Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Discuss AutoZone Liberty Bowl
December 04, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and select Cowboy football players met with members of the media Tuesday after practice to discuss OSU's selection to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, where the Cowboys will meet former Big 12 rival Missouri on Dec. 31. A look at some of their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On the value of bowl games:
"Well every game is important for us and it doesn't make a difference what game you're in or where you're playing it, what your record is – people would say there's no way that could be true. That's true to me. To me, every game is important. There was one time in my life that I couldn't play in a game and that was my senior year. We were playing Kansas State out here and I had torn my knee up the week before against Oklahoma and I couldn't play. It was the most lonely feeling that I had in my entire athletic life because I couldn't play. That's how I feel about games and I think that that time – I don't know, what were we? 5-5 or something? It didn't matter to me. Well it doesn't matter to me as a coach. We've had two great practices from the fact that our kids have been very enthusiastic and their effort has been great. That's encouraging and that's exciting for me because that's the way it should be."
On rekindling the Cowboys' rivalry with Missouri:
"I think it's a cool game. This team is as good as any team we've played. This team is really good. They lost to Alabama, lost to Georgia, lost by two points to Kentucky and lost by two points to South Carolina early in the year. Offense is very explosive, defense is good, special teams are good. It's a really good football team. This will be a great challenge for us, but I'm excited about playing it because I'm an old Big Eight guy. Back in the day, we played them, and I still think one of the tragedies that we've ever had around here is that we lost the old Big 12. We had 12 teams and it was pretty cool. We had a north and a south. We get to play them (again) and they're a really good team, so it'll be a really good game for us and we'll have to play the very best that we can in order to have a chance to win."
On getting younger players more reps during early bowl practices:
"Well they're doing well. We got them a lot of reps out there today. We're going to play base-on-base and let them go and play, bang around a little bit and watch guys compete. They get somewhat lost during the season because of two-day preparation, but now we can get them some really quality work. You take a risk of getting a guy hurt, but we believe it's more important to let them go play and have some fun and let them enjoy the bowl experience."
On the importance of the Cowboys' road victory over then-No. 3 Missouri in 2008:
"I think that was the biggest win in my career based on how that kind of turned the table for us. We had been really close, but at some point you have to do something that makes your team, and the people that follow your team, think that this is going to be something different. They were really good then and I think when we played them they had never had a three-and-out the whole year. That was a great win for us. We had a great defensive scheme and we put the backer out there as a rush end - that was one of the first times that you saw colleges put a linebacker out there and play him as a defensive end – to try and rush (Chase Daniel). That was a big win for us."
Running Back Chuba Hubbard
On the team's preparation for the bowl game:
"It is like any other game, obviously we want to go get the win. We have had quite a few practices before so we can prepare a lot more than we usually do."
On having extra time to prepare:
"You know we get to go back and fix the little things. We are obviously not a perfect team, so it is good to go back to the basics and work on that stuff. These last couple practices are good for working on the small stuff."
On his performances in the last couple games:
"Obviously the TCU game was a poor performance, but I have fixed those things. I am one of those people that harps and obsesses over the little things, so next game will be better. Next season will really be a lot better for me."
Wide Receiver Tylan Wallace
On getting the opportunity to meet the other Biletnikoff finalists:
"I'm looking forward to getting to know those guys a little bit and getting to talk to them a little bit. Probably talk about some football stuff and ask them how they think they're going to end up this season.
Thoughts on the upcoming bowl game:
"I'm pretty excited about it, honestly. I feel like going in facing a ranked team, you know, I'm real excited to get out there and just play one last time with everybody."
On his ability to make contested catches:
"I feel like that's really a big thing that we worked on coming into the season, knowing that there would be a lot of those. And then, being a shorter receiver, knowing you'd have to go up and make contested catches like that. Not being 6-2 or 6-4 or anything like that, there are going to be some catches like that you have to go up and make. That's one thing we work on a lot in practice, is doing that."
Quarterback Taylor Cornelius
On the bowl game:
"We've still got one more game to play and we are more focused on that than anything else."
On Chuba Hubbard:
"Everybody knows about the speed but at the same time his vision and his change of direction (are very good). Just being able to hit that hole after one cut and burst through and get to that next level of space."
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On playing one last college game before preparing for the draft:
"It's another game to show off what I can do. We're playing against an SEC team who has a pretty good offensive line, so hopefully we can do some things to disrupt them and have a good game and end on a win."
On playing for Coach Jim Knowles:
"I think it's going to help me a lot. Coach Knowles gave me a lot of freedom in the defense this year just to move around and come from different parts of the field all year, so I definitely think that's going to help me in the long run and I'm just thankful to have had the opportunity to play in this defense for my final year."
On his decision to enter the NFL Draft and play in the bowl game:
"It was something I had been thinking about for a while. I just really thought, you know, I'm graduating, I'm walking this December. I've done what I originally came here to do, which was get a degree. I've made my family proud, I've done right by my mom, so the only thing left is for me to pursue what I want to do - my dream of trying to make it at the next level."
Cornerback Rodarius Williams
On Missouri:
"We watched film today and they are a pretty solid team. The quarterback is very accurate. He is probably going to be one of the most poised quarterbacks we've faced. It's going to be a huge task (to contain him)."
On preparing for the bowl game:
"I get a little impatient just waiting. I'd rather just get it over with, go out there and do our thing. We're just staying sharp because we had a little time off here and there - just staying sharp mentally and physically."
Defensive Tackle Enoch Smith, Jr.
On what he has seen out of the young defensive players:
"I have seen a hunger that you are not really able to see from the outside looking in. Me being on the team all season, they have been trying to pick our brains. They know that any down their number could be called. They are putting in work, working with Coach (Rob) Glass and being in the film room. They are really maturing to be ready for the particular position that is going to be handed to them."
On the team's mentality going into the game:
"Overall we are just excited. It is another opportunity to play football which we are all grateful for, especially me because it is my last one. I think people who doubted us, when they see us on Dec. 31, with all the work we put in, will be shocked."
On what the team has been focusing on in practice:
"Based off the film, this is one of the best groups of offensive linemen that we will have seen in this particular season. We have been looking at things like their alignment, or someone who is looking down while they are in their stance. We have just been looking for those keys, to try to find anything that will help us get the win."
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On the value of bowl games:
"Well every game is important for us and it doesn't make a difference what game you're in or where you're playing it, what your record is – people would say there's no way that could be true. That's true to me. To me, every game is important. There was one time in my life that I couldn't play in a game and that was my senior year. We were playing Kansas State out here and I had torn my knee up the week before against Oklahoma and I couldn't play. It was the most lonely feeling that I had in my entire athletic life because I couldn't play. That's how I feel about games and I think that that time – I don't know, what were we? 5-5 or something? It didn't matter to me. Well it doesn't matter to me as a coach. We've had two great practices from the fact that our kids have been very enthusiastic and their effort has been great. That's encouraging and that's exciting for me because that's the way it should be."
On rekindling the Cowboys' rivalry with Missouri:
"I think it's a cool game. This team is as good as any team we've played. This team is really good. They lost to Alabama, lost to Georgia, lost by two points to Kentucky and lost by two points to South Carolina early in the year. Offense is very explosive, defense is good, special teams are good. It's a really good football team. This will be a great challenge for us, but I'm excited about playing it because I'm an old Big Eight guy. Back in the day, we played them, and I still think one of the tragedies that we've ever had around here is that we lost the old Big 12. We had 12 teams and it was pretty cool. We had a north and a south. We get to play them (again) and they're a really good team, so it'll be a really good game for us and we'll have to play the very best that we can in order to have a chance to win."
On getting younger players more reps during early bowl practices:
"Well they're doing well. We got them a lot of reps out there today. We're going to play base-on-base and let them go and play, bang around a little bit and watch guys compete. They get somewhat lost during the season because of two-day preparation, but now we can get them some really quality work. You take a risk of getting a guy hurt, but we believe it's more important to let them go play and have some fun and let them enjoy the bowl experience."
On the importance of the Cowboys' road victory over then-No. 3 Missouri in 2008:
"I think that was the biggest win in my career based on how that kind of turned the table for us. We had been really close, but at some point you have to do something that makes your team, and the people that follow your team, think that this is going to be something different. They were really good then and I think when we played them they had never had a three-and-out the whole year. That was a great win for us. We had a great defensive scheme and we put the backer out there as a rush end - that was one of the first times that you saw colleges put a linebacker out there and play him as a defensive end – to try and rush (Chase Daniel). That was a big win for us."
Running Back Chuba Hubbard
On the team's preparation for the bowl game:
"It is like any other game, obviously we want to go get the win. We have had quite a few practices before so we can prepare a lot more than we usually do."
On having extra time to prepare:
"You know we get to go back and fix the little things. We are obviously not a perfect team, so it is good to go back to the basics and work on that stuff. These last couple practices are good for working on the small stuff."
On his performances in the last couple games:
"Obviously the TCU game was a poor performance, but I have fixed those things. I am one of those people that harps and obsesses over the little things, so next game will be better. Next season will really be a lot better for me."
Wide Receiver Tylan Wallace
On getting the opportunity to meet the other Biletnikoff finalists:
"I'm looking forward to getting to know those guys a little bit and getting to talk to them a little bit. Probably talk about some football stuff and ask them how they think they're going to end up this season.
Thoughts on the upcoming bowl game:
"I'm pretty excited about it, honestly. I feel like going in facing a ranked team, you know, I'm real excited to get out there and just play one last time with everybody."
On his ability to make contested catches:
"I feel like that's really a big thing that we worked on coming into the season, knowing that there would be a lot of those. And then, being a shorter receiver, knowing you'd have to go up and make contested catches like that. Not being 6-2 or 6-4 or anything like that, there are going to be some catches like that you have to go up and make. That's one thing we work on a lot in practice, is doing that."
Quarterback Taylor Cornelius
On the bowl game:
"We've still got one more game to play and we are more focused on that than anything else."
On Chuba Hubbard:
"Everybody knows about the speed but at the same time his vision and his change of direction (are very good). Just being able to hit that hole after one cut and burst through and get to that next level of space."
Defensive End Jordan Brailford
On playing one last college game before preparing for the draft:
"It's another game to show off what I can do. We're playing against an SEC team who has a pretty good offensive line, so hopefully we can do some things to disrupt them and have a good game and end on a win."
On playing for Coach Jim Knowles:
"I think it's going to help me a lot. Coach Knowles gave me a lot of freedom in the defense this year just to move around and come from different parts of the field all year, so I definitely think that's going to help me in the long run and I'm just thankful to have had the opportunity to play in this defense for my final year."
On his decision to enter the NFL Draft and play in the bowl game:
"It was something I had been thinking about for a while. I just really thought, you know, I'm graduating, I'm walking this December. I've done what I originally came here to do, which was get a degree. I've made my family proud, I've done right by my mom, so the only thing left is for me to pursue what I want to do - my dream of trying to make it at the next level."
Cornerback Rodarius Williams
On Missouri:
"We watched film today and they are a pretty solid team. The quarterback is very accurate. He is probably going to be one of the most poised quarterbacks we've faced. It's going to be a huge task (to contain him)."
On preparing for the bowl game:
"I get a little impatient just waiting. I'd rather just get it over with, go out there and do our thing. We're just staying sharp because we had a little time off here and there - just staying sharp mentally and physically."
Defensive Tackle Enoch Smith, Jr.
On what he has seen out of the young defensive players:
"I have seen a hunger that you are not really able to see from the outside looking in. Me being on the team all season, they have been trying to pick our brains. They know that any down their number could be called. They are putting in work, working with Coach (Rob) Glass and being in the film room. They are really maturing to be ready for the particular position that is going to be handed to them."
On the team's mentality going into the game:
"Overall we are just excited. It is another opportunity to play football which we are all grateful for, especially me because it is my last one. I think people who doubted us, when they see us on Dec. 31, with all the work we put in, will be shocked."
On what the team has been focusing on in practice:
"Based off the film, this is one of the best groups of offensive linemen that we will have seen in this particular season. We have been looking at things like their alignment, or someone who is looking down while they are in their stance. We have just been looking for those keys, to try to find anything that will help us get the win."
Players Mentioned
DE
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QB
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DT
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WR
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CB
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