Gundy, Cowboys Face Familiar Foe in Cotton Bowl

When Oklahoma State kicks off in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, patrolling the opposite sideline will be a familiar face.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:22 am

By: News On 6

Gundy, Cowboys Face Familiar Foe in Cotton Bowl

Originally Published: Dec 6, 2009 7:20 PM CDT

More Bowl Coverage from Oklahoma Sports
- Stoops Says Stanford will be Challenge for Sooners (12/6)
- Oklahoma State Cowboys to Face Ole Miss in Cotton Bowl (12/6)
- Oklahoma Sooners to Take on Stanford in Sun Bowl (12/6)

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY --When Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt first saw Mike Gundy he knew he was going to benefit the Oklahoma State football program.

“The very first two-a-days we noticed a guy that was pretty confident stepping in that huddle. Once he got his chance as a true freshman we knew we wanted one person in that huddle and it was Mike Gundy,” Nutt said. “He’s a tremendous leader, he had a lot of confidence and he knew how to move those chains. As you see him work as a head coach, things are pretty much the same, but now he’s directing things.”

Gundy played directly under Nutt during his days as the quarterback for the Cowboys during the 1986-1989 seasons. Nutt was the quarterbacks coach during Gundy’s playing career, and helped direct an OSU offense which featured some of the biggest names in OSU football history.

“We had some fun times,” Nutt said. “When you talk about Hart Lee Dykes, when you talk about Barry Sanders, Mike Gundy and the rest of the crew, those were fun times.”

Gundy attributes some of his coaching style to things he learned during his time playing at Oklahoma State under Nutt, and can see the benefits on the field.

“I would say that looking back at my time here as a player here at Oklahoma State with Coach Nutt, it was instilled in us to play good sound defense, to be tough and to run the football,” Gundy said. “I know this is the fourth year in a row that we’ve lead the Big 12 in rushing.”

The head man for the Cowboys is nothing less than excited to coach opposite of the man that helped shape his career, if for nothing more than personal reasons.

“We’re just looking forward to being at the bowl and seeing his family and I’m looking forward to him having a chance to meet my three boys,” Gundy said.

Fans can by tickets online by visiting the Oklahoma State Ticket Office.