Years after going off on a viral tirade, Mike Gundy still has the back of a former player.
According to a report by Tulsa World, Oklahoma State has hired Bobby Reid for an administrative, non-coaching position within the football program.
Gundy publicly defended Reid in one of the most recognized viral videos to surface from the college football YouTube world in 2007. Gundy's famous "I'm a man! I'm 40!" speech was directed at a columnist who had suggested a lack of attitude and toughness with Reid. Gundy's trademark postgame press conference was not seen as admirably by Reid as you would have probably thought though.
Reid transferred to Texas Southern at the end of the season and told ESPN The Magazine that Gundy's comments did not appear to be genuine to him and may have been more for show than anything else. Reid's transfer allowed the Cowboys to open up more playing time for Zac Robinson at a time when the football program was building something pretty special in the Big 12. Oklahoma State eventually climbed their way to a Big 12 championship in 2011 thanks in large part of the efforts by Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon, but it was Gundy's 2007 tirade that may have done more to show his players he will have their back no matter what.
"I would never change what I did for Bobby Reid, but I would change how I did it," Gundy told Tulsa World.
Now, years later, Reid and Gundy appear to have made up for the past and have decided to work together moving forward. This should be seen as a positive sign for Oklahoma State, as the program shows good will to their own inside the Cowboys family. If a player who opted out can find it in himself to come back to the program, that should be seen as a compliment for the environment Gundy and the staff are putting together in Stillwater.
Kevin McGuire is the national college football writer for Examiner.com and host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast.
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