight. The coaches aren't all back yet from recruiting. In my notes for tomorrow's staff meeting will be our excitement and energy level because it starts with our coaches. I don't foresee that being an issue, the so-called hangover. We'll be two days on, one day off. They're going to get a break, but we have a good schedule for them. I don't see any issue with them being excited about practicing and playing in a bowl game."
On having so many players from San Antonio on the roster and the motivation that brings:
"It's interesting. You have guys that have had huge impacts. You talk about Tre Flowers, Vincent Taylor, Jordan Sterns, Zach Sinor, Austin Hays. In the end, we have a responsibility to be prepared any time we have a game. That hasn't ever been an issue, and everybody knows how that works here. I think they'll have enough motivation. They're playing the 10th-ranked team in the country, and that team lost to two really good teams."
On if there is any extra motivation to get to 10 wins for the season:
"I think that the public likes it, and probably the coaches. The players are so day to day. You could ask them, and I'm sure they would like to hear that, but I think they want to win a bowl game. We're going down there to have a good time the first couple of days. Then as we get closer, we'll start to pare that thing down. It's their goal to play well in a bowl game moreso than anything at this point in time."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On the Alamo Bowl being played in San Antonio:
"I've never been to San Antonio. I've been to Houston and Dallas, but those are the only places I've really ever been to in Texas. I have a good buddy from down there so I'll meet up with him, check the city out and enjoy the time."
On getting to play one more game with this team:
"It's always fun whenever you get to send your seniors out on a good note with one final game. You get to spend another month with these guys and enjoy all that time together. It's a good reward for the team to look forward to."
On Colorado:
"We've watched a good bit of them this past week and they have a very physical defense and some pretty physical corners. They play well all-around, but especially in space so it's going to be a challenge. I think we've been challenged all year and I think we've grown a lot from where we were back in August and I think we're up for the challenge."
Safety Tre Flowers
On getting to go home to San Antonio for the bowl game:
"I already made my request with my mom for what I want to eat each day, and then I'll be there from the day after the bowl game through January 14th. I might eat at a couple of restaurants that we don't have here in Stillwater, but I don't plan on spending any money at all."
On facing Colorado's offense:
"Their quarterback is very physical, he's almost like another running back with the ball. That lets them add another blocker in there and they've got very good running backs as well. They can throw the ball downfield as well, so they're a very good team."
On Colorado's running attack:
"They've got a very good running back. On film he looks kind of small, but film can deceive you. He looks a little bit shorter than most, but his feet are always moving and he's a good running back."
Safety Jordan Sterns
On how the team has been preparing for Colorado:
"Well today was our first day. We came in and watched film and worked with the corners a bit. Colorado is a very good team, they're explosive on offense, and they're someone that we've got to properly prepare for."
On playing in the Alamo Bowl:
"I get to go back home, so, personally, I'm loving it. I get to see some friends and family that haven't had a chance to come up here to see me so it's definitely fun. I'm looking forward to getting to play my last game back home."
On watching OSU in the Alamo Bowl as a junior in high school:
"I do remember watching them play on TV a bit, but I might be getting it confused with the Cotton Bowl. I'm familiar with the bowl game though. I remember watching Baylor and Washington play during what I think was my senior year. It's a good bowl game and it looks fun. I'm looking forward to it. I think our OSU fans will travel well and I think that just having people's family and friends from the guys that are from that area will help make it a good atmosphere."
Cornerback Ramon Richards
On going home to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl:
"It's crazy. We've been talking about this since I got here to Oklahoma State. We always want to play in the championships and get the big rings, but I've always wanted to go back home and play in San Antonio. Obviously we wanted to win against OU. Congratulations to them. But at the end of the day I get to go back home and perform in front of my family."
On the team's motivation going into the bowl game:
"I feel like we want to be there. Like I said, obviously we would have liked to have won the last game. But we don't have any problem going down to San Antonio and playing in the Alamo Bowl. The team loves playing football. Whether it's the Cactus Bowl a couple years ago or the Sugar Bowl last year. Wherever we're going, we're going to enjoy it and be excited."
Cowboy Back Blake Jarwin
On going to San Antonio:
"It's exciting. I've never been down to that part of the U.S. so I'm excited. I've got a couple friends on the team who are from down there and I've always heard good things about the bowl. I'm excited. One last go around with the team and I couldn't be more happy to go finish off my career there."
On Colorado:
"They play physical. They make a lot of plays. They've gotten this far in the season for a reason. They've done a great job of coming down and hitting people in the mouth. They've got good guys in the defensive secondary. A lot of seniors. That's just some old leadership that can get you to this point in the season."
On the importance of getting a win to end the season:
"It tops off a year of ups and downs. People never thought that we would get this far. To come out and get a win against a good Colorado team, that would be a good accomplishment for us. That would put us at 10 wins, too, and that's a great goal to get to. I'm excited. We're ready to go."
Offensive Lineman Zach Crabtree
On going to San Antonio:
"It's awesome. It's always great to get another month, another game to compete here with these guys and have fun with this team. San Antonio is a great place. I've been down there a little bit so I'm excited to get to go down there with these guys and do it one more time."
On ending the season with a win:
"It would mean a lot. Coach Gundy is always saying you hit double-digit wins and you're in a special category. Not a lot of teams can say they win 10 games a year. So it's very important to us to get to double-digit wins."
Players Mentioned
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DT
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