University of Houston Athletics
Weekly Football Press Luncheon
9/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2003
On the Louisian-Lafayette win last weekend
"Last week was the most horrendous conditions that I've ever been associated with in 25 years of coaching, and I was really proud of our football team because it was a character win. We could have found a lot of excuses to not play well, considering the weather, but we found reasons to win. It is one of the most enjoyable wins that I've ever been associated with in my coaching career. We really had to overcome a lot of adversity, we had to show a lot of character and a lot of mental toughness, and we were able to pull it out even with all of the penalities and turnovers. It was a tremendous win and hopefully one that we can build a lot of confidence from throughout the season.
"We have to win tough road games, and that was a tough win on the road. We're going to have 4-5 more games on the season where it could go either way, and we have to be able to win those games. We need to continue that trend if we are expected to win the conference championship and go to a bowl game."
On the Mississippi State game this weekend at Robertson Stadium
"They have a very deceiving record. They are 0-2, but they lost close games to Oregon and Tulane. They really haven't got on track yet, but they have a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator. They're moving the ball really well on offense. They've had a few problems defensively, but I think a lot of that has to do with, first of all, who they're playing. Oregon has a great football team, they are one of the better offenses in the nation, and Tulane has a very fine offensive team and are able to put points on the board. Mississippi State has had two of their secondary guys not play last week that are going to play this week, and they are getting a defensive lineman back who missed the first two games. They've had some problems defensively with some personnel being injured, but they're getting those people back, so they are going to be much healthier.
"I feel good about the attitude of our team going into the game. We're happy to be back home."
Is Briles looking forward to facing Jackie Sherrill, a former Texas high school coach who he is very familiar with?
"Yes and no. Yes, because I respect him as a coach - he is the fourth-winningest active coach in the NCAA right now. And no from the standpoint that I'm not playing Jackie and he's not playing me; we're playing their team and they're playing our team. I'll shake his hand before and after the game, but as the game is going on, he'll be the last thing on my mind."
On Houston's pass defense, which is among the top in the nation
"They've really done a nice job, and Coach (Derrick) Odum and Coach (Ron) Harris have both done a great job with the secondary. They're (the secondary) just making plays, and that's what playing defense is all about. They've been in the right position at the right time and have made the plays that they've had to make."
Is the Mississippi State game a good measure of where the Cougar football program is right now?
"I think they all are. This is just a different test against a different team. We're still growing as a football team, we're still trying to figure out what we can and can't do as a football team, and each week gives us a chance to advance. But conference starts Sept. 30, which is right around the corner, so the preliminary tests are about over. We need to get out there and we've got to play well against a formidable opponent, which Mississippi State is. It would be a nice win for the University of Houston program, but it's not going to be the defining moment of our season."
How a game and win against Mississippi State can help boost the team's confidence
"It would help our confidence, but what you are is how you perceive yourself to be. If we walk around and think we aren't a good team, then we're not going to be. And we're always thinking that we have a chance to win, deserve to win and expect to win. We're going to get out there and play hard and expect to win Saturday night."
On Conference USA's stance in the nation, and how a Houston victory over Mississippi State will help the image of the conference
"Just from what I can tell, the conference (Conference USA) is very strong overall. I think that with Tulane beating Mississippi State and Memphis beating Ole Miss, there are a lot of good things going on in the conference. I think as the season unfolds it will tell its tale. But the way college football is getting is that anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday because of the parody involved and limited scholarships. And I think this will be a trend that will continue."
Who are some of the Cougars who have played the most consistent in the secondary?
"Of course, Jermain Woodard has really had a successful year so far and has truly been consistent for us. Will Gulley has done a great job and Stanford Routt has also really done well. He (Routt) knocked down the receiver at Michigan and really did a good job against him. Roland Cola did a good job before he went down (injured) against Michigan, Willie Gaston has gone in and done a nice job, as has Courtney (Brooks) and (Roshawn) Pope. Everybody we have put back there has really done a good job."
On Briles' biggest concern entering the game against Missisippi State
"We're kind of approaching it more of what we need to do. They're (Mississippi State) is always going to be a concern because they've always had talent and they always play extremely hard. Those guys are used to high-calibur competition in the SEC, which is where we have to get to andwhere we're driving to be. We're still in the evalutation process of the football team. We've played three games, but we're still a very young team in terms of systems and techniques. That's the thing that we're constantly trying to improve upon, especially on the offensive side of the ball. We got to do a few things against Rice, Michigan took a few things away from us and last week we really weren't able to some things offensively that we wanted to do. So, we're still trying to get out there and figure out what our guys can do and who we need to do it with, and that's my main concern going into this weekend."
On how much Cougar QB Kevin Kolb has grown so far this season
"I think he's really handling everything pretty well. We've got some good leaders around him thsat are helping him stay copmposed. He's doing a nice job. Kevin is intelligent enough to realize and understand that it's his job to allow other people to make plays. That's the main thing a quarterback has to do - like a point guard in basketball - you feed people the ball and let them make plays.
On thishigh-profile game being big for recruiting to the program
"They're (all games) are huge. You have to perform every week and play well every week. The thing we have to do as a University is that we have to put on a good show. We can't go out there and play great as a football team and have 14,000 people in the stands. We have to have people in the stands supporting and backing the University of Houston. That's what football is all about. The excitement is built through the fans in the stands and the band and everything that goes with it. We have to come together as a group and sell the University."
On the response to the Cougar program by local high school coaches
"I think it's all been positive. We know a lot of these people personally, and I think that helps. They (coaches) know how we treat student-athletes and how a player will be treated when they come here. They (coachesa) know that we will stress that a student-athlete get an education and that we're not going to abuse them physically or verbally in any fashion. I think those factors, combined with the fact that hopefully we can put together a good football team and win some championships, will help that."
