All’s Quiet In Stillwater
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Not much football news coming out of Stillwater these days.
Apparently, Mike Gundy likes it this way. That was the assumption when Gundy sealed off 12 days of OSU’s preseason from the media, ending all access to coaches and players.
By early evening on Sept. 5, the move will either be looked at as a calculated correct read on his team, or a miscalculated gaffe.
Maybe Gundy sensed his players needed to circle the wagons, albeit from themselves, not us, with the overwhelming majority of preseason stories packed with positives.
Maybe he sensed his guys were impacted by all the attention, both local and national, although it’s something the program and its fans have long craved and cried out for.
Maybe Gundy felt that to ensure the best chance at beating Georgia in the program’s biggest game ever, his team’s focus needed to be clear and tight.
And maybe it will result in a springboard win for this season and beyond.
But maybe, just maybe, Gundy’s move creates just the atmosphere he’s hoping to avoid inside the locker room.
Tightness.
Gundy’s on record as saying he wants his coaches to coach loose, his players to play loose.
By retreating at this stage, he better hope his players don’t perceive it as a move of panic.
Here’s the deal. The Cowboys have strained to reach the big stage. It’s best they act like they’ve been there before, even if it’s just an act.
When you hit the top 10, increased attention is part of the gig. It’s the price of doing business among the elite.
The Cowboys shouldn’t shy from it, they should embrace it.
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Comments
So did you and Bill at the Tulsa World have lunch today? Because he posted this exact same article three times already. You even plagiarized the word ‘tightness’.
You know, two years ago, after he ripped into a writer, the local ‘media’ were suggesting Gundy couldn’t handle pressure and he should be fired. Now he has OSU in the top ten for the second year in a row and a handful of you older ‘writers’, who can’t seem to accept that something new is happening in Stillwater, are again, suggesting he can’t deal with pressure. What will you do when Gundy takes the Pokes to a BCS bowl? Guess you can still suggest he won’t be able to handle that pressure too…
Personally, I’m all for banning several of the local crony ‘writers’ from covering the team for the rest of the season. There’s about four of you guys can’t seem to write an article without adding some kind of backhanded compliment. I think we fans would survive with the daily national coverage by Yahoosports, ESPN, Sportingnews, Gopokes, Osuillustrated, Okstate-com, etc.
(Brandon, you’re doing an excellent job. Try not to succumb to the culture of sarcasm that prevails at this paper.)
Gundys scared.The man is smart enough to know their in way over their heads.Your AD set this game up,I don’t think Coach Gundy cares for it to much.
I like the man,when he stood up and defended one of his guys he really endeared himself to me.Good Coach.
[...] 12 program. Would this game even make the top 25 biggest games for Georgia? I don’t think so. All’s Quiet In Stillwater | OSU Cowboys Sports Blog Maybe Gundy sensed his players needed to circle the wagons, albeit from themselves and not us, [...]
Having a coach ban the media before a big game is nothing new and there is very few coaches who haven’t done it one time or another for multiple reasons. The biggest reasons are to keep players focused for a big game and to keep from giving the other team an edge on how to prepare (who’s at what position, weaknesses,etc.)or the sound bite that fuels a fire…it is all understandable to me.Bama’s coach Nick Saben is doing the same thing preparing for a #5 and #7 matchup. What I don’t understand is how Nick and Gundy both are getting names called at them for doing so. Coach’s are loyal to there team and the media is the first to throw them under the bus for doing so. Sure,I’d like to know every bit of information I can, but they have a job to prepare for a big time game….so let them and quit getting your feelers hurt like the paparazzi, it will be okay.
Big game to deal with, start of a new school year, campus full of young women in their sexual prime and this idiot thinks the most important thing on the player’s minds is whether they can talk to the media or not. Talk about delusions of grandeur.
Gundy is the head coach and is accountable for the team. He has to right to determine what is best for his team.
Coach Gundy is using a play from the Pat Jones playbook for handling the media. By closing himself, coaches, and players from the media he is focusing all of his attention and resources on Georgia. It’s a smart move. This is the game of a lifetime and time is fleeting. Dealing with the media can be a waste of time and energy.
Folks, this isn’t about any reporter self importance.
Our job is to deliver the news to you, the reading, caring fan. And I know there are fans out there who want — need — to know, because I hear from them every day.
It’s why you’re here, right now.
That’s what makes being a fan fun, keeping up with your team.
We’re just trying to help you keep up. It’s that simple. Please, don’t try to read more into it. And get over the conspiracy theories already.
99 percent of preseason stories are from an optimistic viewpoint. Very low stress. Very positive for the players and the program.
In my blog, I didn’t complain about the lack of access, I just gave my take on what could have caused it.
My daughter played six softball games during the media lockout. I saw every one of them. Good for me.
While the Cowboys weren’t talking, Georgia was. So I wrote Bulldogs stories.
We’ll always have something to write.
We’d prefer it be the stuff you want the most.
– John Helsley
John, I think you are trying to give the fans what they want. For the most part, I think your articles are reasonable and factual. But I think you crossed the line into Jenni Carlson territory when you second guess the coach and begin suggesting something that is not real but your opinion. And with a questionable angle. I stopped reading anything by JC and still have trouble embrasing anything she writes or videos. I will not yet avoid your articles but I will be cautious of your ‘opinion’. Seems the media is a little free with their ‘take’ on things.
Your opinion here seems to suggest that you have insight Gundy does not and that he could be making a grave error. This is the kind of opinion fans DO NOT WANT TO HEAR! If he messes up, and you want to comment on it after the fact, it is just that – a fact. But suggesting that something is wrong before it is known, is more likely to produce the effect you say we should be avoiding. Suggesting something is wrong, and the players read or hear about it, creates the situation far more than Gundy’s media blackout.
I am sorry if I am to bold or brash – but I think you will find that the public wants to hear the players and coaches opinions. My understanding, unless you are writing an editorial, is to report the facts and put together a picture made up of the team. We have all heard tv commentators voicing their opinions and we just want them to shut up! I have never heard a journalist’s negative opinion that I wanted to hear, unless it is based upon a fact.
Please keep bringing us your insight on the facts of the team. We are hungry for that!
Man, you sportswriters really do think too highly of yourselves.
I can just hear you screaming at the cashier at Wal-Mart, “Don’t you know who I am?!”
Have the guts to put out a survey asking your readers and anyone else who’s reading the OUklahoman about how much your opinion means to us typical readers.
I’d love to see that…and your reaction to the realization of your perceived self-worth as opposed to your readers actual accounting of your worth.
There will be plenty of articles to write as the weeks go on.
Get a life.
Personally, I’m all for banning several of the local crony ‘writers’ from covering the team for the rest of the season. There’s about four of you guys can’t seem to write an article without adding some kind of backhanded compliment. I think we fans would survive with the daily national coverage by Yahoosports, ESPN, Sportingnews, Gopokes, Osuillustrated, Okstate-com, etc.
Scale of 1 to 10
Amount the media cares dwells on this decision: 10
Amount the fanss dwell about this decision: 1.5
Amount the players dwell about this decision: -329