Following a heartbreaking loss to the 13th-ranked BYU Cougars on Friday night, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy discussed the culture inside his locker room in depth.
Gundy provided some insight on the state of the Cowboys’ locker room after their 0-4 start to conference play, highlighting his players’ commitment and work ethic.
“If you would’ve come and watched us the last two weeks, you would’ve thought we were 6-0,” Gundy said. “That’s what’s exciting. That tells me that the culture side of it is working. And when you get a number of guys beat up, it can wear on you a little bit mentally as a team, and they’ve overcome all that.”
The loss came down to the final ten seconds of regulation, with BYU’s Jake Retzlaff completing a 35-yard touchdown pass to take the lead back from Oklahoma State. After three-straight losses in conference play, the loss to undefeated BYU was another brutal outcome for Mike Gundy’s squad this fall.
“So what I was sharing with you was the same thing I told them,” Gundy continued. “I said I was very proud of them. I wish I was in here celebrating with you, but we have to look and see where we came up short, if we get in that situation again, to try to finish the game. And win it. I’m not gonna take anything away from BYU and what they accomplished. But I’m also not gonna take anything away from our team and what we were able to accomplish.”
While Oklahoma State is largely out of the race for a Big 12 title, barring any unbelievable circumstances, the Cowboys’ culture will be tested next in Week 9 vs. Baylor.
