University of Houston Athletics
Football Press Conference Quotes
11/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
HEAD COACH Kevin Sumlin
Opening Statement:
"First of all, it is a privilege and honor for me to see the legendary Jerry Kramer. He is one of my dad's favorite players. When I was a kid, I don't know how many times I had to watch the final quarterback sneak in Ice Bowl. I have one of his books. It's a tremendous story, and he's a tremendous player. He's a really good role model and a really good person to talk about the Lombardi Award.
"Last week was obviously a good week for us. Tulsa made that a must-win situation. Obviously we've had a couple of exciting weeks in a row. Some things happened, and we had some fortunate bounces, but our guys played extremely hard. They made some things happen too. It is credited to our team and coaching staff. We didn't panic at all. Of course in those situations, you have to be a little bit lucky and have some things happen for you. We made the plays at the end of the game to win.
"The negatives out of the game was that we weren't as good as we'd like to be. We gave up big plays on defense, which will create a close football game. The positives were that we won the turnover battle, which is important on the road. There was a significant win in that game.
"Our kickoffs were good, and our coverage was excellent. We came into a game against a guy who is the No. 2 all-purpose yardage player in America. We kicked it deep every time and held him to 19 yards each return. We had a couple punts over 50 yards, and one was close to being down inside the five. Our special teams came up big. For a second straight week, we returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
"We have some things going for us all over the field. Anytime you win at this point of the year and when people have that much tape on you, it's a team win. I'm proud of our guys. We're getting everyone's best shot, and we've been able to come out of it. Obviously, the fashion in which we won we would not like to have that every week, but there's no such thing as a bad win. As a matter of fact, that was a really good win based on everything that's at stake.
"As I say every week, the more you win the bigger the game is because the stakes are bigger. This week is no different. UCF is a very dangerous team. They've lost a couple games in our league that have been close. They lost to Southern Miss by a touchdown and lost to East Carolina by five. You at them nationally; they're fourth in the nation in rush defense. They lead our league in scoring defense. They're the No. 1 defense in our league. They're front seven is really good. That's a team who has played Southern Miss, East Carolina and Marshall. They've also played Miami and Texas, and they're still fourth in the country in rush defense.
"The statistics are starting to mean more and more as you get to game 10, 11 and 12 instead of the first couple of games. This is a really big challenge for us to go on the road again for the last time in the regular season. It will be a good test for us. You have to look at the fact that they're one game away from being bowl eligible. They have two losses in the East. Looking at the schedule, if they win the rest of their games, they can represent the East in the championship game.
"They have a lot to play for just like we have a lot to play for. It will be a really good game. Both teams are talented. They've lost some close games but they've also been in games with Miami and Texas. From their standpoint, they're probably not worried about us coming in there. It's their Homecoming, and they have a lot of pride. George O'Leary will have them prepared and sound all across the board. They have good athletes. We have to go on the road and play well this week. The guys have that sense of urgency. They're excited and looking forward to this weekend."
On UCF being last in the league in pass defense:
"It means something to me, but they're also sixth in the country in sacks and total tackles per loss. Some people aren't getting the ball off, so there are some other issues too. If you can get it off, maybe those statistics mean something. They're one of the top teams in the country in pressuring the quarterback. That ought to tell you a little something about their philosophy. When you start looking at total defense and averaging out those numbers, they're still top in our league."
JUNIOR QUARTERBACK Case Keenum
On UCF:
"We have to be careful about patting ourselves on the back and getting a big head. It's nothing if we don't win on Saturday. UCF is a tough football team, so we have our work cut out.
"We are going out to prepare the same as we did on week one. One of my goals at the beginning of the year was to be the most prepared football player on the field. I have to do that again this Saturday."
On UCF pressuring the quarterback:
"I'm going to be confident in my offensive line. They do a good job every week. UCF has some talented defensive linesman."
On winning close games:
"We never give up. In good seasons you have to have a couple of good bounces, which go your way. It's about momentum and when that gets going it is hard to stop it.
"In a perfect world it wouldn't be that close but right now we will take them anyway we can get them."
On the Heisman Trophy:
"I don't know what the Heisman voters are thinking. My goal right now is to beat UCF. My goal is not to win the Heisman or break records. Any individual award is a team award. If you're not being successful and winning games, those team accolades are not going to come your way."
After the Tulsa game:
"I was drained after the game. It was one of those in which it took a lot of out of you. I'm glad its over. Now we move on to UCF."
On talking to Matt Hogan before his kick:
"I just told him to do what he always does. Nothing is different about this one. Just step and kick it. It's a tribute to him to be able to block everything out and win the game."
SENIOR WIDE RECIEVER Tim Monroe
On Case Keenum's best attributes:
"His character. He is the same on and off the field. A great leader and I know he will lead us to victory. The past game he didn't show any feelings. He had it in his head and believed we were going to win that game. Now we are winning games, with his numbers, there shouldn't be any reason why he shouldn't win the Heisman Trophy this year. I am a senior this year, and this is by far the greatest season I have ever had."
FRESHMAN KICKER Matt Hogan
On the season:
"It has been a big year. At the beginning of the season I wasn't even kicking. Then we held an open tryout and I got the job then. I was just waiting for a chance, and now I'm enjoying every minute of it."
On the kick:
"It was just another kick you have to make. Sure it was a long one and a big one, but those are the kicks you have to make. We do long kicks in practice. Pregame, we test our distance and with that wind I was good from about 60 yards.
"I knew it had the distance, I was just trying to see if it would get inside the post. Everyone else knew it was good before me; everyone else was already celebrating. As soon as I saw the refs raise their hands, I knew it was time to celebrate with them.
"That was my longest kick."
On the onside kick:
"Chase Turner kicked the onside kick, I was the decoy. At UTEP we had to do an onside kick, and we did the same thing and someone else ran behind me. That's why they had so many guys on the other side because they thought I was going to kick it. They were outmanned on the other side and that's how we got the ball."
On Coach Sumlin's confidence in him:
"It's great that coach has the confidence in me. I have confidence in myself, and it really is nice that others believe in me.
SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE TACKLE David Hunter
On believing in his teammates:
"Whenever we come out to practice, everyone tries to put forth quality work and the best effort we can. I have never lost any confidence in the defense because I know how hard everyone works. "
On Jarve Dean and Roy Watts:
"Jarve is a very physical tackle; he is a big guy it's hard to get past him. He doesn't mind getting dirty. That's just the type of player he is. Roy is the same in many ways. He's very physical and will get his hands on you and lock you down. They don't mind sticking their nose in there and playing hard and physical."
On early kickoffs:
"It's not that hard getting your body ready in the morning since we've had several games at this time. I wake up in the morning and am excited and ready to play. I would rather play early that way everyone is pumped and ready to go instead of waiting around and getting anxious."
