Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Gundy, Cowboys Preview Senior Day Against Texas Tech
November 18, 2024 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Head coach Mike Gundy and several players met with the media Monday in Stillwater to look ahead at Oklahoma State's Senior Day matchup against Texas Tech. Here are some of their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On this group of seniors:
"A lot of them have been here for six years and each year when they depart, I can't decide whether I think they just got here or they've been here forever with all the classes that are meshing nowadays. These guys have won a lot of games. They've been very committed to the organization. I noticed the other day when I was looking, we'll have 26 seniors walking or whatever they do pregame, and these guys have gotten really good degrees, like minors and some of them are double majors and post-grad. Their commitment to the organization has been special, just like all of them. It takes a lot and those guys have been very successful."
On Brennan Presley's impact on the program:
"We use him as an example a lot. I think I shared with you guys that I've been trying to hold him out of practices the last month, and he'll come in a visit with me individually about wanting to practice. I've worked to convince him that his body needs a rest, and he refuses to take a break. He just continues to compete and that's really a great role model for the younger players. As we work toward keeping continuity and core and physical toughness and mental toughness and things, he's a great role model for those young players."
On Texas Tech:
"The quarterback has made plays, their back is a good player. I've been impressed with their defense. I think that they've improved considerably, in my opinion, and they're very active. They do a good job of running to the ball. They're multiple up front, they do a lot of different things and they've had success with it."
On practice over the bye week:
"We had three practices of very light contact. I just felt like at this point, the guys were physically beat up, and I wanted them to be fresh mentally when they came back yesterday to restart for this week. We'll see what happens in practice this week, but I was pleased with last week's practices."
On Maealiuaki Smith's progression:
"Well, he's grown from just practicing with us for a month. Prior to four weeks ago, he wasn't even practicing with us, and then we moved him up, and he's made a little bit of progress each week. Obviously, playing in the game helps him a little bit, too."
Wide Receiver Brennan Presley
On his biggest takeaway from his time in Stillwater:
"I've made a lot of friends, a lot of relationships here that'll last me a long time. Guys that have left that I still talk to, guys that are here I still talk to, and even when we leave I'll still talk to them. Even guys that are going to be here after I leave that I'll probably still talk to. I think that's the biggest thing."
On what he's learned at Oklahoma State:
"Going to college was honestly the first real life test for me because you're on your own, away from your parents, you get to do what you want to do, choose what you want to do… I just (learned) I'm stronger than I think I am and every single day, I learned something new about myself. Experience single experience will learn something new. I'm just very proud of the time here, sad that it's coming to an end."
Cornerback Korie Black
On his growth at Oklahoma State:
"I feel like I've grown a lot, both physically and mentally. Just learning the game a lot. I've learned a lot from the people that was ahead of me when I first came in. Now, just still learning day by day and helping people under me at this point. I've grown a lot since I've been here."
On his role as a leader for the younger players:
"It just feels right sharing what I know to the younger guys to help them out. So, it'll be good for them… Those guys have really grown, and they're just getting used to the program and stuff like that. They're still growing but they'll be good players in the future."
Offensive Lineman Jake Springfield
On playing his last home game this Saturday:
"It'll be emotional. It'll be my last game at Boone Pickens Stadium, it's a special place. I'm excited but also kind of not excited because it'll be my last one. I'll be able to go out on the field and have my parents with me, so it'll be a special moment for all of us."
On when he was awarded a scholarship:
"The first thought I had was to tell my parents. I broke down, and all my teammates ran up and jumped on my back super excited. That was a great moment, and then being able to call my parents after that and before the video came out, being able to tell them, 'Hey, I was put on scholarship.' Just seeing the look on their faces was a great moment."
Defensive Lineman Collin Clay
On his mentality entering Saturday's game:
"I'm excited about it. It's been a great journey here. I'm excited for the game this weekend. Coming off a bye week, it's important that we get ready for the gameplan we are putting in and go out there and execute the way we are supposed to."
On lessons from his time at OSU:
"How resilient I am. It's not easy coming off of two surgeries. I felt like after my second one I was ready to hang it up but I'm strong enough to go out there and persevere. That's a story for anybody else who may be going through the same thing, who was in the same boat as me or the same boat that I was in."
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On this group of seniors:
"A lot of them have been here for six years and each year when they depart, I can't decide whether I think they just got here or they've been here forever with all the classes that are meshing nowadays. These guys have won a lot of games. They've been very committed to the organization. I noticed the other day when I was looking, we'll have 26 seniors walking or whatever they do pregame, and these guys have gotten really good degrees, like minors and some of them are double majors and post-grad. Their commitment to the organization has been special, just like all of them. It takes a lot and those guys have been very successful."
On Brennan Presley's impact on the program:
"We use him as an example a lot. I think I shared with you guys that I've been trying to hold him out of practices the last month, and he'll come in a visit with me individually about wanting to practice. I've worked to convince him that his body needs a rest, and he refuses to take a break. He just continues to compete and that's really a great role model for the younger players. As we work toward keeping continuity and core and physical toughness and mental toughness and things, he's a great role model for those young players."
On Texas Tech:
"The quarterback has made plays, their back is a good player. I've been impressed with their defense. I think that they've improved considerably, in my opinion, and they're very active. They do a good job of running to the ball. They're multiple up front, they do a lot of different things and they've had success with it."
On practice over the bye week:
"We had three practices of very light contact. I just felt like at this point, the guys were physically beat up, and I wanted them to be fresh mentally when they came back yesterday to restart for this week. We'll see what happens in practice this week, but I was pleased with last week's practices."
On Maealiuaki Smith's progression:
"Well, he's grown from just practicing with us for a month. Prior to four weeks ago, he wasn't even practicing with us, and then we moved him up, and he's made a little bit of progress each week. Obviously, playing in the game helps him a little bit, too."
Wide Receiver Brennan Presley
On his biggest takeaway from his time in Stillwater:
"I've made a lot of friends, a lot of relationships here that'll last me a long time. Guys that have left that I still talk to, guys that are here I still talk to, and even when we leave I'll still talk to them. Even guys that are going to be here after I leave that I'll probably still talk to. I think that's the biggest thing."
On what he's learned at Oklahoma State:
"Going to college was honestly the first real life test for me because you're on your own, away from your parents, you get to do what you want to do, choose what you want to do… I just (learned) I'm stronger than I think I am and every single day, I learned something new about myself. Experience single experience will learn something new. I'm just very proud of the time here, sad that it's coming to an end."
Cornerback Korie Black
On his growth at Oklahoma State:
"I feel like I've grown a lot, both physically and mentally. Just learning the game a lot. I've learned a lot from the people that was ahead of me when I first came in. Now, just still learning day by day and helping people under me at this point. I've grown a lot since I've been here."
On his role as a leader for the younger players:
"It just feels right sharing what I know to the younger guys to help them out. So, it'll be good for them… Those guys have really grown, and they're just getting used to the program and stuff like that. They're still growing but they'll be good players in the future."
Offensive Lineman Jake Springfield
On playing his last home game this Saturday:
"It'll be emotional. It'll be my last game at Boone Pickens Stadium, it's a special place. I'm excited but also kind of not excited because it'll be my last one. I'll be able to go out on the field and have my parents with me, so it'll be a special moment for all of us."
On when he was awarded a scholarship:
"The first thought I had was to tell my parents. I broke down, and all my teammates ran up and jumped on my back super excited. That was a great moment, and then being able to call my parents after that and before the video came out, being able to tell them, 'Hey, I was put on scholarship.' Just seeing the look on their faces was a great moment."
Defensive Lineman Collin Clay
On his mentality entering Saturday's game:
"I'm excited about it. It's been a great journey here. I'm excited for the game this weekend. Coming off a bye week, it's important that we get ready for the gameplan we are putting in and go out there and execute the way we are supposed to."
On lessons from his time at OSU:
"How resilient I am. It's not easy coming off of two surgeries. I felt like after my second one I was ready to hang it up but I'm strong enough to go out there and persevere. That's a story for anybody else who may be going through the same thing, who was in the same boat as me or the same boat that I was in."
Players Mentioned
CB
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NT
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WR
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QB
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OL
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