Unexpected Injury During Bye Week

In an unexpected twist during their bye week, Oklahoma State Cowboys' head coach Mike Gundy suffered a peculiar eye injury that dramatically altered his usual pre-game routine. The injury occurred following an incident with his cattle, which Gundy humorously described as a “run-in” that left him with a bloodied eye. This injury forced him to conduct his weekly news conference via Zoom rather than in-person, much to the curiosity of fans and sports journalists alike.

Gundy’s Humorous Response

"Well, I had a little run-in with my cattle over the weekend," Gundy reported candidly to reporters. "I guess they've been watching us play and I got headbutted. So I've got a bad eye that I didn't think would be particularly enjoyable for people when they were looking at my pretty face in a live interview."

The Condition and Upcoming Challenges

The 56-year-old coach further explained the seriousness of his condition, stating, "It's full of blood, and I get dizzy. So it's not easy to be upright and function normally. But other than that, I'm doing great." Despite the injury, Gundy remains determined to lead the Cowboys in their upcoming game against the formidable No. 13 BYU on Friday evening.

Season Struggles and High Stakes

As Gundy enters his 20th season with Oklahoma State, his leadership is crucial as the Cowboys attempt to bounce back from a disheartening streak of three consecutive losses, leaving them at 3-3 overall and 0-3 in conference play. This unfortunate decline marks their first time being winless in conference games since 2005, shattering the hopes that were built upon a positive 3-0 start this season.

Facing an Unbeaten BYU Team

The Cowboys are now set to take on an unbeaten BYU team in Week 8, coming into the game as a significant nine-point underdog. The stakes are notably high as Oklahoma State looks to regain its footing and host fans still reeling from the team’s sharp decline in performance. Gundy and his players will need to muster every ounce of determination if they are to reverse their fortunes on the road.

Gundy’s Optimism

As for Gundy's eye, he remains optimistic, stating, "It should get better every day. Hopefully, it’ll get a little better. But I’m fine. I’m working the same hours. I mean, it’s no big deal. I just didn’t think it was very appealing." Only time will tell if Gundy’s resilience will inspire a turnaround for the Cowboys on the field!