It's Garbage!

I was tipped off yesterday to something that happened after OSU beat Texas Tech on Saturday. No, the goal posts weren't taken down. No, there were no mass MIP/Public Intox busts involving the whole team (that we know of). But Coach Mike Gundy did have a bone to pick with Jenni Carlson of the Daily Oklahoman.

It seems that Ms. Carlson wrote a column in Saturday's Oklahoman about Bobby Reid (one of OSU's players, who used to start at quarterback) that Gundy felt went too far in criticizing Reid as a person - which Gundy contests is inappropriate to do with amateur athletes that aren't getting in trouble off the field.

So after what ESPN erroneously reported as the biggest win in Cowboy football in 25 years (I believe those were the anchor's exact words) - I say erroneously because I can think of at least 2 Bedlam wins that were bigger, a romp over Texas in 1997 that was a big, big deal, and a few others that are more important than this win albeit a great game and a needed win - Gundy had nothing to say about the game, only some words for Carlson (who you can tell is sitting/standing not far from the podium).

Gundy's thoughts

In the interest of being "fair and balanced" here is what Jenni Carlson and her editor had to say.

Now, I don't want to glorify Gundy for going off like that, but props for standing up for your player. I don't know anything about Bobby Reid, but if he is taking care of business off the field like Gundy claims, then he shouldn't be personally attacked in the media. I hope the effect of this incident on the team is that it unites them around their coach and Bobby Reid. At the very least they know they are following a leader (Gundy) who isn't going to hand them out to dry. Whether you like the way he handled the situation or not, it does mean something when you know your coach/boss/friend/etc. has you back.

Three other things to note:

1. In the entire incident Gundy didn't utter one profanity. Kudos to him for keeping himself under control when he was clearly angry.
2. The newspaper landscape in Oklahoma is this. The Daily Oklahoman (the big paper in OKC) is owned by a family that is very OU loyal and given it's location tends to cover Sooner athletics in greater quantity and more favorably than OSU - the argument could be made that this is easy because there's always something going on down there on the field or off. The Tulsa World tends to be a little more balanced on sports, but was never a favorite of mine to read for political coverage.
3. At the very end of the video notice the guy standing just outside the door (holding the door) as Gundy exits. His name is Tyler Moss and he was an intern here at CIY a few years ago. Tyler works in the athletic department at OSU.