Mike Gundy Praises Saturday’s Crowd for Creating ‘Big-Time Home Field Advantage’

In Mike Gundy’s press conference on Monday, he made it a point to thanks the students and fans for their presence Saturday, calling them “tremendous.”

“I’d like to start today by thanking the students and our fans one more time for their involvement in our game,” Gundy said to open his presser. “They were tremendous. In the latter part of the game, there were times where we needed that support. I could hear it as a coach, so I know our players could. I heard them mention it. They’ve been tremendous, but to be there in the end means a lot for our team. The students were awesome, so it gave me an opportunity to thank them after the game, but I know our players really appreciated their support, and we felt like we had a big-time home field advantage. I wanted to thank them for that.”

No doubt the crowd, which has received criticism for leaving early at times in the past, was rewarded for staying. They got to see their team knock off No. 10 West Virginia, and the head ball coach made it a priority after the game to celebrate with the crowd in style:

Mike Gundy put on a fire hat to celebrate. pic.twitter.com/rWpbMQQ6nG

— Kendrick Marshall (@KD_Marshall) October 29, 2016

“Coach Gundy always says to play to the crowd and use it to our advantage and that’s what we did on Saturday,” offensive lineman Zach Crabtree added. “When that place is packed to the rim, and when you’re down on the field and look up and see that there’s students all the way up to that top wall. It’s loud and it’s rocking and it just gives us an opportunity to feed off of that constant energy. When it’s full, teams don’t want to come here and play. That was the case on Saturday and it really helps us to create that home-field advantage and use it to our benefit.”