Oklahoma State University’s head football coach Mike Gundy is facing mounting pressure as the Cowboys endure their worst slump in his nearly two-decade tenure. After dropping their sixth straight game on Saturday, a 42-21 home loss to Arizona State, Gundy addressed the media to plead for patience and trust from the Cowboy faithful.
“I think what’s important for all the Oklahoma State fans to know is that we’re very aware of what’s going on,” Gundy asserted in a video conference on Monday. “At some point in life, we all have to put trust into somebody. And I think they need to trust that we have a good plan for what’s going on here in the big picture, and we have answers.”
A Rare Rough Patch for Gundy’s Cowboys
The current six-game losing streak is the longest Oklahoma State has suffered since Gundy took the reins in 2005. Prior to this season, his teams had reached a bowl game for 18 consecutive years, a testament to the program’s consistency under his leadership.
Now, with a 3-6 record overall and winless in Big 12 play, the Cowboys find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Gundy, a former Oklahoma State quarterback himself, acknowledged the rarity of the situation.
“Kind of the synopsis of all of this is that this place has had tremendous success for 18 and a half years or 19 — I can’t do the math real good. Unfortunately, in life, most people are weak and as soon as things start to not go as good as what they thought, they fall apart and they panic.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Head Coach
Gundy Dismisses Critics, Touts Long-Term Vision
As the losses have piled up, so too has the criticism directed at Gundy. However, the embattled coach seemed to brush off the naysayers, suggesting their opinions hold little weight.
“[In] most cases, the people that are negative and voicing their opinion are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills. They’re not taking care of themselves. They’re not taking care of their own family. They’re not taking care of their own job. But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Head Coach
Instead, Gundy urged fans to focus on the bigger picture and trust in his ability to right the ship. While he didn’t divulge specifics, he hinted at having a long-term plan to restore Oklahoma State to its winning ways.
A Tough Road Ahead
To become bowl eligible and extend their postseason streak to 19 years, the Cowboys will need to win out. It’s a tall task, with road games against TCU and No. 21 Colorado bookending a home tilt versus Texas Tech.
As the pressure mounts and the margin for error disappears, all eyes will be on Gundy to see if he can orchestrate a dramatic turnaround. For now, he’s asking the Cowboy faithful to keep the faith, even as the program navigates uncharted waters.
“Sometimes [the answers are] not short term. Sometimes they might be long-term answers.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Head Coach
Only time will tell if Gundy’s long-term vision will materialize and bring Oklahoma State football back to prominence. In the meantime, he’ll continue to preach patience and trust, hoping his message resonates with a fanbase desperate for a return to winning ways.
