Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s famous rant reaps recruiting rewards
Mike Gundy boosted his Q rating among recruits with his rant. Georgia plays at Oklahoma State to open the 2009 football season (OSU athletics)
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, who became an instant celebrity with his “I’m a Man, I’m 40″ rant on YouTube, said his famous tirade to defend one of his former players is helping the Cowboys with recruiting future players. Even Gundy admits he never anticipated the recruiting benefits from the emotional outburst which got so popular it was the punchline for jokes.
“No, I didn’t expect it, in any way, shape, form or fashion,” Gundy told the AJC. “It’s interesting since that day, which happened on impulse in my opinion, to protect and take care of one of our players, I didn’t have any idea that it would take off like this. From that point on, for good or bad, I’ve become very recognizable across the country.”
“In turn, what has has happened in the last couple of years in recruiting, it has helped us tremendously. I think the parents of these young men understand that ‘If my son goes to play at Oklahoma State, the coach is going to do whatever he can to take care of him.’ No, we didn’t know that [recruiting benefits] would happen. But it certainly has been a huge impact. It’s name recognition. Moms and Dads want to know wherever their son goes to school, that those coaches are going to take care of them. And when they go to Oklahoma State. They know that’s going to happen.”
Gundy, who is now 41, is a big name in Big 12 country for his coaching accomplishments. However, when Oklahoma State invades new recruiting territories, such as Georgia, Gundy’s newfound fame may give him an advantage with prized prospects. Oklahoma State landed three of Georgia’s top prospects last month, including Walton fullback David Paulsen, who signed with the Cowboys over a last-minute offer from childhood favorite UGA. The Bulldogs play at Oklahoma State in the season opener on Sept. 5.
Walton fullback David Paulsen signed with OSU over a last-minute offer from UGA
“I always remembered that there was this coach who freaked out on TV, but I never really looked into it at the time,” Paulsen said. “Then an assistant coach who was recruiting me for Duke went to Oklahoma State. I went ‘Oh yeah, that’s the school with that one coach from TV.’ I remembered it was [Gundy]. When I looked into it closely, it wasn’t him just freaking out on the press. It was for the right reasons.”
“I’ve seen quotes from Moms and Dads of [players] saying ‘Good, he’s going to protect my son.’ It was a big plus for me. [Gundy] really does care about his players. He’s not afraid to be honest, especially with millions of people watching. It meant a lot to me, knowing that when you go to a school, the coach isn’t going to bail on you in hard times. He’s going to stick up for you when you’re doing good, and he’s going to stick up for you when you’re down. It’s something that is a really good thing. A lot of coaches aren’t like that. They are going to throw you to the wolves. [Gundy] is not like that.”
Gundy’s rant occurred after Oklahoma State’s 49-45 win over Texas Tech on Sept. 22, 2007. In the aftermath, Gundy started screaming about an article in the The Oklahoman mentioning reasons why quarterback Bobby Reid may have been demoted. Reid later claimed that Gundy’s rant “basically ended my life,” according to ESPN the Magazine.
WATCH THE VIDEO: Gundy’s 2007 press conference outburst
Check out these related Oklahoma State / recruiting photo galleries & blogs
- Photos: Meet Gundy’s 2009 Georgia signees
- Photos: When they last met: UGA tops OK State (2007)
- Blog: Oklahoma State moves Georgia up on the recruiting priority list
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30 comments Add your comment
ceph
March 16th, 2009
8:36 am
Get it straight Carvell. UGA didn’t not offer Paulsen a scholarship he was offered a greyshirt which is quite different from a scholarship. If he had been offered a scholarship he admitted he would have taken it!!!!
Michael Carvell
March 16th, 2009
8:56 am
David Paulsen was first offered a regular scholarship with a conditional grayshirt provision, meaning if UGA had signed too many players he would’ve delayed his enrollment until January. Mark Richt has offered the same deal in the past to other Georgia players just to avoid the possibility of “oversigning”, but he said all of them ended up enrolling at the same time as the other members of the recruiting class, and he expected the same situation with Paulsen. At around 6:45 a.m. on signing day, Richt did call Paulsen to make it clear that the regular offer was the same as everybody else’s that day. In other words, Paulsen wouldn’t have to wait a few days or weeks to know for sure that no strings were attached. As you know, Paulsen is a lifelong UGA fan and was torn between both schools. He ended up signing with Oklahoma State. It was a surprise to many.
Ask the leadership coach » Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s famous rant reaps recruiting …
March 16th, 2009
9:30 am
[...] Brandon Hansen posted a noteworthy aricle today onHere’s a small snippet“Then an assistant coach who was recruiting me for Duke went to Oklahoma State. I went ‘Oh yeah, that’s the school with that one coach from TV.’ I remembered it was [Gundy]. When I looked into it closely, it wasn’t him just freaking out … [...]
sickofugafans
March 16th, 2009
10:58 am
“I can’t wait to play these country baffons from the backroads of Oklahoma. OSU and OU choke in the BIG games.”
You crack me up. THEY choke in big games? Then this game should end in a tie! Florida…CHOKE! Alabama BLACK OUT…national TV…CHOKE! GT with a first year coach and a “high school offense”…CHOKE. Do I need to go on? You clowns CHOKE every year with your Top 5 recruiting classes. What a joke!
dog hog
March 16th, 2009
11:25 am
Geez AJC, when your you going to get over your Man Crush on college football coaches? These guys are already treated like demi-gods, they don’t need any more print. Let’s hear about the players who bring glory to their schools, fans and coaches and (unless they’re at FSU) don’t get a nickel for it beyond the value of their scholarships.
Marcus
March 16th, 2009
11:43 am
M. Carvell,
I thought coaches couldn’t call recruits on Signing Day?
Huh?
March 16th, 2009
12:20 pm
I personally think Gundy’s outburst was childish and unprofessional. If the column was so unfair and ridiculous it didn’t merit any mention at all. Why even give it the time of day? And please spare me any crap about “sticking up” for his players. They are grown men. He does them more of disservice by treating them like children than any stupid column could ever do. Get real.
Oh, and I also think his team is an overrated phony, much like the conference it plays in, that will once again be exposed in its first game with Georgia. Thanks.
sam
March 16th, 2009
12:26 pm
Carvell, are you kin to James Carvell….What do you think we give a hoot about ok. st. recruting for? Do you not have anything better to write about…How about you taking your behind to the state of ok and stay…
Oklahoma State moves Georgia up on the recruiting priority list | College Recruiting
March 16th, 2009
12:34 pm
[...] Recruiting Blog: Check out Michael Carvell’s interview with Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, in which Gundy talks about unexpected recruiting rewards following his 2007 “I’m a [...]
dawggone
March 16th, 2009
12:47 pm
My dear friend, sickofugafans, envy is a distructive thing. Do yourself a favor and get beyond it. Bitter, bitter, biter…tisk, tisk, tisk.
Rick S
March 16th, 2009
1:12 pm
Oklahoma State- You have got to be kidding! Why in the world would a “Top 100″ High School Football Recruit from Georgia in their right mind want to even consider signing to play in Stillwater, OK. Holy Smoke! Even if you decide not to sign with an In-State College or University at least stay and play in the SEC, the #1 Football Conference in the country.
Drago
March 16th, 2009
1:40 pm
Yessir! Gundy protected Bobby Reid right out the door. When I think of “win at all cost,” I think of Okie State.
GT4Life
March 16th, 2009
1:56 pm
**Hey ceph**
How does the back of M. Carville’s pimp hand taste? LOL!!!
GT4Life
March 16th, 2009
1:58 pm
oops…that’s Carvell…but you know what I meant
Billy
March 16th, 2009
3:05 pm
“I can’t wait to play these country baffons from the backroads of Oklahoma. OSU and OU choke in the BIG games.”
People who support a team in Athens, GA, shouldn’t be making fun of anyone being “country buffoons”… And if anyone thinks that OU choked in the national championship game, you must not have been watching the same game as everyone else.
FloridaDawg
March 17th, 2009
8:14 pm
Enter your comments here
I don’t think any of us UGA fans need to bring up the “choke” word.
Living in Florida…I understand what choking means almost every year.
RE: Ga-Fl game.
OSU is a formidable opponent and should be treated as such.
Buddy El
March 17th, 2009
8:54 pm
My God! Is the unemployed situation so bad that tons and tons of grown men(maybe) have nothing better to do than sit at your PC all day making unreasonable statements and namecalling. Although I am a lifelong DAWG I don’t understand getting so personnal with others on this entertainment blog. It’s just a freakin game and it is foolish to think you can predict, with any sense of accuracy, what 17-23 year-olds will do under pressure. Maybe I’m getting too old but this blog is simply entertainment for me and any derogatory comments about others, even GT, UF, UT, Kiffin, Spurrier, Urban Crier, etc. are 98% fun on my part.
frankwick
March 17th, 2009
10:15 pm
Bobby Reid said it ended his life????? Wow… What a crybaby. I guess Gundy was right referring to him as a kid. Reid should have never gotten into big time college football if he couldn’t handle the attention. I have never seen that reaction from Reid until now. I am truly SHOCKED. I think Gundy did the right thing. However, the person who wrote that article looks good now by referring to Reid as someone who needs coddling.
Atlanta Jackets
March 18th, 2009
8:00 am
Anyone notice that Tech fans are a bit above the silly name calling and juvenile pranks that other fans do? Yeah, it’s clear where the class is. Mutts, you don’t you shut it! LOL! Or the Robot Nesbot will get you. ROTFLMAO!!!
FlyingPoke
March 18th, 2009
2:28 pm
First… I laugh at anyone who is from Georgia making fun of people living in Oklahoma and referring to them as hicks, might take a look at your own surroundings.
Second… Anyone who says Gundy’s rant wasnt necessary because the players are grown men is an idiot. These are 18-22 year old kids, and had you read the ‘article’ about Reid you would agree with Gundy’s reaction. He may have gotten a little personal in some parts of it, but the rant was justified by terrible high school quality journalism.
Bobby Reid
March 18th, 2009
5:57 pm
[...] Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s famous rant reaps recruiting … (blogs.ajc.com) – March 15, 2009In the aftermath, Gundy started screaming about an article in the The Oklahoman mentioning reasons why quarterback Bobby Reid may have been demoted. Reid later claimed that Gundy’s rant “basically end… [...]
UGA Sucks
March 22nd, 2009
12:50 pm
HAHA this is funny it’s getting a rise out of you guys. I can’t wait for payback in Stillwater. We will be playing in the nicest stadium in the country. Its funny that when you start becoming good there are always haters. Although I hope we beat the crap out of you guys, anyone who attends the game will have a good time. As long as your not an OU fan, OSU fans treat opposing fans really well. Keep talking about something that happened 2 years ago, we are busy gearing up for the best season OSU will have in 20 years.
bobby reid | 4blogger.com
March 23rd, 2009
1:53 am
[...] Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundys famous rant reaps recruiting [...]
Jovan Chen
March 30th, 2009
5:06 pm
O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
The Star-Spangled Banner (Fourth Verse)
Lifelong UGA fan likely to play for Oklahoma State against Bulldogs in opener | AJC College Sports Recruiting
August 16th, 2009
11:07 pm
[...] State coach Mike Gundy was thrilled to hold off the hard-charging Bulldogs to win a recruiting battle against Georgia last [...]
Flo-Ri-Duh!
August 17th, 2009
8:32 am
Okie State is knd of like Tech in that they can move the ball but can’t stop a gnat with a fly swatter. However, Okie is much better than Tech’s “O” because they are versatile – can pass and run the ball.
tit4tat
August 17th, 2009
4:27 pm
David Paulsen was NEVER one of Georgia’s “top prospects”. He was at the bottom of the heap. Logic would dictate that had he been a “top prospect” he would have been offered a full ride at the beginning of recruiting season. He was not.
Tbone
August 19th, 2009
3:21 pm
Bobby Reid graduated from OSU after the Oklahoman insinuated that Reid was a baby and was fed Fried Chicken at the Georgia game by his mother. He was not kicked off the team but did not want to be relegated as a backup QB. Yes, about 90% of sports fans approved the rant. You have to presume the other 10% were sports writers.
Dawgs Down & Hated
August 22nd, 2009
9:27 am
You can tell Atlanta has ton’s of transients living in the area. They cannot stand the UGA fanatics. Tech & UGA has always been a crazy rivarly, UGA-Blue Collar vs Tech-White Color…here comes the jokes, “Yeah, see UGA grads work for Tech grads”. No, it mean’s if you look around, 90% of blue collar workers pull for UGA. It is THE University of Geogia and Tech is Georgia Institute of TECHNOLOGY.
With that beind said, all programs have their ebb’s and flow’s. It would kill both programs, fan’s and students to be respectful. At the end of the day if both programs lost every game would anyone really care and would it really matter? No. Far more pressing issues out there.
Go Jackets. Go Dawgs
TBOONE's Wallet
August 25th, 2009
4:38 am
We welcome all you Bulldogs to have a burger and grab one of the world famous ESKIMO JOE’S t shirt’s while your in Stillwater on Sept. 5th. Even though you wont need a reminder of the A$$ kickin our Kountry bumpkin’s are going to put on you! I’m sure ESPN will air all of Dez Bryant’s highlight catches!