Bedlam brothers: Mike and Cale Gundy don't allow rivalry, football business to affect their relationship
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Sunday, August 19, 2012
8/19/12 at 6:29 AM
2012 College Football
Preview: What to expect from OU, OSU and TU this football season.
The family business has never been better for Mike Gundy.
The eighth-year Oklahoma State coach was the recipient of national coach of the year awards after leading the Cowboys to uncharted territory (first Big 12 title, school-record 12 wins, first BCS bowl) last season.
The profiles of OSU and Gundy were elevated. He said he spoke at a function in Los Angeles and "people knew who I was in LA. That part has really changed."
When Gundy goes to a coaches convention, all of a sudden crowds are parting as he walks from one place to another. And people watch as he walks.
Gundy's wife, Kristen, apparently keeps him grounded. Said the coach, "She says 'they don't know what a clown you are.' She was giving me a hard time, like I can't believe they get out of your way."
It's amazing what rings - championship, of course - can do for status.
Gundy and younger brother Cale (a University of Oklahoma running backs coach with seven Big 12 championship rings and a national championship ring) have hoarded enough championship and bowl bling for a jewelry store starter kit.
But the family business seems to be going so well that they can probably scrap any plans for a fall-back career.
Mike indicated he and his brother didn't concoct a grand plan to make coaching the family biz. It just sort of happened that way. They scurried from one sport to another, season by season, when they were kids. Then they became college quarterbacks and never left the stadium.
"I didn't think about coaching until I thought, well, I'm going to have to get a job," Mike said.
"That's why I thought I would get into coaching. I think it probably happened the same way for Cale."
In 2008, Mike told the Tulsa World that his mother, Judy, forbids him and Cale from talking about football when the family gets together for holiday dinners.
"Not any kind of football," Mike said. "That will always lead back to (Bedlam). She doesn't want to listen to any of that. Football doesn't even get brought up. Very seldom do they even turn the TV on and watch a pro game."
So, in non-holiday situations, what do the Bedlam Brothers chat about?
"We enjoy talking about sports and football, but not really our football (teams)," Mike said, although he admits to once joking with Cale about how he did a great job coaching Adrian Peterson while the NFL star was at OU.
"We may talk in general about Texas or in general about Florida State or Notre Dame or something, or (talk about) a high school," Mike said during an interview this summer.
"And then we have discussions about our kids. We still talk a lot about our mom and dad and different things. (My dad, Ray) is working outside today and it's 100 (degrees). We try to get him to not be outside so much working when it's 110. And what can we do about it? And we can't do anything because he's going to do what he wants to do. (We talk about) things like that."
Mike said his and Cale's children like to play together. And they should, no matter what happens on fall Saturdays. Football, and a heated in-state rivalry, should never get in the way of what's really important.
"The relationships never change whether we win or lose or they win or we lose... (or) if we win a championship or they don't win a championship," Cale said when asked about his relationship with Mike.
"Life isn't about championships. He's my brother. I love him as a brother and as a family member."
Meanwhile, the family business is booming.
Original Print Headline: Bedlam Brothers
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
The Gundy family: Ray, Kari, Judy, Cale and Mike. Gundy family/Courtesy
|
