STILLWATER – The Cowboys are coming off a much-needed bye with two video games left within the 2024 season.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy met with reporters Monday to preview the Pokes' upcoming recreation in opposition to Texas Tech, which begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium. Listed here are 5 issues Gundy mentioned. You may watch his full press convention beneath.
1. The significance of getting a convention win
You'd must go all the way in which again to 1994 for the final time the Cowboys did not win a convention recreation in a season.
OSU completed Zero-6-1 in Huge Eight play that 12 months, with the tie coming in opposition to Iowa State on homecoming. The final time OSU misplaced each league recreation it performed in was the 12 months earlier than in 1993 – a Three-Eight season with an Zero-7 document within the Huge Eight.
The Cowboys are wanting down the stretch this season with two video games to play in opposition to a pair of groups the Pokes might be underdogs in opposition to. Right here's what Gundy needed to say Monday concerning the significance of discovering a solution to win once more earlier than the season ends.
“When the clock runs out, I need to be up entrance to allow them to have fun and be capable to benefit from the work and the trouble,” Gundy mentioned. “I see what they do each week. I see them working arduous. I'm happy with them for that and I attempt to train them and instill the values they be taught by persevering with to do this. However it will be good if we may discover a solution to win the sport the place they could possibly be blissful and say, “Hey, I realized to toughen up and recover from it and be robust, and right here's the reward.” So from that standpoint, it will be good for them to have the ability to win the sport and see that all of it paid off.”
2. “We're not going to place a younger man only for expertise”
Gundy was once more requested concerning the potential to see extra younger gamers this weekend.
There's a line of considering that may say, with the Cowboys not having bowl eligibility as a risk, that now can be time to get the youthful gamers some reps. That's occurred a bit bit extra in latest weeks, with guys like David Kabango and Landyn Cleveland making extra runs within the again finish of the protection. It additionally occurred to a lesser extent with quarterback Maealiuaki Smith, who performed tight finish for the Cowboys the previous two video games. However it doesn't appear to be the Pokes are going to play a cavalcade of freshmen and sophomores only for the sake of it.
“Provided that they may also help us win the sport,” Gundy mentioned. “The plans that now we have collectively, the practices that now we have this week goes to be to do no matter we expect is important to win this recreation. And if there are younger guys who may also help us, then we'll put them able to assist us. If not, we're not going to place a younger man in only for expertise.”
Three. On Maealiuaki Smith
Talking of Smith, he's the freshman with essentially the most eyes on him within the fan base – the blessing and curse of taking part in quarterback.
In 18 snaps this season, Smith has accomplished seven of 10 move makes an attempt for 103 yards and an interception. He led the Cowboys on a late scoring drive in opposition to Arizona State earlier than main OSU to 63 dashing yards and throwing an interception in opposition to TCU. Gundy mentioned he's seen most of Smith's development come by means of in apply these days after beginning the 12 months with the scout crew.
“He's grown simply from working towards with us for a month,” Gundy mentioned. “Earlier than 4 weeks in the past, he wasn't even working towards with us, then we moved him and he made a little bit of progress each week. After which clearly taking part in inside a recreation helps it a bit bit. He's remained aggressive, however he's improved extra since coaching with us than simply the minimal variety of recreation reps he's gotten up to now.”
four. On how the teaching employees is dealing with the robust season
Gundy was requested considerably vaguely about his personnel a number of instances Monday, however didn't go too far into the potential of any strikes being made — that's to not say strikes received't be made, simply that it wasn't one thing Gundy latched on to. when questions have been requested involving personnel adjustments.
The primary employees query got here when discussing a busy begin to December. The early signing interval opens on December 4th. The switch portal opens on December 9. Gundy was requested if he ought to make adjustments to his personnel, if any of that point might be decided by the busy begin to December. He mentioned he “didn't consider such issues.”
In the direction of the tip of the press convention, Gundy was requested how the teaching employees has handled this season not going in response to plan.
“They have been good,” Gundy mentioned. “They work. Coaches are consumed with 14, 16 hour days and preparation. They’re creatures of behavior, like robots in the course of the week. We’re all the identical. We conceal in our work. We go to work at nighttime and are available house at nighttime. That permits us to proceed with our existence, our livelihoods, and our jobs, greater than the rest that's occurring. So it's loads simpler for the coaches than the gamers, I feel. …
“I didn't see something to eat them. I'm positive there have been video games the place he wished he had carried out a greater job. However they occupy a extra skilled half and place of their lives than the younger gamers – the younger folks. So they need to be capable to deal with it. And I've seen them do it loads in another way. They usually have been good. They work. And once more, what I remind them, my job is to ensure they're energized and enthusiastic every single day. So I compelled that. And the gamers, generally, will reply to what they see the coaches doing.
Within the senior class
Gundy mentioned 26 gamers are anticipated to stroll Saturday as a part of Senior Day.
This group contains 18 “tremendous seniors,” which OSU highlighted in its recreation notes:
Cole Birmingham, OL
Corey Black, CB
Alan Bowman, QB
Collin Clay, NT
Dalton Cooper, OL
Obi Ezeigbo, DE
Tyler Foster, TE
Kobe Hylton, S
Joe Michalski, OL
Taylor Miterko, OL
Brennan Presley, WR
Xavier Ross, DE
Trey Rucker, S
Jake Schultz, FB
Jake Springfield, OL
Kody Walterscheid, DE
Preston Wilson, OL
Justin Wright, LB
Lots of that group have been in Stillwater for a while. Cole Birmingham, Preston Wilson, Xavier Ross, Taylor Miterko, Joe Michalski and Kody Walterscheid signed with this system as a part of OSU's 2019 recruiting class. Brennan Presley and Korie Black got here a 12 months later as a part of the 2020 class.
“These guys have, loads of them have been right here for six years and yearly once they go away I can't determine if I feel they only bought right here or in the event that they've been right here endlessly with all of the lessons that get combined up as of late,” Gundy mentioned. “These guys received loads of video games. They have been very devoted to the group. I seen the opposite day after I was watching – we're going to have 26 seniors strolling, or no matter they do earlier than the sport, and these guys bought actually good levels. Like, minors and a few of them are double majors and postgraduates. Their dedication to the group was very particular, like all of them. It takes loads, and these guys have been very profitable.”