University of Houston Athletics
Football Press Conference Quotes
9/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 12, 2006
Quotes from University of Houston Press Luncheon Tuesday, September 12 2006 * Houston, Texas * Athletics/Alumni Center
HEAD COACH Art Briles
On the Grambling State game:
"This weekend we need our people to show up. I had a conference with Grambling State a couple weeks ago and I thought I was from out of town. They had a lot of folks there and they were really representing well. Those people are going to turn out and support their university and we need to do the same things. It needs to be a great atmosphere because it's a great event. I have worlds of respect for the university. They have as much history in football as any university in the nation. The first coaching school I ever went to in 1979 I got Eddie Robinson's autograph. It's going to be a great atmosphere for the university and for Grambling State."
"They could be 2-0. This is an opportunity for us to improve as a football team. They have a good football team. They are an 11-1 football team and they won the SWAC Conference last year. They have more players in the NFL than any I-AA in the nation and probably in the top 20 all-time. They have people that can play and they have great tradition. They are going to be exciting when they walk into Robertson Stadium on Saturday but so are the Houston Cougars. It's our home stadium and we are going to protect it."
On the Tulane game:
"It was a good ball game. We played well on both sides of the ball and special teams. That's what we have to do. It's not a deal where we have our feet propped up on the desk, laying back in the chair and asking people to ask us questions because we know the answers. We don't think that by any stretch of the imagination. We have a long way to go. We know what we expect to do since we opened fall camp in August. Right now, we've done what we have anticipated to do. We got the two conference wins and we have the four non-conference games staring us in the face. These games are for bowl eligibility and bowl scenarios. We are playing these to improve our bowl scenarios and to improve as a football team. We're not playing because of who they are, what they are or what they stand for. We are playing to improve as a football team every time we step on the field. That's our goal and that's mission this week against Grambling State. I would like to say that I am proud of our players. Of their attitude, their personality and their demeanor in these first two weeks of the season. I am proud that they have stayed focused and taken care of business."
On Anthony Alridge and Roshawn Pope:
"Those guys did an outstanding job. It didn't surprise me one bit. I have been around them for four years. Know the top athletes that they are, the top people that they are and what they bring to the table I was glad that they got to showcase to a lot of people. They make us a lot more explosive football team, a lot more dynamic football team on the offensive side of the ball. The more weapons you can have the more dangerous you are. We are in the stages of becoming a pretty good football team offensively."
On the defense:
"The thing that really helped us the other night was the way the defense played. We have seven possessions in both halves. If we can get six possessions in a half then we are going to be a good football team. That's what the difference in the game the other night was; we got possessions. Our defense had three and outs. They keep playing great defense and it allows us to be a little looser on offense."
On the new time rules:
"It is a rule that is not good for college football. It's made up by people that are not looking at the whole atmosphere of the game. We are not professional. We're not high school. We are college. Let's play 15 minutes a quarter, let us have fun, let people enjoy the game. It's a defensive minded adjustment. I suggest leave it like it was. I would suggest if they were making any changes leave it to the last three minutes of the half. We had 63 plays against Rice. We haven't had 63 plays since I have been here in an offensive game. We had 81 last week but that's because we had three and out and then we get the ball back. If there are sustained drives you are not going to see plays. You are going to see stats go way down. Not that it matters but it matters to me that the game is shorter. It's not like the guys show up August 1st and say let go we have a game September 2nd. They work their butt off 365 days a year. We have the opportunity to play college football and we have guys with suits and ties on making the rules; it doesn't make sense. Let us decide. Let the players decide. Let the coaches decide. We are taking people off special teams so we can have people ready on offense so when we anticipate the punt we can get them ready to snap the ball as soon as the referee gives the signal. They can't be on the punt return team, get on the sidelines and get out there and go because you have no time. A soon as the referee set the ball the clock is rolling."
On Jackie Battle:
"I think he is healthy. I think he is ready to go. I think he could have played the other night if we felt like it was necessary."
On T.J. Lawrence:
"I think he will be fine. It was a game time decision. He tried to go but couldn't. We have good depth in the kicking department so that is a good luxury."
