Oklahoma
Mike Gundy blasts Oklahoma State critics: 'When they go to bed, they're the same failure they were before'
As Oklahoma State is headed for its worst season since Mike Gundy took over in 2005, the coach had a message for his critics. Expectations were high entering the year as the Cowboys returned most of their starters from a team that finished runner up in the Big 12 in 2023.
However, with just three games remaining on the schedule, OSU has still yet to win a conference game. The Cowboys have not failed to make a bowl game in the past 18 seasons, but would need to win out to become bowl eligible this year.
Gundy and the team have rightfully faced criticism as there seems to be little explanation as to where things went so wrong. In his press conference on Monday, the coach came back with a strong response.
“This place has had tremendous success for 18-and-a-half years,” he said. “Unfortunately in life, most people are weak and as soon as things start to not go as good as they thought, they fall apart and they panic. Then they want to point the finger and blame other people. You see it happen in every day life. That’s why I refuse to watch the TV and watch the news because I get tired of people complaining and bitching about this and that versus just doing something about it and trying to figure out a way to make it better. That’s what happens in college athletics.
“In most cases when people are negative and voice their opinion, they’re the same ones that can’t pay their own bills. They’re not taking care of themselves. They’re not taking care of their own family. They’re not taking care of their own job that they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better. Then in the end when they go to bed at night, they’re the same failure they were before they said anything negative about anybody else.”
Some things have been out of Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State’s control. The Cowboys have lost several key players due to injury on defense and certainly no one is going to blame the coach for that.
However, the quarterback play has also been less than stellar and teams have figured out to how to defend running back Ollie Gordon after his breakout season a year ago. That’s something that falls on Gundy and the coaching staff to fix and so far they haven’t found a solution.
Gundy continued to say he is urging his team to continue to fight until the end of the season regardless of the circumstances they find themselves in. He also urged fans to continue to supports the Cowboys and assured them that while things might look bleak at the moment, he has a plan to make sure the future of the program is in good hands.
“I think what’s important for all the Oklahoma State fans to know is this: We’re very aware of what’s going on and at some point in life, we all have to put trust in somebody,” he said. “I think they need to trust that we have a good plan for what’s going on here in the big picture and we have answers. Sometimes they’re not short term. Sometimes they might be long-term answers. Then secondly, in the end, the very best thing that people can do is 100% buy in. You’ve gotta be on somebody’s team. You can’t go through life by yourself.
“I’m gonna go into a meeting at 1:30 and have a similar conversation with the team, but it will only last about two minutes because they’ve heard this from me 1,000 times during their career and they understand. So what I’ll tell them is that we as a staff and me as a head coach have been working over the last two days to give you guys a plan. Now we’re asking you to buy in and execute this plan and then on Saturday go play and turn it lose and have some fun and compete. What we and I are looking for is guys that are willing to do that. That’s called being a team. That’s called being part of an organization. It’s really that simple for us.”
It’s a lengthy explanation for the team’s struggles this year but only results and the field will truly cause the critics to cease. OSU will look for its first Big 12 win when it hits the road to face TCU on Saturday.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.
Is the State Superintendent an elected role?
Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position
Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans
“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.
He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.
“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”
Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.
“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.
Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?
Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.
“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.
Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.
“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”
Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?
Republican Ballot
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Ana Landsaw
Democrat Ballot
- Craig Mcvay
- Jennettie Marshall
Independent
To learn more about each candidate, click here.
A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.
An Oklahoma highway could soon be named after the late country superstar, Toby Keith, pending new legislation.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 would rename a proposed turnpike project the “Toby Keith Expressway.” This roadway is set to be built from Interstate 44 East to Interstate-35, continuing East and North to Interstate 40. This road is a part of the ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is meant to update and expand the state’s turnpike system.
This resolution was adopted by the House on Wednesday.
“Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from,” said Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore. “Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.”
Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised in Moore and resided in Norman. He died on February 5, 2024, in a battle with cancer.
“Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for,” said Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman. “His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.”
During his career, Keith sold over 40 million records and more than 20 number-one singles
Legislation authors believe this would commemorate the life and legacy of Toby Keith.
The bill will now head to the Senate.
To read the full House Resolution, click here.
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