University of Houston Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: Memphis 42, Houston 38
10/20/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
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#25/rv MEMPHIS TIGERS (6-1 • 3-1 The American)
at HOUSTON COUGARS (5-2 • 1-2 American)
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017 • TDECU Stadium • Houston
HEAD COACH Major Applewhite
On his thoughts on the game
"I was very disappointed that we lost. I thought they played hard."
On why he thought the defense allowed so many points
"It was a multitude of things: from receivers, from Memphis making great plays, from us being out of position and taking the bait on double moves, pass interference penalties that extended the drive, and there was a also a special teams touchdown that was huge as well. A lot of the deep shots they were taking the in the first half weren't connecting and we made one play on it in the end zone. It was a number of things, whether it was poor technique, poor eyes, pass interference that extends the drive, but they threw the ball and caught the ball extremely well in the second half."
On why he decided to punt on the 4th down towards the end of the game
"We punted the ball on 4th down because we didn't run the ball well on 2nd and 3rd down. I was not excited about putting an offense who had a bunch of points at midfield, so we wanted to punt the ball and make them drive as long as they have to go to score. When you don't get yards on 2nd and 3rd downs, the theory is to punt the ball and make them have to drive the long way."
On if the referees played a big part in the game
"No, they did exactly what they were supposed to do and that's why all of their calls were replayed. It's bad ball if you use those as excuses."
On what he told the players after the loss
"I told them that they played really hard. They played really well in the 1st half, played really hard in the 2nd half, but didn't play as well in the 2nd half. When you're talking about making a run for your side of the conference in terms of a championship, you have to play well in crunch time. Whether it's how to take the air out of the ball and get a 1st down at the end of the game so you don't have to punt it back to them, or whether it's understanding that they're hot and you've to play great red zone defense and force them to kick a field goal. We didn't play well in those crunch-time situations. We played well for the majority of the game, but not when it came down to it at the end."
On if he's seen the tape and evaluated the defense's mistakes
"To answer that question, I'd have to watch it. I saw one chance where we gave up a double move in a coverage that we shouldn't have and that's more of a technique error, but I'd have to go back and look at those things to see where those yards were."
On making Memphis one-dimensional, yet falling short
"They were 4-of-5 in the second half on third down, 1-of-8 in the first half. We had two takeaways in the first half, none in the second. Those were the things we have to do a better job of, playing better on third down and getting them off of the field. We had a pass interference that extended the drive. We took the ball away a couple of times in the first half. We've got to play that way in the second half, obviously in this game, but to beat a championship-type team. They're a really good football team; they're not an average team. They're on their way to do some things this season. We were definitely in that game, and had an opportunity to win that game, no doubt. It's just disappointing that we didn't play well in crunch time. We have to have our guys prepared to play well."
On if there was any layover feeling from last week's loss
"That's always in the back of your head. I never really felt that. It was in the back of my head, 'Alright, let this one go.' I felt last night and this morning at the hotel that our guys understood we are playing for our own destiny. If we win this game, we're right in the thick of things in terms of playing for the conference championship. Now there is a lot of ball and conference games left, but you put yourself in a different class if you go out and win this game. They were great in terms of their mindset, who they were playing, and what they were getting ready to play. We just didn't play well. I'm speaking before I've even watched the tape, but in crunch-time situations, when it's taking the air out of the ball, third down and red zone defense, we didn't play great situational football to close out of the game. That could be wrong when I watch the tape."
On how to reset the team for next week after two losses
"You're a competitor, there's only one way to respond. I talked to them in there, you have to take responsibility for you own actions in life, period. We've all had good times, and we've all had bad times in our life. You have to ultimately accept responsibility for the way you played, coached, head coached, whatever it is you have to take responsibility for it and look it dead in the eye. There were some things that we did that were awesome in the first half, and really good in the second half. But there were some things that we did down the stretch in the third and fourth quarters that put us in the position that we ended up in. You've got to just face it. That's part of sports. We're never going to get accustomed to this feeling, but you've got to be honest with yourself on what did I do and not do in crunch time as a player. Then you'll be prepared, or hopefully the next time."
On if the defense needs to be revaluated after seven games
"You're going to look at personnel and each phase of the game whether you win or lose. You're going to evaluate your personnel on if they played well, and if they deserve the opportunity to stay out there as a starter. Is this featuring our best personnel offensively and defensively, does this make the most sense special teams wise? You're going to do those regardless. You're going to evaluate all phases of the football game. But at the same time, there's a lot of things I knew coming into this season in terms of our competitive experience. Whether it was a guy like Howard Wilson, Brandon Wilson, Tyus Bowser, Steven Taylor, Cameron Malveaux, and Greg Ward Jr. leaving, this team does not have a lot of competitive experience. And it's never an excuse. But hopefully, through the last two weeks, we're learning as a football team and developing some competitive experience. What does that mean? It means you haven't been in a lot of games, and crunch-time situations. You have to learn those things. You have to learn those lessons, and teach them the right way as a coach to get people prepared for the moment the next time. That's what we have to do as a staff. We have to do a great job at teaching these guys, and they have to do a great job at being open.
"To hear where I didn't make that play in the red zone, or I didn't make that run or block to take the air out of the ball. This was a team that lost ten guys, who had 256 starts. So, you're seeing some of that competitive experience at times. You're seeing flashes of greatness because they are good, younger players. That's not an excuse, but it's the reality of it. What we've got to do is coach it better, and get them better prepared for crunch time and when it comes, to make the play."
HOUSTON JUNIOR SAFETY Garrett Davis
On the differences between the first and second halves
"We just have to finish better in the second half."
On if the defense's second-half performance surprised him
"It's surprising. We have young guys, which is no excuse, but we have to hone in on the things we're doing and the details we're given."
On if Memphis did anything different offensively
"There were some double moves, shifts and trades. They game-planned in the locker room and adjusted."
On the lack of defensive experience
"There are people learning on the fly. The experience comes with the reps, but sometimes there isn't enough time. We have young guys who haven't been in the heat of battle and we weren't able to fight hard enough today."
HOUSTON JUNIOR RUNNING BACK Duke Catalon
On the offense's struggle running the ball late in the game
"There was a missed assignment. That was it."
HOUSTON SENIOR QUARTERBACK Kyle Postma
On rallying the team
"Both teams played hard; it just comes down to finishing and securing the ball. We lacked that at the end. We need to come back to practice, work hard, and apply everything we learned from this loss and past losses to the next game."
On how the offense started the game
"We had success moving the ball, but it came down to the last few series and we didn't execute. That's on us and we're going to work on that this week."
MEMPHIS HEAD COACH MIKE NORVELL
Opening Statement
"What a football game. I don't know if I have ever been more proud of a group of young men. We spoke all week, including today about this being a 60-minute game. This rivalry has gone back and forth for the past few years with the last four games coming to one score.
"Our defense did an exceptional job early in the game despite being put in bad situations. They were able to make some key stops late in the game with TJ Carter causing a forced fumble and an interception. Offensively, we were not playing our best, being shut out in the first half and making a lot of mistakes.
"When I came in the locker during halftime, there was something I saw in their eyes. There wasn't a sense of panic. They went about their business as usual. We talk about being a family and that what was shown on the field tonight."
On halftime changes
"There weren't any changes. The guys knew they needed to go out there and play Memphis Tiger football. Riley (Ferguson) stayed calm and collected. (He) and Anthony (Miller) started getting the ball rolling. Phil Mayhue and Damonte Coxie both came up with big plays during the second half. Sean Dykes scoring a touchdown here in his hometown was awesome to see. Patrick Taylor with his rushing touchdown.
"We are currently down to just two running backs in our backfield, but those guys continued to battle. Houston has a really good defense, and an even better offense. It's two good football teams going head-to-head. It came down to a handful of plays, and our guys were ready to make those plays when they needed to."
On defensive refocusing
"We actually spoke about that today, and our term was 'unwavering focus'. No matter what happened, knowing that we were in a hostile environment, we knew there was going to be an emotional swing as momentum tends to swings. The goal as a player is to stay focused on doing their job and understanding that the next play is the play that could make all the different in the game. Our guys executed that on all sides of the ball. There was good and bad, but our guys were focused on the job at hand and we were going to give everything we had until the clock read all zeros."
On what a win like this means emotionally for the team going forward
"Coaches believing in players, players believing in coaches, and players believing in each other. The emotional swings of football are what make it the greatest sport in the world. Going through the highs and lows is what makes a team. I tip my hat off to Houston and (its) football team. They displayed their character and battled. It's a shame that one team has to end up on the losing side. It was a well-fought football game. I'm proud of our guys for coming out one play better despite the adversity of the game."
On telling the players coming out of the tunnel "Whatever it takes"
"We knew it would take everything. We knew it was going to come down to many unique and certain circumstances and whatever it does take, whatever you have to be asked of to do individually, we had a lot of guys that played a lot of snaps that I guarantee are going to sleep on that plane very quick. It's a short week and quick turnaround after a physical game against a Top 25 program in Navy, all that stuff doesn't matter, whatever it takes to go out there and achieve success together, you hear the celebration, you can see it in the guys' eyes. Man they love each other, and they are willing to give themselves and sacrifice for this game."
On if he was shocked by the punt return for a touchdown
"Don't tell anybody, no I mean when you get an opportunity you got to capitalize on it, and there were some great blocks on that, and man that was a phenomenal return, he ran through tackles he willed himself into that end zone and that's a play I will remember for the rest of my life. I promise you."
On beating Navy for the first time and pulling off this comeback against Houston,
"I believe in this group and I wouldn't say there was something I didn't know because I know they have this in them, but to see the perseverance throughout your body being battered and tired and having to go on the road on a short week, these are challenges that we never experienced. To have that quick of a turnaround and having to go on the road, our guys were unwavering with their focus and went out there and believed in each other, wrapped their arms around each other and they went out there and got the job done."
On expectations of each week
"We are always trying to elevate where we are going and the progress within our program, our guys have to go out there everyday and be the best version of ourselves that we've ever been and so as we continue to grow we have these experiences of Navy last week, everything that we've learned from, the highs and lows, you have to apply that and that's what I believe this team is understanding is that it is not going to be easy, neither is life and there is going to be adversity and unforeseen things that show up but you just have to keep plugging and focus on taking that next step and continue to elevate."
On update on Darrel Henderson's injury
"We don't have an update I know he tried to get himself going back but we don't know, he wasn't able to."
On if Cook came back
"He did, so I was glad to have John back out there, as I said there are so many guys that push through, that happens when you get here late in the season, we have a week and a day now, we are going to get on this plane and enjoy this one, it'll be a fun trip back to Memphis, but then we have to go to work and we have another conference opponent coming in, a really good Tulane football team and our only focus is trying to be 1-0 next week."
MEMPHIS QUARTERBACK RILEY FERGUSON
On coming back from behind
"We just said we had to stay focused. We knew we were going to be able to go out and score as long as we didn't hurt ourselves. We knew our defense was going to come out and play a great game for us. We just had to regather our focus, come out and stop shooting ourselves in the foot and try to put some drives together."
On the change in the offense
"I think we had a little bit more focus, there were times in the first half where we would have good drives but we just hit a stone wall and that hurt us a lot We talked about that at halftime, about having to finish drives, so that was our mindset and we came out and did that."
On being able to quiet the crowd
"That feels good, man. Any time you get a win like that it feels great."
On performing for 60 minutes
"That's something we know being in the (American Athletic Conference). Every game is going to come out to the end, because every team is good. We focus on playing 60 minutes and not letting up early if we're up and executing for the whole game."
On the significance of the comeback
"It's crazy being in that position and coming back like that. I think moving forward with this season it just shows what we're capable of, because of how much we have learned already and how much more we can learn going on, we can only get better."
On late punt by Houston
"I was surprised a little bit, but considering the field position, it made sense. They wanted their defense to go out and get a stop, but we had a plan and we just executed it."
On late interception that was overturned
"I was praying to please say let it hit the ground. I watched it. I don't know if I'll watch it again, but thank god it was."
MEMPHIS RB PATRICK TAYLOR
On scoring four touchdowns
"It was just ground and pound, just taking advantage of every opportunity I had."
On lack of running game up to the red zone
"We just had to pound and pound, we knew we had the tempo. That's what we go over every day in practice, ending drives with a touchdown run."
On hostile environment
"Just unwavering focus, we just knew we had to have laser focus in all aspects of the game."
On being down 17-0 at halftime
"We had a group and positon meeting. We talked about how we had to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and holding on to the ball. We just knew we had to finish drives to be able to get this win."
On experiencing a comeback in the environment
"That's why we play football. It was definitely exciting having the momentum swings. That is why we play football."
MEMPHIS DEFENSIVE BACK TJ CARTER
On emotions
"I'm feeling real good. I'm just happy we got the win. We started off a little slow, but the thing about this team is we're going to keep fighting till the end. We're never going to give up. If you knock us down, we're going to get back up every time. At halftime Coach Mike Norvell preached to us and asked us how are we going to respond. He preaches that everyday. We came out the second half and executed and we got the victory."
On mentality when down
"They knock us down, we get back up, every time. We're going to keep fighting. I feel like our whole team has that mentality and we brought that out when we really needed it. The coaches made some great calls that put the players in the position to make great plays, and we took advantage of the opportunities when they approached us."
On team's confidence
"Our confidence was already up there. We know we're a real good football team. I feel like we shoot ourselves in the foot a lot and we make games a lot closer than they need to be. We just need to have better execution and just quit shooting ourselves in the foot."
On ability to bounce back
"If we give up a big play or something like that, just flush it. On to the next play, there is always still a lot of football. We got down by a big margin at halftime, but so what. We still have a whole other half to play and that's the mentality this team has."
On second-half momentum
"On the first drive, we scored pretty quickly and that did it. After that, everyone on the sideline was hype. We never stop. You can knock us down, but we're going to keep kicking and keep fighting until it's all zeros on the clock."
On how he plays
"When I get out on the field, I just want to go out and make plays. I just do my job and the plays just come to me and I take advantage of them."
