Ground Breaking: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Makes Big Announcement On Ollie Gordon’s Status After DUI Arrest
Earlier in July, Oklahoma State Cowboys’ star running back, Ollie Gordon, was arrested and charged with DUI after allegedly being found with opened bottles of alcohol in his vehicle during a traffic stop. As the season approaches, head coach Mike Gundy made a significant announcement regarding Gordon’s status.
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Gundy stated that Gordon “is going to play” and that Oklahoma State has decided to handle the punishment internally. This means Gordon will not miss any games and will be available for the entire 2024 season. The specifics of the internal punishment have not been disclosed.
Mike Gundy to ESPN on Ollie Gordon: “He’s going to play.” He said OSU will discuss internal punishment for Gordon, but he’s not going to miss any games. He said OSU decided to bring Gordon to Big 12 media day to be accountable for his actions in the wake of his DUI arrest.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 9, 2024
The decision is controversial, as Gordon reportedly failed the field sobriety test and recorded a blood alcohol level over the legal limit, as reported by Bradley Locker of The New York Post. Despite this, he will face no suspension from the team.
“The 20-year-old running back initially told the trooper he had not been drinking but later admitted to having one beverage after denying a field sobriety test, according to KOCO News 5. Gordon was arrested on complaints of DUI under 21 years of age, transport of an open container of alcohol, failure to maintain a single lane of traffic, and speeding. He recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.11, which is over the legal limit.”
From a strategic perspective, this move by Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State football program could be seen as a way to avoid NCAA intervention and a potential suspension by managing the punishment internally. This approach allows the Cowboys to impose their own form of discipline while keeping Gordon on the field.
Ollie Gordon, entering his junior year, is expected to have a standout season for the Cowboys. He is projected to be one of the top running backs in the nation and a strong NFL prospect. Last season, Gordon recorded 1,732 rushing yards, 330 receiving yards, and 22 total touchdowns, proving to be a key player for the team.
Mike Gundy, now in his 19th season as head coach of Oklahoma State, is the second-longest-tenured head coach in college football, behind only Kirk Ferentz of Iowa. With Gordon leading the offense, Gundy has the opportunity to achieve something special this season.