OSU football notebook: Mike Gundy hopeful contract negotiations will be resolved soon

Gundy would not offer any more details about the ongoing negotiation process at his Monday press conference, his first media appearance since the night it was announced that OSU would play Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl more than two weeks ago.

“There's just really not anything for me to say about that,” Gundy said. “I would prefer to keep that under wraps. I wish that we didn't have to make those situations public, but it's not going to change. I just don't feel comfortable in talking about contract negotiations.

“The only thing I'd say is that I've made it real clear that I want to be here a long time. They couldn't give me enough years for me to sign on. I wouldn't look at something and say, ‘Oh, that's too many years.'”

Gundy, who has led OSU to back-to-back 11-win seasons and the school's first outright conference title and trip to a BCS bowl game, has four years remaining on his current contract with a base salary of $2.1 million in 2011. For the first time in his career, Gundy hired an agent to be the primary figure involved in the negotiation process with OSU officials.

“He only updates me if he thinks that I need information about what's going on, based on what he feels like is a fair contract,” Gundy said. “And if it gets too far away from one side or the other, then he'll contact me and we'll have a discussion.

“Other than that, I haven't had any talks with Oklahoma State officials regarding the contract.”

LITTLEHEAD SUSPENDED FOR FIESTA BOWL

OSU defensive tackle Christian Littlehead, who was charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia last week, has been suspended for the Fiesta Bowl.

“I will say this for Chris: we've all been young. We all make mistakes,” Gundy said. “I'm still behind him 100 percent, but he's lost his right to play in the bowl game.”

Littlehead, a part-time starter who tallied 16 tackles this season, is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 29.

Anthony Rogers, who started eight games at tackle this season, is likely to see more snaps in Littlehead's absence. Davidell Collins and James Castleman could also see increased playing time.