OSU Has a Logo, but Mike Gundy Says it Still Needs Work
ARLINGTON, Tx – We’re seven months after Mike Gundy’s now-famous Fiesta Bowl quote, “We’ve got a logo, too.” The main topics of Big 12 Media Days for Mike Gundy? The future of the Big 12, realignment and how Oklahoma State survives and navigates the next couple of years.
Mike Gundy was asked a few times about whether or not the Oklahoma Sooners leaving for the SEC was going to affect the Pokes’ success and brand. This past season’s success, along with all the 10-win seasons throughout the years should give you an idea of Oklahoma State’s sustainability.
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But Gundy went a step further and provided some great context.
“I don't think that Oklahoma State has changed any with the alignment that started a year ago, and the fact that we have a strong brand, we have a successful winning tradition and a large number of people across the country that want to watch Oklahoma State football,” told reporters at Big 12 Media Days. “As we've all talked about and we all understand, that's the direction that college football is going. That's where the money is. The moves that are being made are only made for the money, period. Fortunately, we have long-term success at Oklahoma State in winning games in football and people wanting to watch us on TV. As I mentioned earlier, I'm convinced that the Big 12 will be here for a long time. Who will be in it? I'm not sure. But the brand and what we have at this point moving forward, Oklahoma State will be a very, very marketable opportunity in the future.”
Just to reiterate, the Cowboys definitely have a brand. Something we’ve written about multiple times on Pokes Report is the TV numbers the Cowboys have had throughout the years. This past season’s Bedlam game drew more than 600,000 more viewers than the Red River Shootout in 2021.
Among the non-Big Ten/SEC schools, Oklahoma State has the fourth most TV views in recent years and among the top 20 schools in views in the country.
However, they can’t just sit back and allow the work they’ve done over the past decade to speak for itself. They have to continue to work hard and continue to grow the brand, and Gundy hit on that as well.
“For Oklahoma State football and then I would say me personally, with the administration with Dr. Shrum and Chad Weiberg, our working relationship over the last six months, which was really their second six months in their new jobs, has been fantastic. We're all pulling the same direction. There's a lot of talks and vision and plans for Oklahoma State athletics and Oklahoma State football to continue to grow, and I think that's what we have to do. We're all aware of the direction that college sports is going, particularly football, and we can't sit around and watch other people grow. We have to grow it ourselves. The Blue Blood that I had mentioned was the direction that I would like it to be. Someday I'm not going to be the coach at Oklahoma State, I'll just be going and watching the game, and when that happens I want Oklahoma State to be in that position. It's going to take a lot of continued hard work. It's going to take commitment from administration at the top, Chad Weiberg, Coach Gundy and everybody else involved, donor support. There's a lot of moving parts. But I am very comfortable, and I am 100 percent convinced that we have the right people in place to make it happen. It's not an easy process, but it can happen, and I think we're moving in the right direction.”