Sellout Crowd

Mike Gundy gets his LSU revenge: Touts Houston while beating Les Miles for BearBryant Coach of the Year

Mike Gundy didn't get a shot at the national championship. But he won the FiestaBowl trophy — and the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year award.
Bear Bryant

Mike Gundy didn't get the chance to try and beat LSU on the football field. His Oklahoma State team was denied the chance to play in the BCS National Championship Game despite finishing with the same 11-1 regular season record as Alabama.

But Gundy finally got something of a shot at the Tigers Thursday night in a packed ballroom at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston — or at least a shot at LSU coach Les Miles — and he delivered. Gundy beat Miles for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award to the delight of former OSU players like Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant.

The first sellout in the 26-year history of the Bear Bryant Awards, which benefits the American Heart Association, saw Gundy emerge as the winner from a list of eight finalists that included two former University of Houston coaches — Baylor's Art Briles and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin, who was nominated for his work at UH this season.

"It's huge for us," Gundy said. "I think we have 26 players on our roster from this area. Houston players like Stillwater."

It's not close to a national championship — not even in the same stratosphere — but it's still a sweet win for a guy who grew up watching Bear Bryant on TV.

"There weren't a lot of games on TV back then," the 44-year-old Gundy said. "But you'd get to watch Bear Bryant on a few of the ones there were."

Doing it in Houston might mean more to Gundy and Oklahoma State from a practical standpoint. The Cowboys have built their program into a power by turning to plenty of Houston area recruits.

"It's huge for us," Gundy said. "I think we have 26 players on our roster from this area. Houston players like Stillwater. They can go up there and pretty much know they're going to be playing most of their road games South of Stillwater. Their family and friends still have the chance to watch them play.

"And Stillwater seems to be an easy transition for them."

For a coach who is still most known for his "I'm a man! I'm 40!" press conference that's a longtime YouTube classic, winning the Bear Bryant is further validation of his enthusiastic methods. Gundy is enjoying the spoils of the breakthrough, set to sign a new mega contract extension that's expected to bump his pay up to $3.7 million per year. He's seen Oklahoma State turn into something of a brand for really the first time since Barry Sanders played there — to the point where several of the players Gundy coached who went on to the NFL came back this season to soak in some of the success.

"We'd have guys come back during their bye weeks (in the NFL) to stand on the sidelines and be a part of it," Gundy said. "That means a lot."

You get the sense that beating Miles and LSU for Coach of the Year means a little something to Oklahoma State as well.

For more, stay tuned to CultureMap for a full column on the top college coaches' time in Houston.

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Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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