JimBob
12-30-2007, 09:45 AM
Gundys' Trials
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
12/30/2007
Cowboys coach says he is under no stress, despite the tough job of building a winner
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder persuaded Boone Pickens to invest heavily in the Cowboy football program.
Pickens' donations of more than $200 million are chiefly responsible for a stadium renovation of nearly $400 million.
There is a movement to build and sustain a football machine in Stillwater.
Ultimately, the responsibility falls to Mike Gundy, the Cowboy head coach who takes a three-year record of 17-19 into Monday's Insight Bowl meeting with Indiana.
Wednesday is the three-year anniversary of Gundy's promotion from offensive coordinator to head coach.
"The time goes by really fast," Gundy said. "In the first year (when OSU was 4-7 overall, 1-7 in the Big 12), everybody thought it was the worst hire there was. But I have a pretty good understanding of what is happening in our program. I think we're moving in the right direction."
There were times this season when Gundy seemed heavily stressed, but he insists that he was not. Fatigued, he concedes, but not stressed.
Even on Sept. 22, when he lashed out at Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson in a nationally publicized tirade, Gundy said he did not lose control of his emotions.
When the Big Eight Conference went out of business following the 1995 season, Gundy remained the league's all-time total-offense leader. But he is more known for his now-famous proclamation -- "I'm a man! I'm 40!" -- than for having quarterbacked the Cowboys in 1986-89, or for coaching them now.
"Everybody across the country saw one incident I had with the media," Gundy said. "The other 20 years I've dealt with the media, it's been pretty good.
"Do I look like I'm stressed? I'm not stressed, but I'm a little stretched for time. One thing I've learned is to put your ego and pride to the side. I've learned patience. You can't take things personally."
Additional pressure exists now that Larry Fedora, who had been OSU's offensive coordinator for three seasons, has become the head coach at Southern Miss.
With Fedora scheming and calling the plays, the Cowboys this season rank seventh nationally in rushing and ninth in total offense. Quarterback Zac Robinson broke the school record for single-season total offense.
While attempting to keep OSU at a high level of offensive production, Gundy is desperate to improve the Cowboys' national ranking of No. 103 in total defense. OSU recently signed five defensive players out of junior colleges.
If the Cowboys prevail on Monday, Gundy can savor a second consecutive winning season -- a second consecutive 7-6 finish. With a defeat, OSU would have a losing record for the second time in Gundy's three years as head man.
Last month, six days after the Cowboys were beaten 49-17 at Oklahoma, Holder recommended to the OSU regents that Gundy's contract be extended for one year (through 2013). Gundy makes $953,000 annually.
"I do see progress with our football program," Holder said. "Mike is an OSU graduate and he wants what is best for the school long-term. He wants to see this football program become better than it's ever been.
"Nothing you do as a position coach or a coordinator can really prepare you for the responsibilities that come with being a head coach. The pressure is even greater when you're coaching at your alma mater, and you can never get away from the job. It's seven days a week, 365 days a year. Even if you try to go on vacation with your family, someone is going to call you."
Gundy recently had a rare opportunity to escape his office. He and his wife Kristen took their three sons -- 11-year-old Gavin, 6-year-old Gunnar and 3-year-old Gage -- to a mall so they could visit Santa Claus. When they arrived, Gundy was horrified when he saw a lengthy line.
"There was about an hour wait," Gundy said. "We got up in the line, and there was a lit tle sign that said, 'At 8 p.m., Santa is going to take a cookie break.' I was really concerned. I had three young children that wanted to see Santa Claus. If he goes on a cookie break at 8 o'clock, I've got issues with that. Luckily, we got through there."
As a coordinator, Gundy's sense of humor was evident on a daily basis. As the head coach, he is more measured. But he did amuse a group of reporters when he recounted the scene at the mall: "All of these people that are waiting, with these kids that are fighting and spitting on each other and on the ground crawling."
Asked what he likes to do when he has a free day, Gundy replied, "I don't have a free day. Well, in the summer, I try to take a few days off, but I just play with my kids. I don't play golf or hunt. I don't have hobbies."
OSU running back Curtis Luper, who was Gundy's Cowboy teammate in 1986 and 1987, says Gundy's personality has not changed since his playing days.
"Mike hasn't been affected by stress at all. He's the same guy every day," Luper said. "No matter what happens, he doesn't let it affect him or the way he approaches the job.
"Mike always had 'it' as a player. That special something. Zac Robinson has 'it.' You know what I mean? Mike had 'it' as a player and he has 'it' as a coach. The expectations on Mike and on all of us are greater than they've ever been before. We wanted that. We want to win."
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
12/30/2007
Cowboys coach says he is under no stress, despite the tough job of building a winner
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder persuaded Boone Pickens to invest heavily in the Cowboy football program.
Pickens' donations of more than $200 million are chiefly responsible for a stadium renovation of nearly $400 million.
There is a movement to build and sustain a football machine in Stillwater.
Ultimately, the responsibility falls to Mike Gundy, the Cowboy head coach who takes a three-year record of 17-19 into Monday's Insight Bowl meeting with Indiana.
Wednesday is the three-year anniversary of Gundy's promotion from offensive coordinator to head coach.
"The time goes by really fast," Gundy said. "In the first year (when OSU was 4-7 overall, 1-7 in the Big 12), everybody thought it was the worst hire there was. But I have a pretty good understanding of what is happening in our program. I think we're moving in the right direction."
There were times this season when Gundy seemed heavily stressed, but he insists that he was not. Fatigued, he concedes, but not stressed.
Even on Sept. 22, when he lashed out at Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson in a nationally publicized tirade, Gundy said he did not lose control of his emotions.
When the Big Eight Conference went out of business following the 1995 season, Gundy remained the league's all-time total-offense leader. But he is more known for his now-famous proclamation -- "I'm a man! I'm 40!" -- than for having quarterbacked the Cowboys in 1986-89, or for coaching them now.
"Everybody across the country saw one incident I had with the media," Gundy said. "The other 20 years I've dealt with the media, it's been pretty good.
"Do I look like I'm stressed? I'm not stressed, but I'm a little stretched for time. One thing I've learned is to put your ego and pride to the side. I've learned patience. You can't take things personally."
Additional pressure exists now that Larry Fedora, who had been OSU's offensive coordinator for three seasons, has become the head coach at Southern Miss.
With Fedora scheming and calling the plays, the Cowboys this season rank seventh nationally in rushing and ninth in total offense. Quarterback Zac Robinson broke the school record for single-season total offense.
While attempting to keep OSU at a high level of offensive production, Gundy is desperate to improve the Cowboys' national ranking of No. 103 in total defense. OSU recently signed five defensive players out of junior colleges.
If the Cowboys prevail on Monday, Gundy can savor a second consecutive winning season -- a second consecutive 7-6 finish. With a defeat, OSU would have a losing record for the second time in Gundy's three years as head man.
Last month, six days after the Cowboys were beaten 49-17 at Oklahoma, Holder recommended to the OSU regents that Gundy's contract be extended for one year (through 2013). Gundy makes $953,000 annually.
"I do see progress with our football program," Holder said. "Mike is an OSU graduate and he wants what is best for the school long-term. He wants to see this football program become better than it's ever been.
"Nothing you do as a position coach or a coordinator can really prepare you for the responsibilities that come with being a head coach. The pressure is even greater when you're coaching at your alma mater, and you can never get away from the job. It's seven days a week, 365 days a year. Even if you try to go on vacation with your family, someone is going to call you."
Gundy recently had a rare opportunity to escape his office. He and his wife Kristen took their three sons -- 11-year-old Gavin, 6-year-old Gunnar and 3-year-old Gage -- to a mall so they could visit Santa Claus. When they arrived, Gundy was horrified when he saw a lengthy line.
"There was about an hour wait," Gundy said. "We got up in the line, and there was a lit tle sign that said, 'At 8 p.m., Santa is going to take a cookie break.' I was really concerned. I had three young children that wanted to see Santa Claus. If he goes on a cookie break at 8 o'clock, I've got issues with that. Luckily, we got through there."
As a coordinator, Gundy's sense of humor was evident on a daily basis. As the head coach, he is more measured. But he did amuse a group of reporters when he recounted the scene at the mall: "All of these people that are waiting, with these kids that are fighting and spitting on each other and on the ground crawling."
Asked what he likes to do when he has a free day, Gundy replied, "I don't have a free day. Well, in the summer, I try to take a few days off, but I just play with my kids. I don't play golf or hunt. I don't have hobbies."
OSU running back Curtis Luper, who was Gundy's Cowboy teammate in 1986 and 1987, says Gundy's personality has not changed since his playing days.
"Mike hasn't been affected by stress at all. He's the same guy every day," Luper said. "No matter what happens, he doesn't let it affect him or the way he approaches the job.
"Mike always had 'it' as a player. That special something. Zac Robinson has 'it.' You know what I mean? Mike had 'it' as a player and he has 'it' as a coach. The expectations on Mike and on all of us are greater than they've ever been before. We wanted that. We want to win."