Alamo Bowl: Gundy, Cowboys Preview Matchup Against Colorado

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and selected members of the Cowboy football team met with media Thursday at Boone Pickens Stadium to preview OSU's Alamo Bowl matchup with Colorado on Dec. 29. Some of their comments:
 
 Mike Gundy
 
On if recruiting in San Antonio has picked up:

"It has in the last six or seven years. We were able to identify quite a few players in our travel camps that had good numbers. When we did research on it, the number of schools that were spending quality time in that area was somewhat minimal compared to the major metropolitan areas in Texas. We started to jump in there and had some success with Ryan Simmons and those guys, then word got around. We just kind of followed up and we've been very fortunate to get good players and good quality people here. It's been a really productive area for our program."
 
On what the program will miss most about senior safety Jordan Sterns:

"I think his demeanor, his willingness to strike the other team. It goes against human nature to want to collide with another human body, and I don't think he gives a second thought about it. He brings a toughness to our program, and especially our defense."
 
On Colorado's defense:

"I had mentioned this a week ago – they're very good. They've got old school corners, zero coverage, pressure adjusted to a three-down recently. They have tied that into that system that had been around for a long time before. They're very stingy, allowing 20.8 points per game. Their nose guard is hard to move. (Linebacker Jimmie Gilbert) is a terrific pass rusher. Their safeties tackle. They're going to force you to try to throw passes by squeezing the run and making it difficult for you to try to get yardage on the ground."
 
On the importance of in-state recruiting:

"Oklahoma is getting better and better each year, which is really good for us. The number of players that are being evaluated by us, and the number of players that we think are good enough to play in this conference has gone up considerably in the last few years, in particular. Even more this year, and I foresee next year being even better."
 
On senior defensive tackle Vincent Taylor:

"He's stepped up. I think he was somewhat overlooked last year because of (Jimmy) Bean and (Emmanuel) Ogbah, and made a few more plays that people didn't notice. He's been very important to our success at times this season in close games where he's made big plays, like the fumble in the West Virginia game where we were able to get the ball and score. He's made some key plays on third down for us. He's evolved and is developing into a good player. He's got a bright future."
 
Defensive Coordinator Glenn Spencer
 
On Colorado's offense:

"It's a similar offense to what we see a lot. It's a spread, an athletic, bigger quarterback. You can tell he's a tough runner and when they need something to get them going, they're going to get it in his hands. They have a dynamic receiver, No. 2. Coach MacIntyre's son is a playmaker. It's just a balanced team. They've run it well against good defenses in the Pac-12, and they've thrown it well. If you man up, they'll take their shots down field and they're a very good team, as evidenced by their record."
 
On Colorado's similarities to Kansas State:

"I think this guy is even a better runner than what they have. They don't have maybe some of the RPO (run-pass option) packages that K-State has and they have more of an efficient quarterback run game and the receivers to throw to if you gang up on that."
 
On what stands out about Colorado's development:

"The fact they gave Coach MacIntyre time to get his system going, to recruit. They've got a lot of seniors on this team and they're getting what a mature team will give you if you're allowed to develop it and recruit it. What he's accomplished is kind of what athletic directors around the nation need to take a look at."
 
Offensive Coordinator Mike Yurcich
 
On Colorado's defense:

"They're very aggressive and very athletic at the same time. They're very good in the secondary. It's experienced and talented. They have the ability to rush the passer very well. They're a challenge for us because they match up well against us, against the pass. It'll be a tremendous challenge. They're a senior-laden defensive unit, so they have experience and understand their schemes very well. Their technique is very sound, so it will be a challenge for us."
 
On the teams' extra practices for the bowl game:

"You get some extra time to get some young guys reps, so it's a good time. It's kind of like an added spring ball. We're getting some guys experience they need and really getting back to the basics, the fundamentals and doing all the things we emphasize on a daily basis and it kind of just starts back over. You implement a game plan during this time, so we're looking at schemes that can be effective against their attack."
 
Cornerback Ramon Richards
 
On Colorado's offense:

"They kind of have a wide variety of skill players. Their skill players are what makes their team go. They kind of remind me of what Baylor had a couple years ago. They have great skill players, great running back. The quarterback gets the wheels turning. Those are the type of teams I like to play against. The type of challenge I like."
 
On helping on the zone read:

"Coach Spencer stresses that a lot. We are going to be disciplined because Coach Spencer stresses that a lot. We will play a lot of defense where we will get in your face and challenge your receivers. So he kind of takes that pressure off of us with the defense that he calls."
 
On playing back in San Antonio:

"It's a blessing. It's a blessing, the best word to describe it. It's always a blessing to go home, but to play in San Antonio, it's something I've always thought about since I was in high school. I played, but I've always wanted to play in the Under Armour All-American game just so I can play in the Alamo Dome in front of my family. That didn't happen, but I get an opportunity to go play in front of my family again."
 
Defensive Tackle Vincent Taylor
 
On Coach Spencer seeing him for the first time:

"That's one of the things I will remember. Coach Spencer and Oklahoma State, I thanked them and Coach Spencer actually called me and told me that they offered me a scholarship and I committed on the phone with him."
 
On his success:

"I have great coaches around us and great players. With every field goal block I get, (Motekiai Maile) has a part of it. With me getting sacks, our DBs staying in coverage. They allow me to do the things I do because of those guys."
 
On Colorado's offensive line:

"They work well together. With our guys up front, we have to do our job to the best of our ability and hopefully just make plays."
 
 Wide Receiver Austin Hays
 
On what it means to him to play in the Alamo Dome since he's from the area:

"It absolutely means a lot. I mean, obviously I wanted to beat Oklahoma, but I couldn't ask for a better ending. My entire family lives down there, and I grew up there my whole life, so it's going to be really fun to close it out there."
 
On how many people will be there to watch him in the Alamo Bowl:

"There could be somewhere in the range of 35 to 40 people that I genuinely know coming to see me."
 
On Colorado's defense and the challenge it presents:

"They have a really good secondary for starters. Obviously, they've won 10 games this year. They've played some really good teams. Every team they've lost to has at least nine or 10 wins. Michigan, USC and Washington are three legit schools, so we know we're going to get their best shot. They haven't played in bowl game in a while, so they're going to be really pumped up. It's a top-15 matchup, and we're playing indoors, so you couldn't ask for a better game"
 
On what he remembers about Colorado being in the Big 12:

"I actually remember a lot about Colorado. I grew up a Texas fan because my dad played there, so I was Big 12 all the way growing up, but I remember back in the day when Colorado and Nebraska were legit. Now you don't hear a lot about Colorado and Nebraska anymore because they're not in our conference, but growing up I remember Colorado was always good."
 
Safety Jordan Sterns
 
On correcting defensive mistakes after Bedlam:

"It was just the little things. I made a mistake that led to a touchdown. It's about doing everything right, but also doing it fast. After you take care of your assignment, you have to go make a play. One thing that stood out to me though was that we played a great game, especially in the first half. We were flying around and the energy level was high. That's just something we know we have and we showed it in the TCU game as well."
 
On Colorado's offense:

"They're tough. They've got a quarterback and a running back that are tough guys. Those are obviously the two guys that will get them going. Their receivers are fast and can beat you down the field. They're tough guys."
 
On Colorado's similarities to other Big 12 teams:

"They're very tough, kind of like Kansas State. They're a bunch of physical guys that will try to run you over and will compete on every play. Any time you go against guys like that you know it's going to be competitive and it's always going to be a good time."
 
Safety Tre Flowers
 
On what the time between the end of the regular season and the bowl game is like:

"It's actually kind of boring. We don't really know what to do so we just sit around and have fun with each other. There's no more fighting for parking, so it's great because we can get right up front and get inside quickly."
 
On his Christmas wish list:

"A win is really the only thing on my wish list. I'm really grateful for all that I have so I couldn't really ask Santa for anything. I've got my family, my team and my friends so I'm in a really comfortable spot right now. If I was going to be selfish, I would love to get a pick. Just one time I want to get a pick or touchdown or something in this last game of the year, so that's what I'd ask for if I had to."
 
On the switch in the team's mentality during bowl preparations:

"I feel like it happens during finals week. After that, we don't really know what to do with our time so it's just that one week after because it's like a bye week and then you're ready to play the next week. Now though we just have to take our time and prepare so that we'll be ready when it is time to go play."
 
Punter Zach Sinor
 
On what he looks for on film being a punter:

"I look at the punt return team on how they're lined up on the line of scrimmage. If they're looking at the ball and they're in the three-point stance, I'm pretty sure they're going to come. Sometimes they like the bluff because they know I actually watch film on it."