Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy urges “confidence” amid six-game loss

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 his alma mater's football program around.

Gundy, speaking 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 Saturday's 42-21 home loss to Arizona State had fallen behind in the Big 12.

“It's important for all Oklahoma State fans to know that we're very aware of what's going on, and at some point in life we ​​all have to trust someone,” Gundy said. “And I think they need to trust that we have a good plan for what's going on here broadly and that we have answers. Sometimes they are not short-term. Sometimes they may be long-term answers.”

Gundy, a former Oklahoma State quarterback, is facing increased criticism he has rarely faced in his coaching career. The Cowboys won at least seven games and reached a bowl in each of the last 18 seasons.

“In summary, this place has had tremendous success for 18½ or 19 years – I don't really do a good math on it,” Gundy said. “Unfortunately, most people in life are weak and as soon as things don't go as well as they thought, they panic.

“And then they want to point the finger at other people and blame them. You see it 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 bitching about this and that instead of just doing something about it and trying to find a way to make it better .

Oklahoma State's only loss under Gundy was a 4-7 season in his first year in 2005. The Cowboys have not been winless in conference play since going 0-6-1 in the Big Eight in 1994.

“In most cases, the people who are negative and express their opinions are the same people who can't pay their own bills,” Gundy said. “They don't care about themselves. They don't care about their own family. They don't care about their own job. But they have a duty to express their opinions and complain about others because it makes them feel better.” .

“But in the end, when they go to bed at night, they are the same losers they were before they said anything negative about others.”

The Cowboys would need 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 close the regular season at No. 21 Colorado on Nov. 29.