University of Houston Athletics
Football Press Conference Quotes
10/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 24, 2006
HEAD COACH Art Briles
Opening Statement
"I am very proud of our players for getting us the win. What we have to remember as a team and as coaches is how we were able to win the other night. It's because of our attitude, work ethic and approach the last three weeks. From that standpoint, it is a humble experience from a coaching ground to see guys continue to believe, to continue to have faith and to fight hard and then see them prevail. It was a good victory against a good football team in UTEP. They have been a good team ever since Coach (Mike) Price has been there. It was a much needed win from our standpoint. We needed to play tough. We needed to play physical and we were. We played really well on both sides of the ball and on special teams. It was a great win and the right time and now we have to remember why we won and how we won and continue on this week against UCF."
On having Cody Pree back from injury:
"It is really refreshing. It allows us to do more things as personnel on that side of the ball. Cody (Pree) is a guy that can come in and make plays on the defensive line. He is strong and quick. It is another solid player in there for us. That was big getting him back. Scott Lee is back. I don't think he played much the other night but he is back and ready to go. We are getting into pretty good shape as far as getting people back that didn't have season ending injuries. Byron Alfred is also back and that helps tremendously.
On Kevin Smith and Mike Walker:
"Those guys are good football players. I think Kevin Smith was last year's conference freshman of the year. He is a tough runner, downhill runner. He has some explosion and (Mike) Walker is a big kid that's very athletic. He catches the football every time that he is on the field and that is every snap on offense, so those are certainly guys that we have our eyes on every snap."
On the running game:
"There were two or three things we decided on concentrating on doing the last two or three weeks and getting Anthony (Alridge) a little more involved in the running game. Jackie (Battle) and Roshawn (Pope) are doing an excellent job. And then we have to get Kevin (Kolb) more involved. Those things happened the other night, which enabled us to maintain some drive and stay alive. It's a deal where we are going to see how it fits in as the season goes along."
On UCF:
"They do have a talented team. They have everyone back from last year except for about three or four players. I think it just shows the parity in college football; just how close the line is from winning and the other side. I really think they have been in some real close ball games. They lost some close games and then they won some tough games. They beat Marshall a couple weeks ago in a tough game. It is just a fine line and this year they are on the bad side of it and last year they were on the good side of it. It is our job to keep them on the bad side of it."
