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A new identity

Mike Gundy has been a part of the OSU program for 18 years. This season, Gundy predicts the Cowboy defense will be better. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World file

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 7/31/2008  2:20 AM
Last Modified: 7/31/2008  3:17 AM

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have proven offensive power, but coach Mike Gundy wants a better brand of defense.



One year ago, Oklahoma State's five most prominent football figures were head coach Mike Gundy, offensive coordinator Larry Fedora, quarterback Bobby Reid, wide receiver Adarius Bowman and tailback Dantrell Savage.

Four of those five have departed. Fedora is the Southern Miss head coach. Reid transferred to Texas Southern. Bowman is playing Canadian pro football. Savage is in camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Only Gundy remains a Cowboy.

On Thursday, as OSU players convene for their first workout of the preseason, Gundy enters his 18th season of OSU football (four as a quarterback, 10 as an assistant, four as the head coach).

For nearly half of his life, Gundy has been an OSU Cowboy.

"As everyone probably knows by now, I'm 40 years old," a smiling Gundy said last week.

On Thursday, the Cowboys begin to forge a new identity. That identity, Gundy predicts, will include a higher level of defensive play.

The offense is directed by junior QB Zac Robinson, who is on course to shatter Gundy's career records for passing yards and total offense. But while the offense seems outfitted for continued success, the No. 1 preseason issue — both for the coaches and Cowboy fans — is whether the defense can improve.

With Gundy as the head man, OSU has an overall mark of 18-19 and has not completed a season with a national total-defense ranking of better than 89th.

"Our defense will be better. We've got more athletes," Gundy said. "In society today, people want success and they want it right now. As a coaching staff, we have to be very patient and understand what we're trying to accomplish, but also be aggressive in getting there. There's not any (more) pressure from the outside than what we put on ourselves as a staff."




Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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13 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (7/31/2008 7:18:07 AM)
What's the point of this article?

I guess it's this: Gundy thinks we'll have a better defense this year and doesn't really care what anyone on the outside thinks because, well he's a man, and he's got it handled.

Shouldn't he have a birthday coming up?
Report Comment
Mr. Larry Still, (7/31/2008 9:27:20 AM)
Mike Gundy is 40 years old? Really? I wish there were some external way to confirm this quote , a youtube video or something....
Report Comment
snoop, (7/31/2008 10:26:28 AM)
Gundy's an idiot......

First of all the defense cant get worse, they are about as bad as there is

Second, his quote" As a coaching staff, we have to be very patient and understand what we're trying to accomplish, but also be aggressive in getting there. There's not any (more) pressure from the outside than what we put on ourselves as a staff."

Patient? He was handed a program with a winning season, good bowl appearences and he has given us worse seasons and horrible bowls.

Not any more pressure---this could be the problem in a nut shell. Gumby does not have a clue as to what the "outside" wants, he must think we are satified with 6-6 seasons

Gundy's an IDIOT
Report Comment
oldnorthroad, (7/31/2008 10:33:46 AM)
Same talk as every other season. I guess it would be impractical for Gundy to be honest and admit they will probably continue struggling on the defensive side. After all, they do have to sell tickets.
Report Comment
T Bone, (7/31/2008 11:26:34 AM)

What a bunch of dumb b-tts, that seem to like to write comments about Gundy. First of all, are you all one of the better quarterbacks that played in the Big8, Second, have you been a college coach for ten years without interruption, Third, do you coach a major college team and Fourth, have any of you won two bowl games with young players. I thought so, Your comments are worthless to a thinking person.
Report Comment
NNN, Tulsa (7/31/2008 1:04:45 PM)
Gundy is doing things right and has put together one of the best respected young coaching staffs in the country. With a staff like that and the facilities when they are complete, the program will be in great shape.

Gundy knows what he is doing. He's building something OSU has never had before. Just go look at Frank Beamer's record at Virginia Tech. I predict that is the similar path that OSU will take under Gundy.
Report Comment
snoop, (8/1/2008 8:19:52 AM)
NNH
Where's the beef? Best coaches in the Nation? How many D cordinators will he have to hire before our defense is not the worse in D-1. Building? Gumby took a program that was sucessful and "turned it around" the problem is took a winning program and turned it the opposite direction.

Gumby has no clue what he is doing. He has by far the best facilities, best donor, best fans and he gives us 6-6 records

Gumby's an idiot
Report Comment
snoop, (8/1/2008 8:27:58 AM)
t-bone or your new aka "WORTHLESS NON THINKING PERSON"

take off your organge colored glasses and get that orange kool-ade out from under your nose. Gumby has not done anything in the three year at OSU. Sean got fired with a winning record in just two years. Why isn't Gumby held to those standards?

It does not take playing QB, coaching, or winning 3rd rate bowls to know Gumby's not doing the job at OSU.

I have watched much better QB's than Gumby, enjoyed the strategys of coaches that could out coach Gumby with far less talent. and as for bowls I don't attend those 3rd rate bowls, and since the networks don't televise those games I don't watch them either.

Report Comment
T Bone, (8/1/2008 4:41:05 PM)

Snoop: I can tell you are a non-thinking person because all of your statement are general or macro in nature. Please name me all the great quarterbacks that you have watched that were greater than Gundy at the college level. Its not watching and judging others, but doing something yourself that counts.
Report Comment
meaty, (8/1/2008 7:37:46 PM)
Oh boy, can't wait, another year, more excuses, now he's 41, another 3rd rate bowl (IF we get there), and to end it all Gumby stays awake nights wondering if he's a man.
Report Comment
snoop, (8/4/2008 9:00:17 AM)
T bone

Your ilk is so sickening

Here the list of quarterback I have personally watch who are better than Gumby
Troy Aikman
Eli Manning
Josh Heupel
Jason White
Vince Young
Eric Crouch
Tommie Frazier
Jack Mildren

and even our own Josh Fields

Gumby was a very good QB who had GREAT players surrounding him. However Gumby is a HORRIBLE college

T Bone your assumption that a great QB makes a good head coach proves you are a NON-THINKING IDIOT
Report Comment
snoop, (8/5/2008 9:58:50 AM)
T bone/idiot bone

thanks for not asking me to list the coaches I have watches who are better than Gumby.
The list would be too long for this forum.
I can list those worse than Gumby, John Blake...thinking...thinking...thinking. Tbone/idiot bone I think Blake is the only worse coach in that catagory
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (8/7/2008 11:17:55 AM)
Snoop- Gundy would probably be fine in Division II. Not quite ready for prime time right now. I do respect him as a player and wish him the best in his new job after this season.
 

 
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