**STILLWATER, Okla.** — During Oklahoma State games, head coach Mike Gundy paces the sidelines, maintaining a distance from his coaching staff. Sporting his sunglasses and headset, he listens intently to the communications among his team. Gundy shows passion during crucial plays, urging referees to reconsider their calls while motivating his players with claps and encouragement.
His focus during games is solely on the action, not on the NIL fund, scholarships, or fan reactions, he noted after the recent loss to West Virginia.
In that matchup, the Boone Pickens Stadium crowd booed the offense frequently, particularly veteran quarterback Alan Bowman, expressing dissatisfaction with their performance. Gundy, however, remained unfazed by the crowd’s discontent. “My job is to pay attention to the game and not pay attention to the crowd,” he stated post-game.
Although the game was sold out, the stadium didn’t reach full capacity at its peak. As West Virginia dominated, fans began to leave, starting with the student section and continuing after halftime. By the end of the game, only a few hundred Oklahoma State supporters remained, watching as West Virginia fans celebrated.
Gundy addressed concerns about fans disappointed with the team’s 3-3 start to the season, especially after high expectations led to all home games selling out for the first time in program history. “Well, my job is to not talk to the fans. My job is to coach the team. That’s what my job is. Everyone who pays to attend a game has the right to express themselves, and I have no issue with that,” he explained.
With this loss, Oklahoma State finds itself 0-3 in Big 12 play for the first time since Gundy took over as head coach in 2005, when they began conference play with an 0-5 record, finishing that season at 4-7. It also marked the last time the Cowboys did not qualify for a bowl game.
The team has a bye week before returning to action against BYU on October 18. Competing in the Big 12 Championship now seems unlikely, with making a bowl game being the remaining team goal. Gundy remains optimistic about his experienced team’s motivation.
“This has to be important to them,” he said. “I don’t think motivation will be an issue. I believe they’ll return and practice well. We’ve instilled values in them since day one to help keep them motivated, and I’ll be monitoring that closely in the coming days.”