Interview sessions go abnormally at OSU, OU

Routine interview sessions with football players veered into the unusual Tuesday at both Norman and Stillwater.

At Oklahoma State, coach Mike Gundy threatened the media with a season-long ban from talking to players, if anyone asked a question about departing receiver Jalen McCleskey, who this week decided to leave the team and transfer, retaining his final season of eligibility.

At Oklahoma, coach Lincoln Riley limited defensive player interviews to end Amani Bledsoe and safety Kahlil Haughton, neither of whom was requested by anyone.

The Cowboy offense and the Sooner defense both have come under intense scrutiny from fans, especially after games last Saturday. OSU lost to Texas Tech 41-17, while OU survived Army 28-21 in overtime.

Efforts to reach Gundy on Wednesday failed.

The OSU press corps Tuesday was told about the threat just minutes before the players were made available. Multiple reporters said that no direct questions about McCleskey’s exit were asked, but there were questions about the impact of McCleskey’s departure.

The OU press corps Tuesday interviewed defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, plus Haughton and Bledsoe. But several players requested were not made available, which is out of the norm, other than first-year players.

Riley on Wednesday said he was not upset with media coverage of the OU defense. “I made the decision yesterday,” Riley said. “I know you guys got a job to do. I don’t control you guys, you guys don’t work for me. I get that. I know we gotta co-exist. I realize that’s part of my job. But also part of my job is taking care of my guys ….”

Riley apparently was concerned about the perception that OU’s defense has struggled in victories over Iowa State (37-27) and Army.

“At the end of the day, my loyalty’s got to be the team,” Riley said.