Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Gundy, Cowboys Discuss Start of Spring Practice
March 26, 2024 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Head coach Mike Gundy and several players met with the media Tuesday in Stillwater to discuss the start of spring practice. Here are some of their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On advantages of having an experienced quarterback:
"He's been really good from day one and even more during the last few months. More comfortable. I've always said, in my opinion, there's not really any substitute for experience and maturity. We had a lot of success with Brandon Weeden and he was 28 or 29, so these guys bring a lot to the table from experience."
On Alan Bowman's improvement in his second year:
"He should just do reps. Our systems don't really change much. The more you do something, the better you get at it. Familiarity will be good. We've got quite a few wide receivers coming back, so he'll have a little bit of a feel working with those guys. He's worked hard and gotten better. I think he's lost six, eight pounds, something like that, looks good."
On the returning experience this spring:
"Last spring, we had 28 new players. This spring, it's around 12. Somewhere in that area, so less than half. More retention from the team in general. We have seventh-year guys. Sixth-year guys. Fifth-year guys. So, it's considerably different from an installation standpoint. We've got a few players that we'll have to bring along slower that are new, but the majority of them can move along pretty quick this spring."
On defensive schemes:
"We've had a lot of discussions and meetings and conversations about defensive philosophy. We'll be able to play three down and there's times we'll play four down. Just different things that I feel like we need to do to be successful in trying to create confusion for quarterbacks. Very similar to the conversations that we had with Coach Knowles. We get in a room and try to decide what's best for Oklahoma State based on the personnel we have. There's a lot of ways to be successful, scheme- and concept-wise."
On progression in Bryan Nardo's second season:
"He will improve his concept and his play calling and his coaching ability. He's still very young, so he will improve. He's got great work ethic and he's willing to listen. Our team, we have a number of guys coming back, which makes a difference. We should be able to move along a little quicker than what we did last spring."
Running Back Ollie Gordon II
On maintaining focus following a successful season:
"Obviously, the spring is more important because we're coming off a 10-win season. We can't let that affect us. So, I feel like we got to put that behind us and grind even harder now in the spring."
On teammates choosing to return this season:
"From the beginning, we all wanted to stay and play with each other. I feel like we already had it installed that we were already staying together. I feel like we all just knew what it was. I appreciate all of them coming back. Last year could have been their last year. All of them had great seasons. They could have declared. They could have done anything, but for them to stay another year and fight it out as a Cowboy, I really appreciate that."
Offensive Lineman Joe Michalski
On the offensive line's comfortability:
"It feels good. It feels like we're keeping the same culture as last year and it's not going to be a huge rebuilding process. It's more of a restart and getting everything tuned up again. It'll be a lot easier to get in the groove that we got into last year since we have so many guys coming back."
On returning the entire starting offensive line:
"It was like a domino thing. It wasn't like we sat down and talked about it at the end of the year. Everyone was like, 'why not?' There's no reason not to, it's a special thing to be able to play this game with the same group of guys. Not a lot of people get to play for more than two years with the same people. We've been here for six years, so it just makes sense."
Linebacker Nick Martin
On the team's identity this spring:
"We have our identity. Last year around this time, we were still finding ourselves. Even during the season, we were still finding ourselves. I think we got a head start on that. We know what type of team we are. We know we're a tough team and that we're going to fight for each other. I think that's setting us up for success early."
On feeling more comfortable:
"I think it's because I'm older now. I got that experience. I know what to expect on the field. Last year, it was more getting a feel for it and then by game three or four, I really fit into it. I was like, 'I can actually do this now.' I always believed in myself, but there's always reassurance in doing it."
Nose Tackle Justin Kirkland
On defensive line coach Paul Randolph:
"Seen a lot of things, been through a lot of things. I think the more experience you have, you can always pass that to your players and your other coaches. It's fun picking his mind and seeing the things that he's gone through and just kind of applying it to myself. Like I said, he's got something for everybody."
On his offseason improvements:
"I tried to be more athletic overall, but I think it was a great offseason for all of us. Nine weeks in the weight room, running around out here. There were a couple times Thursday mornings, we'd run 200's around the field. Us big guys, we don't have to do that, but a lot of us chose to do that. I think it's one of those things where it's like a snowball-type thing. Once one person does it, it gets everybody involved and it was fun to see that happen."
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On advantages of having an experienced quarterback:
"He's been really good from day one and even more during the last few months. More comfortable. I've always said, in my opinion, there's not really any substitute for experience and maturity. We had a lot of success with Brandon Weeden and he was 28 or 29, so these guys bring a lot to the table from experience."
On Alan Bowman's improvement in his second year:
"He should just do reps. Our systems don't really change much. The more you do something, the better you get at it. Familiarity will be good. We've got quite a few wide receivers coming back, so he'll have a little bit of a feel working with those guys. He's worked hard and gotten better. I think he's lost six, eight pounds, something like that, looks good."
On the returning experience this spring:
"Last spring, we had 28 new players. This spring, it's around 12. Somewhere in that area, so less than half. More retention from the team in general. We have seventh-year guys. Sixth-year guys. Fifth-year guys. So, it's considerably different from an installation standpoint. We've got a few players that we'll have to bring along slower that are new, but the majority of them can move along pretty quick this spring."
On defensive schemes:
"We've had a lot of discussions and meetings and conversations about defensive philosophy. We'll be able to play three down and there's times we'll play four down. Just different things that I feel like we need to do to be successful in trying to create confusion for quarterbacks. Very similar to the conversations that we had with Coach Knowles. We get in a room and try to decide what's best for Oklahoma State based on the personnel we have. There's a lot of ways to be successful, scheme- and concept-wise."
On progression in Bryan Nardo's second season:
"He will improve his concept and his play calling and his coaching ability. He's still very young, so he will improve. He's got great work ethic and he's willing to listen. Our team, we have a number of guys coming back, which makes a difference. We should be able to move along a little quicker than what we did last spring."
Running Back Ollie Gordon II
On maintaining focus following a successful season:
"Obviously, the spring is more important because we're coming off a 10-win season. We can't let that affect us. So, I feel like we got to put that behind us and grind even harder now in the spring."
On teammates choosing to return this season:
"From the beginning, we all wanted to stay and play with each other. I feel like we already had it installed that we were already staying together. I feel like we all just knew what it was. I appreciate all of them coming back. Last year could have been their last year. All of them had great seasons. They could have declared. They could have done anything, but for them to stay another year and fight it out as a Cowboy, I really appreciate that."
Offensive Lineman Joe Michalski
On the offensive line's comfortability:
"It feels good. It feels like we're keeping the same culture as last year and it's not going to be a huge rebuilding process. It's more of a restart and getting everything tuned up again. It'll be a lot easier to get in the groove that we got into last year since we have so many guys coming back."
On returning the entire starting offensive line:
"It was like a domino thing. It wasn't like we sat down and talked about it at the end of the year. Everyone was like, 'why not?' There's no reason not to, it's a special thing to be able to play this game with the same group of guys. Not a lot of people get to play for more than two years with the same people. We've been here for six years, so it just makes sense."
Linebacker Nick Martin
On the team's identity this spring:
"We have our identity. Last year around this time, we were still finding ourselves. Even during the season, we were still finding ourselves. I think we got a head start on that. We know what type of team we are. We know we're a tough team and that we're going to fight for each other. I think that's setting us up for success early."
On feeling more comfortable:
"I think it's because I'm older now. I got that experience. I know what to expect on the field. Last year, it was more getting a feel for it and then by game three or four, I really fit into it. I was like, 'I can actually do this now.' I always believed in myself, but there's always reassurance in doing it."
Nose Tackle Justin Kirkland
On defensive line coach Paul Randolph:
"Seen a lot of things, been through a lot of things. I think the more experience you have, you can always pass that to your players and your other coaches. It's fun picking his mind and seeing the things that he's gone through and just kind of applying it to myself. Like I said, he's got something for everybody."
On his offseason improvements:
"I tried to be more athletic overall, but I think it was a great offseason for all of us. Nine weeks in the weight room, running around out here. There were a couple times Thursday mornings, we'd run 200's around the field. Us big guys, we don't have to do that, but a lot of us chose to do that. I think it's one of those things where it's like a snowball-type thing. Once one person does it, it gets everybody involved and it was fun to see that happen."
Players Mentioned
QB
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NT
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LB
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OL
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Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
