Reader Thoughts: Emails on Gundy Continue to Roll In

Two things on the emails I’ve been publishing this week. Please labor to understand them. First, these are indicative of where a lot of folks in the rational section of OSU fans are right now (I’d love to hear some folks argue the other side!). Second, me posting is not the same as me endorsing. I’m #TeamGundy until otherwise noted. Here’s another long, intriguing email I received from a reader on Tuesday.

In light of another disappointing loss for this 2019-20 season of Oklahoma State football team, I thought I would give some thoughts on the direction of the program. These are in no particular order. Just gonna let them spill.

1. Several months ago, I wrote an email stating why I no longer felt Mike Gundy should lead the program as head coach. I received a mixed-at-best reaction in the comments section. Honestly, most of it was negative. I have no problem taking more backlash for the following words. They need to be said. Now possibly more than ever. If the AD, board of regents, alumni, fan base and ticket holders don’t realize and make it clear that we need to go a new direction, the program will continue to decline.

2. Much has been made of Spencer Sanders’ struggles recently. The former Mr. Texas High School player of the year should have played last year. Not start over Cornelius. But he should have been given his four games without losing the redshirt. Same can be said of Dru Brown. He should have been given much much more than one meaningless handoff in the bowl game. This would have given coaches a better idea on who to start this year. Essentially, Gundy chose to waste two seasons instead of one. Speaking of, if I’m Dru, I’m beyond livid at this point. Now, I believe Spencer will improve and is still our long term plan, but Dru should have been seeing more PT than he’s gotten up to now. Gundy mistake: horribly mismanaging his QB situation….AGAIN!

3. I’ll say it again: the last two coordinator hires have been awful. He’s brought in a guy on offense in Gleeson who doesn’t have the cachet to stand up and say, “Let me run the offense you hired me to run and stop meddling!!” And make no mistake, Gundy meddles. Gleeson admitted as much a few weeks back in the postgame when he mentioned Gundy telling him to continue to run Chuba into the middle. Even when it was clearly not there against Texas. That gameplan was horrible. Unfortunately, several poor gameplans and lack of adjustments have affected numerous games in the past three years. It’s a trend at this point. Texas 2019, TCU 2018, Kansas State 2018.

And Knowles….really?!?! The three-man front isn’t working. It’s just not. Stop forcing a square peg into a round hole. Not getting enough pressure on the QB against Tech made Duffey look more like Jalen Hurts. I said in the beginning, they should never have hired Knowles due to his lack of defending spread, uptempo teams. It’s showing up again in year two. The middle was wide open for Baylor most of the afternoon.

4. Recruiting. I’ll keep this one short. Go get more 4-stars on the defensive side. You got them at receiver, and running back, and QB. Now go find them at linebacker, and safety, and corner, and the d-line. Stop using Stilly as an excuse as to why you can’t get guys to commit here. Mike Boynton isn’t.

5. Speaking of line play, it’s been awful on the o-line. I think Dickey is a good hire, but my goodness, what a revolving door of coaching that has been. As well as a lack of development. Some of the offensive struggles should be blamed on these things.

6. If this team does not make a bowl this season, what does it say about the trajectory of the program? I don’t believe Gundy has what’s required to win another Big 12 championship, much less enter the four-team playoff. This program had a chance to springboard from the 2011 Big 12 title on to more championships. That has honestly not come close to happening.

7. The Bedlam record. Speaks for itself. Gundy’s record vs OU is worse than the program’s overall record against OU. Part of that reason is that Stoops handed the program off in perfect fashion to a young, hungry energetic, capable OC in Lincoln Riley. Gundy should’ve hired him in 2013. But alas, he went safe and conservative and went with “Yes-man Yurcich.” Speaking of Riley, he canned his former boss’s brother and hired young, hungry energetic Alex Grinch from Ohio State. They’ve won several Big 10 titles and won a Natty and been to the playoffs. That’s called pedigree. He has it. Knowles doesn’t. Both programs had a chance to change the defensive culture and standard. One chose to, one didn’t. And that’s a microcosm of why things are so lopsided in the Bedlam rivalry.

In conclusion, folks, it’s time. It’s time for Gundy to either retire gracefully with a plan for a replacement, or its time for this AD to make the tough call that Gundy needs to go. And if the regents don’t go for it, then make the executive decision. Whatever the buyout, pay it. Clean house on the entire staff. Top to bottom. If not, welcome back to the Bob Simmons/ Pat Jones School of Football. For those saying “Gundy’s the best we can get”, take a look at Baylor!! Two years ago, went 1-11. Matt Rhule has them at 7-0. 7-0!!! And they could’ve (and should’ve) gotten the death penalty. But they took their medicine and kept working and improving and grinding. Now look at them. Heading to November undefeated. Find the next Matt Rhule. Or Lincoln Riley. Or Matt Campbell at Iowa State. Or Ryan Day at Ohio State. At some point, either through retirement or termination, there is life in the program after Gundy. So accept it. Hopefully, we find out what that looks like in the next year or so. I know I’m ready.