When it Comes to Motivation for Bedlam, Mike Gundy Says It ‘Should Take Care of Itself’

I watched one Bedlam hype video, and I was ready to run up I-35 and down Highway 51 to the stadium on a Tuesday. I don’t mean run as in “drive my car” but literally run. I can’t imagine what playing in the actual game is like.

Mike Gundy said earlier this week that he tries a variety of things to get his team fired up at different points in the season. He referenced his kids asking him why he sits in his office and does nothing when he should be working. He’s thinking, he assured them. And often he’s thinking about how to get 100+ football players to the next week without a L.

That doesn’t always involve a lot of rah-rah. In fact, with Gundy, it rarely does.

“I always coach myself first and think, ‘Am I motivating these guys right? Am I stimulating them to get quality work to get prepared? Am I doing it too early in the week and getting them all ready on Tuesday and Wednesday and Friday is kind of a downer?’

“I do what comes natural to me, it’s different each week,” said Gundy. “In the middle of the season I had (Kenneth Edison-)McGruder come to me, and he said, “Coach, we’ve got to get you going a little bit more, out of control, kind of ranting and raving to get the guys rolling a little bit. I said, “Why don’t you do it? You’re 21, I’m 50 years old. I’m at risk here. You go ahead and do it.'”

I’d like to stop for a second and just appreciate how hilarious that conversation must have been. I’m at risk here!

“It’s interesting when you get input from the players on things like that,” added Gundy. “I just do what comes natural. It’s different every week. If you’re referring to this week’s game, it should take care of itself. All of those things should take care of themselves this week. They should want to do everything this week to get ready to roll. When they hit that tunnel they should be ready to roll, you would think.”

Yeah, you would think a team that has only beaten OU two times since Gundy took over wouldn’t need much motivation against a quarterback who plants flags and wears shirts ironically disparaging himself.

I know BPS will be ready. I’m pretty sure the players will be too. I just hope Gundy listens to his own advice and lets go of this game a little bit on Saturday night in Stillwater.

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— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) October 29, 2017