Mike Gundy on defensive coordinator change: "We needed a spark."
Published: 2/6/2013 5:20 PM
Last Modified: 2/6/2013 5:20 PM
Because Mike Gundy appeared at a signing day press conference, the Oklahoma State football coach met the press Wednesday for the first time since it was announced that the Cowboys were changing defensive coordinators.
Former defensive coordinator Bill Young was replaced by linebackers coach Glenn Spencer, who previously held the title of co-defensive coordinator. After the signing day press conference, Gundy met with beat reporters to take additional questions and he was asked about the defensive coordinator shift.
“It ultimately came down to we just needed a change,” Gundy said. “It could be me as much as Bill for the most part. We needed something different and just kind of a fire. (There wasn’t) any particular reason.”
Young said he was told after the 2011 season that the 2012 season would be his last. He said he was told by Gundy that college football is a young man’s game “and I was the face of the defense and he thought my age would hurt recruiting and he thought players wouldn’t play for me.”
Young said he thought that was “nowhere near right.” He expressed those feelings to Gundy and they agreed to disagree. They also agreed the news that they were parting company would be a secret until Young had a chance to land another job, but there are few secrets in the Internet age. Young’s fate leaked out last month and he subsequently spoke about his fate.
Gundy, elaborating on the situation for the first time with print media, said, “I was not happy about some of the comments that may have been made. But, at the end of the day, Bill and I sat down in his office and we had communication and talked. Any time there is a situation like that in the work force, it is never easy. It is just impossible. But I felt like we needed a change, we needed a spark.”
Young, 66, said he is healthy and wants to continue coaching. He doesn't want to retire.
“Bill still feels like, and I still feel like.... that he can coach and be successful," Gundy said. "We just needed something different here. That’s really what it came down to. We just needed a change and some thoughts and some schemes and philosophies. Right, wrong or indifferent, I’m the guy that has to make those decisions.”
It was suggested to Gundy that all of OSU’s recent defensive coordinators -- Bill Clay, Vance Bedford, Tim Beckman, Young -- have been a target of fan criticism. Good luck trying to get a thumbs-up in the court of public opinion if you are a Cowboy defensive coordinator.
“The truth of the matter is, whether we all like to admit it or not, there is not anybody in this league right now that anybody is fired up about as a defensive coordinator,” Gundy said.
“Right? Guys that take defensive coordinator jobs in this league, statistically, nobody is every going to think they are any good. I shouldn’t say never. Over the last three or four years, they haven’t been real popular.”
In what way will OSU be different defensively with Spencer in charge?
“Just some schemes and things,” Gundy said. “Not a lot. (It’s) not something that will be noticeable to the everyday fan. It’s more smaller stuff. I want more enthusiasm and some things he brings to the table.”
Written by
Jimmie Tramel
Sports Writer
