Mike Gundy Says Tennessee Job Rumors Were ‘Blown Way out of Proportion’

Mike Gundy went on ESPNU Radio on Monday to discuss the Camping World Bowl, and he was, of course, asked about the Tennessee job he almost, maybe, could have, perhaps was offered last week.

“A lot of those job situations get blown out of proportion really fast with social media and such,” said Gundy. “I had gotten a text early that morning, and I had responded back that I’m not involved, but obviously it didn’t do any good.

“This is a great place for me. It always has been. I wish things like that wouldn’t happen. I don’t have an agent so any time there’s a phone call to me — sometimes that happens when I’m not even involved, they may be asking about other coaches — because I don’t have an agent, those things get blown out of proportion a little bit.”

OK. Maybe. But why did Brett McMurphy report that $42 million was on the table? Why did Gundy tweet out “Cowboy for life”? Why did he get a raise to $5 million a few days later? Lot of smoke for there to not have been at least a flame.

Cowboy For Life! #GoPokes #okstate

— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) November 29, 2017

“I had conversations,” continued Gundy. “They weren’t directly related to the importance of what people thought. I was in Dallas prior to them ever coming down there. I had known those people for a while. Let’s just say it got blown way out of proportion to the extent of what people took it. More so … being on the road in recruiting and being in the right location.”

If I’m hearing and interpreting this correctly, Gundy is basically saying, I was crootin in Dallas and those homies were in town so we had coffee. 

I suppose I can buy that given that my official position on everything is that Gundy said yes, I’ll take a meeting followed by no, I don’t want the job. I think what Gundy is saying is fair, even though I also think it was a little more serious than he’s letting on. It sure felt like a big deal at the time.

Regardless, Gundy is in Stillwater for the time being (and probably forever given the amount of money he turned down). And that’s a good thing if you’re a fan of winning lots and lots of college football games.

The Tennesse coaching search has consisted of a growing list of names to find its next head coach.

.@CoachGundy shares his story of being involved in the Tennessee rumor mill. pic.twitter.com/SA8SJRgkz9

— ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM (@ESPNUonSiriusXM) December 4, 2017