University of Houston Athletics
Football-Armed Forces Bowl Bid Press Conference Quotes
12/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Quotes from the University of Houston Football Press Conference
Sunday, December 7, 2008 * Houston, Texas * Athletics/Alumni Center
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS DAVE MAGGARD
Opening Statement
"This is another exciting day for us. I was visiting with one of the bowl representatives earlier today and he said that the good thing about what we are doing is that we are in the mix for a bowl bid every year, which is really great for our program. It is a good thing for us to be considered from a standpoint of performance for a bowl game every year. We look at the Armed Forces Bowl, which is a place we were at a few years ago. If you remember we played Kansas and we had a great time from the standpoint of bowl logistics, and it was a wonderful experience for everybody. They do a first-class job. It's tremendous for us that this is a bowl that all our fans and alumni can get to. We are going to encourage all of our fans and alumni to come to the game, we need a big crowd there. We are playing Air Force; a team we have already played once this year, but as Coach Sumlin and I were talking earlier, nobody saw that game."
The first Air Force game was not on TV and it was played in a very different situation and time. We are really delighted to be in a bowl, particularly the Armed Forces Bowl. It is great for us to be in Texas because it gives our fans and alums a chance to be with us on New Years Eve."
HEAD COACH Kevin Sumlin
Opening Statement
"We are excited about this opportunity to be in the Armed Forces Bowl. For us, it's another opportunity to play and to extend our season to both practice and compete again, which is always a good thing. Postseason is always good for any college team but especially for us because we get to play in state and this is obviously a state that we recruit very heavily. It's a chance for us to play on TV again, play in front of a national audience and have our fans get to see us one more time. It is convenient for our fans as well as for our players and their families, so we ought to have a great crowd. Very rarely do you get a chance to play a team twice in one season and everything has worked out that way. Overall, we are very excited."
On playing Air Force for the second time this season
"I have been involved in rematches before, including last year when I was involved in one for a championship. You play and whatever happens, happens. They say you can't beat a good team twice and you can't beat a really good team once but I don't believe in that. For us, things happened during the year and we are a very different team than we were earlier in the year and I would assume they are too. This will be a very different situation, the weather was a factor, the weather was still blowing and they did not complete a single pass. They are fifth in the country in rushing offense so this game will be clashing styles because we are one of the top passing teams in the country. So the contrasting styles will make for a good game."
On his team qualifying for a bowl in his first season
"It is gratifying. A week ago we did not accomplish everything that we wanted to accomplish. But to be in the mix and in line for postseason play every year is something that we have set out to do. This being my first year and with all the things that we had go on this year, I think this is good. We had a team meeting last week and we were obviously disappointed that we didn't meet all of our goals but we have a lot of things that we can look forward to. For our seniors they have a legacy. They have beaten a couple ranked teams this year and have gone undefeated at home. They have the chance to cap it off with the first bowl victory in 28 years and that is a lot to be said for a senior class. For the young guys this is really the start of next season. We have a lot to play for and a lot to be excited about."
On the importance of this bowl in terms of recruiting
"It's always important to play well. It is convenient for us. We are out recruiting now and it's no secret that we are in the greater Houston area but also in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and East Texas. So it is convenient since some of those guys might be able to swing by and see us. All of those relationships with high school coaches and players are important. Any time you can get on television in postseason play and play well it is rewarding for not only the current players but for the recruits."
On the importance of ending the season with a win
"I have seen both sides but obviously nobody wants to end their season with a loss. I think everybody wants to end it (the season) with a win and use that as a springboard into the next season. It helps you anytime you can win on television, particularly in bowl games. There are a lot of bowl games going on at the same time so a lot of people get to see you. It helps you in recruiting and in general in off-season workouts because there is a little bit more enthusiasm when you win. But it's also good for your seniors to send them out on a good note."
A last impression can be lingering if you allow it to be. Each team is different every year so whether you win or lose that last game; it's how you deal with it. Winning is a lot better."
On the Cougars bowl victory drought
"For us, none of our players were even born when UH had its last bowl win. Each team is different and for our seniors that is important. Our legacy is important and our seniors still have something to accomplish. If there is something for them to accomplish and be known for, it is as a group to start a few things, like ending the bowl drought and going undefeated at home."
