Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Gundy Reacts To Camping World Bowl Bid
December 03, 2017 | Cowboy Football
Opening Statement:
"Our team, our staff and our administration is very excited about participating in the Camping World Bowl against a great opponent in Virginia Tech. This will be new for our team. We haven't been down to a bowl in Orlando. We had a team meeting earlier and the players were really excited. We're looking forward to the competition and seeing some friendly faces over there. Obviously, Coach (Justin) Fuente is from this part of the country. Their offensive coordinator worked here with me and Vance Vice, their offensive line coach, Vance and I played here at Oklahoma State together. I think it's going to be a great environment and it should be a great game. We're looking forward to spending a week in Orlando."
On his relationship with Virginia Tech offensive line coach Vance Vice:
"Vance and I were pretty good buddies in college and lived across the hall from each other in the dorms during the time that we were playing. We've been friends for a long time, but in this profession you don't really stay in touch with a lot of people. Vance and I go way back. He was kind of a tough guy back in the day as one of those very physical tight ends in our offense. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys out there in a few weeks."
On his familiarity with Bud Foster's defense:
"From a distance, we've always followed him. He's been around there forever and he's one of the most well-thought of guys in the country. I don't think anybody would argue that. I have a ton of respect for him. Obviously they're only giving up 13 points a game, so we'll have our hands full on offense. I've watched them play a lot through the years. I know that he's got them in the top-20 in total defense and pass defense, and the top five in scoring and third-down defense, so he's doing well like always. I'm sure we'll have our hands full on offense trying to score some points."
On the importance of getting 10 wins:
"I think every game is important and that gets brought up some. Do I think that it impacts the organization for next year? I don't know. I know it's important that we take pride in every game that we play and prepare the best we can. We want the team to go down and enjoy being with each other in that environment and then go play the best game we can for all parties involved. I'm thrilled that we have a great opponent in Virginia Tech. Obviously we want to go out and win every game. I'm looking forward to the game. Hopefully we can win and then say that we've accomplished a 10-win season again."
On the stability of Oklahoma State football:
"I don't know that there's any issue or that anyone could question the stability of Oklahoma State football. I think that's pretty squared away and we've established that we're very stable across the country. Our players take a lot of pride in each and every game, so I think that's what's great about getting into a high-level bowl game like this."
On the value of having a shared opponent with Virginia Tech:
"We have 12 games. They played West Virginia in the first game and we played them midseason. I'm going to guess that there's so much tape beyond those games that it's irrelevant. Everybody makes their own game plans and we don't really change much anyway. We're going to run our same plays. We do what we do, and Virginia Tech is probably very similar to that. We use a lot of our bowl prep for improving our younger players to try and prepare for the next season as well as a bowl game."
On playing unfamiliar opponents:
"The bowl games are fun because you get to play new teams and do a little bit of scheming here and there. Not that we do a lot of that, we just run the same plays for the most part, but it's fun to play those new teams. One thing that has happened with the teams in the Big 12 is that there's so much carry-over with the coaching staffs. Half of the Kansas staff has worked for me, and then with TCU, West Virginia, OU and Iowa State has joined in on the party now. We all know each other so well, there's not a lot of differences. For me, it's fun to play some teams that are different."
On his expectations for OSU's fan support:
"It's a pretty good distance to Orlando, but I think our people will travel. They always have. It sets up at a good time. They can have Christmas at home, take off the next day, enjoy the area for a couple days and then come to the bowl game. I just don't see our season as a disappointment. And I know that we all wanted to make the final four, but winning nine games is difficult. I think the people will be really excited about being there and about a location where there's a lot to do. I think they're also going to be excited about playing a team they know like Virginia Tech. I would expect that it would be every bit as good as the support we had at the bowl game a few years ago in Phoenix. And we had a really good showing there, so I'd be surprised if we don't have a good following."
"Our team, our staff and our administration is very excited about participating in the Camping World Bowl against a great opponent in Virginia Tech. This will be new for our team. We haven't been down to a bowl in Orlando. We had a team meeting earlier and the players were really excited. We're looking forward to the competition and seeing some friendly faces over there. Obviously, Coach (Justin) Fuente is from this part of the country. Their offensive coordinator worked here with me and Vance Vice, their offensive line coach, Vance and I played here at Oklahoma State together. I think it's going to be a great environment and it should be a great game. We're looking forward to spending a week in Orlando."
On his relationship with Virginia Tech offensive line coach Vance Vice:
"Vance and I were pretty good buddies in college and lived across the hall from each other in the dorms during the time that we were playing. We've been friends for a long time, but in this profession you don't really stay in touch with a lot of people. Vance and I go way back. He was kind of a tough guy back in the day as one of those very physical tight ends in our offense. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys out there in a few weeks."
On his familiarity with Bud Foster's defense:
"From a distance, we've always followed him. He's been around there forever and he's one of the most well-thought of guys in the country. I don't think anybody would argue that. I have a ton of respect for him. Obviously they're only giving up 13 points a game, so we'll have our hands full on offense. I've watched them play a lot through the years. I know that he's got them in the top-20 in total defense and pass defense, and the top five in scoring and third-down defense, so he's doing well like always. I'm sure we'll have our hands full on offense trying to score some points."
On the importance of getting 10 wins:
"I think every game is important and that gets brought up some. Do I think that it impacts the organization for next year? I don't know. I know it's important that we take pride in every game that we play and prepare the best we can. We want the team to go down and enjoy being with each other in that environment and then go play the best game we can for all parties involved. I'm thrilled that we have a great opponent in Virginia Tech. Obviously we want to go out and win every game. I'm looking forward to the game. Hopefully we can win and then say that we've accomplished a 10-win season again."
On the stability of Oklahoma State football:
"I don't know that there's any issue or that anyone could question the stability of Oklahoma State football. I think that's pretty squared away and we've established that we're very stable across the country. Our players take a lot of pride in each and every game, so I think that's what's great about getting into a high-level bowl game like this."
On the value of having a shared opponent with Virginia Tech:
"We have 12 games. They played West Virginia in the first game and we played them midseason. I'm going to guess that there's so much tape beyond those games that it's irrelevant. Everybody makes their own game plans and we don't really change much anyway. We're going to run our same plays. We do what we do, and Virginia Tech is probably very similar to that. We use a lot of our bowl prep for improving our younger players to try and prepare for the next season as well as a bowl game."
On playing unfamiliar opponents:
"The bowl games are fun because you get to play new teams and do a little bit of scheming here and there. Not that we do a lot of that, we just run the same plays for the most part, but it's fun to play those new teams. One thing that has happened with the teams in the Big 12 is that there's so much carry-over with the coaching staffs. Half of the Kansas staff has worked for me, and then with TCU, West Virginia, OU and Iowa State has joined in on the party now. We all know each other so well, there's not a lot of differences. For me, it's fun to play some teams that are different."
On his expectations for OSU's fan support:
"It's a pretty good distance to Orlando, but I think our people will travel. They always have. It sets up at a good time. They can have Christmas at home, take off the next day, enjoy the area for a couple days and then come to the bowl game. I just don't see our season as a disappointment. And I know that we all wanted to make the final four, but winning nine games is difficult. I think the people will be really excited about being there and about a location where there's a lot to do. I think they're also going to be excited about playing a team they know like Virginia Tech. I would expect that it would be every bit as good as the support we had at the bowl game a few years ago in Phoenix. And we had a really good showing there, so I'd be surprised if we don't have a good following."
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