Why Selfish Skill Players Wouldn’t Fit in with Mike Gundy’s Team

James Washington is probably the best wide receiver in college football. He’s got a good shot of finishing as the all-time leading receiver in Oklahoma State history and he’s a favorite to win this year’s Biletnikoff Award.

And in a close game on the road, with the Cowboys needing a win to stay alive in the Big 12 title hunt, he was thrown to just once.

“They’re playing their entire team over here on 28, it’s almost impossible to get to him,” Gundy said of his leading receiver. “We got him in the hole one time. Otherwise you can’t get the ball to him, unless you’re just gonna be hard-headed.”

As Gundy noted, there aren’t a lot of wideouts around the country who would be okay with that, especially given Washington’s talent level and career trajectory. But that’s not an issue on this team or with this group of receivers.

“So he has one catch because it’s somewhat impossible to get the ball to him, never said a word,” Gundy said of Washington. “Never said a word.

Marcell Ateman was targeted just twice at West Virginia two weeks before and had one catch for 13 yards. Any complaints from the senior? “Never says a word.”

It’s something that the 13th-year head coach ascribes to the culture they’ve built in Stillwater. And it’s not only the ability of his stars to share the limelight but their willingness to put in the hard word that makes Gundy so proud.

“The two biggest plays that James Washington had in the game were not catching a pass, right,” asked Gundy? “He was doing what? Blocking.

“Well, here’s a guy that’s going to win the Biletnikoff and our players watch block for another guy to score. That’s pretty special. That’s the leadership that they provide.”

And the unselfishness doesn’t stop with Washington and Ateman. Chris Lacy, who looks like an NFL player — and has the skill set to be one — has just 30 targets through 10 games of his senior season.

Tyron Johnson, a five-star talent who’s shown he’s real deal has been targeted just 25 times and Tylan Wallace, OSU’s top-rated freshman since Dez has just 11 targets.

But there’s only one football, as Gundy put it, and only one person gets to carry it at a time.

“The other 10 guys have to be unselfish and willing to make the other guy a better player,” said Gundy “That’s offensive football, especially at our place.

“It’s not ever going to change, and if you’re not willing to do that then you’re probably should go somewhere else because otherwise you won’t fit in here.”

This group may go down as the deepest and most-talented Gundy’s ever had but that next group that comes along will have learned something from its elders.

“The unselfish willingness for them to play hard for each other…” said Gundy. “It would be difficult if you were a selfish skill player to be on our team.”

It’s that type of example set by his best players that rubs off on the younger guys and reinforces that Cowboy culture Gundy is constantly bragging about, and for good reason.