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The Rundown: Gundy Talks Beating Baylor, Bowl Season

Gundy said the guys will have some time off before the Cowboys’ bowl game.

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[Pool photo via Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune Herald]

After a shell-shocking game in Fort Worth last weekend, the Cowboys thumped Baylor in Waco.

Oklahoma State beat Baylor 42-3 on Saturday in Waco. Here is what OSU coach Mike Gundy had to say after the game.

Opening Statement

“Well, obviously our defense was fantastic in the game. Offensively, we made some big plays. It’s kind of like the way we used to play. There was times we were average. I think we had three or four series we weren’t very good, but we still hit big plays. I was excited about that. A big day by [Dillon] Stoner and obviously with the freshman running back [Dominic Richardson] was able to have a big day and run hard.

“Defensively, we were really, really good. I know they were down a couple starters on offense, but overall our defense was really good. Our pass coverage was good, did some different things defensively today coverage-wise, and I think it really worked out well for our team.”

On Dillon Stoner

“Dillon’s been a really good player and had been solid player reliable for us for a number of years. With Tylan not available, it’s good that he could step up and make some big plays. Obviously, made a big play early in the game and kind of got things going for us offensively. He’s been around a long time, and we’re appreciative of what he’s done for this program.”

On how OSU’s defense did defending against big plays

“Obviously they played really well. You look at the numbers, and they were excellent. Again, we did some things different coverage-wise in this game, and it worked out well for us. Credit due with the schemes. Schemes were really good. We were able to get some pressure on their quarterbacks with just a four-man rush.”

On the future of the running back room

“Pretty good deal, you know? We got Richardson for five more years, and we have Dez [Jackson] for, I think, three. So, I’m excited about the direction we’re going with those guys. Maybe we can get some linemen back here and keep some of those guys healthy. We hold our breath on the offensive line every game. I’m excited about those guys and what they bring to the table for the next three or four or five years.”

On the importance of this win after last week’s loss

“Well, every game, each week we have a responsibility to go play and play the very best we can. We don’t necessarily concern ourselves much with that. We take it week to week. That’s what college football is. So, we told the players last Sunday that we came up a little bit short at TCU but got another game to play, so let’s get back to work. Coaches got to push hard, players got to push hard, got to rally together. The strength of the organization helps you in times like that. That’s why they were able to play so well today.”

On playing a game that wasn’t coming down to the wire

“Well, it’s a lot easier on my heart, that’s for sure. We hadn’t had many of those lately, so I didn’t actually know what to do with six or eight minutes. I was still kind of chewing on guys, and I guess I shouldn’t have been. It was nice for us to have a really good win.”

On Spencer Sanders

“Well obviously he played good. He made a mistake on the first interception. He was in the wrong place with his read, got him in a little bit of trouble. The second one, a jump ball. We make a living with those balls. We got to go fight and win that battle. But overall, he was effective in what we asked him to do today in the game plan. And without watching the tape it looks like that he played pretty solid mentally in his reads.”

On OSU’s sideline jawing with Baylor after Trace Ford’s injury

“Well, we’re gonna wait and see once we watch the tape. I don’t want to say anything right now before I watch the tape and see what actually happened on that play.”

On the crazy year of COVID

“We had the best plan of anybody for COVID from Day 1 back in the spring. Our medical staff, our doctors and our trainers were ahead of everybody else, bringing our guys in as soon as we could to get them in and start finding out and getting information was a highly, highly intelligent move. You have to give our medical staff a ton of credit for their plan. We finished the regular season and did not lose one starter to COVID. Ten games, three open dates, not one starter did we lose to COVID. So I think it’s really clear that our medical staff, the plan we had and how we attacked it was fantastic.

“Now there’s more time off. Now you’re a little concerned because we’re not going to practice every day. We’re going to give the players a little freedom, let their bodies recover, so they won’t be around as much. Hopefully we can avoid it because we all know that it’s a scary situation if you just kind of let a little bit of a drift, then all of a sudden it can get you. Our players have been really disciplined, and the plan that our medical staff had clearly was better than anybody else’s plan.”

On how different the next few weeks will be preparing for a bowl game

“Well, we’re gonna give them four or five days off. Then we’re going to let some of the young guys practice later next week, let the other guys just hang out. I don’t think that will be in a bowl game before the 29th or 31st, somewhere in that area. That’ll give us a chance to let the guys be with their families at Christmas if they can find a way to get that accomplished. We still have testing, so we have to follow testing protocols. We can’t give them as much as many days off as we do in the past.

“Then obviously when you get ready to go play in the bowl game, you’re looking at a one-night trip. It just becomes a road game. So, it is different. We have a plan in place. We built that scenario a week and a half ago. We’ve been following that in our organization for the last 10 days. Now we have a plan moving forward to allow our players to have some time off, allow them to be able to get with their families over Christmas if possible. Then stay within testing protocol before we start to get ready for the bowl game.”

On if there was a thought on the team stopping the season like Boston College or Pitt

“I’m not for sure what took place with Pitt and Boston College. Somebody mentioned to me what happened, but yeah, we just gonna stay the course. As I said earlier, we’ve been clearly one of the best teams in the country in COVID and dealing with it. So, hopefully we can stay as healthy as possible and give the guys a chance to play in another game.”

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