University of Houston Athletics
Football Media Day Quotes
8/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2007
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Quotes from University of Houston Football Media Day
Saturday, August 11, 2007 * Houston, Texas * Athletics/Alumni Center
HEAD COACH Art Briles
On the season:
"The great thing about being able to defend (a conference championship) is that you have taken a step in a positive direction with the program. That's what we did last year and the great thing about that is we don't just want to defend we want to dominate. We want to be a dominant football team, a dominant football program. We don't want to be one that just flies here and there and then the next thing you know they are a thing of the past. That's been our driving force since January, along with a couple other things.
"We are certainly proud of what was accomplished last year but the cup of water we are drinking out of isn't empty. We have a lot left to do and winning championships is one of those goals we have in mind. I feel very fortunate and very honored every day to get to work with the coaches and the players. They are great young men. They keep you young because they are happy, active, motivated, determined and dedicated. That's what makes the world go around."
On having a mark on them as conference champions:
"I really think it's a plus. The great thing about being a champion or a defending champion is people are going to come after you. They aren't going to wonder who they are playing each week. They'll know they are playing UH and they are going to know what we can do. They are going to come after us but consequently by them elevating their game it's going to cause us to elevate our game. That's how you can form a dominant team or a dynasty team. I know that people are going to play up against us but it's going to make us play up and in turn make us a better football team. You want the mark on you because it means you did something."
On the perception of the team following a conference championship:
"Program wise we are still going in the same direction. Perception wise it's going to be a little different because of last year. Our program has been on a constant improvement level. If we are going to 20 we are on about five; so we still have a long way to go. The credibility and respect standpoint, which is very important to me, is definitely up there, not only regionally but also nationally. That's a good thing when you are talking about a program."
On if the program is going to be going through a rebuilding year in 2007:
"It's a re-get after it (year). We haven't stopped. We are going to jog out there and play ball and we are going to play anyone that is an opponent. We aren't looking like we have to do this or that to get to where we were to be better. We have people that can play. We have schemes that are aggressive and beneficial and we have guys that know how to get after it. So we are going to line up and play."
On the quarterback situation:
"It's still wide open. It's a great concern for a lot of people but it's a comfort to me. It's a comfort because we have guys that can play. It's making sure we get the right guy in at the right time to manage the game because that's what it's about. We have people that can play on the offensive side of the ball, like we do on defense. It's not a deal where the quarterback is going to determine if we score 35 points or 42 points. It's going to be the guy that understands the situation and gets the ball in the proper place and the proper time."
On if the offense or defense is performing better at this point in the season:
"It's hard to say right now. We have only been out there a week, maybe a week and a half and we are going to scrimmage a little today. It's all situational. If we were going to work all first-and-tens then the offense might be ahead. If it was all third-and-fours then the defense might be ahead. It depends on the situation we are placed in. We have equal starters on both sides of the ball and an equal number of guys that know how to play. I feel real good about both sides of the ball and I feel really good about our special teams. I think our special teams is going to be stronger than they have been in the last four years."
On what other programs think about the Houston football team:
"If I worried about what other teams thought about us then I would worry all the time. I just worry about our football team and our university. That's all I am concerned with because I know what we are and who we are. We are going to play. When we jog out there at Oregon we are going to play."
On the team's attitude following last season's success:
"We have always had that attitude but instead of dealing in hope we are dealing in reality and there is a whole lot of difference. It's not there goes that guy that talks a lot of noise. Now, it's a deal where they may talk a little noise but last time I checked they were the ones with the ring around their necks. There is some reality to the statements as a team. If we didn't think we were going to win every time we played why would we go out there and get after it. We expect to win every time we step on the field."
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS DAVE MAGGARD
On the upcoming football season:
"This is obviously an exciting time of year for all of us. Last year was something of a watershed year for us and our football program. We won a championship. When I was asked to come here I indicated that we would win a championship in four years. We didn't, we won it in five years but it was Coach (Art) Briles' fourth year. So in some ways we met those expectations. There had been a lot of success at the University of Houston in the past and in the last few years we struggled and we want those years to be over beginning with last year and the year before in terms of the great job Coach Briles has done.
"You will hear expectations are high. We don't want anyone in the program that doesn't have high expectations. We're are talking about people who are confident and are willing to work to make those expectations real. There are better things than winning a championship, its winning two championships. Coach Briles has done a terrific job of setting the standard of people who have been recruited and what we do during the year to meet those expectations. We expect to be good. We expect to get the best from ourselves. A lot of people are afraid to say that because they are afraid it will come back to haunt them and they are afraid they will fail. We are not afraid to be bold and say we will be good and we will continue to keep this program going in the right direction."
