Weekly Football Press Luncheon Quotes
11/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 16, 2004
On the loss at UAB and the upcoming game this weekend against Louisville
"First of all, I do appreciate all of you guys coming out and supporting us this year. We need the attention in the city, we need people to understand what is going on here and we need to have people come out and support the Cougars.
"With this week's game, we're very excited about playing Louisville. I was talking to our SID a little while ago, and this is the highest-ranked team coming into our stadium since 1998 when UCLA came here. It's a tremendous chance for us to finish off this season on a great note, and I'm excited about the opportunity to play them and get our guys on the field with them. As a team, Louisville is without a doubt playing as well as anyone in the nation, maybe with the exception of USC. These people (Louisville) are really playing well and they're three points away from not being No. 8 in the nation, but from being No. 2 or No. 3 in the nation. It's a great challenge and a great opportunity for us.
"As far as the game last week (at UAB), we didn't play great, but we didn't that bad, either. We just played a team that was, in their situation, perhaps a little more defined with what was going on at the time than maybe we were. I thought our focus was really good, I just didn't think our finish was good. We had four first downs inside their 20-yard line and came away with only seven points. And that's totally unacceptable. We held the ball, which allowed our defense to really have another good outing. We had 87 snaps, compared to 56 for them. The snaps are good, but you have to score points when you have the football. We're not playing keep-away, we're playing to score and win games. It was another frustrating evening. That's part of it and that's why we do it. But we'll rebound and we will make a solid and determined effort on Saturday (against Louisville). That's a guarantee."
In playing a team (Louisville) which will not be in Conference USA next year, is there any different mindset at all to make sure they know what they will be missing (in leaving to another conference)?
"Honestly, no. Not from our standpoint as a team. We're going out to try to execute and win the football game, and we realize that when the ball is snapped, all of the hype leading up the game is gone. Then it comes down to execution, field position and scoring. What they do, I could care less, honestly. Anybody is where they are at. All I care about is the University of Houston. It doesn't matter to me what they do."
What makes Louisville's offense so difficult? They use two quarterbacks, multiple running backs. What makes it so difficult to prepare for?
"They're personnel, without a doubt. They have a good scheme. It (scheme) is simple but very effective, high percentage. They have two quarterbacks - (Stefan) LeFors took every snap against Memphis, in a dog-fight game. They have used their other quarterback throughout the season. He's (LeFors) a great operator and a great kid, and they play with his abilities well. They have a great offensive line, they have outstanding receivers and three (running) backs from 225 to 245 pounds that they can pound you with a little bit. The difference in this year's team and last year's team is their defense, without a doubt. Louisville is a good defensive football team. Last year they were kind of hit-and-miss, but this year they've been consistent. These guys can play. They are really good defensively, and that's why they are where they are this year. Last year they were great on offense also, but this year they are really good on both sides of the ball."
Do you have to change your offensive philosophy at all for this game?
"That's an intelligent question. My intelligence level has dropped considerably over the past two or three months, so I'm not sure how to answer that. If you wanted me to answer it like I should I would say yes. This is a deal where if we have two dollars in our pocket before the game, they won't be there when the game is over. Do you know what I am saying? We are not saving anything for this game. We're not worried about 7:30 on Saturday night, we're worried about 4:00pm on Saturday. We'll see what happens."
How does Louisville compare to Miami?
"Personnel-wise, not that far off. Without a doubt they have the athletes. And I have to be careful because we play Miami two years...In a matter that won't make them (Miami) get after us in a couple years, what Louisville tries to do to you schematically is totally different on both sides of the ball than what Miami tries to do to you. If Miami can win 17-10, they are going to shake hands and go home and be happy. If they throw the ball for 183 yards and rush for 212 yards. Defensively, they (Miami) are the same way. They use their soundness, talent and ability to win. Whereas, Louisville, in my opinion, just as good of personnel with different philosophies."
What have you learned throughout this season?
"I guess you learn every time you wake up and live a day. There are a whole lot of things you learn when things don't go your way. I think we came into this season with some high expectations, just like we will next year. When you play one out of your first seven games on your home field, that's not an easy situation and it's hard to gain momentum. I found out how important that is. You have to create some momentum and confidence early in your season, if you're going to be able to maintain throughout the year. I think that is very critical. Not that we are a young team, but we really weren't that experienced coming in, and when you look at the starters in the Hawai'i game and the starters we had at the beginning of this year, it's quite a change. What you have to do is develop is confidence and momentum, and the only way to do that is to have success on the field. You can talk and talk, cheer and cheer, pat on the back and you can hug all you want, but winning is the only thing that matters. You have to be able to set yourself up in a position to win in certain situations.
"Every situation we are in we expect to win. And always will. But when it doesn't go your way, then you have to find out other things, such as perseverance, toughness, attitude, effort, all of the things that make you a decent human being. That's the thing I'm most proud about with our guys - we're a better football team now than we were in August. That's a critical thing to me. We haven't gotten worse; we've gotten better. We'll see how it bodes on Saturday, but we feel pretty confident about our chances on Saturday."
It will be the last game for many seniors?
"It's always a special time for them (seniors), to their families and the University. I expect every senior who plays in the game on Saturday to graduate. And I think every one of them, unless something really strange happens, will graduate. And that to me is the most important thing. Like I tell them all the time, I'm more worried about them when they are 42 rather than when they are 22. What I think we've been able to grow and learn with them are some decent human qualities that they will be able to use later on in life. That to me is important. As far as the football part of it, I don't expect them to play harder Saturday than they did earlier in the year. If they did, I would be a little bit disappointed. There might be a few emotions flowing between them and us and their families, and I think that is very normal. Any time you hang around people as much as we do over the last couple years, you grow pretty fond of each other."