After 150th win as Oklahoma State football coach, Mike Gundy 'lucky' to be on the ride

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy carried a football into his postgame news conference and set it down away from the podium.

It wasn’t a typical game ball.

The brown-and-white ball sported three pictures of Gundy on the lone white panel with the No. 150 prominently displayed.

It was a memento for a milestone accomplished in the 11th-ranked Cowboys’ 58-44 win over Central Michigan on Thursday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

One game into his 18th season leading OSU, Gundy earned his 150th career victory.

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“Like I told the team, it takes a lot of really, really quality people and good young men for a guy to stay in one place long enough to win 150 games,” Gundy said. “I’m just lucky enough to be along for the ride. That’s pretty cool.”

After the game, Gundy received the football in a locker-room presentation by athletic director Chad Weiberg.

Weiberg, normally reserved himself, knew the presentation would embarrass Gundy.

But Gundy still appreciated the gesture.

“He had nice things to say about me,” Gundy said. “But really the truth is this is a big operation, about 190 people. Over a period of years, that’s what it takes.

“We have a good group. We have 127 guys and they’re good guys. They’re good, quality people, they do well in school, they work hard and there’s no way that could take place without a whole bunch of people.”

Gundy’s career record is now 150-69. He took over his alma mater in 2005, his lone losing season.

OSU football report card: Defense struggles against Central Michigan, but offense shines

Give the Cowboys’ defense a passing grade

New defensive coordinator Derek Mason saw a lot of room for improvement in an up-and-down night.

And if he were giving out a grade, the Cowboys just barely got by.

“It’s a C,” Mason said. “It’s passing. It’s not nowhere near what this group is capable of.”

The Cowboys showed flashes of what Mason expects.

They held Central Michigan to just 15 points in the opening half while using a plethora of players. But the Chippewas found success in the air in the second half, compiling 232 of their 281 yards through the air.

And they made things quite interesting.

OSU led 51-15 just 37 seconds into the third quarter. Central Michigan narrowed the gap to 14 with 3:15 remaining in the game.

“As a defense, we know that we shouldn't have let them score 44 points,” OSU safety Kendal Daniels said. “But at the end of the day, we won the game.”

Overall, the Cowboys believe the mistakes are all correctable.

That starts with communication. OSU’s back seven players are primarily experiencing their first extended action.

But Mason also realized the Cowboys missed an opportunity to put the game away. And he hoped his players learned from that.

“They also relaxed and that’s what happens when you’re still trying to find your identity,” Mason said. “You’re young so you have to stay hungry, you have to keep attacking, and I learned some things about who we are too.

“I have to continue to let these guys hunt. I don’t think I pulled them back, but we have to continue to keep coming after people. I think that’s what’s going to help this young group while they grow up. It’s about understanding how to finish the kill.”

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Braydon Johnson’s big night

Braydon Johnson struggled to explain the emotions he felt as he took the field.

Joy. Gratefulness. Pride.

Nearly a year after he played his last game, the Cowboys’ veteran receiver returned to the field. And he made the most of his opportunity.

Johnson caught six passes for 133 yards, both career bests. He also scored a touchdown, a 13-yard reception from Spencer Sanders early in the second quarter for a 23-7 advantage.

“It’s been a long time,” Johnson said. “I missed it. It just felt great to be back out there. I feel so blessed, man.”

Johnson spent the final 13 games last season away from the team. He used that time to improve.

“Last year was a huge, huge experience for me just in the fact that I got to do a lot of self realization,” Johnson said. “I got to be by myself a lot. I put together a plan, understood what I had to do and I got back here by God’s will.”

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Kendal Daniels snags first interception

OSU safety Kendal Daniels was the talk of camp, whether it was his 6-foot-4 frame or just his pure talent.

He was even projected to start.

Though he did not start — Sean Michael Flanagan got the nod — Daniels put together a dominant performance.

He led the Cowboys with 11 total tackles, matching linebacker Mason Cobb’s total. Daniels also had a tackle for a loss.

And he snagged his first-career interception, stepping in front of Daniel Richardson’s pass in the third.

It was a moment Daniels envisioned.

“Because my first high school game I got an interception,” Daniels said. “Everything just comes around.”

More:Oklahoma State football highlights vs. Central Michigan

Jaden Bray, Blaine Green miss game

Reminiscent of last season, the Cowboys were without a couple of pass-catchers who likely would have been starters.

Tight end Blaine Green was not expected to play as a result of a wrist injury suffered early in preseason camp. Receiver Jaden Bray was also out with an undisclosed injury.

No timetable was known for the return of either player.

Other notable absences included backup linebacker Jeff Roberson (foot), who Gundy announced last week was out for the season, and backup running back Deondre Jackson. The redshirt sophomore tweeted on Wednesday that he would not be playing because of a transcript issue following his transfer from Texas A&M over the summer.

Tight end Jake Schultz was also not expected to play, but he ultimately suited up. The walk-on from Prague who converted from defensive end caught his first-career pass for 13 yards.

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End of the Central Michigan contract

What felt like a never-ending series is finally reaching its conclusion.

The contract between OSU and Central Michigan was originally agreed to by the universities in June of 2011 and included three games to be played between 2015-18.

But the final game of the series was ultimately moved to this season, completing the contract with Thursday night’s season opener.

As part of the contract, Central Michigan paid OSU $250,000 for the 2015 game at Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and OSU paid the same amount to Central Michigan for the 2016 game in Stillwater.

For Thursday’s game, OSU paid Central Michigan $600,000.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Mike Gundy wins 150th game as head coach as OSU beats Central Michigan