Understandably, Mike Gundy’s eager to get back to work.

But a 20-minute opening statement with reporters Tuesday was filled with cringeworthy remarks, for starters suggesting a May 1 restart date, declaring college football players were healthy enough to fight off COVID-19 and that it was time to “run money through the state of Oklahoma"

He also called it the “Chinese virus.”

So content-craving sports columnists had all the ammo they needed during this coronavirus pandemic, and jumped at the opportunity to crush the Oklahoma State football coach.

This was just the latest from the guy who was famously 40 more than a decade ago, and once used the word “snowflake” to describe college football transfers. Gundy’s athletic director attempted to soften the blow, but the damage was done.

Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports: “Even for the low standards Gundy’s established for irresponsible comments, his news conference appears destined to rewrite his Wiki history for ignorance. He mentioned that getting a ‘herd of healthy people’ outside will help fight the virus. He threw out ideas that his players should be sequestered on campus.”

Pat Forde, Sports Illustrated: “Who needs Anthony Fauci when we have Gundy? Why all the worry about whether football practice can start on time in August, when the Cowboys are planning to be getting after it in May? What’s with all this conjecture about a shorter season or a delayed start when Noted Expert Mike Gundy is here to deliver football unto the masses right smack dab on time?”

Dan Wolken, USA Today: “But Gundy is pushing for something different, something so tone-deaf that it’s obvious he sees himself not as part of an institution of higher education but as the head of a professional franchise that operates as a separate entity entirely. Unlike the pros, though, Oklahoma State has the advantage of not needing to pay players and thus the ability to keep overpaying Gundy to finish fourth in the Big 12 and go 2-13 in his career against Oklahoma.”

Is Mike Gundy aware of what he is saying here? pic.twitter.com/rjWUK6LM7W — Kyle Boone (@Kyle__Boone) April 7, 2020

The coronavirus is kind of like Oklahoma Sooners. It's extremely dangerous and Mike Gundy has no idea how to beat it — Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 7, 2020

Last month, the NCAA canceled all spring sports seasons. The Big 12 has shut down all athletic activities through May.

Oklahoma State’s season is scheduled to open Sept. 3 against Oregon State.