Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Talk Bye Week and Upcoming Trip to BYU
October 14, 2024 | Cowboy Football
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On what the team did during the bye week:
"We did the things that I mentioned. [We] worked the fundamentals in all three phases. We had really good practices last week and then we had a good workout last night, not really a practice but we got them back together and had a workout last night. We just stressed the things that we feel like we need to get accomplished. We need to be a better run-fit defense, minimize a few of the big plays that we've gotten and then continue to work offensively in rushing the football and being good at our basic play-action passes, which we've worked on from day one. So, there wasn't any big mystery or any big secret to what we tried to get accomplished, just good quality work."
On the state of the team:
"As I mentioned last week, they've been really good. Obviously, they want to win and have success, but I watch their willingness to compete in practice, their attentiveness in meetings and practice, and it's been good. Like I said, they were really good last week. I think that the maturity does help us. I think they understand and they can see where we've been deficient in certain areas and ways to improve that to give ourselves a chance to win the game."
On BYU:
"They're having a great year. Kalani [Sitake]'s doing a great job. They've very mature. They're getting really, really good quarterback play, in my opinion, and they have good players. I think they've got probably three or four guys that are going to get drafted on the team, just what I see from the naked eye. Now, I don't follow up on any of that, but they've got a good team. They're mature. They're playing with confidence. The quarterback's playing really good at this time and they're getting good pass rush. They get good pressure on the quarterback with four-man rush."
On if playing in the altitude will present any challenges:
"I'm sure there could be issues with altitude, these guys now have nutritionists, and we have vitamins and such, things we give them to try and keep their oxygen levels at a high. BYU does not play in a tempo offense, which I think could be a bigger factor, that's not been their history. I don't really feel like that'll be an issue. I've never played there, I've been to Provo a couple times but I've never played there. I don't feel like it'll be an issue, in my opinion, with the altitude."
On how Sean Snyder coaches the special teams:
"It's not really more complicated, I just think there's greater detail in the technique that we use. It does take some time and repetition obviously is going to make us all better. I'm seeing the continued repetition in the same areas start to pay some dividends for our team."
Offensive Lineman Dalton Cooper
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On the BYU defensive line:
"Very good, very physical. They're very smart. They play every play through the whistle. They're a little mean for sure. They got a little bit of grit to them, just very explosive for sure."
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On what he worked on during the bye week:
"Just getting healthy, staying mentally focused. I'd say my pass sets could be a little bit better at anchoring down because these guys love bull rushing. They bring a lot of speed to power, it's just right at your face the entire time. They're going to make you want to quit, so just focusing on that stuff."
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Safety Kobe Hylton
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On why he chose to come to OSU for his senior year:
"It felt like a family feel and when I took the visit, I already knew this was where I wanted to come. It's a lot of genuine people… Ollie Gordon was the first person to welcome me in. This is a family feel. At the end of the day, that's all it is. It's bigger than ball. You want to have a genuine relationship with these people."Â
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On the BYU offense:
"They're real discipline. If we even make a little mistake, they are going to capitalize off it. Something so little can turn so big and drastic. That's why we have to pay attention to the little things, the details. Dominating the details."Â
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Defensive Lineman Kody Walterscheid
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On keys to improving the run defense:
"We're just going to eliminate mistakes, and everybody will be where they're supposed to be. We'll get it done… Just getting a look from the offense (in practice), everybody knowing where they're supposed to be and getting there."
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On focuses during the bye week:
"Just really focusing on the little things and taking advantage of the extra time… Just dominate the details."
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