Good memories, big wins is reason to let Oklahoma State coach finish out season
When Mike Gundy was hired as head coach of Oklahoma State football in 2005, things around Stillwater began to pick up a few notches.
All the success in the 2010’s followed by a near College Football Playoff appearance less than five years ago unraveled quickly.
Gundy and the Cowboys are divorce levels, and even with a restructured contract, rebuilt coaching staff and roster built off the transfer portal things still haven’t changed.
After losing 69-3 to a very good Oregon Ducks team, then come off a bye-week just to lose 19-12 to a Tulsa team that hasn’t won at Oklahoma State since 1951, the Gundy tenure appears dead.
Two weeks after complaining about the Ducks’ highly paid roster, Oklahoma State went on to blow a game against a beatable opponent, led by competent offensive mind in head coach Tre Lamb.
The Golden Hurricane’s have fallen on hard times in recent seasons after going to 12 bowl games from 2003-2021 under various coaching staffs.
Since going 10-4 during the 2023 season, the Cowboys are 4-11 and Big 12 play hasn’t started yet and have lost 11 consecutive games to Power Conference opponents, which is the longest stretch in program history.
Long gone are the days of Brandon Weeden, Dez Bryant, Justin Blackmon, Russell Okung, Mason Rudolph, James Washington, Kendall Hunter, Ollie Gordon, Chubba Hubbard, Justin Gilbert and many others.
The Fun-and-Gundy offense has been grounded for now, but memories live on for a lifetime.
Even after an upsetting loss against Tulsa, Gundy speaks wisely with his back against the wall.
“In 21 years, it’s a different position than I’ve been in,” Gundy said. “But as I say every week, my job is to evaluate the overall program, players, the systems and then be able to put it down and think about it.
“What do we need to do to improve? Then I have to make a decision on where we’re at based on what we have. And that’s what I do.”
No, the Gundy era isn’t over yet but it won’t linger on after 2025, there’s no conceivable way he returns in 2026. With an $15 million buyout due to his restructured contract, that’s peanuts for a wealthy donor base.
Whether Oklahoma State’s board decides to part ways with its coach of more than 20 years now or later, Gundy still has a forward focus going into conference play against a dangerous Baylor offense.
“Those aren’t decisions that I make, and my decision is to do exactly what I mentioned earlier,” Gundy said, “[To] get these guys and keep moving forward and go on down the road. That’s what we do.”
Gundy will forever go down as a legendary winner with eight 10-win seasons and led the Cowboys to multiple Big 12 Championship game appearances, including one title in 2011.
His 2011 Cowboys team was a juggernaut championship contender that went onto win the Fiesta Bowl for the schools lone 12-win season until 2021.
While his tenure could’ve ended last year after a disastrous 3-9 season, but letting this go on any longer shouldn’t be held against him. He’s earned the right to leave when he wants whether that be now or at the end of this season.
His time at Oklahoma State is over, just not officially.