Eric Morris introduced as Oklahoma State coach, looks to revive program Gundy brought to prominence

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — For years, Eric Morris admired what Mike Gundy built at Oklahoma State from afar.

As a former assistant coach at Big 12 rival Texas Tech, he learned about the high-scoring Cowboy offenses, high-level quarterback play and the long list of athletes who weren’t highly recruited but turned out to be great players.

Gundy had a career record of 170-90 at his alma mater and posted winning records every season from 2006 to 2023. Though this is a new and different era, Morris believes the things that made Gundy one of the winningest coaches in college football can carry over.

The former North Texas coach looked to the future while respecting the past when he was introduced as Oklahoma State’s coach on Monday.

“I want to acknowledge my profound appreciation and respect for Coach Gundy and his coaching staff," he said. "His 20 years of leadership made Oklahoma State into one of the top football programs in America."

He said Oklahoma State checked all the boxes for him personally and professionally. When discussing whether he could win at Oklahoma State, he apologized to athletic director Chad Weiberg in advance for his language.

“As it relates to the professional, can we win a championship? Sorry, Chad, but my answer to that is hell yes, we can win a damn championship.”

Morris knew through his previous stops about the rowdy crowd at Boone Pickens Stadium and looks forward to being on the right side of that homefield advantage. He said his previous visits as a player and assistant coach didn't go well.

“I have ringing memories of my ear and those paddles hitting ... people are screaming all kinds of things at you,” he said.

Though Oklahoma State finished with a 1-11 record this season, Cowboys fans remained enthusiastic throughout the season. That energy continued with an overflow crowd of 1,100 at the Click Family Alumni Hall Room at the school’s alumni center. He had already won them over, then sealed the deal when mentioning his desire to revive the rivalry with Oklahoma that largely ended when the Sooners moved to the Southeastern Conference.

Morris likes the challenge of rebuilding a program. He took North Texas from 5-7 in his first season four years ago to the American Conference title game this season. Though Morris has fond memories of North Texas, he’s ready to move forward. He said his “100% attention” is on Oklahoma State football and building relationships, a roster and a staff.

“It’s been nice to to finally feel like my feet are on the ground in Stillwater and have one focus, and that’s making Oklahoma State football the best it possibly can be,” he said.

He credits his scrappy approach to being a small town kid who played for Shallowater High School in Texas. He was an undersized receiver at Texas Tech, much the way Gundy was an undersized quarterback at Oklahoma State.

Morris thinks those qualities will help make him a fit in Stillwater.

“You’re so much more proud of the things that I think that we do the hard way,” he said of being a small-town kid. “And so I believe in doing things the hard way, in a tough and gritty way.”

He also likes to develop quarterbacks. He has coached, developed or recruited Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, John Mateer, Cam Ward, Chandler Morris and Drew Mestemaker. Many of those players weren’t heavily recruited.

He asked the crowd to trust him on recruiting that position.

“If I take a three-star quarterback, nobody get mad at me," Morris said. “Like, that’s all I can say, right? We have a set of qualifications and kind of a formula that we have to recruit these guys.”

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Eric Morris attends a news conference introducing him as the new head coach of the Oklahoma State NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 in Stillwater, Okla.(AP Photo/Cliff Brunt)

Eric Morris attends a news conference introducing him as the new head coach of the Oklahoma State NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 in Stillwater, Okla.(AP Photo/Cliff Brunt)

Brad Lander, the chief fiscal officer of New York City, announced Wednesday that he is challenging U.S. Rep Dan Goldman in a Democratic primary for a liberal district in lower Manhattan and northwest of Brooklyn.

A longtime fixture of the city’s progressive wing, Lander launched his bid with endorsements from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, promising “courageous leadership in the face of Donald Trump’s attacks on New Yorkers.”

“While the oligarchy drives the affordability crisis, they shouldn’t be able to buy a seat in Congress,” Lander said in a campaign video, an apparent reference to Goldman, who is an heir to the Levi Strauss denim fortune.

He then touted his relationship with Mamdani, whom Goldman had declined to endorse in the mayor’s race, in part because of differences in their views toward Israel.

“Our mayor can have an ally in Washington instead of an adversary in his own backyard,” Lander said. “I’m running for Congress because the challenges we face can’t be solved with strongly worded letters or high-dollar fundraisers, and not by doing AIPAC’s bidding."

An email seeking comment was sent to Goldman’s campaign.

Mamdani's endorsement of Lander marked the mayor-elect's most high-profile incursion into national politics since his stunning victory. It comes as other progressives are hoping to capitalize on that momentum with a spate of challenges to moderate Democrats in 2026. Mamdani recently declined to endorse another close ally who was exploring a run against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

“Brad’s unwavering principles, deep knowledge, and sincere empathy are what make him a true leader,” Mamdani said. “He has been a trusted ally and partner of mine and I’m proud to support him as I know he’ll continue delivering for those who need government to show up for them the most."

Lander’s term as city comptroller ends on Dec. 31 after he decided not to seek reelection.

Lander and Mamdani endorsed one another during the mayoral primary in an effort, under the city’s ranked choice voting system, to join forces against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who at the time was the front-runner.

The partnership appeared to help them both. Mamdani’s support boosted Lander among the progressive base, while the backing of a high-profile Jewish candidate helped Mamdani as he faced attacks over his criticism of Israel's war in Gaza.

Lander, who is also a former city council member, has been eyeing a challenge to Goldman since losing the Democratic mayoral primary to Mamdani this summer.

Both Lander and Goldman have been vocal critics of the federal government's deportation agenda, appearing at a high-profile immigration court in Manhattan to observe proceedings over the last several months.

Lander was arrested there twice and faces a misdemeanor obstruction charge stemming from one of the incidents.

Goldman, a two-term congressman, is a former federal prosecutor who was lead counsel for Trump’s first impeachment. He is considered a moderate Democrat, although he has supported raising taxes on wealthy people as well as the Green New Deal climate change proposal.

In his campaign video, Lander also evoked the late children’s TV host Fred Rogers, singing “Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?”

“I know it’s corny, but I love the idea that democracy is just neighbors working together to make our lives in common better,” he said.

Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.

FILE - New York City Comptroller Brad Lander participates a protest against immigration crackdown in the aftermath of a raid on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova, File)

FILE - New York City Comptroller Brad Lander speaks during a press conference outside outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)