Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State critics ‘are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills’

Mike Gundy certainly knows how to deliver a rant.

During his weekly availability session Monday, the longtime Oklahoma State coach took a hard left turn while discussing the trials of the Cowboys’ disappointing 3-6 season so far. While diving into the reasons why Oklahoma State — ranked 17th in the nation before the year began — has struggled so mightily, Gundy went on an elongated rant that told angry fans and program critics to look in the mirror before pointing fingers.

“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,” Gundy said. “And then they want to point the finger and blame other people. You see it in everyday life. People do it all the time.

“That’s why I refuse to watch the TV and watch the news because I get tired of people complaining and b—-ing about this and that versus just doing something about it and trying to figure out a way to make it better.”

The Cowboys dropped to 0-6 in Big 12 Conference play this season after a 42-21 thumping at home to Arizona State. The team’s 18-year-long streak of bowl game appearances could end this week at TCU should Oklahoma State drop its seventh straight. The Cowboys’ final two games of the year are at home against Texas Tech on Nov. 23 and on the road at Colorado on Nov. 29.

Oklahoma State hasn’t had a losing season since Gundy’s first year in charge in 2005 when the team went 4-7. This year’s six-game losing streak is the program’s longest since 2000. Gundy’s turn toward the detractors continued.

“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,” he said. “But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them 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.”

Gundy is the highest-paid coach in the Big 12. According to USA Today, Gundy has a $7.75 million salary in 2024. Oklahoma State is the worst power conference defense in the country through nine games giving up 503 total yards of offense per game. The Cowboys are ranked 132 out of 133 FBS teams in total defense.

“I think what’s important for all the Oklahoma State fans to know is that we’re very aware of what’s going on, and at some point in life, we all have to put trust in somebody,” Gundy said. “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. Sometimes they’re not short term. Sometimes they might be long term answers.

“And then secondly, in the end, the very best thing that can do, as I tell our players, is 100 percent be in. Buy in. You got to be on somebody’s team. Can’t go through life yourself.”

Required reading

(Photo: Chris Gardner / Getty Images)