University of Houston Athletics
Football Bowl Press Luncheon Quotes
12/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Dec. 16, 2005
HOUSTON - Quotes from University of Houston Bowl Press Luncheon
Friday, December 16, 2005 * Houston, Texas * Athletics/Alumni Center
HEAD COACH Art Briles
"We are very excited to go to Fort Worth for a variety of reasons. The implications in recruiting are outstanding and amazing. The last time that I checked, we had the same last name that they have and that's Texas. That's a big deal for us. It's a big deal to play in the state and getting a chance to showcase our University and the state of Texas. That's where we get the majority of our players from and where most of them live. It's a great opportunity for them and a great opportunity for us.
"A bowl game is a reward. A couple of years ago, when we went to Hawai'i, that's the way that we looked at it. Now, we look at it as an opportunity. It's an opportunity for us to show what style of football we play, the type of team that we have and the type of University and city that we represent. From that standpoint, it's a big deal for us as far as representing a lot of people.
"It's been a while since we have won a bowl game around here. We want to be the team that changes that. Somebody has to do it sometime. Like we say, if not now, when? It's time to turn the trend and make it a positive situation where it hasn't been for a while.
"We are excited about that. I really feel good about this football team. I have felt that way since day one. You guys that were here back in August know that that is the truth because I have said it all year long. We have a good team. We have a team that feels good about each other and that cares about each other. They are going to play hard. We are going to make a really good stand for our University and our football team. We have battled. We expected to be in a bowl game. We actually expected a little more, but sometimes you don't always get what you want. We got some of it; now we need to take advantage of it."
On playing close to Stephenville: "There would be a lot of people there that I have a close association with. If we were playing in Sharpstown, getting to a bowl game is a big deal. That is what it is all about. My focus is going to be on doing whatever we can do to help our team win. It will be fun knowing that there will be some people there really caring about us and rooting for us, as well as our players. We have a lot of players from that area that will have a lot of folks in there that are hopefully buying their tickets through 1-800-GO-COOGS or UHCOugars.com. That's where they need to be getting them."
On the layoff: "I like it because we get to work with our guys more and get better. The thing that would be the concern would be making sure that you are game ready with game speed. It has been a while since we have been at game speed. It's hard to simulate that in practice. That is probably the only concern that I have. Kansas will be in the same way and everyone else in a bowl game because it's going to be a while since they have played. After the first 6-8 plays, that is a done deal anyway, because everybody catches back up. We are concentrating on staying fresh, staying sharp mentally and physically and making sure that we all understand the same drive, same mission, same focus."
On lasting memories of Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl: "That was a great experience. We hadn't done this thing in a while. We walked into a pretty tough bowl game to jump into. We walked into a home site and a different environment. We learned a little bit. What we learned as a staff was that you have to parameter yourself into what your focus is going to be. When you go to Hawai'i, it's probably a little bit tougher focus-situation than most bowls. If we went back now, things would be handled in a better fashion to give ourselves a better chance to be victorious, which we almost came up with anyway. That's one of those deals where you live, you learn and get better.
"My lasting memories are a great trip, great exposure for our University, bad outcome."
"You see teams that are bowl-eligible year after year after year because it helps tremendously with recruiting which allows you to get the players you need in your system. They formulate a plan and a goal and they know how to approach every situation. As we continue to grow as a program and as a team, we will get better every time we step on the field in bowl situations."
On Kansas: "They are a pretty hot football team, winning three of their last four. They have done some things this year that are extremely big for their program, like beating Nebraska for the first time in 36 years, beating Missouri three years in a row, having the No. 19 defense in the nation, No. 3 against the rush offense nationally. They have done some things.
"They have a bunch of starters back. They have eight guys that have started on and off for three years on defense. They are pretty balanced offensively. They have a couple of running backs with 600 yards. Both quarterbacks have thrown for about 900 yards. They have some guys that can make plays for them at the receiver position also.
"They are a team that has played well throughout the season, battled hard. They are a program that is growing and getting better. It's a nice matchup with us and them. It's an attractive matchup. We are definitely excited to put our talents on the table against theirs, because I have lot of confidence in the talents of our players.
