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The Oklahoma State football team is not having the season it envisioned in 2024. After starting the year ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll, the Cowboys are just 3-6 and winless in Big XII play.
Head coach Mike Gundy was asked about the struggles surrounding his program as it tries to reverse a current six-game losing skid. He made some interesting comments about his critics.
“Unfortunately, in life, most people are weak,” he said in a bizarre rant this week. “As soon as things start to not go as good as what they thought, they fall apart…
“In most cases, the people who 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.”
“In most cases, the people who 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.”
Mike Gundy goes on a rant about negativity around the program #OKState pic.twitter.com/GS6iy56RhY
— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKTUL) November 4, 2024
Stop criticizing the Cowboys. Do something productive with your life!
Social media immediately responded.
Mike Gundy is out here telling people they’re “failures” who “Can’t take care of their family” for pointing out flaws in a football team.
Then turning around & telling those same people to make it better by pushing into NIL. 🤦♂️
I love Mike, but what are we doing here?
— Reagan Harris (OSU Mart) (@OKSTMart) November 4, 2024
The comments were made in a somewhat general manner, though many suggested they were directed at the Oklahoma State fanbase given his role as football coach.
The outlook may not have been the smartest maneuver given the importance of donors in today’s NIL landscape. You need money to build rosters, which the Cowboys have embraced, but six-game losing streaks don’t usually persuade fans to give money.
Calling them poor might make it worse.
Mike Gundy has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, whether that’s on the current state of college football or in defense of his Oklahoma State team.
In this particular case, he might’ve been better to stay quiet.