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Gundy's Risky Business
Published: 8/26/2008 10:04 AM
Last Modified: 8/26/2008 10:04 AM

Mike Gundy said on Monday he'll be making the offensive calls when Oklahoma State opens the season on Saturday in Seattle against Washington State.
It is a risk. If things go wrong, Gundy will take the full force of the blame.
If not, he'll get the credit that he would be getting as the head coach.
Some wonder why he would take the risk.
Why not? He's going to take the blame if things go wrong anyway.
So, if you are comfortable doing the playcalling, then just do it yourself.
There have been mixed results of head coaches acting as an offensive coordinator in the past.
But, it is not as risky as some might believe.
If he believes he is best suited to do it, then he should do it. Perhaps, he will eventually turn over the play calling to some other coach.
But, if it is his coach on the line, and it is as the head coach, then taking over the calling of plays is not a bad idea.
He becomes responsible for what happens as the play caller on Saturday.
Of course, as head coach, he's already responsible.



Reader Comments 4 Total
Bryan G (4 years ago)
This is a prime example of why I don't think Gundy is suited for the top job. Sure, each head coach is going to have their side of the ball that they prefer, and as a former QB it makes sense that he favors the offense. But, as head coach you must manage all aspects of the game, not just the side you like. It's no wonder that OSU has had a marginal defense at best during the Gundy reign.

He may be a great play caller....it may turn out that he is the best play caller to ever walk the face of the earth. However, as head coach he needs to focus on insuring his defense is making the correct adjustments while the offense is on the field. Pass the play calling off to a coordinator (he has two) and be a head coach. Why give them the title of offensive coordinator if you aren't going to use them?
MIKE (4 years ago)
Bryan, I understand where you are coming from but I think there is more to it than that. I think he is going with being the play caller in this one game to start the ball rolling. It worked in the bowl game last year so at this point I don't think it's a bad idea. With that being said, I think he is going to take input from both coordinators during the game (and games to follow) and based on the advice he likes better or the advice that indeed works more often, he will name that coordinator the play caller. Kind of like testing both coordinators in a real game situation. But until he knows for sure who will have a better fit with the calls, he is going the safe route. That's just my opinion.
Joe Gallagher (4 years ago)
Does Mike want to be a head coach or an offensive coordinator?
This year will answer a lot of questions.
If he had hired even an average defensive coordinator at the onset, OSU would be ranked in the top 10 now. This decision is critical.
Check back in December.
George (4 years ago)
Gundy is overrated. It's a good thing he is T-Bone's sugar child.
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Klein's Korner

Tulsa World senior sports columnist John Klein is in his fourth decade of covering sports. He started his newspaper career at The Daily Ardmoreite in 1977 and moved to the Tulsa World in 1978. He served 10 years as sports editor for the Tulsa World before being named to his current position in 2005. He also spent five years as the Southwest Conference beat writer for the Houston Post. He has won many writing awards and is a former Oklahoma Sports Writer of the Year.

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