 "Photo: Chris Kominczak")
KANSAS CITY - Most questions for Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy on Tuesday at Big 12 media day were about his rant Sept. 22 of last year that became a YouTube hit, particularly the line of him screaming "I'm a man; I'm 40!"
Gundy didn't even watch the clip until January.
"I don't even know how to get to YouTube; I assume you Google it. I found out I was No. 6 most viewed on YouTube, so I wonder if I can get any kickback out of that," Gundy joked. "After watching the clip in January, the only thing I regret about it was raising my voice."
But the story behind the scenes is quarterback Zac Robinson. The junior is ready to put the drama of the quarterback controversy the last two years with Bobby Reid behind him, as well as Gundy's tirade.
"The media talked about it more than our team did," Robinson said. "He just told us that he will always stick up for any one of us. After that, we just moved on. I'm ready to step forward this year and improve from last year."
With Reid transferring to Texas Southern, this is Robinson's time to shine.
"He's looking forward to being the man for us," Gundy said. "He's been a tremendous player on and off the field. The team has really rallied around him, and he should be a good leader for us, and I'm looking forward to him this upcoming season."
With lightning fast speed, the dual threat Robinson was the only BCS conference quarterback besides Heisman winner Tim Tebow to run for more than 800 yards and throw for more than 2,800. He set a season-record for total offense in a season (3,671) and in a game (430). He torched Duane Akina's Texas defense last season for 430 passing yards.
"I think the fact that he was the only other person besides the Heisman Trophy winner to do that is a good way to sum up his season he had statically," Gundy said. "[But] he's not concerned with individual statistics. He's concerned about us winning games."
Reid was often criticized for not being gutsy enough, but for Robinson, it's the opposite. Especially now that Reid isn't there, meaning there isn't a proven backup if he gets hurt.
"There are times when instead of running out of bounds he'll take on a tackler to try and get more yardage," Gundy said. "I don't want him doing that as much because it's dangerous."
That's just one of the many things Robinson is working on.
"Yeah I guess I'll try and run out of bounds more now that we don't have a proven backup," Robinson said. "I'm also honing in on my footwork and working on going through my progressions and trying to find someone to throw to before I take off running."
Robinson will have to get used to playing without his mentor, offensive coordinator Larry Fedora, who took over as head coach at Southern Mississippi. The new co-offensive coordinators are former Tennessee assistant Trooper Taylor and Oklahoma State assistant Gunter Brewer. The Cowboys won't change anything scheme-wise.
"Coach Fedora has always been like family to me and it's sad to see him go," Robinson said. "But the first thing Trooper told me was that if I lead, they'll follow. I really took that advice and ran with it. I have confidence in whoever is calling the plays."
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