Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Gundy, Cowboys Preview Thursday Night's Season Opener vs. Tulsa
August 25, 2017 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected players met with media Friday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview the Cowboys' Thursday night season opening game against Tulsa. Their comments:
Coach Mike Gundy
On if it would be easier to prepare if he knew who Tulsa's starting quarterback will be:
"I think if you knew who exactly it was and you had video that you could study tendencies and such it would be, but the guys they're going to use, there isn't much video of that in the way of carryover. You would prefer to have that, but in Tulsa's case, it doesn't affect much."
On Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery:
"I think he has been the driving force for what they've had down there, when he took over and what he has done to that Tulsa program. They're very good, but I would caution everybody, as I've done with our defense, in that there haven't been many rollover years with him. With his calling plays and running offenses at other schools where he was at, there would be a group of guys leave and people thought, 'OK. Now they'll settle down,' but that wasn't the case and they went out and got 5,000 yards with some new guys."
On how carries between running backs will be distributed:
"The same as what we've done the past few years. Justice Hill will get a majority of the work and if we feel like he needs a break, we'll run another guy in. There could be times where we start a series with a younger guy, but my guess is it will be just when we think he needs a break."
On the cornerbacks:
"The fun part for us in games is that during the season, there's a lot of X's and O's on Sunday through Thursday, Wednesday for this week. On game day, you get to see how it all works or if it works. It's the same thing with a new player. We try to use live situations to prepare them as much as possible, but it's still not the same. It's fun to see how they're going to play and sometimes you're not as excited to see what it is they actually do out there, but that's the fun part about what we do."
On the who will be OSU's backup quarterback:
"Taylor Cornelius would probably have the edge right now, but Keondre Wudtee played really well in the last scrimmage. Today we have a light day of work and then tomorrow I need to get with (the other coaches) to see what their approach is going to be this week from a reps standpoint. Both of them have made really good strides in the last 10 days - more than they made in the last 20, both of them. When I watch them, Cornelius would be the guy that gets the edge now. That's just me looking at it, but Wudtee played really well."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On the backup quarterback situation:
"Taylor Cornelius has the nod right now. He's the guy that has a lot of experience. Keondre (Wudtee) brings a lot to the table at the same time. It is a close battle, but Taylor seems to have a lot more reps at this point and we feel more comfortable with him at times in our offense, depending on what particular schemes we're going with. You could see both potentially, but there are advantages and disadvantages of that and we're trying to get all the reps to the guy that's going to be the No. 2 guy, so Taylor seems to have that edge right now."
On J.D. King and the backup running back situation:
"That will be a game time decision depending on who's fresh, who needs a blow, but he's definitely a guy that we're looking to step into those shoes, fulfill that role and be a substantial guy at that position."
On what he expects to see from his offense against Tulsa:
"Assignment-sound productivity. We want to make sure we limit any mistakes. Obviously, we have to secure the football and get the ball into the end zone. We have to do whatever it takes to win the football game, and that will be a success. We understand that securing the football and scoring points are the two main statistical categories that contribute to wins and losses, so we'll take care of those things. Obviously, we don't want to make any mistakes. We want to be correct in our decision-making and how we operate in our communication. All of those things factor into those, but mainly it's about protecting the football and getting into the end zone."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On finally getting ready to play Thursday:
"I'm ready to go. It's been a long off-season. It's been fun. We got a lot of good work, a lot of good practice, we've fine-tuned it and were ready to go."
On going into the season opener and the weapons on the offense:
"We feel great. There are a lot of great components on our offense, every position is very strong. Obviously, I spend a lot more time with the receivers. There are a lot of new running backs, a lot of new faces that we've brought along, younger guys that are going to have to play early. We feel confident in them."
On what he sees about Tulsa coming in:
"Strong defense, they are very tough, very well coached. They are going to be a tough one, great opponent but we're excited and feel like we have a great feel of them."
Linebacker Chad Whitener
On Cole Walterscheid:
"He's a lot stronger (this year), and the way he uses his hands he's become a really dominant player out front now. I'm really excited to see him and the production he gets this year."
On what he's seen from Patrick Macon and Calvin Bundage:
"Calvin has really made strides. He understands the system now and is playing really fast. He's made a lot of plays and a lot of production during camp. Patrick is doing well too. He is still picking up on the system and the speed of the game. Running against our offense is so fast, so it's about getting used to the speed for him."
On this being his "last first game" at OSU:
"I haven't really thought about it like that yet. I feel like it will probably be more surreal once it's over. Right now, it's just game mode, so I feel like that might be something to look back at more after the season."
Offensive Lineman Zachary Crabtree
On the running backs:
"J.D. (King) has done a lot for us since preseason camp and Justice (Hill), watching him grow over the last year and seeing where he is now, we've got a great stable of running backs. Those guys are going to do a lot for us this year."
On how he's changed his diet to prepare for this season:
"I'm just trying to get the edge any way that I can. I kind of got into (nutrition) over previous years, and then really sat down this summer and got help on the nutrition side of things and learned what it could do for me in the sense of getting an edge in certain areas. I changed it and made good gains in the weight room, so it's helped me overall."
On how Mason Rudolph has grown since he's been here:
"Just taking a leadership role, knowledge and gaining wisdom. The way he sees things and the way he communicates. He's definitely grown mentally. I think that happens to everyone over a four or five-year period. If you're not different from your first year to your last year, then you've missed out on learning somewhere. Coach Gundy and our coaching staff do a great job developing us and getting us to grow every day."
Wide Receiver Marcell Ateman
On what it's like preparing for an actual game:
"It's a blessing. It came around so quick. It seems like just yesterday I was hurt and out, so to be back here lets you know how fast time flies. You've got to take advantage of it."
On if he has any nerves about his first game back:
"For me, I'm just anxious. I'm ready to get back out there. I haven't been out there for a whole year, so I'm just ready to kick this thing off and get it going."
On what it will be like for him running out of the tunnel:
"It's going to be great. That feeling that I usually feel. I just can't wait for it. I can't wait."
Running Back Justice Hill
On getting back into the new season
"Since the last time we played, December 29th, since that day I've been ready. It's here."
On what he is most excited about this season
"Just being out there and playing with everybody. Going throughout the season, winning games, learning and just being around the whole team as well."
Safety Tre Flowers
On being an aggressive safety:
"It's something I pride myself on. I always wanted to be very physical now that my body has caught up to my mindset, it's finally wearing in."
On what he is most excited about this season:
"I just love playing football. I get to play again and that's what I'm excited for."
On finally getting back in front of a crowd again:
"Oh yeah, I'm excited. I'll have my daughter in the crowd. My family is going to be there. It's the first home game of the year. I am just happy all around."
Coach Mike Gundy
On if it would be easier to prepare if he knew who Tulsa's starting quarterback will be:
"I think if you knew who exactly it was and you had video that you could study tendencies and such it would be, but the guys they're going to use, there isn't much video of that in the way of carryover. You would prefer to have that, but in Tulsa's case, it doesn't affect much."
On Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery:
"I think he has been the driving force for what they've had down there, when he took over and what he has done to that Tulsa program. They're very good, but I would caution everybody, as I've done with our defense, in that there haven't been many rollover years with him. With his calling plays and running offenses at other schools where he was at, there would be a group of guys leave and people thought, 'OK. Now they'll settle down,' but that wasn't the case and they went out and got 5,000 yards with some new guys."
On how carries between running backs will be distributed:
"The same as what we've done the past few years. Justice Hill will get a majority of the work and if we feel like he needs a break, we'll run another guy in. There could be times where we start a series with a younger guy, but my guess is it will be just when we think he needs a break."
On the cornerbacks:
"The fun part for us in games is that during the season, there's a lot of X's and O's on Sunday through Thursday, Wednesday for this week. On game day, you get to see how it all works or if it works. It's the same thing with a new player. We try to use live situations to prepare them as much as possible, but it's still not the same. It's fun to see how they're going to play and sometimes you're not as excited to see what it is they actually do out there, but that's the fun part about what we do."
On the who will be OSU's backup quarterback:
"Taylor Cornelius would probably have the edge right now, but Keondre Wudtee played really well in the last scrimmage. Today we have a light day of work and then tomorrow I need to get with (the other coaches) to see what their approach is going to be this week from a reps standpoint. Both of them have made really good strides in the last 10 days - more than they made in the last 20, both of them. When I watch them, Cornelius would be the guy that gets the edge now. That's just me looking at it, but Wudtee played really well."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
On the backup quarterback situation:
"Taylor Cornelius has the nod right now. He's the guy that has a lot of experience. Keondre (Wudtee) brings a lot to the table at the same time. It is a close battle, but Taylor seems to have a lot more reps at this point and we feel more comfortable with him at times in our offense, depending on what particular schemes we're going with. You could see both potentially, but there are advantages and disadvantages of that and we're trying to get all the reps to the guy that's going to be the No. 2 guy, so Taylor seems to have that edge right now."
On J.D. King and the backup running back situation:
"That will be a game time decision depending on who's fresh, who needs a blow, but he's definitely a guy that we're looking to step into those shoes, fulfill that role and be a substantial guy at that position."
On what he expects to see from his offense against Tulsa:
"Assignment-sound productivity. We want to make sure we limit any mistakes. Obviously, we have to secure the football and get the ball into the end zone. We have to do whatever it takes to win the football game, and that will be a success. We understand that securing the football and scoring points are the two main statistical categories that contribute to wins and losses, so we'll take care of those things. Obviously, we don't want to make any mistakes. We want to be correct in our decision-making and how we operate in our communication. All of those things factor into those, but mainly it's about protecting the football and getting into the end zone."
Quarterback Mason Rudolph
On finally getting ready to play Thursday:
"I'm ready to go. It's been a long off-season. It's been fun. We got a lot of good work, a lot of good practice, we've fine-tuned it and were ready to go."
On going into the season opener and the weapons on the offense:
"We feel great. There are a lot of great components on our offense, every position is very strong. Obviously, I spend a lot more time with the receivers. There are a lot of new running backs, a lot of new faces that we've brought along, younger guys that are going to have to play early. We feel confident in them."
On what he sees about Tulsa coming in:
"Strong defense, they are very tough, very well coached. They are going to be a tough one, great opponent but we're excited and feel like we have a great feel of them."
Linebacker Chad Whitener
On Cole Walterscheid:
"He's a lot stronger (this year), and the way he uses his hands he's become a really dominant player out front now. I'm really excited to see him and the production he gets this year."
On what he's seen from Patrick Macon and Calvin Bundage:
"Calvin has really made strides. He understands the system now and is playing really fast. He's made a lot of plays and a lot of production during camp. Patrick is doing well too. He is still picking up on the system and the speed of the game. Running against our offense is so fast, so it's about getting used to the speed for him."
On this being his "last first game" at OSU:
"I haven't really thought about it like that yet. I feel like it will probably be more surreal once it's over. Right now, it's just game mode, so I feel like that might be something to look back at more after the season."
Offensive Lineman Zachary Crabtree
On the running backs:
"J.D. (King) has done a lot for us since preseason camp and Justice (Hill), watching him grow over the last year and seeing where he is now, we've got a great stable of running backs. Those guys are going to do a lot for us this year."
On how he's changed his diet to prepare for this season:
"I'm just trying to get the edge any way that I can. I kind of got into (nutrition) over previous years, and then really sat down this summer and got help on the nutrition side of things and learned what it could do for me in the sense of getting an edge in certain areas. I changed it and made good gains in the weight room, so it's helped me overall."
On how Mason Rudolph has grown since he's been here:
"Just taking a leadership role, knowledge and gaining wisdom. The way he sees things and the way he communicates. He's definitely grown mentally. I think that happens to everyone over a four or five-year period. If you're not different from your first year to your last year, then you've missed out on learning somewhere. Coach Gundy and our coaching staff do a great job developing us and getting us to grow every day."
Wide Receiver Marcell Ateman
On what it's like preparing for an actual game:
"It's a blessing. It came around so quick. It seems like just yesterday I was hurt and out, so to be back here lets you know how fast time flies. You've got to take advantage of it."
On if he has any nerves about his first game back:
"For me, I'm just anxious. I'm ready to get back out there. I haven't been out there for a whole year, so I'm just ready to kick this thing off and get it going."
On what it will be like for him running out of the tunnel:
"It's going to be great. That feeling that I usually feel. I just can't wait for it. I can't wait."
Running Back Justice Hill
On getting back into the new season
"Since the last time we played, December 29th, since that day I've been ready. It's here."
On what he is most excited about this season
"Just being out there and playing with everybody. Going throughout the season, winning games, learning and just being around the whole team as well."
Safety Tre Flowers
On being an aggressive safety:
"It's something I pride myself on. I always wanted to be very physical now that my body has caught up to my mindset, it's finally wearing in."
On what he is most excited about this season:
"I just love playing football. I get to play again and that's what I'm excited for."
On finally getting back in front of a crowd again:
"Oh yeah, I'm excited. I'll have my daughter in the crowd. My family is going to be there. It's the first home game of the year. I am just happy all around."
Players Mentioned
WR
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LB
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QB
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OL
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S
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RB
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RB
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LB
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QB
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DE
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LB
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QB
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