Perhaps if Ollie Gordon II hadn’t been the FBS leader last year, he might have been disciplined by his head coach following his DUI arrest late last month.
But Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said Gordon will not be suspended because it is “in the best interest of Oklahoma State football.”
Gundy acknowledged that the decision not to punish Gordon was based entirely on business reasons.
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Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy walks around the field before the Bedlam game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, on Nov. 19, 2022. The Sooners won, 28-13. (Brian Baer/Getty Images)
“We might have him carry the ball 50 times in the first game, but he’s going to play. We have 68 employees and 139 players in our building,” Gundy said at Big 12 Media Day on Tuesday. “My job in the business world that we’re in is to make decisions for everybody.”
“We are now [players] They’re essentially employees and they’re making a lot of money playing this game. It’s a lot different than it was five years ago.”
Gundy also said Gordon would face a “harsh attack” from the media and the public, but that in any event it would be “sufficient” punishment.
“Your punishment is to face the facts. That’s why I called him here today. I said, ‘You’re not going to hide. You’ve got to take responsibility. You’ve got to stand up and talk to people and answer questions and hopefully, more than football, you’ll learn from the situation you’re in.’ If you don’t, you’re in real trouble.”
Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II (0) walks off the field after the Big 12 Football Championship game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network)
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“Unfortunately, he’s in a tough situation right now,” Gundy added. “I understand that any young person makes mistakes. If you don’t learn from them, it’s really not good. We’ve had some conversations and we’ll have some more conversations over the next month. I think he understands how serious the situation was and I hope he can learn from it and move forward.”
Gordon He was indicted on suspicion of drunk driving. under 21, carrying an open container of alcoholic beverages, failure to maintain a single lane of traffic and speeding.
“I am deeply sorry for the actions that led to my arrest on June 30th,” Gordon said in a statement posted to his Instagram account. “I would like to extend my sincere apologies to my family, everyone associated with the program including our players, Coach Gundy and his staff, Oklahoma State University and our fans.”
“Regardless of the outcome of this pending investigation, I failed to uphold my own values and the values of the OSU football program. I am committed to learning and growing from this mistake and will work to earn back the trust of those I have let down. Thank you.”
Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (No. 0) takes a selfie with a fan after rushing 25 times for 271 yards, including four catches for 21 yards, during a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Boone Pickens Stadium on Oct. 28, 2023 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Brian Baer/Getty Images)
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Gordon Big 12 Player of the Year He rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023 and was named an All-American for the first time in his career.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydas contributed to this report.
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