Gundy: Both Quarterbacks Will Play

The Cowboys' coach spoke with the media Thursday and effectively put to rest the notion that either Clint Chelf or J.W. Walsh has been able to separate from one another.

"We're going to play both guys. It hasn't changed since spring," Gundy said. "It's going to be hard for me to predict reps, but I don't feel like either one of them will be a backup in the first game."

Gundy also noted the contrast between last season's opener against Savannah State and the 2013 opener against Mississippi State.

"I think the players know what they're into by watching tape. Last year, we never tried to convince them of anything other than what was up. We needed to try to perform at our highest level and not concern ourselves with who we're playing. This year, we have the advantage of playing a good football team."

And on the other remaining position battle, Gundy said former UCLA starter Kip Smith had won the punting job over Michael Reichenstein.

Also quotable from Thursday's media luncheon:

"We have guys making the trip who haven't played yet and haven't traveled, so they don't know how to approach a game yet," defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said when asked about the neutral-site matchup with Mississippi State. "Until they get hit in the mouth on that first snap, you just don't know exactly how they're going to react."

"They're an SEC team. They're going to be big, they're going to be athletic and they're going to be pretty nasty," guard Parker Graham said of the Bulldogs. "We have to make sure we bring our lunch pail to work."

Senior Daytawion Lowe had praise for fellow safety and converted linebacker Lyndell Johnson.

"It shocked me how fast he got it down. It looked like he had been playing safety for four years," Lowe said. "The way he just reversed the roles and got it so fast was impressive to me. We've got him in a lot of different positions. He is going to be a factor."