Gundy, Cowboys Meet The Media Cowboy coaches, players recap win over Missouri, preview this week's game at Baylor

Oct. 19, 2009

STILLWATER, Okla. -  Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team visited with members of the media Monday at Boone Pickens Stadium. Some of the highlights of what they said:

 

Head Coach Mike Gundy

On the Missouri win
“I mentioned yesterday that the defense made a couple of adjustments in the second half. From the looks of things on the outside you’d have thought there were a lot of adjustments but it was more fundamental, technique corrections. A couple corrections from an X’s and O’s standpoint and we tackled better in the second half, which made a big difference. We were able to get some good returns, which helped us in special teams, and then, offensively, make enough big plays to score points to win the game. It was a good win for us.”

On the Baylor game
“Now we’re just looking forward to preparation for Baylor; obviously, an improved team. They’ve continued to improve each year, in our opinion. Offensively, they’re very similar to what they were last year; a lot of run, pass option, a lot of screens, a lot of tunnels to get the ball to the perimeter. Then defensively, they’re going to put everybody in the box and try to stop the run and it’s fortunate to throw the football. There are some similarities from that perspective. Our football team has continued to get a little bit better each week. Our goal is to continue to improve each day and each game and be better as the season goes along. We still have a lot of young players and inexperienced players that have stepped up and made some plays for us lately, so we just have to continue to work hard and get better each day.”

On Dan Bailey’s performance against Missouri
“It was a good night for Dan. He was able to set his career long at 51 yards. He got a little bit of luck there. He had missed one and had a delay of game and got to kick it again and drilled it. We’ve been proud of Dan. He’s continued to work hard and, obviously a walk-on player that’s put on scholarship and he’s doing a nice job for us.”

On how he grades Oklahoma State at the half-way point of the season
“I think we’re doing okay. I don’t know that it’s easy to grade anybody at this time. One of the most important parts of grading would be the effort that we get from our players and we’re getting good effort from our team. From that standpoint, we’re proud of where we’re at. We’ve got a number of areas that we can certainly improve on. We’ve got a ways to go, but I think that there are a lot of similarities across the country in teams that are in the same situation as the young men that stay focused and work hard and try to get better each day.”

On playing Baylor without Robert Griffin
“I don’t want to say that Robert Griffin is not an explosive player because I think he is. I also know that the other guy that’s stepped in there has made some plays for them. So I’m not going to take anything away from Robert Griffin, but I think our defense understands the run-pass threat. No. 3 and No. 1 on the perimeter as explosive as they are and the backs; they’ve got good backs. The quarterback’s an operator in the style of offense that Coach Briles runs. Just as an outsider looking in, their quarterback is an operator and he seems to be getting better at it.”

On being No. 8 nationally in scoring without Dez Bryant or Kendall Hunter
“We hope that our plan and our scheme is far enough along that we have some variation. The thing you always worry about as a coach is, ‘Is your plan for the week good enough and then can your players step up and make some plays?’ Ultimately it comes down to having the scheme that gives you a chance and then enough repetition the players have a chance to have success and then they’ve got to make plays. We’re continuing to get a little better, but, as I said earlier, we’ve still got a ways to go. We’ve got some developing to do up front. We’ve got some guys on the perimeter that don’t have a lot of experience, but they are making some plays for us.”

On if Kendall Hunter will return this year
“Yes, for sure. He has practiced the last two weeks. We expect him to practice out there today. His injury is day-to-day based on how he feels after practice with the workload we’ve given him. His workload has been increasing each week and discussion took place yesterday for about five seconds. I think, medically, he’s OK. I think they’ve said, ‘You can play.’ He has to feel like he can go out there and work is really what it’s come down to.”

On if the play of the young wide receivers has surprised him
“Somewhat, yes, but they hadn’t had the opportunity, so we really didn’t know. It would be difficult for me stand up her and say that, ‘If we didn’t have Dez and we didn’t have Cooper and we didn’t have Mosley, for that matter as a receiving tight end, that these guys would produce as quickly as they have. So we’re very pleased with them and, what that shows is obviously they’ve been getting enough work and that they’ve paid attention and they’re coming along and they should continue to develop as they gain experience.”

 

Offensive Coordinator Gunter Brewer

On preparing to face Baylor

“Baylor is an eight-man front football team. They can balance you up and they have some players that I think anybody in this league would like to have. They’ve had their quarterback injured which has caused a little struggle, which if we ever lost Zac you’d see the same thing. They’ve responded well, they play hard and they run to the football. We’re looking forward to going down there for the early kickoff and seeing what we can do.”

 

On responding to adversity

“We’ve had a lot of injuries that would cause other teams to get upset and get off track. But so far, we’ve been mature. We have good leadership in the ranks on offense, defense and special teams and I think that is contributed to our leadership at the top with Coach Gundy and Coach Holder.”

 

Defensive Coordinator Bill Young

On individual performances on defense

“We’ve got a bunch of guys that are playing really well. Perrish Cox may be as good as any corner in the conference. Andre Sexton is playing like we expected him to. He was a great player last year and he’s certainly living up to that. He was player of the game this last week. Orie Lemon was a guy we thought would step in there and do really well and Donald Booker has stepped in and really played well. Pat Lavine, the veteran guys that we thought would play are playing as good as we thought. Burton is doing a heck of a job. I think last week was Swanson Miller’s best game so far. It goes on and on. We’re certainly not a finished product, but we’re getting better every week.”

 

CB Perrish Cox

On development as a cornerback over his career

“It makes it sweeter. They always told me I had to step my game up at corner. In order to help our defense out, that was my main focus.”

 

On big kick return against Missouri

“I think the same on every return. I think of it as any other one. I’m going to try to go score on every one of them.”

 

On defensive adjustments at halftime against Missouri

“Coach Young was mad because we missed so many tackles. That was one of our adjustments, in order to win the game; we’ve got to tackle better. It wasn’t that simple, we knew in order to win we have to stop their offense. If we beat their defense, we’re going to win.”

 

On playing in his hometown of Waco for the final time

“It means a lot to go home to my friends and family, I couldn’t ask for anything better. For Victor Johnson and me, everybody wants to see us play and it will feel good to be home.”

 

S Victor Johnson

On if he wishes Robert Griffin could play this week

“There’s no doubt I wish he was playing. I played Robert all through high school and I wish he was still playing. Robert and I ran track against each other, we played football against each other and basketball. If I see him down in Waco, I’ll have a conversation with him.”

 

On being from Waco and playing Baylor

“I really wasn’t a Baylor fan. A lot of my friends from high school signed with Baylor. They kind of got me looking at Baylor. I never was a Baylor fan, but I like Baylor.”

 

WR Hubert Anyiam

On the offensive performance without Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter

“We’re giving confidence to all the younger players. DeMarcus Conner and I have been here and we’re just letting everybody know that we’ve got to step up and make the offense that much more explosive.

 

On the emergence of the receiving corps without Dez Bryant

“I feel that we are an athletic group. We’re more into the offense than we were before. A lot of people two years ago were just watching. I can be co-offensive player in the Big 12 this week, it can be Justin Blackmon next week, it could Tracy Moore next week or it could be Dameron Fooks next week.”

 

K Dan Bailey

On having to change holders during the game after Taylor Sokolosky was injured

“Wes Harlan works every day, just as much as Taylor did. It’s one of things you don’t expect to happen, but Wes works hard at what he does and I think he did a great job of stepping in the game situation.”

 

On summing up the team at the midway point of the season

“Driven would be a good word. We’ve had a lot of adversity and a lot of things not really going our way I guess you could say. I think everybody is trying to find motivation where they can. I think everybody is doing a good job of molding together and leaning on each other and going out and competing every week.”

 

DE Jermiah Price

On adjustments in the second half against Missouri

“Coach Young and the other coaches knew exactly was Missouri was doing. They came in and changed the game plan and we went out and executed.”

 

On resiliency of the defensive unit

“I think it comes from everybody on the team and on the defense. Nobody wants to lose and everybody plays hard on every play. Everybody comes and gives everything they have no matter what down it is or the spot of the ball.”

 

On not overlooking Baylor in advance of playing Texas

“You can’t overlook it because your next opponent is your best opponent.  You’ve got to go out and play great regardless. Otherwise, you’re going to get beat.”

 

OL Noah Franklin

On playing on the road in the Big 12 South

“A&M was a really fun experience for me. I’ve been down there a couple times since I’ve been here and it never ended up the way we wanted it to. It was a lot of fun to go down there into a great atmosphere and win against a team like that was phenomenal.”

 

On the offensive line giving up only two sacks through six games

“I think for being a new unit and trying to work together we’re doing well. We always want to improve and we never want anyone to get any pressure on Zac or touch him in the first place.”

 

TE Cooper Bassett

On Baylor playing without injured QB Robert Griffin

“They lose some speed on the offense losing Griffin. Their quarterback now started before Griffin was there and they’re a lot more athletic than they have been in years past and a lot more competitive. Overall, they’re a pretty solid team.  A lot of people put them down because in years past they haven’t been a dominant team in the Big 12. Times are changing and we’re definitely not taking them lightly at all.”

 

On being ranked No. 15 in the first BCS rankings

“It’s awesome. Growing up as an OSU fan, to me personally, all the accolades we get hit a little bit closer to home. I grew up bleeding orange. I think it’s awesome to be recognized in the BCS. Some people might think we deserve a higher place, but we’re treating this season one game at a time. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we’ll be a little bit higher.”