College Coach Rips Columnist In Press Conference

Saturday, Oklahoma State won a crazy 49-45 game over Texas Tech. Afterward, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy didn't say a word about the win. Instead, he talked only about a column in the local paper (The Oklahoman) that criticized recently yanked starting quarterback Bobby Reid. The column alleged Reid was replaced at quarterback because of a lack of toughness and proper attitude.

"If you want to go after an athlete, one of my athletes, you go after one that doesn't do the right things," Gundy screamed. "You don't downgrade him because he does everything right and may not play as well on Saturday and you let us make that decision. That's why I don't read the newspaper because it's garbage and the editor that let it come out is garbage!"

Gundy claimed "three-fourths" of the column was untrue. However, his largest issue with the column was his college athletes receiving pro athlete style personal attacks. "Attacking an amateur athlete for doing everything right? Where are we at in society today?" Gundy said. "Come after me. I'm a man. I'm 40. I'm not a kid. Write something about me."

During most of Gundy's diatribe, he seemed to stare at and speak to, or yell at, the column's writer. "I hope someday you have a child and somebody downgrades them and belittles them and you have to look them in the eye and say, 'you know what, it's OK'," Gundy said. "They're supposed to be mature adults, but they're really not."

The paper and its editors stand by their writer and the column. Gundy has since apologized for letting his rant overshadow Oklahoma State's win, but not for its content.