Gundy Celebrates Birthday Feeling No Extra Pressure and Talks Camp Battle

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy was interrupted during the post practice news conference with beat media from the off-key singing of a good number of his football players delivering a birthday cake with Pistol Pete on it. Gundy is 54 years old born on Aug. 12, 1967.

He celebrated by watching his team practice in full pads for the first time in fall camp. There were the usual highlights and concerns after the first practice in pads. The defense is running ahead of the offense, which is typical at this time and expected with the talent and experience that the Cowboys return on defense.

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Daniels returning his interception near the end of practice.

It was a newcomer who delivered the biggest highlight for the defense as toward the end of the final team period freshman safety Kendal Daniels out of Beggs picked a pass and raced through the offense toward the end zone. That capped a practice that saw the offense and defense go practically dead even through the inside period with linebacker Mason Cobb’s stop five yards deep in the backfield being a highlight and Dezmon Jackson’s two touchdown runs on outside runs being the offensive highlights along with a tough run inside by Jaylen Warren.

In team period, the offense had some highlights including a couple of Spencer Sanders touchdown passes in score zone work as he hit running back LD Brown and then Brennan Presley for scores.

Oklahoma State will be back on the field Friday for a special teams practice and then the newcomers will stay on for a newcomers practice to get them some extra work.

After the practice the “Birthday Coach” was asked if he is feeling any extra pressure this season to get the Cowboys in better position in conference realignment.

"I think we're in a great position,” Gundy said repeating his consistent message on the topic. “We've been top 10 in the country in the last decade. We've got a ton of views across the country. I hadn't thought about it that way (needing to win to impress), but that's one thing I don't have to concern myself with. Somebody else has to make those decisions. But I haven't heard anything from the players. We're just going to stay focused."

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Miterko in walk thru with guard Tyrese Williams.

Speaking of staying focused, the best position battle in fall camp is at left tackle on offense where Taylor Miterko came out of spring as the starter. The Carlsbad, N.M. native was the top prospect in that state when Oklahoma State beat Notre Dame, Oregon, and Nebraska among others for his commitment. The 6-6, 295-pound Miterko has played every snap in fall camp like it’s his last. You can tell he wants the job!

So does newcomer and former junior college All-American Caleb Etienne. The New Orleans, La. Native sticks out in a crowd at 6-8.25 and 350-pounds. He too is playing every down like his like depends on it. It is fun to watch how hard these two are going at it. Miterko has stayed the starter, but for the first time on Thursday, Etienne got some first team reps. Miterko was back with the first group by the final team period.

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Caleb Etienne got some work with the first offense on Thursday.

"Well, competition is a driving force. When you have that at any particular position, you have two or three players that are hungry and it's important to them, it essentially takes care of itself,” Gundy said. “Complacency with knowing 'I'm the guy' at a certain position at times can create issues for that player and your team, so competition is really good. Each one of them gets better every day. And there's a chance we're gonna need both. And if both of them are good enough to play at a level to help us win games, we can rotate them, keep them fresh. That'd be a bonus."

It would be a bonus and offensive line coach Charlie Dickey knows this, when the battle is over and a starter is announced, Dickey will have two players that will have dramatically improved. That means the right tackle former walk-on Jake Springfield had best be sharp. It also means that an injury on the offensive line this season won’t be as damaging as all of them were in 2020.