University of Houston Athletics
Football Press Conference Quotes
10/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
HEAD COACH Kevin Sumlin
Opening Statement:
"Last week was a good win for us. Any road win in the Southeastern Conference is a good win. For us to go in Starkville (Miss.) and win a game is good. The manner in which our team played was even better. We talked to the team after the game in the locker room about the number of people put into roles who haven't been in those roles. They were critical roles in a tight football game that we count on to go in and play winning football, and they did that.
"Jordan Shoemaker, we lost early in the game. We lost Jacolby Ashworth before we left, so our whole left side of the line was new. They operated and did a very nice job on the road and allowed plays with a lot of silent count.
"The thing that we asked our team to do is play harder then they played the week before, and they did that. They played smart, and we had two penalties. From that standpoint as a coaching staff, you're proud of your team because you feel like they're listening to what you're trying to get done.
"We had a number of guys go in the game and play at a high rate. Our running backs ran hard obviously. We were able to move the ball.
"Defensively, we had the same issue. David Hunter got hurt early in the game. We had a number of guys who went in there and did a good job, not just Jaryd Anderson but Roy Watts on offense and Tyrone Campbell. Zeke Riser is another true freshman. At one time, we had three true freshmen and Tyrell Graham, who was a transfer linebacker that we made a defensive end, make up our defensive line. Those guys played like crazy. That's what we ask them to do.
"As long as we play at that high rate, we have a chance to be successful. That's what we ask of this team. We made a decision halfway through the game to change kickers. Ben Bell, who's been on the shelf for the better part of the year now, came into the game and did a good job. Chase Turner, who was kicking off, did a nice job too.
"There were a number of players that came in for a team win. Whenever you go on the road and play an opponent like that, it's not one or two guys. We had some great performances individually which we have to have from our older players. The lesson there is you never know when it's your time. You have to prepare every week because you're a twisted ankle away from getting in there. I'm happy with our guys' preparation.
"This week presents a different challenge. I like the way our team is approaching things. I like our edge. Just talking to the guys, our team feels that we still have a lot to prove. As long as we continue with that attitude, our preparation will continue to be good. We're going on the road for the third straight game against a team that's really close to doing some good things. They're well coached. Bob Toledo has been around and has done a lot.
"This is a team that offensively has two of the better players in our league with a one-two punch in running back and wide receiver. Andre Anderson is one of the better backs in the league. He's another big, fast back that we'll have to face. He's not as big as the guy last week but maybe faster. He's a 210-pound guy that has all of the capabilities. Obviously, Jeremy Williams is one of the better receivers in this league.
"Defensively, it will be a challenge for us. This is the No. 1 pass defense in our league. Three of their four defensive lineman are seniors with one junior. Two of the three linebackers are seniors with one junior. The two safeties are seniors and the two corners are juniors. This is a veteran football team that's played a bunch of games against SEC opponents and in our league. Going on the road will be a challenge.
"With all of that said, our team is looking forward to getting back in conference play and really feel we have a lot of things out there in front of us and a lot of things to prove."
On the significance of beating Tulane:
"It's significant because it's a conference game. It is significant because our goals start with winning the West. We're playing a league opponent, and that should say enough right there. We have to go over there and play very, very well regardless of what's happened up to this point or what this team has done. Our goals start there and that's why this game is important."
On the team's edge:
"Talking to guys, I know they're not satisfied. That's the edge I'm talking about. With all of the other things that come from winning, it's not as important as being satisfied with where you are right now. Because of that, it creates an attitude that we need to have every week to play on edge."
On entering the top-25 rankings again:
"That comes with winning and dropping out of it comes with losing. When you win, those things will come to you. Our goal was to keep winning. As I said previously, it's great for our university, our fans, our students and the national recognition that comes with that. It's hard to get to that point, and it's harder to stay there. There are some things that we still need to accomplish."
JUNIOR QUARTERBACK Case Keenum
On the offensive weapons:
"We're on the same page with all of our plays. It's fun throwing the ball to a guy who is going to catch it. There's a bunch of guys I like throwing the football to. Playmakers are ubiquitous out there on the field for our offense."
On the Tulane defense:
"The know how to handle different situations. Those are always tough football teams who have lots of experience. We're going to have to play sound football and take care of the football. They're going to do their job; we just need to focus and make sure we do our job a little bit better."
On teams mixing it up:
"We don't worry about what defense is being thrown at us each week. We may change up the little things here and there. But it's about what we do and how we prepare every week. We just need to run the plays we know how."
On leading the nation in different stats:
"It's cool we have the talent to do that. I was watching a rerun of the game, and I saw how many yards-after-catch we have, and it's just amazing how those guys get up the field after they catch it. It says a lot about the talent of our guys and the schemes the coaches give us. That's the plan to get the ball in the hands of those guys, and they can do special things with it. They've done a good job. I just have to make sure I'm the most prepared football player out there on the field. I need to be able to get in a good play, make a good read, and then throw a perfect pass. Doing that consistently and having guys rely on me, I try to be that steady hand out there when things get crazy out there."
On being back in the top 25:
"It doesn't matter to us. We know we have to come out and play at our best every week regardless of our rankings or the other team's rankings. We have to play our best because we can't just show up and win. We found that out a couple weeks ago. We have to be well prepared and ready to go on Saturday."
On the players stepping up:
"I was very proud of the guys on the offensive line that did well. Roy Watts came up to me before the game, and he hasn't said two words to anyone, and said, "I got you Case." I was happy to hear him say that. A bunch of guys played well. Alaska (Jaryd Anderson) stepped up and played hard, a bunch of guys on defense and special teams. We're going to be counting on a lot of guys to step up and make plays.
On conference standings:
"I heard someone say that we're tied for first in the SEC and Big 12 South but tied for last in C-USA. Those wins were good, but that shows how much they mean. We have a lot of proving left to do and this is opportunity number six for us."
On being last in C-USA:
"Yeah, it's irritating. When I watch the ticker on ESPN, we're at the bottom of the standings. It's early and we still control our own destiny, but we need to take it one week at a time and let the rest of the stuff take care of itself."
SOPHOMORE RECEIVER Tyron Carrier
On the offense:
"That comes with the tempo and wearing down other teams defenses. If they get too tired, it's going to be a long night for them. If you're going to blitz or put too many guys in the box, we make the other team pay for it."
On the upcoming game:
"This is the biggest game of the season right now. We didn't have a very good performance against our last C-USA opponent, so we're going to have to come out there and play hard. It has to be the biggest. We're last in our league right now and haven't won a game. Our last performance wasn't up to par. We need this win."
On being ready:
"UTEP was a reality check; we can't take any team lightly. Not taking anything from UTEP, but we really weren't ourselves. When that happens, you get beat. We have the edge back, and we're going to try to win every game."
On the Tulaane pass defense:
"It's going to be exciting seeing who can stop who. They have a lot of experienced guys on their team, and it's going to be a real good show."
On Tulane:
"This is the biggest game of the season right now. We didn't have a very good performance against our last C-USA opponent, so we're going to have to come out there and play hard.
SENIOR Carl Barnett
On preperation:
"You can't take anyone lightly. You win the games on Mondays, Tuesdays - the days before you play. We need to come out and be strong during the week. We can't relax; we need to stay on everything, film, weights, practice. Right now you see guys doing extra afterwards. That feeling we had after our first C-USA game, it didn't feel good."
On being ranked:
"I just look forward to playing every week, whether we're ranked or not. That puts a bull's-eye on your chest but hey, that's why we play the game. You want to be the best at what you do. Everyone wants a crack at us."
SENIOR OUTSIDE LINEBACKER C.J. Cavness
On effort it takes to play:
"We've seen what it does when we play high, and we've seen what it does when we don't play well, and we know that the consequence of not playing that high is losing the game. When you play like that you create turnovers, get stops and give offense the ball back. You win the game."
On recovering from UTEP:
"It started with preparation. Tuesday and Wednesday were some of the most physical practices we've had, so when Saturday came we were all hitting physically. That started with the week's preparation; the coaches were intense, we were all intense and our will to win was there, and we worked for it."
On what makes it hard, individually and as a team, to bring energy every week:
"You have to realize that every game is as important as the next. You can't take one game off or even one play off because that's when you lose. Pretty soon it's going to be over for all the seniors and me, and I think about that everyday. I'm not going to take one play off or let anyone else on our team take a play off because that's going to lead us to getting beat. We've seen taking plays off gets us beat, and that's not what we want to feel. We're going to keep working like we did last week and keep playing hard."
On being a student:
"A lot of people forget that we have class and homework. I had a five-page paper due yesterday; I have a test tomorrow and a midterm on Thursday. People forget that, but it comes with job and responsibility of being a college athlete. You're here to get a degree and play college football. That's the great thing about it.
"On Sunday we got a day off; on Monday we started to learn the game plan and were quite fresh by Tuesday. After Monday the previous game is done with, and you can't live in the past. You have to keep looking forward."
On Tulane:
"As a defense They are going to try and limit the turnovers and pound the ball at us.
On the defense:
"As a defense our job is to get stops and to give the ball back to the offense, so playing with great effort and being opportunistic, is what we have to do."
On Conference USA:
"Coach has said, `We're tied for first in the Big 12, and we're tied for first in the SEC, but we're tied for last in Conference C-USA,' so it's something we're working on now, and hopefully we will straighten it out this week."
On post UTEP:
"It helped to get a win under our belt, we will never forget the UTEP game: It's still in the back of our mind. We don't ever want to feel like that again, so we want to keep winning. We have been at the highs and also at the lows, and we know which one feels better."
SOPHOMORE SAFETY Nick Saenz
On Tulane's offense:
"They have a simple offense, but they have good playmakers, as good as they come in this league. We've got to go out there and execute our game plan that the coaches give us, and try to contain those players."
On playing well every week:
"Every week you have to come out and work harder and harder to keep that edge than we have so we can continue to do what we do on a weekly basis."
On injuries:
"We're all pretty close, and we have good chemistry with each other. They just came in and stepped up pretty big. They play hard."
On moving forward:
"We can't let up. Every week is going to get harder and harder. We are just working on keeping that edge every week, we had the edge all the way through until the UTEP game and then let down. After that we got back up and kept going, so staying focused and mentally prepared will be the strongest thing."
