Cowboys Discuss Beginning of Bowl Practice

As the Oklahoma State football team continues to prepare for the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, some of the Cowboys met with the media to discuss No. 9 Notre Dame and the beginning of bowl practice. Here is some of what they had to say:

Cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse

On preparing for the bowl game:
"Just keep the same intensity, the same focus. Just keep the same mindset we've had all year. We'll continue [to work] here and do what we do."

On Kolby Harvell-Peel being named an AP All-American:
"We all know Kolby is a good ballplayer. He's a good guy. So, we're just happy for him and congratulated him. That's a big deal."

On playing Notre Dame in a New Year's Six Bowl:
"That's what you look forward to playing college football. These are the big games you live for, so we're looking forward to it."

On Jim Knowles' departure:
"It's different for sure. That's expected, but it's still the same structure, the same game. Everything is still in place, it's just him not being here. We're just going to keep going and keep the same routine."

Defensive End Tyler Lacy

On what it means to play Notre Dame:
"I mean everyone knows who Notre Dame is and their gold helmets. So yeah, to play them in a game and especially a bowl game is an honor. Especially with the significance of their program and what they stand for."

On what it's like having Mike Gundy working with the defense:
"It's a change having him out there for us, especially on our side of the ball. But I mean everyone is out there with the same common goal, to win and get better. So, I figure he's not giving us any harm by being over there and we're just taking it day-by-day. We're listening to what he has to say and going out there and executing."

On his reaction to when former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles told them he was leaving:
"I was not told because I actually just came back, I had the flu. So, I'm just now figuring out what's going on, and everything. It was a shock. I rolled over and looked at my phone and was like that's not true. All-in-all it is true, and I wish the best for him, he was a good defensive coordinator for us, and I learned so much from him, so I wish him the best."

Quarterback Spencer Sanders

On his knowledge of Notre Dame tradition and folklore:
"To be honest, I have no idea. All I know is the Fighting Irish. We've never played them, so it's never really been a thing around here. I don't really know too much about them. They've got a good football team over there right now. I think it's going to be a great matchup."

On what he knows about Notre Dame early on in bowl game preparations:
"If I give that to you right now, they're probably going to hear about it, so I can't give you all the details. They look good. They've got some solid players. I feel like they're really solid all around. They're very disciplined and fundamental. Like we've said, it's a great program. They've got a great coaching staff. The DC just took the head coaching job, correct? I heard he's a pretty good coach; sounds like they got good chemistry going on over there. I feel like it could be a good matchup."

On the team's excitement for the Fiesta Bowl gift being a PlayStation 5:
"I mean, we'll probably all be playing it. It's pretty cool to have as a present, you know, but we can't look over why we're there. We just came off an 11-win season, you know we earned that. We're going to enjoy it, but at the same time, it's a business trip."

Offensive Lineman Hunter Woodard
On the Notre Dame defensive line:
"They definitely have some good players up front. They are fast and athletic. That group is definitely solid."
On the beginning of bowl practice:
"We're just going back to the fundamentals and the stuff we work on in the spring. We do that every year to start off the bowl season. It's first-steps, going back to the sleds and chutes, driving off the ball, just the starting basics."
On improving from the Big 12 Championship:
"There are a lot of learning points from every game. There were a lot of things from that game that we should have fixed, but it's onto the next one."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Jarrick Bernard-Converse

Kolby Harvell-Peel

Tyler Lacy

Spencer Sanders

Hunter Woodard

Related Videos