Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Discuss AutoZone Liberty Bowl Preparation
December 14, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and select members of the Cowboy football team met with members of the media after practice Friday to discuss the squad's second week of practice ahead of OSU's meeting with Missouri in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31. A look at some of their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On handling recruiting and bowl prep simultaneously:
"We should be in pretty good shape to sign a full class, other than maybe one or two. If we pick up one within the next four or five days, we'd be close. If not, we might have a couple left just based on how it all pans out. Our reception has been terrific and it looks like we're in decent shape."
On if navigating the early signing period is easier in its second year:
"Yes. It wasn't really an issue last year. I think there was just a lot of uncertainty because it was new and we weren't for sure how it was going to go. Now we kind of have a better feel for it. I think the recruits, their families and the high school coaches have a better feel for the process."
On the Cowboys' first practice after finals week concluded:
"Average, at best. They did OK. Their effort was good and their enthusiasm was good. It's still somewhat intriguing to me how they can be off for four or five days and then it takes them a while to come back, but that's like the first day of school and so on, and so forth. They'll get focused back and we'll work out again Sunday, Monday and maybe a day off Tuesday, but they'll be fine."
On implementing the game plan for Missouri:
"We've got the game plan done. We're spring practicing for half of practice and then the rest is game planning for Missouri."
On what he wants to see out of the team during these bowl practices:
"Just basic fundamentals in all three phases. We have a special teams day once every five days, and then offense and defense is fundamentals. We take 30 minutes or so and work on Missouri, but for the most part we're getting a spring practice out of this and our young players are getting a considerable amount of work."
On using a helicopter while recruiting:
"It's a big hit. All of the young people at the school like it and it's intriguing for them. It's certainly the easiest way to get around. Some of them want to ride in it, which we can't do, but the journalism students at the school always come out and want to take pictures. It's pretty cool for the coaches and the students at the schools."
On players taking advantage of bowl practices:
"All of them have. They're all working and making mistakes, and coaches are chewing on them and they're correcting themselves. They're getting an extended amount of work in. It has been really good for the organization, good for me to see them and for them to get out there and get some quality work. This has been a different approach for us in this bowl with it (being played) so much later. The guys that value it more than anyone are the big guys – your guys up front on offense and defense – because during the season they do so much work for the demonstration team, they don't get the quality reps that they need. They're getting those reps now so I'm excited for them and it's good for our program."
Running Back Chuba Hubbard
On practice this week:
"So far they have been really good. We have made a lot of improvements in places that we needed to improve, so we're solid."
On the integration of Jahmyl Jeter:
"He just needs to gain confidence and get the little things right. He is doing a lot better than when I first came here. I messed up a lot of things. He just needs to work on the little things. "
On his development from the beginning of the season to now:
"I think I am more confident in myself. I have gotten to really work on a lot of things. I worked on a lot of things my redshirt year, but playing in the games and getting more reps is what has really helped me. I feel like I am completely different."
On the challenge of playing Missouri:
"They are a solid defense for sure. They have a good all-around defense. We're a great team, unfortunately the season hasn't gone the way we wanted. When we are firing on all cylinders we can beat anyone."
Wide Receiver Tylan Wallace
On the college football awards ceremony:
"It was real nice. It was a good experience for me out there. Overall, the whole experience was a really good thing for me and I really enjoyed it out there."
On getting back out on the field to play a game:
"I'm ready to get back out there and play one last game with everybody and send the seniors out the right way and just get back out on the field with my brothers."
On what Taylor Cornelius has meant to the program:
"Taylor has meant so much to this program. Just being a fifth-year senior and waiting until your last year to start just shows you how committed he is to the program and I feel like it's only right for us to send him out the right way. So I feel like we should go out there and do it all for the seniors."
Offensive Lineman Johnny Wilson
On the season winding down:
"For us, it doesn't really wind down. We made a bowl game, so now we are doing bowl practices and everyone is really focused on finishing the season positive and having a positive record. It doesn't really slow down for us. We are just keeping our heads in it and trying not to forget stuff."
On the backups stepping up:
"I sat a lot last year because I was one of the [backups] that had to fill in for someone. Coach Josh Henson gets all these guys right. We all know our stuff and he trusts us enough that if he is going to put you in, he knows you are going to succeed. I missed the West Virginia game to injury but I knew that Ry Schneider was going to be my backup. He killed it the whole week in practice. I went out and watched him, gave him some pointers and watched his techniques. Just what I expected to happen; someone stepping up."
Cornerback A.J. Green
On facing Drew Lock and the Missouri offense:
"We know we're facing Drew Lock - he's a great quarterback. They kind of let him do his own thing at quarterback. Us as a defense, we know who we're going up against. We're ready to work and we're up for the challenge."
On watching other cornerbacks play on TV:
"I watch them a lot. Someone I really like to watch is Tre Flowers for the Seahawks. I know they can compete, but I try to see how they respond when a big play happens to them. Like, what do they do? Do they let it linger on them, or do they shake back? The Kansas City game yesterday I saw, those corners they compete and they continue to fight and I just like seeing that because, at corner, big plays are going to happen, but it's about how you respond."
On watching former OSU safety Tre Flowers have NFL success:
"I like seeing alumni from Oklahoma State go and do big things. Tre Flowers, I know they had him on (Vikings wide receiver Stefon) Diggs most of the time. He held up. He came up and made tackles and that's big."
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On handling recruiting and bowl prep simultaneously:
"We should be in pretty good shape to sign a full class, other than maybe one or two. If we pick up one within the next four or five days, we'd be close. If not, we might have a couple left just based on how it all pans out. Our reception has been terrific and it looks like we're in decent shape."
On if navigating the early signing period is easier in its second year:
"Yes. It wasn't really an issue last year. I think there was just a lot of uncertainty because it was new and we weren't for sure how it was going to go. Now we kind of have a better feel for it. I think the recruits, their families and the high school coaches have a better feel for the process."
On the Cowboys' first practice after finals week concluded:
"Average, at best. They did OK. Their effort was good and their enthusiasm was good. It's still somewhat intriguing to me how they can be off for four or five days and then it takes them a while to come back, but that's like the first day of school and so on, and so forth. They'll get focused back and we'll work out again Sunday, Monday and maybe a day off Tuesday, but they'll be fine."
On implementing the game plan for Missouri:
"We've got the game plan done. We're spring practicing for half of practice and then the rest is game planning for Missouri."
On what he wants to see out of the team during these bowl practices:
"Just basic fundamentals in all three phases. We have a special teams day once every five days, and then offense and defense is fundamentals. We take 30 minutes or so and work on Missouri, but for the most part we're getting a spring practice out of this and our young players are getting a considerable amount of work."
On using a helicopter while recruiting:
"It's a big hit. All of the young people at the school like it and it's intriguing for them. It's certainly the easiest way to get around. Some of them want to ride in it, which we can't do, but the journalism students at the school always come out and want to take pictures. It's pretty cool for the coaches and the students at the schools."
On players taking advantage of bowl practices:
"All of them have. They're all working and making mistakes, and coaches are chewing on them and they're correcting themselves. They're getting an extended amount of work in. It has been really good for the organization, good for me to see them and for them to get out there and get some quality work. This has been a different approach for us in this bowl with it (being played) so much later. The guys that value it more than anyone are the big guys – your guys up front on offense and defense – because during the season they do so much work for the demonstration team, they don't get the quality reps that they need. They're getting those reps now so I'm excited for them and it's good for our program."
Running Back Chuba Hubbard
On practice this week:
"So far they have been really good. We have made a lot of improvements in places that we needed to improve, so we're solid."
On the integration of Jahmyl Jeter:
"He just needs to gain confidence and get the little things right. He is doing a lot better than when I first came here. I messed up a lot of things. He just needs to work on the little things. "
On his development from the beginning of the season to now:
"I think I am more confident in myself. I have gotten to really work on a lot of things. I worked on a lot of things my redshirt year, but playing in the games and getting more reps is what has really helped me. I feel like I am completely different."
On the challenge of playing Missouri:
"They are a solid defense for sure. They have a good all-around defense. We're a great team, unfortunately the season hasn't gone the way we wanted. When we are firing on all cylinders we can beat anyone."
Wide Receiver Tylan Wallace
On the college football awards ceremony:
"It was real nice. It was a good experience for me out there. Overall, the whole experience was a really good thing for me and I really enjoyed it out there."
On getting back out on the field to play a game:
"I'm ready to get back out there and play one last game with everybody and send the seniors out the right way and just get back out on the field with my brothers."
On what Taylor Cornelius has meant to the program:
"Taylor has meant so much to this program. Just being a fifth-year senior and waiting until your last year to start just shows you how committed he is to the program and I feel like it's only right for us to send him out the right way. So I feel like we should go out there and do it all for the seniors."
Offensive Lineman Johnny Wilson
On the season winding down:
"For us, it doesn't really wind down. We made a bowl game, so now we are doing bowl practices and everyone is really focused on finishing the season positive and having a positive record. It doesn't really slow down for us. We are just keeping our heads in it and trying not to forget stuff."
On the backups stepping up:
"I sat a lot last year because I was one of the [backups] that had to fill in for someone. Coach Josh Henson gets all these guys right. We all know our stuff and he trusts us enough that if he is going to put you in, he knows you are going to succeed. I missed the West Virginia game to injury but I knew that Ry Schneider was going to be my backup. He killed it the whole week in practice. I went out and watched him, gave him some pointers and watched his techniques. Just what I expected to happen; someone stepping up."
Cornerback A.J. Green
On facing Drew Lock and the Missouri offense:
"We know we're facing Drew Lock - he's a great quarterback. They kind of let him do his own thing at quarterback. Us as a defense, we know who we're going up against. We're ready to work and we're up for the challenge."
On watching other cornerbacks play on TV:
"I watch them a lot. Someone I really like to watch is Tre Flowers for the Seahawks. I know they can compete, but I try to see how they respond when a big play happens to them. Like, what do they do? Do they let it linger on them, or do they shake back? The Kansas City game yesterday I saw, those corners they compete and they continue to fight and I just like seeing that because, at corner, big plays are going to happen, but it's about how you respond."
On watching former OSU safety Tre Flowers have NFL success:
"I like seeing alumni from Oklahoma State go and do big things. Tre Flowers, I know they had him on (Vikings wide receiver Stefon) Diggs most of the time. He held up. He came up and made tackles and that's big."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Cowboy Football
S
/ Cowboy Football
CB
/ Cowboy Football
RB
/ Cowboy Football
RB
/ Cowboy Football
OL
/ Cowboy Football
WR
/ Cowboy Football
OL
/ Cowboy FootballMonday, August 10
Sunday, August 09
Friday, August 07
Wednesday, August 05
