Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy urges ‘confidence’ amid 6-game bracket

Oklahoma State has lost six straight games, its longest losing streak in two decades under coach Mike Gundy, but he remains confident he can turn around his alma mater’s football program.

Gundy, who spoke to reporters during a video conference on Monday, urged Oklahoma State fans to continue to trust him after the Cowboys fell to 3-6 overall, and 0-6 in the Big 12, following Saturday’s 42-21 loss to Arizona State. On his land.

“The important thing for all Oklahoma State fans to know is that we are very aware of what’s going on, and at some point in life, we all have to put trust in someone,” Gundy said. “And I think they need to trust that we have a good plan for what’s going on here in the big picture, and we have answers. Sometimes they’re not short-term. And sometimes they can be long-term answers.”

Gundy, a former Oklahoma State quarterback, is facing the kind of mounting criticism he has rarely seen during his coaching career. The Cowboys have won at least seven games and reached a bowl in each of the previous 18 seasons.

“Kind of the summary of all of this is this place has been hugely successful for 18 and a half or 19 years — I can’t do the math right,” Gundy said. “Unfortunately, most people in life are weak, and as soon as things don’t go as well as they thought, they break down and panic.

“Then they want to point fingers and blame others. You see this happening in everyday life. People do it all the time. That’s why I refuse to watch TV and watch the news because I’m tired of people complaining and complaining.” About this and that versus just doing something about it and trying to figure out a way to make it better.”

Oklahoma State’s only losing campaign under Gundy was a 4-7 season in his first year in 2005. The Cowboys have not lost in conference play since finishing 0-6-1 in the Big Eight in 1994.

“(In) most cases, the negative people who express their opinions are the same people who can’t pay their own bills,” Gundy said. “They’re not taking care of themselves. They’re not taking care of their families. They’re not taking care of their own jobs. But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better.” .

“But in the end, when they go to bed at night, they’re the same failure they were before they said anything negative about anyone else.”

The Cowboys will have to win their final three games to finish 6-6 and reach a bowl game for the 19th straight season. They play at TCU on Saturday, host Texas Tech on Nov. 23 and wrap up the regular season at No. 21 Colorado on Nov. 29.