HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Bryan Nardo doesn’t want recognition for a good play call.

Nardo wants his players to receive all the glory for the play.

That’s just one example representing OSU’s new defensive coordinator’s care for his players and how his scheme works well for the Cowboys.

“I don’t want people to say, ‘Oh my God what a great call by Bryan Nardo,’ I want people to say, ‘What a great play by Oklahoma State’s defense.’ It’s not about me, it’s about our players,” Nardo said.

In January, OSU coach Mike Gundy hired Nardo from Gannon University, a small college in Pennsylvania.

The hire received mixed reactions from fans and media. Some questioned how a defensive gameplan from a Division-II school would transition into the Big 12. That will not be determined until fall, but one thing is certain –Nardo cares about his players.

Nardo brings a defense seen in the Big 12. He runs a 3-3-5, something

Nardo cultivated his defense to the liking of the players. He said his defensive system provides players support to play to the best of their abilities, without the need to do too much.

“What I’ve learned is it allows for players to play with a lot of confidence as long as they know what to do,” Nardo said. “There’s not that perfect check, it doesn’t have to be a perfect defense, it doesn’t have to be a perfect call. It’s not selfcorrecting because that would make it seem like it’s way too easy, it’s not that, but it gives our players a lot of tools to where they are not put into a bad situation.”

Nardo makes sure he and his players are prepared come game day because he doesn’t do much coaching during the game.

Nardo said that coaching happens mostly during practice. When it comes to the game, it’s all about business and executing the game plan.

“I heard someone say that ‘practice is class,’” Nardo said. “If you hear a good teacher, a teacher doesn’t say a word during a test, so I’m very nervous going up to a game because there’s nothing I can do to affect the outcome. During the game, I’m very calm because the players have already done their preparation. You don’t yell at somebody taking a test, you let them go play. You try and guide them if they ask a question.”

Nardo has made quite the impression and impact on his players. He’s popular among the offensive group, too.

During Monday’s availability, a group of offensive players led by running backs Ollie Gordon and Jaden Nixon hooted and hollered for Nardo. All Nardo could do was smile, laugh and say ‘it’s easy to have fun around good kids.”

Nardo makes sure to respect and care about his players as people because it helps the players and the team succeed.

“If a player doesn’t know you care about them, they won’t care what you know,” Nardo said. “Sometimes I think we miss that as coaches. We think that we have to draw this perfect play. The players make the play, we put them in a position to be successful, but they are the ones in the game on Saturday. If I fail as a coach, then fine. If my players don’t think I care about them, shame on me.”