Evanson: Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy could've and should’ve done better…period

Nearly 17 years ago, Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy went on an epic rant at a press conference following a game with Texas Tech. A game his team won by a score of 49-45.

His rant targeted a young sports reporter who he felt wrongly and inaccurately depicted his starting quarterback and the situation behind that quarterback’s benching days prior.

Gundy famously suggested that rather than critique the young athlete, the reporter should instead, “Come after me. I’m a man! I’m 40!” The coach also called the piece “garbage,” and the editor that green-lit the piece garbage as well.

Now, nearly two decades removed from what many would refer to as an either famous or infamous moment in the veteran coach’s career, Gundy again made waves with another — albeit more subdue — diatribe regarding his handling of Oklahoma State star running back Ollie Gordon’s recent DUI. And in this case, it wasn’t a young and relatively inexperienced reporter that was made to look like a fool, it was Gundy himself who chose buffoonery over responsibility when remarking on Gordon’s decision to get behind the wheel despite being under the influence.

Last week, at Big 12 Media Day, Gundy was asked about Gordon and the extent of any punishment that may come in the wake of his arrest, and the coach said the following after explaining that Gordon’s blood alcohol level (.10) at the time of his arrest would equate to someone of his size having “two or three beers, or four.”

“I’m not justifying what Ollie did, I’m telling you what decision I made,” Gundy said. “I thought, ‘OK, I’ve probably done that 1,000 times in my life and it was just fine so I got lucky. People get lucky.’”

He also went on to say that there’d be no punishment for Gordon, justifying such by communicating in a roundabout way that his absence would be either insignificant or undue punishment for his teammates who deserve better. Which is really saying that the running back is a nonfactor in the Cowboys’ success on the field, while at the same time suggesting he’s a vital piece of a winning pie.

If those two things seem diametrically opposed to you, you’re not alone, but let’s move on.

As you might suspect, Gundy’s head-scratching comments poo-pooing Gordon’s action didn’t sit well with Mothers Against Drunk Driving who publicly chastised the coach for “irresponsible” and “dangerous” words regarding a very serious topic, furthermore with some of my fellow columnists who took him to task, nor with me who while a flawed human myself, understand that when you have a moment and platform to send a message about serious issues you simply do so without convoluting it with tales of your own past transgressions that while quite possibly true, serve no purpose in the moment.

College and youth coaches are in many ways like parents, whose job is to nurture a young and impressionable human into a wise and responsible adult. While a coach’s role in such is fractional compared to a mother or father, it remains real, and Gundy turned his back on that reality when he rationalized Gordon’s actions, along with his own subsequent reaction.

What makes the coach’s public whiff even more befuddling, is that it came just days removed from the death of former University of Oregon and Minnesota Viking defensive back Khyree Jackson and two of his high school friends, who died at the hands of — you guessed it, a drunk driver.

That seems like poor timing on Gundy’s part at best, and at worst, ignorance or possibly arrogance from a coach who’s been accused of both during his nearly 20-year head coaching tenure in Stillwater.

I’m not suggesting Gundy needed to berate Gordon for his actions, but what he did need to do was admonish them in the means of the greater good. Opportunity comes in many shapes and sizes, and in this case, a big one slipped through the hands of a coach that should’ve seized it.

This shouldn’t have been about Gordon, Gundy, or even the manner in which either handled their situation in the wake of it. It should’ve instead been about drinking and driving, the various means of acting responsibly opposed to it, and the people directly affected by turning a blind eye to both — like Khyree Jackson.

Don’t drink and drive, people. It’s dangerous, irresponsible, and can forever change or end your and someone else’s lives forever.

Now, that was a rant and message a “man” could’ve been proud of, coach.