In Las Vegas, Oklahoma State’s junior running back Ollie Gordon II will not face suspension for his recent arrest, according to head coach Mike Gundy, who addressed local media on Tuesday morning. Gordon, the reigning Doak Walker Award winner and an All-American, was arrested on June 30 for suspicion of driving under the influence. Despite the incident, Gundy explained his decision not to impose game suspensions or on-field penalties.
Gordon is currently in Las Vegas alongside Gundy and teammates Alan Bowman, Nick Martin, and Collin Oliver for the 2024 Big 12 Media Day.
“I made a decision and felt that he truly understood the seriousness of this situation,” Gundy stated to the local media. “He needed to be here to face the consequences. There’s no reason to shield him. Everyone has opinions on what we should have done, but delaying his appearance or interactions until after the first game was suggested by many. To me, that would have been the wrong approach. Ultimately, I have to make these decisions. I asked him directly if he wanted to come here. I couldn’t force him; it was his decision. He said, ‘I want to come.’ What I needed to hear from him was his understanding of how serious this is, how fortunate he is, and his commitment to ensuring it doesn’t happen again.”
Gundy, entering his 20th year as head coach of Oklahoma State, disclosed that he consulted with university president Kasey Shrum, athletic director Chad Weiberg, and other administrators and respected colleagues before arriving at the decision regarding Gordon. He acknowledged that in today’s college athletics environment, where athletes are often seen as employees, this consideration played a role in his ruling.
“I believe this is the best path forward for him and for our program,” Gundy affirmed. “We have 139 other players and 68 staff members in our building. Five years ago, college athletes in the Big 12 Conference weren’t compensated. Now, they are essentially employees, and the atmosphere is more business-oriented than ever. He has responsibilities to everyone else involved.”
Gundy added that he did not receive any concerns from teammates or other players regarding Gordon, nor is he concerned about setting a precedent of leniency.
“He’s facing significant personal consequences,” Gundy continued. “I’ve spoken with him extensively and listened to his perspective. He’s embarrassed for himself, his family, and the team. Is that sufficient punishment? I’m not sure, but the point is, it’s more than just punitive measures.”
Gordon addressed the public for the first time on Monday, issuing a statement on his social media platforms.
“I deeply regret my actions that led to my arrest on June 30th,” Gordon expressed. “I sincerely apologize to my family, everyone in our program, including players, Coach Gundy, the staff, Oklahoma State University, and our fans. Regardless of the outcome of the pending investigation, I did not uphold the standards I set for myself and those of the OSU football program. I am committed to learning and growing from this mistake, and I will work hard to regain the trust of those whom I have disappointed.”
In the 2023 season, Gordon accumulated 2,062 yards from scrimmage and scored 22 touchdowns. Later on Tuesday, he is scheduled to speak in Vegas alongside his teammates and Coach Gundy.