University of Houston Athletics
Football Press Conference Quotes
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 31, 2006
Quotes from University of Houston Football Press Conference
Tuesday, October 31, 2006 * Houston, Texas * Athletics/Alumni Center
HEAD COACH Art Briles
Opening Statement
"(It was) a big win last Saturday against UCF, a team we have a lot of respect for from a program standpoint and an athletic standpoint. They are a very talented team that showed it last year by winning the east side of the division. It was a good, tough win for us. The thing that is really evident about our football team is that we have a bunch of guys that are a bunch of battlers. They never lose hope, they never lose faith and they never lose the belief and they keep battling and grinding on through. From that standpoint, I am very proud of them. Now we are preparing to move on to Tulsa and get it on this week."
On Saturday's game being senior night:
"I didn't realize we had 17 seniors, honestly. I probably should, but I don't get into a lot of that stuff, such as staff and seniors and all the stuff that goes with it. To me, we are all equal, players, coaches and everyone involved with our football program. It will be a meaningful afternoon for them but the most important thing is to make is a winning afternoon. That's is where their focus will be, just like mine. What we would love to do is send them off on a victory on their last regular season home game."
On the match-up having the feel of a playoff game:
"A playoff feel, maybe not, because if you aren't on the right side of the scoreboard you go hang your pads up. We still have two very meaningful conference games after this game. What this game is, is a big game for the west division title. We are 4-1 and they are 4-0. You don't have to be a mathematician to figure out the winner of this game is going to come out in pretty good shape. The thing I am proud of is that we have battled and fought to put ourselves in this position. Since we are here, we are going to take advantage of it because you don't get many chances to be here. It was like what we have said all along, we control we. We haven't asked anyone to loan us money or give us some gas for our car. We've got gas in the car and we know where we are going. We control were we end up."
On the Tulsa game:
"Tulsa is a very balanced football team, defensively, offensively and special teams. That is evident by their record. You can't be a 7-1 football team without being good in all phases and they are and have been. That's why they are winning. Our job is to match everything that they bring to the table with more enthusiasm, more effort, more attitude and more determination. That's our mission. That's our goal."
On Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthorpe:
"He is a really upstanding man. He is very experienced and has done a good job everywhere he has been. He is doing a great job at Tulsa."
