The state of Oklahoma is constantly fighting the stereotypes that accompany Middle America and gets few opportunities to sidestep the snickering. 14-days out of the year, the University of Oklahoma thrusts the Sooner state into the national spotlight with a beautifully choreographed offense and a take no prisoner defense. They play football to move the needle and alter the perception of the region. But leave it to the "opies" from Stillwater to knock down the blocks and replace these images with laughter and mockery.

Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy's adolescenttirade against Jenni Carlson from The Daily Oklahoman seemed like a contrived attempt to mark his territory and fire up his team. I am not sure it did either. What it did do is make me race to YouTube and send emails titled "Look at this Idiot," proving once again nothing beats watching a guy completely freak out when the cameras are rolling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E

Gundy's tirade was comical, but not eloquent. He avoided swear words, but managed to use "puke" and "ain't" within three minutes. He vehemently proclaimed to be a 40-year old man with kids, and wore a blinding shade of orange. His diatribe was so off the charts it made me forget that he oversees the "World's Greatest Offense," but still gets blown out by Troy.

Prior to Saturday, Gundy’s headline grabbing lies have come across as ploys designed to detour us from talking about his terrible football teams. He failed. His comments seem farcical and his program continues to be non-existent on the national landscape. It makes me wonder what exactly goes through that man’s head. Does he really think he has the greatest offense in the world? Or is he average frustrated chump who is desperate to have a seat at the table?

For sake of the latter, let’s shine the spotlight on “Coach” Gundy.

Gundy once again showed he is all bark, and no bite. It adds up when you remember he is a lifelong Aggie (slang for being an OSU guy) whose career as a player parallels that of an annoying dog that nips at your heels before being shoed away. While OU went 33-3, Gundy led Oklahoma State to consecutive Sun Bowl and Holiday Bowl appearances, never beat Nebraska and managed only one competitive game against Oklahoma. All this while having Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders in his backfield.

Now in his third season at the helm of his alma mater, his coaching record is 13-15, with seven of his thirteen career victories coming against teams from 1-AA or the Sun Belt Conference. ESPN.com recently named OSU as one of the top-10 most underachieving programs in the country and Gundy seems eager to further this legacy. He has taken the torch passed to him by Pat Jones and Bob Simmons and continues to ensure that the Cowboys remain irrelevant by demonstrating a relentless pursuit in amounting to nothing.

Cowboy Up…or don’t. We don’t really care.