The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Kansas quotes
11.22.2009 | Football
Nov. 22, 2009
TEXAS COACHES
Head coach Mack Brown
Opening statement: It's a really special night for a lot of Texas fans and our senior class. That's what you want Senior Day to be. You only get one of those and if you lose on Senior Day, how awful. Thank goodness we've won 11 of the 12 for the kids. When you can finish it in a fashion like they did tonight, have a great ovation as you leave, have 101,000 fans celebrate their game and their careers as they're leaving the field, it makes it even more special. Colt McCoy becoming the winningest quarterback in the history of college football is amazing. There's only one of those and he's still got some games left so hopefully it will be a record that's hard to break. Also, the seniors played so hard tonight and played well. Give Todd Reesing a lot of credit. He was hot. I don't think I've ever seen Colt any better. He competed and played well. Really excited for him to break the record on a night that he played so well. A lot of things we can still fix. We've got some guys banged up that we'll have to look at tomorrow. Mistakes in the kicking game, still had a couple of sacks that we could do a better job in. We had a couple of busts on defense that gave up big plays. We haven't been doing that. A lot of things that we've got to get fixed before Thursday and now that we're in the Big 12 Championship game with Nebraska our whole focus can go to A&M and we need to win the rivalry game. It'll be about national and state, it will have nothing to do with the Big 12 championship now. I'm glad the guys got that out of the way. Watching the Colorado-Oklahoma State game the other night, I didn't really realize that if Colorado had won we'd have gone to the Big 12 championship game already and I was really torn. I thought it would be better for us to have to earn their way in instead of somebody else lose, so I was happy that Oklahoma State hung in there and won. A lot of pressure on Colt and a lot of pressure on these seniors and I thought they did a good job. I thought also that Mark Mangino should get credit with his staff with the turmoil that they've been through this week, I thought those kids played really hard, with a lot of confidence and they never quit. I want to give them a lot of credit as well.
On the team's 11-0 record: It's been a team that just seems to get better every week. I really thought this could be a problem tonight because, number one the turmoil. People were talking about how they were not going to play hard, which you know kids, every time they say they're not, they do. Also, the pressure on Colt for the record, the fact that we had to win to get in the Big 12 championship. You lose tonight and you have to win at College Station to get in, so it put more pressure on that game and that trip. Really, really proud that this team's leadership stood up and just seems to keep getting better.
On what the team needs to improve: I think kicking game. I'm really disappointed in our kickoff coverage tonight. We missed too many tackles. It's killing our field position. We got the one blocked punt but it rolled 50 yards after we blocked it so it wasn't even good. I've never seen a blocked punt that was longer than their punting average. That's what it ended up. The first punt was not a good punt and they returned it for yards. For us to do what we want to do, and that's keep getting better, our kicking game has to get better. We've slipped in it a little bit.
On the turmoil with Kansas head coach Mark Mangino: I'm not close to it, I don't even know Mark that well. What I do know is that Mark's won a lot of games. I do know that he did a great job when he was at Oklahoma as the offensive coordinator. I also know that when you can only play 11 kids, there's a lot of disgruntled kids on football teams. I do know that for a fact. I'm not calling out those kids that have said something. He's been there for eight years and I've got great respect for what he's done on the field. I do know that. I know their teams are really well coached and they play hard. I would have thought if something was wrong, that team didn't look like something was wrong with them tonight. I thought they fought really hard and you don't fight that hard unless you're fighting for coaches and yourself. I thought that sent a message that those kids haven't given up yet.
On what he said to Kansas WR Dezmon Briscoe after the game: I told him I thought he was a great player since he was at Cedar Hill. And I wanted to see (Kansas WR Kerry) Meier. He's been unbelievable. To be a quarterback and go in and move and be unselfish and be a second-team quarterback. He's such a great receiver. They call him a possession receiver but he can run. He just makes so many of their plays underneath. I looked up and they'd had the ball about 15 minutes and we'd had it about seven and he'd already caught six passes early in the ballgame and we were going in to stop him. I didn't find him. I saw Todd Reesing and said, `What a great career.' I told him, `You've done for Kansas what Colt's done for Texas.' Briscoe's one of those big, tall, fast guys and what a game he had tonight as well. I thought he and Todd were probably sending a message to us that we messed up.
On Colt McCoy breaking the FBS all-time wins record with a 396 yard, four touchdown performance: I don't think we could have scripted it any better. With all the pressure on him, he's showing everybody he's in here for a big finish. He is in here for a big finish and he was sending that message tonight.
On the mark this senior class has left on the program: Obviously winning. Being undefeated with 11 wins is hard to do. I've only had one other team do that and that was 2005, which will be special for us forever. I think the other thing is they pretty much handle this team from within and when seniors can take ownership of their team and handle it, those are usually your best teams. This team's been able to have fun, cut up with the coaches and each other but when it's time to play, they go play and they don't panic. I do think they learned some really, really hard lessons, along with all of us, last year at Tech that great teams cannot have a bad day. You just can't. You may not play as good some days but you've got to play hard and you've got to play with energy. It's really, really hard to be 11-0.
On Earl Thomas tying the school single-season interception record tonight: It's unbelievable. He was supposed to fair catch the punt and he told us they weren't even down there and we said, `Fair catch the punt next time, Earl.' I thought he was going to score. What a great football player Earl Thomas is. He does it every week. And he likes to play. I'm looking up at the end of the game, he's out there on kickoff coverage because he says, `Coach, we're not covering very good,' and I said, `Get out.' He is a special player. Tough, smart, great instincts, tremendous hands, and has the ability to run after he catches it.
On Jordan Shipley breaking the UT single-season receiving yards record tonight: Great for him, I didn't know that. I think these guys are going to break all the records before they leave.
On Senior Day: When you've got three left, this is not your last one, and that's what I told them. This will be your memories here, it is not your last game so don't sit around and act like this thing's over. To their credit, they were talking about A&M in the fourth quarter on the sideline.
On how he thought the defense played tonight: I don't know. I'd have to look at it. We gave up more big plays than we've been giving up but they've got a great scheme offensively and I think they're really talented. I think that'll be really good for us going to A&M because they've got a great quarterback and really good skill at receiver as well.
Offensive coordinator Greg Davis
On Colt McCoy's 43rd win: I am extremely proud. To win more games than anyone who has played the game of college football is quite an honor, and it could not go to a more deserving young man. I am like a proud father.
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp
On the play of the defense: First half, third down we did not get off the field, and then we did not tackle well in the second half. We did not tackle well on kickoff coverage. We had some missed tackles, and we have not done that all year, so that allows for some chuck yardage plays down the field. We need to improve those things.
TEXAS PLAYERS
QB Colt McCoy
On his 43rd career win: What is important to me is winning. We just did what they told us to do. Before the game, I tried not to think about it being the last game here and let my emotions get the best of me. I just wanted to come out here and play and execute and get better because we have a long stretch ahead of us. They were bringing their safeties in to stop the run, but the receivers played great and offensive line gave me some protection, and we were able to really take advantage of our play action stuff tonight. That really helped us.
On tonight's game: I was excited. I was happy. I feel like we played pretty well offensively. It was a conference game, and you have to be ready each week. It was definitely an enjoyable one, a memorable one.
On clinching the Big 12 South: One of our goals was to win the Big 12 South, but our focus right now is going to be on Texas A&M. We only have five days to prepare. Totally on Texas A&M, that is where we are headed.
On his four years at UT: God has blessed me tremendously. I have worked so hard to get to this point but I know what kind of teammates I have had, what kind of coaches I have had. I have been blessed. It is really special. Every time I go out on the field, I have the mentality that I have nothing to gain, nothing to lose, and nothing to prove.
On hitting the drum and pulling the cannon tonight after the game: I have never hit the drum, and I have never shot the cannon. They were both pretty sweet. I am in the Cowboys service organization on campus, and they have always wanted me to pull the cannon, but I was afraid that I was going to get a 15-yarder. I guess tonight was the perfect time to do it.
On the Power of One sign the team has in the locker room: It just means that we are all in as a team. We play as one - offense, defense, special teams. Each member of the team has signed it. It is kind of like when you have a popsicle stick. You can break it if it is by itself, but you put 100 of those together, and it's unbreakable. That is what that piece of wood symbolizes.
On the depth of the receivers: It is big for us. They cannot just key in on Jordan [Shipley]. I thought James [Kirkendoll] played great. I thought Malcolm [Williams] played great. He had a huge catch on play action. When those guys are playing at that level, and they are getting protection, we are hard to stop. We just really have to go back to work offensively and prepare the way we did this week for next week. It is one game at a time, but tonight I feel like they really played at a high level.
DE Sergio Kindle
On clinching the Big 12 South: It has been a long time coming. We have put a lot of hard work into getting where we are now, but it is not over. We still have another game in a few days to go out and put our focus into to win before Dallas.
On the defense containing Kansas QB Todd Reesing: We did a good job containing Reesing because he has been known to scramble all over the place, so that was one of our main focuses.
OT Adam Ulatoski
On the success of this senior class: I just want to keep on winning to be honest. I just want to go back to work. The record is nice, but we have a lot of big goals ahead of us. We have to continue to improve.
On Senior Day: It was a great experience for me. I'm so happy we could come out of this game with a win, but we have a lot of big goals ahead of us. It's not the end for us. We're going to go back to work and continue to try to win games.
On the quick turnaround for next week's game: It's going to be interesting. I've never had this before. I guess the only way to approach it is to get ready and go back to work. That's the only way you can think about it. We'll have meetings tomorrow and go over film and get a scouting report on them, and then we'll go to work Monday morning at 6 a.m.
On being a part of Colt McCoy's all-time wins record: It's great. We've been able to build such a great chemistry with Colt. He's done a great job of leading this team. I was just really proud for him to be a part of that. It was a great feeling. When they announced it, it was probably the loudest I've ever heard the stadium.
OG Charlie Tanner
On what he loves about UT: Home games, after a big win just seeing the crowd going crazy and going to the locker room with all of my buddies and having a Longhorn party. It's just like any other game. We'll get to enjoy this for the next few hours, but tomorrow it's time to get ready for Texas A&M.
On the quick turnaround for next week's game: As long as I've been here I've never been a part of something like that. It's going to be fine. We're obviously really excited about this win. We're going to enjoy celebrating it for the next few hours. Tomorrow we're going to get into the training room, get healthy and start preparing for Texas A&M. It's a quick turnaround on Thursday.
On being a part of Colt McCoy's all-time wins record: That's a lot of games. That's awesome. I'm really happy for him. Just being a part of that is a great feeling. We went into the locker room, and he stood up and kind of talked to us and say, "Guys I couldn't have done this without you. This isn't an award for me, it's a team reward." There's more to play. We can go get some more wins and that would be awesome.
On enjoying this win: Every one is fun. This one was obviously fun for us seniors, because it was the last go around in DKR. Playing in DKR here is awesome. We had a record crowd. The fans were awesome tonight. We did get to let a little emotion hang on our sleeves. During the game what was different was, we've been talking a lot about when we go and play it's about us improving as a team. If we want to get to our goals at the end of the season, we need to get better every single game. The way we played tonight is not going to cut it in championship games. We're going to go back to work tomorrow and we're going to improve on everything we can. That's what's really exciting about it. We did well tonight, but at the same time we can do so much better.
S Earl Thomas
On the seniors: The seniors have put a lot in this program and they've been here four, some have been here five years and it just means a lot to us underclassmen, just playing our hearts out and trying to get the win for our seniors.
On different units picking each other up: I think that's what makes a good team, when your offense is struggling and your defense steps up and then when your defense is struggling your offense steps up, so it just goes hand in hand and we've been able to do that throughout the season.
On his interception: I was just glad to make that play for the defense, and I think the receiver fell down behind me and it was just me and the ball, and I just came up with it finally.
On the team's accomplishments: We haven't been worried about what everybody else says, we've just been keeping it all about Texas, and we're just taking it one week at a time and see what happens. We're just not taking any game for granted and we'll go from there.
On the offense struggling early: As a defense, we felt real positive. We were able to stop them. When Colt and [the other offensive players] get rolling, that's all we need and our chance of winning just goes up dramatically.
WR Malcolm Williams
On his touchdown reception: They went low safety, so I beat my man over the top [and] Colt hit me. At first, I didn't think I was going to get to it because it looked like it was kind of out of place, so I kind of got over there and it just so happened to land right in my hands and just went from there.
On Colt McCoy's impact on the team: For the team, he's been a great leader, somebody who just keeps encouraging us. We've been fortunate enough for things to go right this year, but even when things don't go as well as we want them to, he's just been there for us to keep us motivated. As far as me, I've had some inconsistencies with certain things or whatever going through the season, but he's always been there to have my back and just keep me going, even when he knows things aren't going well for me, he keeps my head in the game and keeps me wanting to do better and keep pushing.
On the wide receivers' performance: As a group, I felt like we did really well clicking and of course catching the ball. We have so much talent in our room that anybody can go out and have a 100-yared game or just any kind of day like that, it just sometimes it goes the way it goes, sometimes Colt sees certain people and it happens like that sometimes. If [Colt] can give us the ball like that, we need to do what we're supposed to do on our end because he's going to hold up his end every time, if we can hold up our end, blocking, going down the field catching the ball, then it's going to be hard for us to [be stopped].
LB Roddrick Muckelroy
On tonight's win: It feels good to know that we're going to represent the Big 12 South. We were just going out there trying to have fun.
On getting ready for Texas A&M: It's a little bit different. We've just got to get ready. We're going to come in tomorrow and watch film and correct some things to get ready for the Aggies. It's going to be fun. It's a quick turn around, though. It'll be fun going down there and playing the Aggies.
On senior night: We did something different there at the end, calling out all the seniors. I've been here for five years and I haven't ever seen them do that, so I was taking full advantage of that. It was different, but it was fun. We went out with a W and that was how we wanted it.
C Chris Hall
On his last game at DKR Stadium: This was a blast. Just the way things ended and getting to be on the field in that last play, and getting together with all the seniors afterwards and celebrating with the fans was such a joy. What a way to spend your last time at DKR.
On Colt setting the record for all-time wins: I'm glad that he got the record because I think it lets the rest of the nation know what everybody around here has known for five years - what a character guy he is, the work he puts in day in, day out. For him to be rewarded for that and get that record and for us to get to be a part of that was so special. I'm very happy for him.
On playing in the Big 12 Championship: To get to go back to Dallas and play for the Big 12 Title in the new Cowboys stadium, right next to where I grew up, my goodness. I remember in 2005 when we went down to Reliant Stadium in Houston and I was in the stands, it's just been such a blast.
DT Lamarr Houston
On the lack of close games: I think our work is starting to pay off. We're improving every week and we're fixing our weaknesses. We're going in and watching tape, we're studying, working hard, and working on our techniques. We're doing what the coaches need us to do and that is what is showing up on the scoreboard.
On his reaction when asked to move from running back: I was fine with it. I didn't want to be a running back in college. I just didn't want to move from linebacker to defensive end. I just like to run free when I'm on the field and I had never played on the defensive line before. College was the first time I played on the defensive line, so it was kind of tough on me.
On whether they are a great team: We're better than we were last year and better than we have been the past few weeks. I think we've improved a lot since last year.
On whether he feels like they are more in the driver's seat now than they were last year: Last year we put our destiny in someone else's hands and this year we wanted to make sure that we didn't do that, so that's all we are trying to accomplish right now.
WR James Kirkendoll
On the game: We looked at them on film and they play a lot of man and we knew they were going to roll some of the coverage to [Jordan] Shipley. Whoever had the opportunity for man got a win and that's what we did today.
On Colt McCoy: Colt is the winningest quarterback in college football history. I'm just happy for Colt. He's one of the best I've ever seen. There's definitely more to come from him.
On the receivers' performances: We're definitely starting to hit on all cylinders. This was our best performance so far. I don't think we've reached where we can get, so we're just going to keep working. This is going to be a short week and we just have to get ready for Texas A&M.
On the quick turnaround: We're going to treat this week like any other week. We're going to go out there and practice hard, watch film and treat this like our last game. Each week the games get bigger and this is going to be the biggest game of the year.
WR Jordan Shipley
On his second senior day: It's been such a crazy ride. I've had so much fun. I feel so blessed and I want to give God the glory for having the opportunity to play at a place like this and for any success that he's given us. It was fun to finish the career at home the right way. It was awesome.
On the team's emotions after the game: It's a combination of things. You're happy, you're relieved and you're sad. It's been a great ride, and we still have a lot of things to accomplish. We're going to refocus and get ready for Texas A&M.
On a quick preparation for Texas A&M: This is a special team and we have great leadership. The seniors have done a great job of keeping everybody focused and coach Brown is doing a great job of keeping everybody focused. It's a fun deal. We enjoy getting to play on Thanksgiving. I think we'll be fine.
On the finish of the game: It was an awesome way to finish. It's such a blessing for Colt to get that record on his last home game and I'm glad to be a part of it. You can't say enough about what he's been able to do in his career. It's a product of a great program, a great coaching staff, a great system and obviously, he's the best there is.
On setting the single-season receiving yards record: It's a great blessing and I'm honored to have my name associated with some of the guys that have played here. It's definitely a special thing and it's something that we'll look back at after the end of the year and be happy about, but the main thing is that we got the win.
On the offense: I think our offense is doing some great things and I think all of us would tell you that we still feel like we've got a lot of things that we can improve on, but we're definitely making some strides.
On memories from tonight: We finished the right way here, and our last game was a special memory at home. I'll remember all of the guys I got to share it with. The fans have been great. It's just been a really special day.
KANSAS COACHES
Head coach Mark Mangino
On Texas' performance: I'd like to congratulate Texas on what a fine football team it has. They don't have any weaknesses. I told Colt McCoy after the game that he's a very talented quarterback and I've enjoyed watching him play. He's the leader of that team, no question. Their defense is just a fabulous group of kids. Their team is well coached, and they're good on special teams. It is a complete team that will now compete for a Big 12 Championship and possibly a national championship. They're that good of a football team.
On Kansas' performance: I'm really proud of the way our kids played and competed. I'm proud of everything they did today. The better team won today, but our kids never surrendered, even in times when their backs were against a wall, they continued to fight. That's all we ever ask of our players. We ask our players to compete and play hard. It takes no talent to give effort, and our kids do that.
On the unity of the Kansas football team: It is a united team. Let me say this to you, I am privileged to coach these kids. We are a 5-6 football team, and this is one of the most resilient groups of kids I have ever been around. I can't give you the exact reasons for that, but I think that the fact that everything they do is together, it really makes it a united football team. We have really good kids in terms of attitude, and I really think they understand about dealing with adversity in life. I've been on winning teams that I'm not sure have had that. These kids do.
On maintaining focus on preparations to play Texas: Football for me is fun. The coaching, watching tape and being on the practice field is something that we love to do. This is a very prideful bunch of kids, maybe that's the best way to describe them. They have tremendous pride. Distracted? No. Let me tell you what's on my mind. This week, it was Texas. As soon as I walk out of this room, Missouri. Let me tell you something that's really important that's on my mind. I have a player, D.J. Marshall, who's in Tulsa, Okla., in a cancer center. He just started his chemotherapy this week. That's called a bad week. I've had a great week.
KANSAS PLAYERS
WR Kerry Meier
On the game overall: We were all focusing our attention on what Texas was doing. I thought we handled everything well. We've got to get ready for Missouri and see what they're doing. It's tough, any time you open up with five victories and turn around and lose six straight. It's tough and something I've had to adjust to. What I will try to do is stay positive and stay the course. Right now we're 5-6, and we need a sixth victory to become bowl eligible. We'll just push as hard as we can to get a win over Missouri.
QB Todd Reesing
On returning to his hometown to play Texas: It's not the way we wanted things to turn out. We played an extremely good team today. I'm sure they're poised to head off to the national championship. It was a lot of fun. We played hard, and you can't take that away from us. It was fun to come back here, and I had a lot of fun. It was fun playing here in the stadium where I grew up watching UT play when I was a kid. The whole experience was great. The outcome isn't what we wanted, but we did our best, and that's all you can ask.
On the Texas defense: They're probably the fastest defense we've faced. They're extremely physical. They know their assignments, and they play hard. For most of the day, we did a pretty good job of moving the ball. We found some success and were able to get some drives together. We fell short a couple of times in the red zone. On offense, we did a lot of things real well. We moved the ball better against this defense than a lot of other teams have. We would have liked to have gotten more touchdowns, but when you go against a good defense, you can't make a lot of mistakes. You've got to make plays here and there. They're talented, and there's a reason they don't give up a whole lot of points.