Houston Football Postgame Quotes
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
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2008 Houston Cougars Football Postgame Quotes Tulane Green Wave (2-7, 1-4 C-USA) at Houston Cougars (5-4, 4-1 C-USA) Saturday, Nov. 8, 2007 * John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium * Houston, Texas
HOUSTON HEAD COACH Kevin Sumlin On the game "The team came out for the first time in a couple of weeks, and got off to a good start, offensively and defensively, which helped us. We got in a situation where we have people that have not played, becoming role makers, and we are counting on them. They have to understand the importance and the sense of urgency in a football game, particularly when it comes to penalties and turnovers. Those guys are held at the same standards as everyone else. We were extremely aggressive today, which we wanted, but we committed the most turnovers, we probably had all year."
On Andre Kohn playing in the game "He's been good; he has done that all year. The game plan, since we lost Patrick (Edwards), and the utilization of Andre Kohn is good. We got him out of the slot a little bit and he played receiver and running back and he was able to give Bryce (Beall) some rest. He was also able to do some things on the perimeter which he hasn't been able to do. We have to continue to get our better players on the field and get in the position to make plays for us. Andre had some key plays in the game and Bryce continues to do well particularly behind the line. Our running game gave us the opportunity to slow those guys (Tulane) down, and not pass rush us all day."
On the success of both the running game and the passing game: "It felt good, but it is always going to be difficult if you are one dimensional. We are best, just like any other team, when we are able to do both. Bryce is a good back; he has a sense of power. He is getting better. The utilization of Andre Kohn helped. He had some key touches and plays and there wasn't a drop off (between the two). Him being able to get on the field helped us get in the perimeter and alleviate some pressure off Tyron (Carrier) and those guys with the absence of Patrick."
On having 693 yards of total offense: "We can get better. We turned it over and had a bunch of penalties. We are nine games into this offense and as our guys get to learn and Case (Keenum) learns what we can and can't do, and we get a feel for things, we can get better. We have to play at a level at that same aggressive level without the mistakes."
HOUSTON SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK Case Keenum On getting out to a fast start against Tulane "We're always talking about coming fast and we finally beat that dead horse. The defense did a good job getting stops, and we went out there and scored. We had a great running game going tonight, Bryce (Beall) did a great job for us. That's a key part to any football game, running the ball. It opens up a lot of things (in the passing game). I thought that was very important."
On the offense "We stopped ourselves a lot still tonight. We left some points out there. The defense did a good job of getting us the ball quite a few times, but we didn't do as much as we know we can. But that gives us some things we can work on."
On the importance of a strong finish to the season "We said coming in that we have a four-game season, and we started it off tonight with a win. But, it continues next week with Tulsa coming here, and that's going to be a good game. We're all looking forward to it."
HOUSTON SENIOR, DEFENSIVE END Tate Stewart On jumping out to a fast start against the Green Wave "We have had trouble getting started all season. But, it felt alive in the locker room tonight before the game. I just felt that we were going to jump out of the gates, and we did. We came out strong and played as a team. The defense had to hold fast a couple of times in the first half in some tough situations, but the offense came right back and put up some points on the board and made it really easy on us. It was just a great team win effort tonight."
On how the team played "When the defense needed to rise up, we did. When we needed a drive by the offense, they came through. The special teams played great tonight. It was just a great team effort."
HOUSTON FRESHMAN RUNNINGBACK Bryce Beall On his big game against Tulane "We knew coming into this week we were going to be able to run the ball. It just started from play one when we called a sweep, I just knew it was going to be a great night."
On getting out to a fast start "That benefits us a lot. Our defense played really well, and they got our offense going. We know that if we put points on the board, it's going to be hard for any team to catch up with us."
TULANE HEAD COACH BOB TOLEDO On the game "We played against a good football team. They beat us, and we got banged up. We have a hard time scoring points and a hard time stopping people right now, and that is a bad combination. We had some chance to put some points on the board, but we missed some field goals. They got in the red zone and we couldn't stop them. We got beat up pretty good, one of our quarterbacks broke his collar bone. We only have five receivers. We are pretty decimated right now."
On the offense "We tried some special plays, but we didn't capitalize well on, but we tried to create some points and manufacture points, and that didn't happen either. We are a struggling football team right now."
