JimBob
07-06-2008, 02:20 PM
Lightning rod
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
7/6/2008
Last Modified: 7/6/2008 4:14 AM
Gundy knows Cowboy fans expect more from program
STILLWATER — Former Tulsa coach Dave Rader, suffering an avalanche of criticism near the end of his 13 years at TU, said he understood the complaints.
"I'm an alum," he said. "I get mad at the coach, too."
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has something in common with Rader.
"I know how Dave felt," Gundy said. "I get that feeling myself, sometimes."
Gundy is entering his fourth season as OSU's head coach and finds himself a lightning rod of criticism.
Some of it is warranted. Some is not.
"I was watching the news this summer, and it seemed like every poll I saw had Obama 51 percent for and 49 percent against," Gundy said. "Or, it was the same for Clinton or McCain.
"In other words, no matter what these candidates did, there seemed to be just about as many people believing they were doing a good job and just about as many people thinking they weren't. That's like a coach. There's always going to be some folks for you and some folks against you."
Gundy seems to have generated quite a bit of emotion on both sides of OSU football.
Among O-State fans, there seems to be a big split among those who see the program making progress and those who believe a change is in order.
Gundy understands. That is a part of his profession. Every loss, and last year the national champion lost twice, brings out the critics.
"There's no doubt we've done some good things, and there is no doubt we've made some mistakes," Gundy said. "But, every decision that has been made has been well thought through by me and our staff.
"The important thing for us is patience. We understand none of this happens overnight. We have a plan, and we have been very good about sticking to that plan and staying the course."
Yet, he knows that ultimately everything falls on the head of the coach.
Whether it is for game decisions or off-the-field incidents, everything football related at Oklahoma State falls under his umbrella.
He has three seasons on his resume. Many believe this fourth year will determine his future.
This no longer is talk about suffering through growing pains.
Oklahoma State fans want to see tangible evidence that things are headed in the right direction. That is why this season, after two consecutive 7-6 campaigns, is so pivotal.
"There is no fast-forward button in college football," Gundy said. "You have to show some patience as a coach, even though we want everything faster, too. You have to go out and get the guys. Then, you have to get them into program and get them to learn the system. And, you have to develop those players.
"Those things take time. There really aren't any shortcuts, because once you get it up and running, you don't want anything to set you back. That has happened to us here at Oklahoma State in the past."
Oklahoma State fans believe they have been more than patient with their young coach.
He was handed a program that had gone to three straight bowls, including the Cotton and Alamo Bowls the previous two seasons.
The year before Gundy took over, OSU had a freshman quarterback who led his team to the Alamo Bowl.
So, when OSU plummeted to dead last in the Big 12 Conference in Gundy's first season, there were doubts.
Gundy got a break from most OSU fans. The loss of a handful of players who could have been difference-makers (jettisoned in a player purge by Gundy) was a reasonable excuse.
The next season, OSU rose to 6-6 and defeated Alabama in the Independence Bowl.
Then came last year's mixed bag. The Cowboys had the same record and finished by winning a bowl (over Indiana) for another 7-6 season.
But, there was the now infamous rant at a post-game press conference and what many considered the mishandling of the recruitment and eventual dismissal of a felon on the team.
Despite the lack of improvement on the record, most believe the overall talent and depth of the Cowboys has grown by leaps and bounds the past three years.
In three of the past four years, OSU had what many considered top 25 recruiting classes.
There is little question OSU has more depth at the most critical spots for depth — offensive and defensive line.
Plus, State has a handful of big-time playmakers.
Still, there is a lingering feeling that 2007 should have been so much more. The Cowboys absolutely blew two games they could have and should have won last year — Texas A&M and Texas.
"I understand the record thing," Gundy said. "But, there is no question in my mind that we are much further along in level of talent and depth. We have more depth than at any time since I've been back here."
State did itself no favors during the non-conference schedule.
It opened last season with a loss at Georgia, a team many considered the nation's best by the end of the season. It also lost at Troy, a game the Cowboys played with a handful of key injuries and an unsettled quarterback situation.
Unlike some teams in the Big 12, scheduling four non-conference victories, O-State consistently has played at least one or two challenging games.
That takes a toll on the record, especially in a conference that includes powers like Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech in your league division.
"We have plenty of opportunities for BCS points just playing our league schedule," Gundy said.
But, he knows. Regardless of the schedule, OSU fans are going to expect more.
"Ultimately , you have to have a plan for how to win the Big 12 championship," Gundy said. "That is our goal, and so that is what we have to keep working toward.
"I really believe most of our decisions have been good. We also know that some of our decisions haven't been so good."
In addition, for the first time in more than 50 years, OSU football soon will be armed with the facilities and resources to match any football program in nation.
"For the first time, we'll be able to actually walk kids through our new stadium and all of the facilities this coming January and February," Gundy said. "It is one thing to show them pictures or show them a DVD of the new facilities. It is another thing to actually let them see them.
"I'll be eager to see how those help. I know it will help."
So, there is reason for optimism. The Cowboys would seem to be trending upward in a lot of areas.
But, Gundy knows those improvements, in everything from player talent to facilities, must start to show on the record.
"Nobody is more critical of what we're doing than I am," Gundy said. "But I can't show that.
"I just have to take the blows and stand up the next day and keep going. That's what coaches do."
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
7/6/2008
Last Modified: 7/6/2008 4:14 AM
Gundy knows Cowboy fans expect more from program
STILLWATER — Former Tulsa coach Dave Rader, suffering an avalanche of criticism near the end of his 13 years at TU, said he understood the complaints.
"I'm an alum," he said. "I get mad at the coach, too."
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has something in common with Rader.
"I know how Dave felt," Gundy said. "I get that feeling myself, sometimes."
Gundy is entering his fourth season as OSU's head coach and finds himself a lightning rod of criticism.
Some of it is warranted. Some is not.
"I was watching the news this summer, and it seemed like every poll I saw had Obama 51 percent for and 49 percent against," Gundy said. "Or, it was the same for Clinton or McCain.
"In other words, no matter what these candidates did, there seemed to be just about as many people believing they were doing a good job and just about as many people thinking they weren't. That's like a coach. There's always going to be some folks for you and some folks against you."
Gundy seems to have generated quite a bit of emotion on both sides of OSU football.
Among O-State fans, there seems to be a big split among those who see the program making progress and those who believe a change is in order.
Gundy understands. That is a part of his profession. Every loss, and last year the national champion lost twice, brings out the critics.
"There's no doubt we've done some good things, and there is no doubt we've made some mistakes," Gundy said. "But, every decision that has been made has been well thought through by me and our staff.
"The important thing for us is patience. We understand none of this happens overnight. We have a plan, and we have been very good about sticking to that plan and staying the course."
Yet, he knows that ultimately everything falls on the head of the coach.
Whether it is for game decisions or off-the-field incidents, everything football related at Oklahoma State falls under his umbrella.
He has three seasons on his resume. Many believe this fourth year will determine his future.
This no longer is talk about suffering through growing pains.
Oklahoma State fans want to see tangible evidence that things are headed in the right direction. That is why this season, after two consecutive 7-6 campaigns, is so pivotal.
"There is no fast-forward button in college football," Gundy said. "You have to show some patience as a coach, even though we want everything faster, too. You have to go out and get the guys. Then, you have to get them into program and get them to learn the system. And, you have to develop those players.
"Those things take time. There really aren't any shortcuts, because once you get it up and running, you don't want anything to set you back. That has happened to us here at Oklahoma State in the past."
Oklahoma State fans believe they have been more than patient with their young coach.
He was handed a program that had gone to three straight bowls, including the Cotton and Alamo Bowls the previous two seasons.
The year before Gundy took over, OSU had a freshman quarterback who led his team to the Alamo Bowl.
So, when OSU plummeted to dead last in the Big 12 Conference in Gundy's first season, there were doubts.
Gundy got a break from most OSU fans. The loss of a handful of players who could have been difference-makers (jettisoned in a player purge by Gundy) was a reasonable excuse.
The next season, OSU rose to 6-6 and defeated Alabama in the Independence Bowl.
Then came last year's mixed bag. The Cowboys had the same record and finished by winning a bowl (over Indiana) for another 7-6 season.
But, there was the now infamous rant at a post-game press conference and what many considered the mishandling of the recruitment and eventual dismissal of a felon on the team.
Despite the lack of improvement on the record, most believe the overall talent and depth of the Cowboys has grown by leaps and bounds the past three years.
In three of the past four years, OSU had what many considered top 25 recruiting classes.
There is little question OSU has more depth at the most critical spots for depth — offensive and defensive line.
Plus, State has a handful of big-time playmakers.
Still, there is a lingering feeling that 2007 should have been so much more. The Cowboys absolutely blew two games they could have and should have won last year — Texas A&M and Texas.
"I understand the record thing," Gundy said. "But, there is no question in my mind that we are much further along in level of talent and depth. We have more depth than at any time since I've been back here."
State did itself no favors during the non-conference schedule.
It opened last season with a loss at Georgia, a team many considered the nation's best by the end of the season. It also lost at Troy, a game the Cowboys played with a handful of key injuries and an unsettled quarterback situation.
Unlike some teams in the Big 12, scheduling four non-conference victories, O-State consistently has played at least one or two challenging games.
That takes a toll on the record, especially in a conference that includes powers like Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech in your league division.
"We have plenty of opportunities for BCS points just playing our league schedule," Gundy said.
But, he knows. Regardless of the schedule, OSU fans are going to expect more.
"Ultimately , you have to have a plan for how to win the Big 12 championship," Gundy said. "That is our goal, and so that is what we have to keep working toward.
"I really believe most of our decisions have been good. We also know that some of our decisions haven't been so good."
In addition, for the first time in more than 50 years, OSU football soon will be armed with the facilities and resources to match any football program in nation.
"For the first time, we'll be able to actually walk kids through our new stadium and all of the facilities this coming January and February," Gundy said. "It is one thing to show them pictures or show them a DVD of the new facilities. It is another thing to actually let them see them.
"I'll be eager to see how those help. I know it will help."
So, there is reason for optimism. The Cowboys would seem to be trending upward in a lot of areas.
But, Gundy knows those improvements, in everything from player talent to facilities, must start to show on the record.
"Nobody is more critical of what we're doing than I am," Gundy said. "But I can't show that.
"I just have to take the blows and stand up the next day and keep going. That's what coaches do."