OSU Football: Gundy, Players Talk Overall Season, Alamo Bowl

The Oklahoma State football team met with media Monday for the final time before departing for the 2016 Valero Alamo Bowl. Coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the team spoke at Boone Pickens Stadium after completing a two-hour practice session. Some of their comments:
 
Head Coach Mike Gundy
 
On how he feels about the team's bowl workouts up to this point:

"Our guys are doing well. We've had a plan with two days on and one day off and they've worked hard. Their attitude is great. We'll practice again tomorrow then let them go for a couple days and meet them at the bowl site. I'm pleased with where our team is right now. We're healthy. Attitude, and all those things I think are important during bowl preparation, have been very good up to this point."
 
On whether he was surprised with Justice Hill's performance this season:

"He's been a really good player for us, especially at the position he is as a true freshman. He exceeded my expectations for how productive he could be his first season."  
 
On Hill's hard work coming into OSU and if that's the reason he was successful this season:

"First off, I think he's more talented than some people would have thought, just based on if you put stock into level of recruiting stars or whatever people may use to try to predict a level a player may perform at. Second, he has a very good mental approach to the game. It allows him to be more mature mentally than most young players. That's helped him adjust to the play of this level. Third, he's very humble. He's not concerned with carries, yards, or necessarily what people think about him. He just enjoys being on the team. Those are pretty key ingredients to a young player having success." 
 
On Hill's high school coach saying he wouldn't fumble again after the Baylor game then it coming true:

"I heard that and I was hoping he was right. Some people thought I was a little harsh on him at that time but he was mature enough for us to say, 'Listen, in order for our team to be successful in conference play we have to hold onto the ball. We're not good enough to turn it over and overcome those mistakes.' That's just what has to happen and obviously he's done a nice job handling it and going back to work and being a successful player."
 
On Barry J. Sanders:

"He's been tremendous. He's in a difficult position. He's the son of arguably the greatest running back in college football history. Maybe ever. He graduates from Stanford and comes to Oklahoma State, it took a lot for him to come here, but he played a role with our team. Our players like him. He's very mature. I think it's been a productive move for him. He's going to be fantastic the rest of his life and I'm glad he was part of our team."
 
 Running Back Barry J. Sanders
 
On what it's been like playing at Oklahoma State:

"It's been fun. It's been a lot of fun being back home closer to family and friends, and getting the chance to do something that I've always wanted to do. I'm glad that we're in a great position now to go out and win a bowl game."
 
On how he handled the high expectations placed on him:

"The expectation for myself has always been to do whatever I'm asked to do and to do whatever I need to do for the team to be successful. Coming in, that was kind of my mindset. Whatever the coaches' decisions were, I'm behind them 100 percent."
 
On what the battle for the running back position was like:

"Having been in a similar position before definitely helps; having to keep your body ready throughout the course of the game for when your number is called. Being with these guys all year has been great. Seeing Justice (Hill) really thrive, seeing Chris (Carson) bounce back the way he did, and the production from the whole group has been really exciting."
 
On how it feels to finally wear an OSU jersey:

"During the season, I haven't been able to grasp how special it is, but I know years down the line when I look back I'll be able to feel how special it's been. Senior night was one of those days where I kind of felt it and really embraced it."
 
On if he feels like he made a good decision:

"Absolutely. I have no regrets. I still have yet to have any true regrets in life, so I plan on keeping it that way."
 
 Running Back Justice Hill
 
On how we would describe his freshman season so far: 

"It's been pretty surreal. At the beginning of the year, I wrote my goals for myself and one of the goals was to be the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and all those things. So being able to accomplish those has been great, but none of those would have been possible without the offensive line and Mason Rudolph and the receivers blocking downfield. I thank all those guys."
 
On what he learned after the Baylor game:

"Just learning early that I need to hold onto the ball. To practice I carried a water ball throughout practice the rest of the season. It really made me focus. I was able to practice that and actually focus on it and it helped me throughout the season."
 
On the hardest thing he's had to learn this season:

"Pass protection is probably the biggest thing. In high school you really just run the ball. Coming here and learning that was probably the most difficult part. Other than that it's pretty much the same. Just running and scoring."
 
On his teammates talk about him coming into the season:

"They were telling me stuff. Just keep working hard and you could be starting or playing and so I just kept working every day. I never hyped myself up on those words. I just came in and worked every day."
 
Offensive Lineman Victor Salako
 
On being named to the All-Big 12 Second Team: 

"I didn't know. My teammate Shane Richards texted me. At first I thought he was joking because we joke around a lot so I thought he was messing around with me. So he sent me a picture of it and that's when I saw it. I was excited. The first thing I did was call my parents and give them the good news."
 
On what this award means for the offensive line as a group:

"This award isn't just for me. It's for the entire offensive line. We worked our tails off. Zach Crabtree and I were the only ones to come away with awards but this whole group progressed."
 
On coming to Oklahoma State:

"I'm very happy. I'm glad I came to OSU. I don't think I would have had the same feeling if I went anywhere else. I'm happy God has a plan for everything, so I'm glad I came to Oklahoma State."
 
 Defensive Tackle Vincent Taylor
 
On what it means to him to play a bowl game in the town where he grew up:

"It's great. I think it's a sign from God. Last season, He sent me to play in the town where I was born in the Sugar Bowl, and now He's sending me to play at the Alamo Bowl at my second home. I think it's His work, and I'm looking forward to playing there."
 
On if he has a lot of family and friends coming to the game:

"I do. Jordan Sterns, Ramon Richards and I are all kind of competing to see whose tickets we can get. I've got a lot of tickets so far, but if I can get more, that would be better."
 
On what going to New York for the Piesman Trophy ceremony was like:

"That was a great experience. I really enjoyed myself. Although I came up short, as a child I always wanted to go to New York. Me being little when we left New Orleans, my brother and I thought we were going to New York because that's where we and our parents always wanted to go. We wound up in San Antonio, but overall New York is a great place. I advise anyone to go visit. It was pretty fun."