Oregon vs Oklahoma State got even more interesting after Mike Gundy takes shots at Oregon and Dan Lanning in his mid-week press conference
Head coach Mike Gundy had some interesting words about the Oregon football program ahead of the anticipated week two match up.
Oregon’s Week two clash with Oklahoma State was already going to be one of the Ducks’ most interesting non-conference games of the year. Now, some unexpected comments from Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy and a pointed response from Oregon’s Dan Lanning have added fuel to the fire.
Gundy takes shots at the Oregon program
During his weekly radio show on Monday, Gundy raised eyebrows when he compared the financial backing of the two programs. He estimated that Oklahoma State has spent “around $7 million” over the past three years before bringing up Oregon’s budget.
“I think Oregon spent close to $40 million last year alone,” Gundy said. “That was just one year. I might be off a few million.”
Gundy also suggested that Oregon’s financial strength plays a role in retaining star players like quarterback Dante Moore and hinted that schools with that kind of money should only schedule non-conference opponents with similar resources.
Lanning fights back
Lanning didn’t shy away from firing back later that night. Speaking with reporters, the Ducks’ head coach made it clear that Oregon isn’t apologizing for its investment in football.
“If you want to be a top-10 team in college football, you better be invested in winning. We spend to win,” Lanning said. “Some people save to have an excuse for why they don’t. I can’t speak on their situation. I have no idea what they’ve got in their pockets over there.”
Still, Lanning added that he respects Gundy’s accomplishments at Oklahoma State and calls attention to his two decades of consistent success in Stillwater.
For Oregon, the comments are nothing new. Over the past couple of years, opposing coaches have occasionally taken jabs at the Ducks’ resources, often bringing up the impact of Nike founder Phil Knight. But the back-and-forth with Gundy feels a little sharper than most and gives this week’s matchup some extra juice.
Both teams enter the game 1-0, but Oregon has College Football Playoff aspirations while Oklahoma State is looking to prove it belongs on the same field with the nation’s elite. The lead-up to kickoff has a little added drama, thanks to what’s already been said away from the field.
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