Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Looking Forward to Fiesta Bowl
December 22, 2021 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - Members of the Oklahoma State football team met with the media a few days before the Cowboys departure for Arizona to play in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Here is some of what they had to say:
Defensive End Kody Walterscheid
On how putting on weight has helped him:
"Coach Glass did a good job putting weight on me. I think I have put on 50 pounds. I've gotten a lot stronger and it's helped me a lot."
On motivation for the bowl game:
"I think we're extremely motivated, almost more than ever. We're fired up, flying around at practice and we'll be ready. We're fired up."
Punter Tom Hutton
On what he knew about OSU and why he came here:
"Absolutely nothing. I got a call from the old special teams coordinator at seven o'clock in the morning my time. He said he was from Oklahoma State; I had to Google it and I thought it looked pretty cool. It was the Google search, I guess. I looked into the program and the facilities. I had been given a little bit of background from pro kickers that this was a good football program to come into and this is a good place. I took their advice and did my own research."
On the relationships he's built:
"I've made relationships with a lot of the guys, the older guys, when I first came in. When I first came in I was 28 and there were 24-year-olds on the team so only a four year difference. Now I'm 31 and there's only a couple of 24-year-olds. The gap keeps getting bigger and bigger between me and the next oldest. I've made relationships I'll keep forever, and people I'll keep in touch with forever."
On his development at OSU:
"I'd say it's more personal development to be honest. Especially with COVID-19 and all this stuff, I've been locked out, not locked out, but I haven't been home in two years. My wife has been here and hasn't been back for three years. It's been a real growth period for me personally. To have the football program and the people of Stillwater and Oklahoma State to support me has really helped me with that."
Safety Jason Taylor
On having assistant coaches that have been around OSU:
"It's meant a lot. Probably at other schools they don't have that. When they lose a defensive coordinator they have to start from scratch. Here we didn't have to do that. They were already kind of involved in that. We're blessed to be in this position and have these types of coaches."
On Isabel Diaz:
"When she first got here she was in our position room with Coach Hammer. She's also a student here, so I see her around. She's great. I feel like times are changing around football. Everybody's allowed to coach. I think that's great for her to be an image people can look at now and maybe for somebody younger who wants to coach."
On Malcom Rodriguez being a coach on the field:
"Malcolm (Rodriguez) is a really quiet guy. He's out there on game days, he doesn't say much at all. He's locked in, and we can just lean on him. In the way of coaching and leadership, he leads by example. When people say he can coach out there that's what they mean is him showing it and him coaching the younger guys through practice, but on game day, he's locked in."
Wide Receiver Tay Martin
On coming to OSU from Washington State:
"I was fine with everything going over there, other than the COVID situation. Everything happens for a reason. I got to have this wonderful season with these guys and I look to end it the right way."
On what being here has provided:
"Great relationships on and off the field. Meeting the new coaches and learning things on and off the field. Building new relationships with guys and having the opportunity to go out in Boone Pickens and make the most of it. I was grateful for the opportunity and I'm happy it happened the way it did."
On the bowl game:
"We're excited. Any time we get to put the pads on, go out there and entertain the fans and put on the jersey, we are going to perform. We're excited and working really hard and are anticipating the game in Arizona."
