OSU FOOTBALL
Included on the lengthy list of memorable Mike Gundy quotes: “I’m a man! I’m 40!” And, of course, “We’ve got a logo, too.”
Saturday was the 20th anniversary of Gundy’s coronation at Oklahoma State, when the former Cowboy QB and 2001-04 offensive coordinator became the head coach.
On Jan. 3, 2005, and less than four hours after previous OSU head man Les Miles was introduced as LSU’s new head man, then-37-year-old Mike Gundy became his alma mater’s new head football coach.
During that media event in Stillwater, there was the first of the memorable Gundy quotes: “This is my New York Yankees job.”
In 2005, Jay Helm was the chairman of OSU’s Board of Regents. “I promise all of you, the OSU fans, that we did a diligent search,” Helm said of the Gundy hire. “Mike is the clear choice. OSU football is on solid footing.”
Let’s do some Gundy trivia.
His pay as a first-year head coach? $700,000 (or $175,000 less than Miles made in 2004).
Gundy’s first opponent? Montana State on Sept. 3, 2005. Final score: the Cowboys prevailed 15-10.
Who scored the first two OSU touchdowns of the Gundy era? The Woods brothers — Donovan on an 11-yard run and D’Juan on a 23-yard pass from Donovan.
First Game
Before the advent of NIL and the transfer portal, football coaches were successful if they did football better than their counterparts did football.
The template was unchanged for a long time, and it involved recruiting, athlete development, roster continuity, scheming, execution, staying out of NCAA trouble and sustaining a positive relationship with the fan base.
Gundy did all of that very well — maintaining a high approval rating while becoming the most successful of all Oklahoma State football coaches. He was very effective in his Yankees job. He beat Texas nine times, won the 2011 Big 12 title, consistently kept OSU in the Top 25 and won in two of his final three clashes with OU.
His job today is much different than it was before portal movement began to wreck rosters, and before NIL compensation became a significant factor — or the most significant factor — when athletes consider their college destination.
On Monday, it was reported that four-year Cowboy Kendal Daniels will play at OU in 2025. Two years ago, defensive end Trace Ford transferred from OSU to OU.
I don’t know what Gundy might say publicly about the Daniels move, but I’m sure the coach feels sick about losing one of his better defensive veterans to OSU’s arch-rival. Gundy might reflect on the time, money and coaching that was invested in Daniels, and now the former Beggs star apparently is a former Cowboy and soon-to-be Sooner.
Gundy upset OSU officials and donors with his public-relations mistake on Nov. 4 (a commentary on critical fans). At the end of a 3-9 season overall and an 0-9 finish in the Big 12, Gundy and the university seemingly were at odds on Dec. 6-7 (at which time the coach’s contract was restructured).
In November, I asked Gundy whether he might retire after the 2024 season. His response: “I ain’t going out this way.”
The frustration and pressure of NIL-portal have compelled some veteran coaches to go away. In 2023, Jim Larranaga took the Miami Hurricane basketball team to the Final Four. Last week, he resigned.
“After we went to the Final Four, eight players wanted to transfer or seek better NIL deals,” Larranaga explained. “They told me they loved it at Miami, but wanted to seek a better deal.”
In 2019, veteran basketball coach Tony Bennett’s Virginia team beat Texas Tech for the national title. Three months ago, he retired. Bennett is two years younger than Gundy.
Acknowledging his struggle with NIL-portal management, Bennett described himself as “a square peg in a round hole.”
Retired from an amazing, 17-season run of coaching Alabama Crimson Tide football, Nick Saban now is an ESPN analyst. During a “Pat McAfee Show” appearance, the 73-year-old Saban addressed the complexities of NIL and the transfer portal: “Each year it’s gotten a little worse. The first year we had name, image and likeness — four or five years ago — we had $3 million, and everybody was happy. Then the next year it was ($7 million). … Now, they’re looking at ($20 million). I mean, where does it end?”
Saban predicted that some donors eventually won’t want to participate in NIL funding.
Over the next few months, there are heavy uncertainties regarding the Gundy-OSU relationship.
Can Gundy convince OSU people that he still has a fire to coach the Cowboys? Can he repair the fundraising damage that is said to have resulted from his Nov. 4 comments? Can he find a winning quarterback? Can he solve OSU’s persistent problems on the offensive line?
Can he inspire fans to renew their season tickets?
Can Gundy not only accept the reality and terms of NIL-portal football, but find a way to be good at it?
On Monday, I inquired about the possibility of a Gundy news conference. The coach could use the media to convey his message and plan to Oklahoma State fans.
“There is the potential,” I was told, for something in February.
Bill Haisten: Mike Gundy mastered his 'Yankees job.' Can he reinvent himself?
- Jan 6, 2025 Updated 10 hrs ago
Bill Haisten
Tulsa World Sports Columnist & WriterIncluded on the lengthy list of memorable Mike Gundy quotes: “I’m a man! I’m 40!” And, of course, “We’ve got a logo, too.”
Saturday was the 20th anniversary of Gundy’s coronation at Oklahoma State, when the former Cowboy QB and 2001-04 offensive coordinator became the head coach.
On Jan. 3, 2005, and less than four hours after previous OSU head man Les Miles was introduced as LSU’s new head man, then-37-year-old Mike Gundy became his alma mater’s new head football coach.
During that media event in Stillwater, there was the first of the memorable Gundy quotes: “This is my New York Yankees job.”
In 2005, Jay Helm was the chairman of OSU’s Board of Regents. “I promise all of you, the OSU fans, that we did a diligent search,” Helm said of the Gundy hire. “Mike is the clear choice. OSU football is on solid footing.”
Let’s do some Gundy trivia.
His pay as a first-year head coach? $700,000 (or $175,000 less than Miles made in 2004).
Gundy’s first opponent? Montana State on Sept. 3, 2005. Final score: the Cowboys prevailed 15-10.
Who scored the first two OSU touchdowns of the Gundy era? The Woods brothers — Donovan on an 11-yard run and D’Juan on a 23-yard pass from Donovan.
First Game
Before the advent of NIL and the transfer portal, football coaches were successful if they did football better than their counterparts did football.
The template was unchanged for a long time, and it involved recruiting, athlete development, roster continuity, scheming, execution, staying out of NCAA trouble and sustaining a positive relationship with the fan base.
Gundy did all of that very well — maintaining a high approval rating while becoming the most successful of all Oklahoma State football coaches. He was very effective in his Yankees job. He beat Texas nine times, won the 2011 Big 12 title, consistently kept OSU in the Top 25 and won in two of his final three clashes with OU.
His job today is much different than it was before portal movement began to wreck rosters, and before NIL compensation became a significant factor — or the most significant factor — when athletes consider their college destination.
On Monday, it was reported that four-year Cowboy Kendal Daniels will play at OU in 2025. Two years ago, defensive end Trace Ford transferred from OSU to OU.
I don’t know what Gundy might say publicly about the Daniels move, but I’m sure the coach feels sick about losing one of his better defensive veterans to OSU’s arch-rival. Gundy might reflect on the time, money and coaching that was invested in Daniels, and now the former Beggs star apparently is a former Cowboy and soon-to-be Sooner.
Gundy upset OSU officials and donors with his public-relations mistake on Nov. 4 (a commentary on critical fans). At the end of a 3-9 season overall and an 0-9 finish in the Big 12, Gundy and the university seemingly were at odds on Dec. 6-7 (at which time the coach’s contract was restructured).
In November, I asked Gundy whether he might retire after the 2024 season. His response: “I ain’t going out this way.”
The frustration and pressure of NIL-portal have compelled some veteran coaches to go away. In 2023, Jim Larranaga took the Miami Hurricane basketball team to the Final Four. Last week, he resigned.
“After we went to the Final Four, eight players wanted to transfer or seek better NIL deals,” Larranaga explained. “They told me they loved it at Miami, but wanted to seek a better deal.”
In 2019, veteran basketball coach Tony Bennett’s Virginia team beat Texas Tech for the national title. Three months ago, he retired. Bennett is two years younger than Gundy.
Acknowledging his struggle with NIL-portal management, Bennett described himself as “a square peg in a round hole.”
Retired from an amazing, 17-season run of coaching Alabama Crimson Tide football, Nick Saban now is an ESPN analyst. During a “Pat McAfee Show” appearance, the 73-year-old Saban addressed the complexities of NIL and the transfer portal: “Each year it’s gotten a little worse. The first year we had name, image and likeness — four or five years ago — we had $3 million, and everybody was happy. Then the next year it was ($7 million). … Now, they’re looking at ($20 million). I mean, where does it end?”
Saban predicted that some donors eventually won’t want to participate in NIL funding.
Over the next few months, there are heavy uncertainties regarding the Gundy-OSU relationship.
Can Gundy convince OSU people that he still has a fire to coach the Cowboys? Can he repair the fundraising damage that is said to have resulted from his Nov. 4 comments? Can he find a winning quarterback? Can he solve OSU’s persistent problems on the offensive line?
Can he inspire fans to renew their season tickets?
Can Gundy not only accept the reality and terms of NIL-portal football, but find a way to be good at it?
On Monday, I inquired about the possibility of a Gundy news conference. The coach could use the media to convey his message and plan to Oklahoma State fans.
“There is the potential,” I was told, for something in February.
