The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
UCF quotes
11.07.2009 | Football
Nov. 7, 2009
TEXAS
HEAD COACH Mack Brown
Opening statement: Let me first say that all of our thoughts and prayers are with the families at Fort Hood. What an awful thing, and for us to be able to celebrate all of our veterans on a wonderful day like today and have a beautiful day and have so many of our military personnel at the game was really special to all of us. Know that there are some families that are really hurting. I heard President Obama say you can kind of understand it when it's overseas; it hurts a little bit more when it's at home. We just want to make sure that we keep our thoughts and prayers in our minds with them. That's very, very important to us.
Secondly, Colt (McCoy) was right. We were fortunate that the 10 pilots were staying at our hotel. They ate pregame meal with us. One of the guys stood up, he was a Texas graduate named Cory. I asked him to tell our guys what he does when he's preparing for a mission and it was pretty heartwarming. We asked him if he was worried about losing, he said, "You can't lose. You've got to get ready to play and you've got to win every time you go out there. We work to make sure we're good at what we do." In fact, they said they would fly 400 miles per hour today and be three inches apart. He said if the other guy is four inches close to him instead of three, they crash. You've got to have teammates and you've got to work really hard. I think all of us can learn from others and we continue to talk about our military personnel does, and that's why we had all five branches represented on our helmets.
Slow start, give Central Florida credit for that. Didn't seem to have as much energy as we'd like to start the game. Guys were playing hard. Central Florida did exactly what we thought they would do and what we'd told the kids they would do. They were trying to get four yards here and three yards there. You miss a field goal and all of a sudden you're on the field in the first quarter only two series offensively. That's what you were afraid of, that they would keep the ball. We had a lot of yards at halftime but we left some points on the field and that's what we couldn't do. A holding penalty stopped a drive, we had an interception once, and two or three things that we needed to do to move the ball better offensively. We came out and played better the second half. They were wadding people up at the line of scrimmage so we consciously quit running it. We said, "Run it on short yardage and goal line and throw it every other time, throw it with play action because they were going to step up on the run." We did that and I thought we threw it today like we threw it last year. I thought Colt was hot and had unbelievable day throwing the ball. The protection was really good. Not only Jordan (Shipley), he was special like he always is, all the guys were.
We didn't really force any turnovers until the last one of the game. We gave up one turnover so it was tough for field position. We got no cheap points today. You had to move and earn all of them. You start looking at the kicking game; we really got nothing out of the kicking game. We didn't get field position. In fact in the third quarter, I think we were at the one-yard line, the 12 and the 20 offensively. We stayed backed up with the wind in the third quarter for sure.
The defense continues to play really, really well. I think they had 151 yards total offense and just scored the three points so we held them without a touchdown again. I thought Colt came back. The last three weeks for sure we've seen the Colt that we all remember/ That to me is as good as any quarterback in the country.
On UCF's offensive game plan: They didn't throw it much at all, the passes they threw were sprint outs and hitches. They were very conservative and that was their game plan. Keep it close, get in the fourth quarter and hope we would be flat. Stop the run and hope we wouldn't able to protect or catch. Punt us deep, run it, run it, and throw a pass every now and then off of play action. That was the deal and we were disappointed we didn't strip it. We ended up with a positive differential in time of possession but at one time I know we were down nearly 12 (minutes) to eight in the second quarter. It was something you fought in this game, something that you always fight with George O'Leary teams. I remember that from the ACC days. He always punts the ball, always plays defense, he's going to make you throw it and he's going to run it.
On the plethora of deep passes Texas threw today: I think they couldn't cover us and they were hoping we'd run it. We just decided to quit running it.
On Jordan Shipley: He just keeps playing so well and he's tough. I don't think he gets the credit for his toughness, his decision-making and his speed that he deserves. The deep post, he out-ran everybody. What a play that was. He's a really good football player and he continues week after week to show that. If he's not in the middle of the Biletnikoff (Award running) I don't know how anybody else could be better than he is right now. Some may look better walking in the door, and I think that's one of his problems. I think he went over 1,000 yards today, what great numbers.
On Colt McCoy: I don't think there's any doubt this is the way we'll see him play the rest of the year. We're helping him offensively, we've gotten better protection for him and this will also open up the running game some. Most people can't do that. They're just not going to let you stand there and throw the ball like that. They're going to have to play with more coverage.
On Malcolm Williams: Malcolm continues to get better. He's so strong. He's a great blocker. He works really hard. He's still active on kick game. He had the great catch coming off the goal line that leads to the Jordan pass right after that or we have to punt. He just continues to make plays. He seems to be growing up. I thought Marquise (Goodwin) made a couple of great plays. He didn't get as many opportunities but he scooped one up on our sideline that was a really hard catch.
On the goal line play calling: I thought Greg did a good job getting us off the goal line with deep passes. That's hard to do and he just said, "Heck with it, we're going to throw it deep." And that was good for today.
On Cody Johnson: I thought Cody did a good job. The first fourth-and-one was key for us. He's running behind his pads much better. And then the second short yardage, the first time we've seen him bounce outside and walk in and then at the end of the game he carried a bunch of (UCF defenders) with him. Consciously as he was carrying about five there at the end I saw him wrap his off hand over the ball to make sure they couldn't strip it out.
On Lamarr Houston: Lamarr played really, really well. We're excited for him that he continues to do that.
On the decision to not pursue the school single-game passing record: We talked about it with nine minutes left and I think if it'd been six minutes we would have put him back in and then I just decided against it. I brought Colt and Jordan over. I said, "Hey, we've got some goals out there and neither one of them are most passing yards today so let's be smart here." And then I'd thought it would be disrespectful and stupid with four minutes left, and then when it's a 1:32 when we finally got it back, that barrage of penalties that I don't want to see there at the end of the game. We discussed it and Major asked what we were doing. I said, "We're trying to break your record." Greg said he liked all of this to break previous quarterbacks' records. Major got quiet and then he said, "Let's go for it." He needed four yards, they were going to throw a five-yard hitch and fall down. I just didn't want to do that. We've got a lot of things we need to get done here.
On the goal line stand to close the game: Most of those guys were our second team defense and that's what I was proud of. We need them out there. As disappointed as we were that Garrett (Gilbert) didn't get his six minutes to play because we wanted him to get some good work, I thought it was great to have the sack at the end and then knock down the pass to stop it at the end of the game.
On if Aaron Williams could have played: He probably could have. It would have been close. He did not practice Tuesday, he did a little bit on Wednesday, so we didn't think he practiced enough and unless we needed him today we didn't think it was worth putting him out there.
On Colt McCoy's play over the last three games: He's played the last three weeks, after he got healthy and after we got on track offensively and protected him better; he's played to me like he did all last year. This is a guy we expect. He's playing confident, he's having fun and he's just relaxed and taken control offensively.
Offensive Coordinator Greg Davis
On QB Colt McCoy ending the game four yards shy of the school's single game passing record: We were aware after the last touchdown that Fozzy [Whittaker] made that Colt was four yards short of the record and that Jordan [Shipley] was eight yards short of the receiving record. With nine minutes or so to go, we thought we might put him back in, but as the game unfolded, we decided against it.
On where WR Jordan Shipley ranks in receivers he has coached: He is certainly one of the best. He is a real technician. He does a great job. He has great hands. He is tough as a boot. He is a great player. I think his natural spot is inside, but we have had to play him outside for what is best for the team.
Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp
On the defense's philosophy: Our players take a lot of pride in keeping people out of the end zone. It is the number one stat score on defense, and it is really the one that we focus on. We have given up some touchdowns late. I think that our younger players and all of our players defensively are starting to buy into the fact that regardless of the situation in the game, we want to keep them out of the end zone.
On UCF QB Brett Hodges not playing today: Their quarterback [Brett] Hodges was hurt. He hurt his ribs in the last game, and we had heard that during the week. Then obviously during pregame, he did not take the snaps. [Rob] Calabrese had started the year for them in the Samford and Southern Mississippi games, and they had used a little more of the zone option, which we had prepared for. I thought that our players did an outstanding job of executing expect for the one time.
TEXAS PLAYERS
QB Colt McCoy
On WR Jordan Shipley: We just did a great job of moving him around to different positions. He just did a very good job tonight.
On whether he knew that he was only four yards shy of UT's single game passing record: I did not even know until they told me on the headsets with about nine minutes left. I am very happy for Jordan. He is a receiver that definitely deserves it and has definitely put in the work. If you ask Jordan or if you ask me, we are all in. We just want to win.
On whether he asked to go back into the game: I am not the coach. When you look up at the scoreboard, and you have more points than them, that is what it is all about to me.
On today's game: We went into the game expecting to fight. They are a solid football team. We should have come out with more of an edge to start the game. We kind of created our own edge as the game went on. That is a tribute to us. The defense played lights out again. We should have come out and started faster, but we were okay.
On what he felt when he saw the flyby before the game: We were inside for the flyby. We did not get to see it. The fighter pilots that flew the jets over the stadium came to pregame meal with us. That is really neat. I have some personal experiences with people in the military. They challenged us to dedicate the game to someone in the armed forces. We put a sticker on our helmet. I dedicated the game to my cousin Grant, his mom, and his battalion that he was with when they got into some trouble over there. It was really important to us, and to see the fighter pilots at our pregame meal was pretty special.
DE/LB Sergio Kindle
On the defense's effort today: We worked hard coming into the game. We did slip up on some running plays because they got more yards than we wanted them to get. I really have to give credit to the interior guys. They kept everything outside, and with me being on the edge, that is my play to make.
On DT Lamarr Houston's play tonight: Everyone is surprised that Lamarr being 300 lbs. can move as quick as he can, but that guy is as strong as an ox. He dedicates himself to his work, and it shows on the field.
RB Cody Johnson
On getting more carries: I'm getting more opportunities right now. I think whoever is in is going to do their job. I'm just fortunate to be the one that they picked to handle the position right now with Fozzy [Whittaker]. Right now, I'm trying to settle down and learn new stuff and keep dropping weight.
On bouncing a run outside for a touchdown: If the nose or something crosses your face you have to bounce it outside. Basically, that's what happened. They slanted inside, and Antwan Cobb hit two people and Lamarr [Houston] hit another person and it was just open back there. Coach always says if you hit that point, just bounce. That's what happened. We had to bounce it.
On his catch and run: I was just doing my job. I caught the ball, and your job is to catch it and split the defenders. That's what I did. I was fortunate to get down field with it.
LB Roddrick Muckelroy
On the defense's performance: We started off a little slow today, but we all got back together and started working on all cylinders.
On the win: It's a pretty good win to come back home and get the win. They came in and played us hard just like we expected them to do. It's good to be back home.
On Sergio Kindle and Lamarr Houston: They're out there making plays for the defense. That's all you can ask from your players.
On the defense's balance: We're pretty balanced as a defense. No matter who makes plays, we're all out there making plays together. Today they stepped up and made plays when it counted - a couple sacks, tackles for losses. They were all over the place.
DE Sam Acho
On the game: It was a hard-fought battle. We knew Central Florida was going to come in ready to play. The big thing is ball possession, you watch the Miami game last week, they had the ball for about 10 minutes in the first quarter, so we knew that was going to come, we just had to fight it out and keep on playing.
On the defensive performance: We showed determination today, it started off tight and we knew Central Florida was going to come ready to play. We took their first attack and they kept on rolling with the punches and finally we prevailed. We showed a lot of determination today as a unit, offense, defense and special teams.
On preparing for UCF'S backup quarterback: No, we weren't prepared for [him to play], but we feel like the way we prepare for teams, we're ready for anyone. It wouldn't matter if it's the starter, the backup or third string, we prepare the same way so even if we would have known it was going to be the backup, we would have prepared the same way.
On the last defensive stand: That definitely represents what the defense has done all year. There were a couple of calls that put us in bad field position, so the fact that you saw Ben Wells in there stepping up, Ben Alexander, the whole defense and that was the second unit going in there and stopping them, that just really put a stamp on our performance.
WR James Kirkendoll
On the wide receivers performance: We got off to a little slow start, basically everybody was making plays. [Against] a team like UCF, you got to really come out there and have your head on a swivel so we just got it going and everybody started clicking.
On learning from Jordan Shipley: His whole demeanor on the field, his route running, his blocking. You take everything you can from a guy like that when you have the best receiver in the country, you learn everything from him, so we're all happy just to have him back for his last year and just learn as much as we can from him.
On next week's game versus Baylor: Next week, we're going to take the same approach that we take every week. It's going to be the biggest game of the year this coming week and we're just looking to do whatever we can do to be 10-0.
On today's game: We got off to a slow start, but by the middle of the third quarter we all got on the same page and Colt [McCoy] got hot and we all started catching balls.
On McCoy and Shipley's performances today: When you've got a quarterback like Colt [McCoy] and a great receiver like Jordan [Shipley], everybody else will start clicking, it opens up the whole offense and it's hard to stop just one person.
RB Fozzy Whittaker
On the offense: Overall, we did good. I felt like we started off a little slow and sluggish, but as the game went on we began to pick it up and start getting into a little bit of a groove. So overall, we played good and we still came out with a win and that's all we'll focus on.
On Jordan Shipley: It's exciting to see one of your teammates succeed knowing that you are a part of his success as far as it takes the whole team. Everybody doing their job in order for a big play to happen and just to see one of our teammates do that, especially a senior in Jordan, he's been here so long, it's just a great feeling.
On the offense the last few weeks: I feel like our offense is doing well right now. I don't think changes would have to be made or anything, coach [Greg] Davis has been doing well with the play calling and keeping us all focused and prepared each week.
On preparing for next week's game versus Baylor: We approach it like a championship atmosphere. Each game from now until [Texas] A&M, we have to approach it as if it's a championship game because that's what's on the line.
OL Adam Ulatoski
On the offense: I feel like we did some really good things and I feel like obviously there's a lot we can work on and continue to get better and that gives us stuff that we can go work on next week.
On Jordan Shipley: You love seeing your guys do so well, and just to be a part of this day for him, that record is a great thing and being 9-0 is even better.
On the defense having a big impact: We love it. Every time that we can get the ball back and try and go out there and score some points, we like it.
On preparing for the rest of the season: Just go back to work. We've got plenty that we can work on and continue to grow and grow as a team and grow as an offensive unit and defensive unit and everything.
On Central Florida's defense: Coming into the game, we knew they had a great defense. We'd seen it on film, we'd seen the statistics and a lot of people that don't watch film and don't know all this, they just see UCF and they don't understand that they have good players too. We practiced hard all week and tried to prepare and we just went out there and executed as best as we could.
DB Earl Thomas
On what the defense proved today: We proved that we can stop the run. We just played hard. We didn't get the win like we wanted to but we will take it. We started off slow, but we made a couple of adjustments and got it together. We wanted to come out and start fast, but overall I think we played pretty solid.
On keeping Central Florida out of the end zone: It means a lot to us, obviously it is our goal. If we keep the offense from scoring I am going to guarantee a win. That is what we try to work on week in and week out, just try to keep the offense out of the end zone.
On the defensive performance: I think it was an exciting game by everybody, the offense and defense. We still have a long way to go and we will correct the things we made mistakes on tomorrow when we watch the film.
On staying focused throughout the game: We have just got to stay aggressive. Our starters are on the sideline during scrimmage trying to cheer us on so the offense doesn't score. Overall I think we played good as a group.
On the defensive game plan: Just trying to get to them early, and try to get out offense on the field as soon as possible and try to take their momentum out of the game. We had a slow start, but we got it together at the end.
On dedicating the game to the veterans: They fight for us while we are living our regular lives, and it means a lot to the whole team. We dedicated this game to the troops and I'm glad we got a win for them.
WR Jordan Shipley
On the game: It was a fun game to get to break free a couple times. You have to give a lot of credit to Central Florida, they played really well. We had to battle the whole game, but we came out with the win.
On breaking the receiving record: It's a humbling feeling for me to be mentioned with some of those guys. I just feel extremely blessed to be mentioned with that group. It's one of those deals that you don't really think about while you're playing and I really had no idea. It was the last long one that did it, I think. It was a fun game. It was fun to break free and I think our offense executed well and our defense played great.
On the offense: You have to give a lot of credit to Coach [Greg] Davis today. He saw a lot of things on film that we could take advantage of. The offensive line played great. Colt [McCoy] had a great game. When everything is firing on all cylinders like that, we're going to do some good things. It worked out well for us today. We had a great offensive game plan and we executed well.
On Fort Hood: We felt terrible about what happened at Fort Hood. We dedicated the game to the troops and the people in the services. It was really special for us to go out and get a win for those guys. Obviously, we all felt terrible about what happened at Fort Hood and we wanted to go out and play as hard as possible and dedicate the game to them, so we were glad to get a win. We can't stress enough how much we appreciate what they do and we feel like we get to do what we do because of what they do over there, so we're extremely thankful.
DT Lamarr Houston
On what he did during the game today: Using my technique, working off my routine, hitting on the blocks and just trying to get penetration.
On if Texas made any adjustments during the first quarter: Well, coming into the game we knew that UCF was first [in the country] in fourth down conversions and about third in the country in third down conversions, so they try to stay on the field. We knew that was part of their game plan, so we tried to stop them from doing that.
On his thoughts of the second string defensive line: I was right there watching. For somebody on second string to come in and not let them score, it's a great feeling.
On Texas' defense: I think that's huge that we kept UCF's third and fourth-down conversions to a minimum. We tried to get our offense back on the field because you only saw the offense on the field two times in the first quarter. We had to get them out there. UCF ran the ball really well in the first quarter. We came and made some adjustments and then after tried to take that part of their game away.
On who he dedicated today's game to: I had a great uncle who passed away a few years ago who was in WWI and WWII, so I dedicated the game to him.
UCF COACH
Head coach George O'Leary
On how his team played: We played well in spurts, but we gave up too many big plays. (Jordan) Shipley had too many big plays. At the end of the game, we had just been on the field too long. Offensively, we were very sporadic, and didn't do our jobs to get anything going.
UCF PLAYERS
LB Cory Hogue

On competing against Texas: We came in against the No. 2 team in the nation, and they played like the No. 2 team in the nation. They came out running it, they did a good job stopping our attack and they found open zones in the passing game. We played four hard quarters, but they beat us deep downfield. We have to give it to them because Texas is a great team.
On this game preparing them for next week against No. 13 Houston: We can definitely take away that we had some areas that were working today. We'll have to work on our passing game a whole bunch, that's our weakness right now. We're going to have to get in that film room Monday, study it, figure out what Houston does, and come to practice every day ready for hard work.
QB Rob Calabrese

On playing at The University of Texas: It's great when you get to play the No. 2 team in the country. It's a great atmosphere, and it's awesome to play in front of 100,000 people. Not many people can say they have played in a stadium like this, and it's a great experience.
On UCF's performance: I thought we could have executed a little better. It's a tough loss. We played 60 hard minutes, and we never gave up, even at the last minute.
DT Torrell Troup

On UCF's performance: It was kind of disappointing. We didn't make plays when we needed to make plays, and it's really hurt us all season.
On Texas' passing game: We just weren't tight in our coverage. Our defensive line didn't get into enough of a rush to scramble out and make big plays, and that really hurt us.
On what positives can be taken away from today's game: We didn't quit. We fought until the last second of the game, so that is pretty good.