Gundy Speaks Monday About Postgame Outburst

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy hopes that the fallout from his screaming defense of demoted quarterback Bobby Reid does not overshadow the Cowboys' upcoming game against Sam

Monday, September 24th 2007, 5:10 pm

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy hopes that the fallout from his screaming defense of demoted quarterback Bobby Reid does not overshadow the Cowboys' upcoming game against Sam Houston State the way it obscured their win to start Big 12 play.

Gundy refused to take questions after Oklahoma State's 49-45 win against Texas Tech on Saturday, instead expressing outrage at a newspaper column that suggested Reid's demotion was a result of his attitude more than his ineffective play. The 3 1/2-minute speech was placed that night here at KOTV.com .

``It just happened because of my feelings for the team and the players and I just felt like it wasn't the right thing,'' Gundy said Monday. ``I certainly didn't do it to receive recognition and I certainly don't want it to take away from this upcoming game like it unfortunately took away from the last game for the team.''

Gundy refused to identify what he believes was inaccurate about a column in Saturday's editions of The Oklahoman ``because I think it's just gone far enough.'' The newspaper has stood behind the content of the piece and the columnist who wrote it.

The situation has drawn more attention than the result of the game, which included more than 1,300 yards of offense and Tech's Graham Harrell throwing for the fourth-highest total in major college football history.

``I thought it was more important that somebody stand up for a player who couldn't stand up for himself,'' Gundy said.

Football Writers Association of America president Mike Griffith called Gundy's behavior ``completely inappropriate'' and suggested the matter ``could have been handled in a more private and appropriate matter.''

Gundy said his secretaries had informed him he was getting numerous e-mails and that ``the phone won't stop ringing,'' but he hasn't dealt with any of the reaction.

``The only thing that matters to me is what I thought was right, and whatever I thought was right is what I said. Other than that, I just have to let it go,'' Gundy said. ``I don't say things for people to disagree or agree with me. I say them if I think they're right.''

Gundy said the Cowboys (2-2, 1-0 Big 12), who lost two weeks ago at Troy, needed to focus on Sam Houston State (3-1) because ``we're not good enough to overlook anybody.'' The Bearkats of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) feature former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar.

``They're doing a lot of things on offense to give people some problems,'' said Gundy, whose team allowed a school-record 718 yards of total offense against the Red Raiders.

Gundy said he thought Zac Robinson, who replaced Reid, could've been more accurate on some throws in the third quarter but was overall ``pretty good.'' Robinson threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 116 yards and a score in his second career start.

Reid lined up as a wide receiver for a handful of plays as part of a scheme Gundy said was developed last week. Reid didn't play the previous week in the 41-23 loss at Troy.

``Bobby went through a difficult time because for the first time in his life, he wasn't the guy,'' Gundy said. ``We've had some discussions with him about it. It's no different with Bobby or any other player on any position: If you were a starter and now you're not a starter, you never know when you're going to be back in the game.''