Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys are enduring a difficult season. The team currently sits at 3-6, occupying the bottom spot in the Big XII standings with a winless 0-6 record in conference play. It’s shaping up to be the Cowboys’ first losing season since Gundy’s inaugural year in Stillwater nearly two decades ago. As frustration builds among the fanbase, it’s clear that Gundy is feeling the pressure as well.
During his weekly press conference on Monday, Gundy let his frustrations boil over, lashing out at fans who have been critical of the team’s performance. He described those complaining as “weak” and “failures” and suggested that they “can’t pay their own bills.” The comments, delivered in Gundy’s typically blunt style, immediately stirred controversy.
“This place has had tremendous success for 18 and a half years or 19—I can’t do the math real good,” Gundy said. “And 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. And then they want to point the finger and blame other people. You see it happen in everyday life. People do it all the time.”
Gundy continued, venting his frustration about the tendency of people to complain rather than take action. “That’s why I refuse to watch TV and watch the news because I get tired of people complaining and bitching about this and that instead of just doing something about it and trying to figure out a way to make it better,” he said. “Well, that’s what happens in college athletics, and as Jenny said—she’s exactly right—it’s just on a bigger stage where people can voice their opinion.”
The coach then took aim at those voicing negativity, saying, “And in most cases, the people that are negative and voicing their opinions 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 ’em feel better. But then in the end, when they go to bed at night, they’re the same failure that they were before they said anything negative about anybody else.”
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The harsh comments drew immediate backlash from fans and the broader college football community, many of whom felt Gundy’s words were unfair and crossed a line. It didn’t take long for the coach to reconsider his remarks. By Tuesday night, Gundy had issued a brief apology for his outburst.
In his statement, Gundy acknowledged that his words were out of line and apologized to those he had offended. While the apology lacked the fiery rhetoric of his earlier comments, it was a recognition that his words had struck a nerve with many Oklahoma State fans who have supported the program through good times and bad.
The Cowboys have lost six straight games and face a tough matchup against TCU this Saturday night. The game, set for 7 p.m. on FS1, will be a crucial opportunity for Oklahoma State to try to end their losing streak and salvage what has been a disappointing season.
The pressure is clearly mounting for Gundy and his team. With expectations consistently high for Oklahoma State football, the current losing streak has been a tough pill to swallow for everyone involved—players, coaches, and fans alike.
Gundy’s comments were undoubtedly born out of the frustration of a season that hasn’t gone as planned, but they also highlighted the delicate balance between the expectations of a passionate fanbase and the realities of a challenging season.
As the Cowboys prepare for the remainder of the season, Gundy will need to find a way to channel his frustration into motivation for his players rather than lashing out at the fans who have been with the program for years.
Winning back the support of the fanbase will require not just victories on the field but also a recognition of the role that fans play in making college football the spectacle it is.
With the upcoming game against TCU, Gundy and the Cowboys have a chance to turn things around and begin to restore some faith in the program.
It’s a pivotal moment for a coach who has been a fixture at Oklahoma State for nearly two decades, and how he navigates these challenges—both on and off the field—will go a long way in defining his legacy with the Cowboys.
