Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy Meets With Media from Fiesta Bowl
December 27, 2021 | Cowboy Football
Practice Photos
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – In its second day in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area, the Oklahoma State football team continued practicing ahead of Saturday's matchup with No. 5 Notre Dame.
OSU had an afternoon practice, which is the second time the team has hit the field since arriving in Arizona. Monday night, the Cowboys had the opportunity to attend the NBA's Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies square off in the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl held its first press conference with media members that involved the head coaches of both programs, while select Cowboys spoke with Orange Power Studios prior to practice. Here is some of what the head coaches and Cowboys had to say on Monday:
Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"As what everybody would think, the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl has been awesome. Our practice facilities are great. The plaza where we are staying is fantastic. The hospitality and yellow jackets as I call them are everywhere and it couldn't be any better. Our players are excited, our coaches and families are having a great time. It's a terrific location, we're having a great time and we're off to a great start in our first day and a half.
On what this team means to him:
"This is a special group. We started out the season and I'm not on social media, but I'm going to guess people thought (OSU) would be lucky to win five or six games. We've come along and gotten better and better. What's special about this group is they are really good kids. They're quality young men who do what we ask them to do. They work hard and that's the fun thing. It's like raising kids, nothing's ever perfect, but if we all work together, we listen and we learn, then we get better. I'm going to miss these guys. It's been tough over the last few weeks not having Jim Knowles here. In his own way he is a part of this and it's been tough to not listen to him out at practice complaining about what's going on. It'll be tough to let this group grow."
On the process of naming a defensive coordinator for the Fiesta Bowl:
"I told them that I would make that decision on Thursday. I really like how our defense is practicing. I'm leaning toward making some adjustments in moving coaches from where they were on the sideline to in the box. I'm leaning toward using two coaches instead of one, which comes from what I'm watching in practice. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do right now, but I would hate to say it might change. I want to watch these practices really closely and see how things are going with our coaches and their communication with the players, which is very important on game day. I'm comfortable with what has happened over the last three weeks. I've only watched the defense, I haven't spent a lot of time watching offensive football since coach Knowles left. I'm going to watch the next couple of days and then sit down and meet with the defensive staff and explain to them what I think is best for the game."
Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman
On Oklahoma State's defense:
"I was on the plane for about four hours and tried to watch as much film as I could. I'm so impressed with how hard they play from every position, but especially their front four. They play extremely hard, they're relentless and they tackle and pursue to the ball well. It's going to be a huge challenge and the challenge isn't going to be schematically, it's going to be to match the physicality they play with."
On Oklahoma State's program:
"I think it's a program that every year is contention to win the Big 12 championship and make a playoff run. What you have seen over the last 10-15 years, over the time that coach Gundy has been there, is a team that every year is pushing to win that championship. With a very explosive offensive and now incorporating a defense that plays extremely hard and is one of the best in the country, this is a program that can present problems for any team. We know the challenge. We respect this opponent and we're going to have to prepare to try and make sure we are successful on Saturday."
Oklahoma State Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez
On the past couple of days of practice in Arizona:
"It's awesome. It's a little chilly out here today, but it's awesome to get out here with the guys and compete with each other."
On playing in the Fiesta Bowl:
"It's been a while since we've been back to Arizona, so it's awesome to be here. The hospitality is good and the bowl game is good. This is a big game."
Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Brennan Presley
On the Fiesta Bowl:
This is a great bowl. I grew up watching it. This and the Rose Bowl are like the two best bowls you can possibly be in, so the fact we get a chance to come out here and show what we do is great.
On the team's mindset this week:
"I think just to have fun, but more importantly stay focused. Arizona is a great place to be so you can kind of get caught up in all of the stuff that's in it, but I think we're all focused and ready."
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – In its second day in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area, the Oklahoma State football team continued practicing ahead of Saturday's matchup with No. 5 Notre Dame.
OSU had an afternoon practice, which is the second time the team has hit the field since arriving in Arizona. Monday night, the Cowboys had the opportunity to attend the NBA's Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies square off in the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl held its first press conference with media members that involved the head coaches of both programs, while select Cowboys spoke with Orange Power Studios prior to practice. Here is some of what the head coaches and Cowboys had to say on Monday:
Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement:
"As what everybody would think, the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl has been awesome. Our practice facilities are great. The plaza where we are staying is fantastic. The hospitality and yellow jackets as I call them are everywhere and it couldn't be any better. Our players are excited, our coaches and families are having a great time. It's a terrific location, we're having a great time and we're off to a great start in our first day and a half.
On what this team means to him:
"This is a special group. We started out the season and I'm not on social media, but I'm going to guess people thought (OSU) would be lucky to win five or six games. We've come along and gotten better and better. What's special about this group is they are really good kids. They're quality young men who do what we ask them to do. They work hard and that's the fun thing. It's like raising kids, nothing's ever perfect, but if we all work together, we listen and we learn, then we get better. I'm going to miss these guys. It's been tough over the last few weeks not having Jim Knowles here. In his own way he is a part of this and it's been tough to not listen to him out at practice complaining about what's going on. It'll be tough to let this group grow."
On the process of naming a defensive coordinator for the Fiesta Bowl:
"I told them that I would make that decision on Thursday. I really like how our defense is practicing. I'm leaning toward making some adjustments in moving coaches from where they were on the sideline to in the box. I'm leaning toward using two coaches instead of one, which comes from what I'm watching in practice. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do right now, but I would hate to say it might change. I want to watch these practices really closely and see how things are going with our coaches and their communication with the players, which is very important on game day. I'm comfortable with what has happened over the last three weeks. I've only watched the defense, I haven't spent a lot of time watching offensive football since coach Knowles left. I'm going to watch the next couple of days and then sit down and meet with the defensive staff and explain to them what I think is best for the game."
Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman
On Oklahoma State's defense:
"I was on the plane for about four hours and tried to watch as much film as I could. I'm so impressed with how hard they play from every position, but especially their front four. They play extremely hard, they're relentless and they tackle and pursue to the ball well. It's going to be a huge challenge and the challenge isn't going to be schematically, it's going to be to match the physicality they play with."
On Oklahoma State's program:
"I think it's a program that every year is contention to win the Big 12 championship and make a playoff run. What you have seen over the last 10-15 years, over the time that coach Gundy has been there, is a team that every year is pushing to win that championship. With a very explosive offensive and now incorporating a defense that plays extremely hard and is one of the best in the country, this is a program that can present problems for any team. We know the challenge. We respect this opponent and we're going to have to prepare to try and make sure we are successful on Saturday."
Oklahoma State Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez
On the past couple of days of practice in Arizona:
"It's awesome. It's a little chilly out here today, but it's awesome to get out here with the guys and compete with each other."
On playing in the Fiesta Bowl:
"It's been a while since we've been back to Arizona, so it's awesome to be here. The hospitality is good and the bowl game is good. This is a big game."
Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Brennan Presley
On the Fiesta Bowl:
This is a great bowl. I grew up watching it. This and the Rose Bowl are like the two best bowls you can possibly be in, so the fact we get a chance to come out here and show what we do is great.
On the team's mindset this week:
"I think just to have fun, but more importantly stay focused. Arizona is a great place to be so you can kind of get caught up in all of the stuff that's in it, but I think we're all focused and ready."
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