University of Houston Athletics
#HTownTakeover Media Day Video & Quotes
7/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
2017 HOUSTON FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY PRESS CONFERENCE
MEDIA DAY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES (PDF)
HEAD COACH Major Applewhite
Opening Statement
"I appreciate you all coming on a Sunday. I'm really excited to start the 2017 season. The guys will be coming in this evening and we'll have a champion's dinner and organizational meeting. We start practice tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Injury wise, we have four guys that won't be starting the season due to injury but will be coming back during the season. Jerard Carter with a foot, Kameron Eloph with his back, Kevrin Justice with his ankle, and Marquez Stevenson with an ACL. Those guys should be able to come back during the season, and we'll make a decision whether we can play them during the season. I'm excited and ready to roll. I'm looking forward to it and our guys are ready to go."
On if the excitement leading up to fall camp is the same now as a head coach
"Yeah. It's the same thought process as a player, the preparation and the time put in during the spring and summer months to develop the culture. Not that the hays in the barn, but you put a lot of time in during your offseason. February you put a lot of time into spring ball and then the summer workouts. Those are some of your key components in developing your team identity before fall camp.
The camp mentality of everybody coming together and developing those core beliefs of how we work and how we do things together. These are a very important 29 practices. This is where your team comes together. There is a lot of excitement. We've put in a lot of work. I've been through it several times, and the first day as a player there is always a lot of adrenaline and then it kind of dies off. As a coach, your mindset is always going to be on day two, week two, week three and how to transition to get ready for our opponents. There is a lot of excitement. We are ready to go."
On if he feels that he is ready for the season after having the spring to get acclimated
"From a team standpoint, offensively and defensively we'll jump right in because we've had that time period at the end of spring ball where you can still meet with your guys and go through schemes. At the end of July, we got on the field without a football with our players and did position specific drills as well as team stuff. So, you are able to jump back in from that standpoint and there is a lot of carryover in terms of terminology and assignment. We haven't been at practice since April 14 so there has been a lot of time off the field, away from coaches, with the football on the field for 24 periods, going from drill-to-drill and period-to-period. The culture, how we practice, and how we do things is going to be an introductory phase no matter how experienced you are in putting the ball on the ground."
On how he has evolved as a head coach
"For me personally as a first-time head coach, you hire people that you trust and trust that they'll do a great job. You try to lay out the groundwork of how we do things, how we communicate with our players, how we treat the players, how we install, how we meet, how we practice, and just a lot of how we do things to get everybody on the same page. After a while, you don't necessarily step back and take your hands off, but you see that your guys grow into these roles and adapt to the culture of the way that you want them to do things as an assistant. You let them influence their room and I've seen them do that.
From a head coach standpoint, there comes a time when you do have to step back and let them take ownership. That was big for me this summer as a head coach to not necessarily be involved in everything and to let every position coach do their job. I still make sure they operate under the umbrella of the guidelines of our program. I'm still learning, just like any other coach. I'm sure there are coaches that have been head coaches for 20 years and are still learning. I know what I want. I know what I want to see from our staff. I know what I want to see from our players. You just demand it out of your staff, demand it out of your players, and they go execute."
On what his team and staff will look like
"I am going to talk to the players tonight and tell them that I want smart, tough, and dependable football players. There are a lot of tough guys in football that aren't always smart. There are some guys that are dependable, but not always tough. I want all three of those qualities in my players.
From a coaching staff standpoint, it's not only how we teach, but getting the player to understand the why. Understanding why they are using certain techniques, understanding why they are reading a certain way, why they are walking through this, why they are watching film in this fashion. We've talked about this a lot as a coaching staff. We talk about group teaching and we talk about direct teaching. If you're coaching 15 offensive lineman, don't only teach that one lineman. Teach the entire line. They are all going to make that mistake, so teach the entire line and not just Johnny.
We've talked to our staff about direct teaching, which is the player owning the information and not borrowing it. He should spit it back to you exactly how you coached it. No more words, no less words, exactly how you coached it. Smart, tough, and dependable football players. A staff that knows how to teach from a direct teaching standpoint and group teaching standpoint. How that relates on the field depends on how well we do as coaches and how much leadership they have as players."
On how he plans to manage the quarterbacks
"Coach Johnson and I have been through it as players, quarterback coaches and coordinators. We spent time at the coaches' retreat in one-on-ones going over on how we want to split up reps and give all three quarterbacks opportunities with the first unit and the second unit. There is also a bit of a balancing act with D'Eriq (King) being the whole package. He's going to play quarterback, regardless if he's starting or not. He also has to play at the wide receiver spot. We want to utilize a good athlete like that.
We are going to look at a few things such as how you take care of the football, if you can make all the throws even if it's off schedule. If the defense has a better call, can you take care of the ball and make plays off schedule? Those are the things we can quantify. Toughness and competitiveness, to me that supersedes the on-the-field tangible attributes, because that really is what your offense and team holds onto in a quarterback."
On his mindset entering his first camp as a head coach
"It is different and I trust my coaches. At the same time I am going to give my opinion. I am the head coach and this what I see and this is what I want. I don't care if I've been doing this for 20 years or 20 days, this is what I want and this is what I want to see as a football program. I've been around winning football programs and winning football coaches. I've seen how they demand things. They don't ask, they don't make suggestions.
At the same time, I won't get drunk with that title so to speak. I want to make sure we are coming up with the best things as a staff, but there are certain things that are non-negotiable as a head coach. That's what I want to see from my staff and that's what I want to see from this football program. That is what I'm focused on. Those things and that the coaches are operating under the new culture."
On the quarterback competition
"They are all excited about it. They are excited about the opportunity to compete. They understand that Coach (Brian) Johnson, myself and the team are going to put it out there. We are very open and honest. This program is very straight to the point. We don't have time to play around. These are your reps, and they all know that they have to compete for this spot. May the best man win. They are all excited for the opportunity."
On his coaching style
"My style is to identify our goal. We want to get better and be deliberate in what we are doing. Look at who we have in terms of our offense and defense. Schemes change year to year, sometimes week to week. We have our players, and we put our schemes around our players. Make sure that we are damn good teachers, teaching the right way and be proud of what we are doing.
In terms of me personally, I don't compare myself to other people and I don't think any coach really does. Be who you are. There are times when I am even keeled and there are times when I'm not. When it gets competitive and you start keeping score, I change like a lot of other coaches. I'm no different than anybody else. We are all the same creatures to some extent."
On what he wants to see during fall camp
"Accountability. Our football team is a young team. We need to become more accountable for the culture of how we do things. How you execute a play and why you do things is sometimes more important in the scheme of things. We want to have a great culture of accountability. We want these players to take ownership of their positions, over their play and executions.
Ultimately throughout this camp and towards the end of camp when we get ready for opponents we want to be able to come out of camp saying that we feel comfortable, and our culture is where we want it to be. The ownership of these players, the accountability of these players, and the behaviors. We have to ask that of ourselves as coach's day-in and day-out. Are we permitting things? Are we allowing things? Your behavior is going to become the culture. That is what we are really focused on in this fall camp. What is the identity of our football team? We want a football team that creates smart, tough, and dependable football players."
On the hungriness of this team
"I sensed during summer workouts that this is a hungry football team. We have 10 two-year starters that graduated. You have A-Mac (Adrian McDonald), E-Rob (Elandon Roberts), Greg Ward, Tyler McCloskey, a bunch. Over the last two years we've lost 10 guys who played in 256 games. That's a tremendous amount of experience. I see guys that want to prove themselves in those roles. I see a sense of hunger and guys that want to improve themselves in drills. It's great to be good at working out, but it's time to be good at football now."
On the run game
"The run game went through our quarterback last year. He was making plays off schedule. A few times, not nearly enough times, but a few times we could run the ball from the tailback position and feel comfortable calling the run game when it didn't go through Greg Ward. That's the biggest challenge in terms of can we run the ball from the tailback position on a consistent basis. We've talked about that enough as a staff and players. Running backs need to carry the load, and we need to have an effective offense."
On if the incoming class will contribute right away
"Until I see them on the field I won't know if they can contribute. I saw them do some things in the offseason in shorts and shirts. I saw their athleticism, but how they acclimate to the culture of our team-scheme and see that on a consistent basis it's hard for me to say if they will contribute or not. They know that on this football team everybody will have a wide open shot to contribute and play."
On who will step up to replace Kameron Eloph
"We are deeper as of now than we were last year going into camp on the offensive line. I'd love for Kam to be here with us this season, but it's not a shot to our depth. We have guys that have played and guys that have had great summers. We just have to put the best five up there.
From a defensive line standpoint that is why we recruited Reggie Chavis. Big men with stress fracture injuries, sometimes they reoccur. So we anticipate that something could happen like that, so we got someone that could help us, and that was the case. That's just coaching experience. We need big bodies, and that's why we recruit this way. We have to be smart in the way we practice and watch how many reps we get those guys. It's why we recruit the way we do."
On when the injuries to Kameron Eloph and Jerard Carter occurred
"Jerard's was in spring football. Kam's was right after spring football."
On what he expects from UTSA
"The first half of camp, really the first two-thirds of camp is really about learning our offense and defense as well as establishing the behaviors we want from our program: the culture of the program. The toughness and dependability are already things that I've mentioned. Understanding that they are a great program and what Coach Wilson has done over there. Last year, reaching a bowl game, you can see how they play. They have a lot of great returners. They are a really good football program. They have three really good guys on offense, 11 good ones. When you have experience at the tailback, experience at the wide receiver, and experience at the quarterback having those guys helps. We know they are a great opponent, and they play really hard at home. It's going to be a great test. We give them their respect, but we know that there are things we have to do at Houston before we start worrying about UTSA."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Mark D'Onofrio
Pronounced Duh-Noff-Ree-O
On the defense being key due to having key leaders back until the offense finds an identity
"You hit the nail on the head in terms of, we do have some significant leaders and guys who have made a lot of plays at all three levels of the defense coming back. We'll take the approach in our room that we're going to do the best job that we possibly can.
We do have a few holes to fill. We had three guys that were drafted and a couple of others that are in NFL camps off the defense, and that will be the challenge in terms of filling those positions with the best player, and building depth and utilizing the guys that you just talked about in terms of leadership and how we do things. We'll definitely look to continue to play the type of defense that we want to around here. We know we have some work to do. Just like Major (Applewhite) said, we know we have some work to do, but we're up for the challenge and excited."
On having a player like defensive end Ed Oliver
"Obviously Ed is a tremendous player and had a tremendous first year. The great thing about Ed is that he knows this is a new year. He's motivated every time he steps on the football field. In terms of this job, I watched this program from afar and was excited about all the players to be honest with you. The way the guys have played defense the last two years, I've found that experience to be a lot of fun in the spring, and I've enjoyed being around this team and this culture and watching our guys work their tails off in the winter program and the spring and this summer.
I'm excited to coach them all, and that's what I saw from afar. I saw a team that played hard and played with a chip on their shoulder. That's kind of what drew me to this opportunity."
On if fans will see similar schemes as they did in 2016
"Part of the reason I am here is because Todd (Orlando) and I have known each other for a while, and we've competed against each other for a while. We run similar schemes. Our schemes were much more alike than they were different. That aided in the ability for me to be here.
We're going to look to feature our playmakers. If those guys are guys that we feel can come from the second level, then they will come from the second level. We have to establish who our playmakers are and what we're going to do from there. I'm excited about the guys that we have. I'm looking forward to seeing the newcomers and also seeing how some guys developed over the summer from the spring. It's like any other sport: if a guy is hot and can make a play, then his number is going to get called."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR Brian Johnson
On the quarterback battle
"I'm really looking forward to watching these guys go out and compete. I'm excited about our room. We have a bunch of competitive guys that are talented. They all have a skill set that is unique to their individual abilities. I'm looking forward to going out there and seeing who can separate from the others."
On quarterbacks Kyle Postma and D'Eriq King
"It was a unique situation in the spring with (Senior) Kyle Postma and (Sophomore) D'Eriq King both being limited due to injury. This will be our first chance to really get a look at those guys when they are fully-healthy and ready to go. It should be an interesting battle. All those guys are unique with their skill sets and talent levels. We'll find ways to put them in positions to be successful."
On the running game
"There is production we will have to replace since a dynamic guy like Greg Ward Jr., is no longer in the program. Our goal as a staff is to find the guys who can make plays with the ball in their hands, and get it to them as frequently as possible; whether that's as a tailback, wide receiver or quarterback. We want to find ways to put the ball in the hands of guys who can make plays."
On the offensive scheme
"The biggest thing offensively is to think about players and not plays. If the scheme is designed around what players do well, we'll be successful offensively. We have a fantastic staff. These are guys that I love coming to work with every day. They've been a lot of places and done a lot of things. I'm excited to get going. As an offense, we want to utilize our personnel to the best of our abilities and put guys in position to make plays in space."
SENIOR LINEBACKER Matthew Adams
On the excitement of a new season
"I'm very excited to get out there with the group of guys that I'm with. Everybody's excited. They want to prove themselves. It's going to be a great fall camp."
On if there is a need to prove themselves after being successful against teams like Oklahoma and Louisville in 2016
"There's a big chip on our shoulders. A lot of people on the team want to prove themselves. A lot of people are doubting us, and we're just looking forward to proving ourselves this year."
On how good the defense can be
"We can be great. The defense can be great. We're working on little things and trying to execute and stuff like that. Coach (Mark) D'Onofrio has done a great job not just helping us play defense but really understand the defense."
On if there is still a buzz around the program heading into this season
"I still feel a buzz around the program. We've had a nine-win season and a 13-win season. There's a lot of hype going into the season. I feel it a lot."
On being a leader to the younger guys on the team
"The main thing is being consistent and being the same guy every day. Leading by example. Showing them how to work hard in the weight room and on the practice field. Off the field as well with going to class and being in the top of the class."
SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN Ed Oliver
On excitement for upcoming season
"I'm ready to go. I'll have more to say after I make some plays next year."
On being coined the most dominant defensive lineman in college football
"What other people say doesn't excite me. What excites me is hitting and tackling people. I just want to go out there and give it everything I have."
On the potential success of the defense
"Our defense is definitely top-25. We have the players in the right spots. Reggie (Chevis) transferred in, so he's going to help the defensive line a lot this year. We are going to make a lot of plays."
On the team flying under the radar
"We aren't worried about that. All we are looking forward to is performing and making plays. Wherever we are ranked is where we are ranked. We are still going to be us."
On the most anticipated game
"I'm looking forward to the first one right now (UTSA). We aren't really looking past the first one."
On the transition of the new defensive coaching staff
"The coaching style is different, but it is the same defense just a different coaching style. It shouldn't be too much different."
On noticeable differences from last year to this year's training camp with a year under belt
"Like anything you go through in life, once you go through it the first time you know what to expect. I know what to expect this season."
On having a former high school coach on coaching staff
"A coach is a coach. As long as he is doing his job in helping me get better, I am happy to have him."
On the tweet about someone questioning him for playing for the University of Houston
"It's just another chip on my shoulder. It's another reason why I go out there and play the way that I do. I was out on the practice field and remembered when I was told I wouldn't make anything of myself if I played for Houston, and now look at what I've accomplished. I was just reflecting during the middle of my workout."
On playing with his brother last season
"We just want to have fun with it like we always have. This is the last time for us, and I'm glad God put us together again. The goal we talked about was to go undefeated and win the bowl game."
On which area of improvement he's focusing on the most
"I go through everything and revaluate everything because I'm not perfect. Everything has to get better whether it's my hands, my footwork, my speed, or my quick twitch .I work every day to make it better than it was yesterday."
On becoming the focal point of other team's game planning
"It's always been like that. It didn't start happening when I came here. From high school until now, I've always had the X on my chest. I've battled double teams my whole life, so I am better able to deal with it."
On satisfaction of being unblockable
"As long as I am making plays I'm satisfied. Do my job and making plays."
On increasing sack totals from last season
"From one year to the next, I just try to make everything better. If I had 21 TFL last year and I have 22 this year, I got better. If I only had 5 sacks last year and I have 6 this year that's better than last year, so I just want to get better."
On advice to incoming players
"Stay focused and play with a chip on your shoulder. Show these coaches why you're supposed to be on the field. Don't ever lose your confidence and competitive edge. Keep competing."
On recognition from awards
"I'm not the type of guy to focus on what awards and recognitions I've received. As long as I get to play football when it's time to play football I'm content."
On age being a factor of talent
"Age doesn't really matter, so it wouldn't be a factor. My brother and I used to play, and he was two years older than I was. I was just as good as he was. It never deterred me, so I can play with anyone."
On what motivates him
"One award that motivates me is the Lombardi because in high school I feel like I was supposed to win it, but I didn't. So if I could win anything, I would want to go back and win that. Other than that being out there playing."
On defensive expectations
"This defense should be better than last year. At every level of the defense, we've gained more experience from last year to this year. I would say this is a veteran defense, and we should be better this year. It doesn't start with me. It starts with the three guys up front. When we do our job, the linebackers are able to do their job, and the defensive backs are able to do their job. We are going to be solid this year."
On last year's expectations
"I was upset after a lot of the games because I didn't think I played up to my highest potential: especially the Oklahoma game. But most people worry too much about the big picture and don't break down the film to see the mistakes. I did get better as the season progressed, and I was satisfied with how I was playing, but after a lot of games I was upset when I would watch the film and see that I could've had another tackle or sack."
On improvements
"From last year, my knowledge of the game. Every year the game gets slower and slower to me, so I'm able to see a lot more during each play. It just comes with the experience."
On Louisville game expectations
"I didn't really go back and watch that game because I didn't get to finish it. I really didn't want to watch that game honestly even though that's the most talked about game."
On the team getting over the hump
"We are going to start tomorrow during the first day of fall training camp. That's where it gets started. Then, after game one we should be over the hump."
On playing different positions along the defensive line
"Anywhere I'm put, I will play with the same intensity. If it makes my job more simple, I'm all for it. Whatever they have in store for me I am ready for it."
On losing a fellow lineman
"It's a 'next guy up' mentality, but he will be back though. I'm confident that he will be able to recover quickly. We will be alright."
On relationship with fellow defensive lineman Reggie Chevis
"Reggie is actually like the father figure of the team believe it or not. He has brought the team closer together since he got here. He has become a cornerstone of the team. His personality makes him unique. You'd have to get to know him to understand who he is as a person."
SENIOR SAFETY Khalil Williams
On starting a new year
"I'm eager. This is my last year, so I'm just eager to get it started. We ended the season with a loss, so the next season it motivates us to come in and push through the season."
On the San Diego State loss
"We got rid of the loss. Short term memory. We're not too worried about the loss from last year."
On the team's defense
"Our defense can be great. We have a lot of stunning athletes. Every position is loaded, so our defense is going to be great."
On less media attention
"It motivates us, because last year we were the top dogs. Everybody wanted us, but this year we're going back to the underdogs. So it motivates us to be better."
On the team's offense
"We are just going to push the offense every day. They say the offense is the weak part of the team, but we know our offense. We have a lot of weapons on our offense."
SENIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN Nick Thurman
On the attention the defense receives
"It's not only a testament to our unit, but we all work. There are eleven people on the field, so there's a lot of attention on us, but we can't do it without the linebackers or the defensive backs. This whole unit has the potential to be great. We'll see during this camp."
On experiences taken away from last season
"Being a senior, winning a Peach Bowl and being conference champions, we want to extend the attitude to the younger players, because we've been there through the past successful two seasons. Now we have to keep that going, because there are a lot of people doubting us, but we feel like we've got something to prove."
On the feeling of transitioning into a new season
"We are the school that is constantly overlooked, so we've always got a chip on our shoulder. We are definitely bringing the same attitude into next year."
On playing teams from Texas
"It's going to be interesting. I'm excited to play Rice again. The last time we played Rice was my freshman year, and the excitement around that game was great for the city. I'm excited about the Rice game and the other games in the season. I'm just really excited about this season."
On the addition of defensive lineman Reggie Chevis
"Honestly Reggie (Chevis) is such a good player and a good addition to our unit. He really brings a lot to the table, as far as depth is concerned and as far as leadership is concerned. He is a really important player in our team, and I'm really glad he's here."
On the change in the football program over the last four years
"It's a complete 180. The coaching around here was not subpar, but we were not used to winning ten games in a season and beating ranked opponents. We weren't used to being in the top ten, almost the top five. The mentality changed. The attitude now is that we've got to keep this going. I don't want to go back to being average. I want to play on New Year's. I want to do it all, especially being my last year."
SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER Steven Dunbar
On getting back on the field
"I'm very excited. We've been working very hard this summer. I'm excited to see how everyone comes out and competes."
On adjusting to a new quarterback
"I'm going to continue working hard and doing what I need to do to help those guys be the best they can be. I'll keep doing my part and be of assistance any way I can."
On the wide receiver group
"It's one of the closest wide receiver groups since I've been here. We have young guys that are still trying to learn, but everybody is on the same page. It's one of the best groups I've been a part of."
On transfer wide receiver Ellis Jefferson
"He's a hard worker and a freakish looking person. He's one of the biggest receivers I've ever played with. What stuck out to me was how hard he works. I'm excited to see him get out there, make plays and help us in the fall."
On being a leader
"One of the people I'm looking forward to seeing is Keith Corbin. He has great talent. I tell him all the time that he can be as great as he wants to be. I'm really going to be in his ear. I'm pushing to get the best out of everybody though."
On the team's motivation
"We're definitely hungry. We left some games behind last year that we had the ability to win. The whole team knows how good we can be. We know we have to come with it every week; not just big games like Oklahoma and Louisville. We have to be consistent throughout the season."
On not knowing who the starting quarterback is
"I'm excited to see them come out and compete. Like coach said, they all have unique skill sets. I'm as excited to see them as everyone else is."
JUNIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Will Noble
On offensive line's take on quarterback competition
"We are able to get familiar with each quarterback because of the amount of repetitions we get during practice. Hopefully, a quarterback will be chosen during training camp, and we can build the chemistry to be ready for the first game."
On motivation after last season's losses
"I'm really motivated. We take every opponent seriously and try to come out the best we can for every game. We are studying and working for UTSA right now as well as this season and every upcoming opponent."
On offensive line challenges with the current quarterback uncertainty
"There isn't really a challenge because of the uncertainty. We are ready for anything. We train to do our job and our job is for all of the quarterbacks. We have to adjust for everything and be ready for any quarterback that is chosen to start. Their speed and ability is just a bonus."
