After 20-plus years in Stillwater, Mike Gundy is out as the head football coach at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys made the move on Tuesday afternoon following their Week 4 home loss to Tulsa (19-12) on Friday night.
Gundy’s team had a bye ahead of their rivalry matchup versus the Golden Hurricane, but fell in the Turnpike Classic for the first time since 1998 anyway. The Pokes went 4-11 in his last 15 games, paving the way for his dismissal.
The biggest wave of social media reaction regarding Gundy’s firing is focused on its timing, but probably not for the reason you think. Yesterday was the 18th anniversary of his famous “I’m a man, I’m 40!” rant. As a result, numerous posts and comments on the news have that clip — or a GIF of it — included.
Other users claimed Gundy’s firing served as a reminder that nobody is safe in college football’s new NIL/transfer portal era. The former Cowboy QB (1986-89) won 10 or more games 8 times as Oklahoma State’s coach and finished his career with a 170-90 record. His only losing seasons were his first full year (2005; 4-7) and his last full year (2024; 3-9). Some believe the loyalty he showed the Pokes throughout his coaching tenure should have been reciprocated by letting him finish the 2025 campaign.
Ultimately, though, the general consensus is that things run their course. Gundy’s legacy as Oklahoma State’s head coach is terrific, despite him being looked at in a negative light right now. Who knows where he and the Cowboys would be had they not squandered 1st-and-Goal from the 2-yard line in the 2021 Big 12 Championship.
