Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Gundy, Cowboys Talk Meeting with West Virginia
September 30, 2024 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy and several players met with the media Monday in Stillwater to preview Oklahoma State's upcoming game against West Virginia. Here are some of their comments:
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On his takeaways from the Kansas State game:
"When you play a good team, you play on the road, you play in a good college football environment, you have to capitalize on your opportunities, and we didn't do that. We left some points on the board in the first half. It was very similar to what it was like when I watched the Utah video. I kept watching where we made mistakes, made mistakes, made mistakes, and I looked up and we're only down three… When you don't (capitalize), sometimes it can snowball on you in the latter part of the game then it starts to add up really quick."
On West Virginia:
"You've got to stop their quarterback. He's a good runner, very similar to what we saw last week. Coach Brown has done a good job with them. They've been in their games. Every game they've played, they've been very competitive in it. Penn State kind of took them over later, but not really, it was a very competitive game. Same coordinators, same defensive structure. Neal's offense is the same as what it's been."
On bouncing back from a slow start in conference play:
"I'm really excited. I told the team after the game that I'm excited about today's walk-throughs. I told them I'm excited about Tuesday's practice because I like things like this. I like things that are challenging, I like things that are intriguing. I really like the attitude of our team. They're acting like grown men for the most part. They're competing, they're playing with effort, so I get excited about today (and) tomorrow. We need a good week of fundamental practice and I'll be excited about playing West Virginia."
On playing for the sixth week in a row:
"In my opinion, most teams across the country are tired, but we're still playing Saturday at 3:05. It doesn't make a difference if we're tired. So, we have to find a way to have a really good mental and physical practice throughout the week and get ready to play in a game. After that, I have to give them a chance to recover both mentally and physically. Give them a chance to get away, give the coaches a chance to get away so we can reprogram and get ready for the next one."
On culture helping the team get back on track:
"There needs to be a culture where we look and see, no matter what, what can we do to improve, even if we win, for the next game. I think that's what we have here. That's all we accept here. For that reason, I think they're fine. I thought they were fine last year."
Offensive Lineman Cole Birmingham
On moving forward following back-to-back losses:
"Just have to have a short memory. You can't dwell on it. You can't change the past, it's happened. We got to focus on what's ahead, we got to focus on this game. So, we're not even thinking about that."
On the team's attitude:
"Every game is a must-win. You're never thinking about losing, the only goal is to win… We've put ourselves in a hole at this point, but we're not down on each other. We're not blaming anybody. We're all stepping up. Just ready for the next game."
Linebacker Jeff Roberson
On the adversity early in the season:
"Last week is gone. It's time to move on. We have a big week ahead of us and last week is last week. That's how we approach every week, new opportunity to get better. We understand what we need to do. We made our corrections for this week. Going into this week, we'll be just fine. The resilience of the team. We've been through this before, so we understand what it takes to be great and we will be great. We'll fix our mistakes. We just have to go out there and execute. We'll be back."
On playing another mobile quarterback against West Virginia:
"If you get a running quarterback, obviously, you need to contain the dude. You don't want him out there running around, you want to be able to stop him. Keep him in the pocket, make him pass. When you stop that, you stop the head of the snake. When you continue to face those teams, you continue to get better at what you do."
Defensive Lineman Iman Oates
On playing for the sixth straight week:
"In the offseason, attacking it the way it needs to be attacked prepares me for times like this throughout the season. Preparing your body for those situations is always big and helps a lot. It's holding up pretty good. I have tweaks and bruises here and there, but that's what comes with football. For the most part, it's holding up pretty good. I just have to take it play-by-play."
On his increased role this season:
"I've enjoyed it a lot. It's what you dream of when you decide to play football at the next level, being out there, taking that role on the team, playing big time football and trying to do what it takes week in and week out to get the win for the team. It was a crazy environment, but that's what comes with it. There is nothing like the college football atmosphere. Just going out there, experiencing it, enjoying it and just enjoying the process of getting better. Building relationships with your brothers and teammates. Just enjoying the whole process of college football."
Head Coach Mike Gundy
On his takeaways from the Kansas State game:
"When you play a good team, you play on the road, you play in a good college football environment, you have to capitalize on your opportunities, and we didn't do that. We left some points on the board in the first half. It was very similar to what it was like when I watched the Utah video. I kept watching where we made mistakes, made mistakes, made mistakes, and I looked up and we're only down three… When you don't (capitalize), sometimes it can snowball on you in the latter part of the game then it starts to add up really quick."
On West Virginia:
"You've got to stop their quarterback. He's a good runner, very similar to what we saw last week. Coach Brown has done a good job with them. They've been in their games. Every game they've played, they've been very competitive in it. Penn State kind of took them over later, but not really, it was a very competitive game. Same coordinators, same defensive structure. Neal's offense is the same as what it's been."
On bouncing back from a slow start in conference play:
"I'm really excited. I told the team after the game that I'm excited about today's walk-throughs. I told them I'm excited about Tuesday's practice because I like things like this. I like things that are challenging, I like things that are intriguing. I really like the attitude of our team. They're acting like grown men for the most part. They're competing, they're playing with effort, so I get excited about today (and) tomorrow. We need a good week of fundamental practice and I'll be excited about playing West Virginia."
On playing for the sixth week in a row:
"In my opinion, most teams across the country are tired, but we're still playing Saturday at 3:05. It doesn't make a difference if we're tired. So, we have to find a way to have a really good mental and physical practice throughout the week and get ready to play in a game. After that, I have to give them a chance to recover both mentally and physically. Give them a chance to get away, give the coaches a chance to get away so we can reprogram and get ready for the next one."
On culture helping the team get back on track:
"There needs to be a culture where we look and see, no matter what, what can we do to improve, even if we win, for the next game. I think that's what we have here. That's all we accept here. For that reason, I think they're fine. I thought they were fine last year."
Offensive Lineman Cole Birmingham
On moving forward following back-to-back losses:
"Just have to have a short memory. You can't dwell on it. You can't change the past, it's happened. We got to focus on what's ahead, we got to focus on this game. So, we're not even thinking about that."
On the team's attitude:
"Every game is a must-win. You're never thinking about losing, the only goal is to win… We've put ourselves in a hole at this point, but we're not down on each other. We're not blaming anybody. We're all stepping up. Just ready for the next game."
Linebacker Jeff Roberson
On the adversity early in the season:
"Last week is gone. It's time to move on. We have a big week ahead of us and last week is last week. That's how we approach every week, new opportunity to get better. We understand what we need to do. We made our corrections for this week. Going into this week, we'll be just fine. The resilience of the team. We've been through this before, so we understand what it takes to be great and we will be great. We'll fix our mistakes. We just have to go out there and execute. We'll be back."
On playing another mobile quarterback against West Virginia:
"If you get a running quarterback, obviously, you need to contain the dude. You don't want him out there running around, you want to be able to stop him. Keep him in the pocket, make him pass. When you stop that, you stop the head of the snake. When you continue to face those teams, you continue to get better at what you do."
Defensive Lineman Iman Oates
On playing for the sixth straight week:
"In the offseason, attacking it the way it needs to be attacked prepares me for times like this throughout the season. Preparing your body for those situations is always big and helps a lot. It's holding up pretty good. I have tweaks and bruises here and there, but that's what comes with football. For the most part, it's holding up pretty good. I just have to take it play-by-play."
On his increased role this season:
"I've enjoyed it a lot. It's what you dream of when you decide to play football at the next level, being out there, taking that role on the team, playing big time football and trying to do what it takes week in and week out to get the win for the team. It was a crazy environment, but that's what comes with it. There is nothing like the college football atmosphere. Just going out there, experiencing it, enjoying it and just enjoying the process of getting better. Building relationships with your brothers and teammates. Just enjoying the whole process of college football."
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
