OKLAHOMA STATE COACH MIKE GUNDY
Opening Statement:
"The difference between the last few years and this year [against Texas] was that we kicked field goals instead of scoring touchdowns. I've discussed that with our guys. Obviously, we were trying to score touchdowns but we didn't get that accomplished. It would've been a much different game for us if we scored touchdowns instead of kick field goals, but we live and learn and we move on. We are playing a good football team this week. A very senior-dominated offense with an experienced quarterback. They know exactly what they are trying to accomplish and they are very good at it. Their defense is very good. We will have our work cut out for us but it's always a fun part. We are back at it this week and ready to roll."
On not converting touchdowns on short yardage situations:
"We've always been good at it. We had success in short yardage situations last year, we had success this year. Sometimes the opponent will win those one-on-one battles, sometimes we will. It's not necessary that we need to do something different, it just happened in that game that we were in position to score a couple times where traditionally, we would score touchdowns. That's the glaring side of what happened in that game. Defense gave up a big play where we got out of coverage near the sideline, other than that. We played pretty good against a pretty good team. Offensively, if we score those touchdowns and don't kick field goals, it'd be a different game. It's not necessary one thing or the other. Texas is going to make some plays also, they've got good guys and they are well-coached. They made some plays and they ended up winning the game based on those key plays. Over the last 10 years, we made the majority of those plays, this year we didn't."
On the team's offensive performance against Texas:
"I don't want people thinking that we didn't move the ball. I don't know how many yards we had, but I don't want to hit the panic button and say we didn't move the ball. We had two opportunities to score touchdowns and we kicked field goals. That is eight less points. Then we tried a fake field goal when we could have taken more. I think it was just more of us not executing at the goal line."
On Chuba Hubbard's 37 carries:
"That is five more than I thought was too many. It has been a conversation and we want to keep him healthy. We want him to be fresh but he is clearly the best runner. We do what we think we need to do to score us the most points."
On Spencer Sanders' composure:
"I thought he handled the last game pretty well for a young guy."
On Sanders' game-to-game improvement:
"Remember how I said he got frustrated in the Tulsa game? He didn't get frustrated at all on Saturday night. If Vegas would have given you 5-1 odds that he would get frustrated, then we all would have lost our money. He handled the situation very well. He had a clear mind, was responsive and understood what was going on."
On Sean Gleeson coaching through his first loss:
"I thought he was good. There's a difference between being emotional and being erratically emotional and out of control. He gets emotional during football games. It's like parenting. When you're raising your first kid, you get emotional when they do things wrong and you overreact. Then you come back later and you're like, 'That wasn't worth all that.' You're better off just chilling and then teaching them after a while. Coaching is the same thing. Sean gets excited but then he can get right back into it and focus; some coaches go and lose their marbles, but he doesn't."
On the interaction with Sean Gleeson through four weeks:
"It's really clear, you can ask any of our offensive coaches. When I go into that meeting room I tell them, 'Look I'm not the head coach, OK? I'm a position coach just like you and I'm just giving you information.' As Mike Yurcich's career progressed, he learned to throw more of it in the trash. Sean is a little more into what I have to say, to be honest with you."
On Charlie Dickey's experience with Kansas State offensive line:
"Charlie's got his hands full trying to get our guys lined up. We have so much video now and we have all of the games with them. I think you can get more out of that. I don't know how much that factors into the game."
On discipline and physicality of the team:
"I don't think there's any question we're a more disciplined team right now. Our first penalty against Texas wasn't until nine minutes to go in the third quarter. For the most part, we were a much more disciplined team. I think we're becoming a tougher team based on the development of our tight end play."
OKLAHOMA STATE PLAYER QUOTES
Running Back Chuba Hubbard
On his health after Texas:
"I'm good. Obviously, Texas was a great defense. They flew around and they did a great job. They're very physical but that's football. I was definitely sore. I think everyone was but I feel good right now. I'm ready for Kansas State."
On what he could have done differently against Texas:
"You're always going to make mistakes during a game. I wish I could have played a lot better. I'm not happy with the way it went or the way I performed, but I watched film, learned from it and moved on. I'll be better next week."
On Kansas State:
"They're very physical and they know what they're doing. They're coached well. There are talented guys on any team. Every team is going to have a great defense so you have to bring it every single week. If we don't bring it this week, we could end up just like last week."
Defensive Tackle Cameron Murray
On Texas' offensive line:
"I felt like it was a good O-line. They were good at what they did with a good offense and a good quarterback. They had a good team and it was a hard fight up in the front. I think we did alright, we need to improve a little here and there but overall. I felt like we did good."
On Kansas State's offensive line:
"Kansas State's O-line is very physical and that's how we have to be in this game and the game plan. Just taking [what we've learned from Texas] and really come off the ball and sit in our gaps. Using our hands a lot will be key this week."
Linebacker Kevin Henry
On being back on the field:
"I felt good going out there and playing. After coming off an ACL, then getting back in the rotation felt good."
On earning coaches' faith:
"Opportunities are once in a lifetime, so I try and make the best of it."
On the loss to Texas:
"Everyone wanted to win the game. It was a close game, but we have to learn from it and build from it."
On Kansas State:
"They run the ball a lot and we're preparing for it. We don't see it a lot, but we're here to play football and we have to stop it."
Offensive Lineman Marcus Keyes
On Kansas State:
"They're a hard working team. We want to match that intensity, be tougher and more disciplined than them."
On Coach Dickey's advice on Kansas State:
"He's giving us some great information on how their defensive guys come off the ball and how to combat that."
On the loss to Texas:
"The biggest thing to take from last week is that our team has a lot of fight in us. That's something to build off. We are always going to keep fighting and try to win."
Cowboy Back Jelani Woods
On getting more looks against Texas:
"It was a designed game plan we drew up for that week. It was pretty successful, but it didn't come out with a victory."
On improving blocking skills:
"I feel like they've gotten a little bit better than last year, but I still have a lot of work to do."
On different offensive game plans:
"Each week, Coach Gleeson will implement more of an offense where it's possible for anyone to get the ball. It just depends on the reads and the coverage of the teams that play in that moment. It wasn't my time, but as long as we get the win and move the ball, I'm good."
Defensive Tackle Samuela Tuihalamaka
On getting more playing time:
"Right now, I'm getting a lot of action. It's kind of fun to get a feel for the game and get experience right now. I'm just trying to do my job. It's a good time right now and I'm having fun with it."
On how being a redshirt last year prepared him for this year:
"I just worked hard and played it day-by-day. It's pretty cool now that I'm here."