The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
UTEP quotes
09.26.2009 | Football
Sept. 26, 2009
TEXAS COACHES
Head coach Mack Brown
Opening statement: It was a dominating win. It was fun to see our guys play hard, and they played well in all three phases. When you force turnovers like that, games get out of control and you have the big kicking game plays for field position. I'm really excited about our kicking game. I think we have a chance now every time somebody kicks it to us to score, and that's fun. We haven't been that way since we've been here, really. When (UTEP) got the interception and scored, the kickoff return just kind of broke their back when we came right back. They are a better football team in my estimation than they were this time last year. We were scared coming in because if you looked at what they were doing, they were getting better each week and they played Buffalo much better this year than they did last year, they beat New Mexico State last week. We were concerned about them being able to run the ball, so I was really pleased with the way our defense stepped up and just shut everything down throughout the entire day.
Our young ones played better in the last quarter and a half than they've been playing before, so we're proud of them. I'm proud of Colt (McCoy), he looks like the Colt of old. He came back and started well, even with the interception. He had a grin on his face when came over and he said, "Boy, what a great play he (UTEP DB Malcolm Stevenson) made." I thought it was the right throw, the right place to go and the guy just made a great break on it. Instead of having bad body language and feeling bad, he said, "We'll get him deep one of these plays."
I'm really proud of Vondrell (McGee). He stepped up and looked in the game like what we've been seeing in practice. We're proud of him. The receivers continued to get better. I just felt like overall it was a dominating win. You hate to beat somebody that badly, but the game just kind of got out of hand. I was proud of Garrett (Gilbert) when he came in. We tried to get him some actual scrimmage plays because it'll help him, and that's three games we've gotten him in where he's gotten some work. I feel like that he did a really good job when he was in.
On if the running back pool became deeper today: I think so. That's good. Cody (Johnson) looked good on his one run for a touchdown when he got in there. Fozzy (Whittaker) probably still isn't 100 percent, but he's close. He's got so much quickness. We've really got to go back and look at what we can do with the right combination of guys in there. I think we've got a good problem in that all of them have a chance.
On preparing to return conference play: We'll re-evaluate everything next week. We'll look at the body of work we've had for the first four weeks. We'll look at the good and the bad, we'll pull everything out and we'll pull out what is not working that we feel like doesn't fit us. We'll throw out what is not working, especially offensively, because you can get too much. We will start working hard for conference play now, and the things that are really important to us. I did think that last week's tough game with Tech helped us today. We played at a faster tempo today and more urgency from start to finish. That's what next week will be about, trying to figure out exactly what we need to be when we start for Colorado the following week.
On the high standards QB Colt McCoy has set for himself: We have pretty high standards here, and that's a good thing. At one point during the season he said he feels like he's got the whole weight of the world on his shoulders and I said, "Me too." They were griping at me after the Tech game too, so that's just part of the deal here. I do think that what you realize is when you set a very high standard like he has, the expectations are just as high. Today he lived up or went beyond those expectations again, and that's what he'll be this year. He had a real breakthrough last week in the second half, and I saw him with a different demeanor all week and today. We dropped a touchdown pass today. That might have frustrated him two weeks ago, it didn't even bother him today. He's competitive, he wants it to work, but he said, "Pick your head up and let's go get the next play."
On the defense: They just played great. I really hate that we've had two shutouts with our defense this year and they will not get credit for it because of the botched fake of the punt up at Wyoming and the blocked punt were the only points they got, and today the points weren't allowed defensively, so from our standpoint we're calling it a shutout to the kids. They know that's what they did.
On the offense's tempo: We just tried to go one-minute tempo instead of no-huddle. We wanted to go play the whole game at such a high pace that it's like the last drive before the half because we do that so well. That's what we did today. UTEP doesn't have a lot of depth and in that heat the other thing we wanted to do was wear them down and that's what happened because we were on the field so much offensively. We had 83 plays to 51. When you just stay on the field that long it gives you a chance to get everybody going.
On rushing and passing for 300 yards each: That's who we want to be. That's what we were in 2005; we ended up 250-250. That's what you would like to have. We don't care which half, we don't care when it happens, because it is harder to run the ball in the first half. We felt like that we did see some things we liked in the running game during the second half and we've just got to continue to work on them.
On where the team is after four games: We divide the season up into four groupings. Last week was the end of the first season. This is the first game of the second season, it will go through OU because we usually try to go 3-4 weeks there. We'll have our preparation week, then Colorado, then we'll have OU. We'll restart it again because we have to start going on the road. We feel like that we have a million things still to work on. We're where we want to be. This was a good way to finish. Now we'll have to be really careful that people don't brag on us for this performance so much that our guys get complacent and lackadaisical.
On Jordan Shipley's value to the team: I don't think there's any question that Jordan Shipley is underrated. He's the same guy every day. He's got the same attitude every day. When he got the early hit on the punt, most guys would have laid there or come out, but he was fine. We had to fair catch the last four punts and get him out because I was afraid he might not fair catch it. I don't think that Jordan is appreciated like he should be outside of our staff and our team. They know how valuable he is to us.
On turnovers: Last year, to win 12 games with as few turnovers as we had was nearly impossible. Offensively, I still think we're okay because we're holding on to the ball well. It seems like we've got good ball security. The last two fumbles we can't have, but those young guys haven't practiced as much in those situations as the guys that played in the first three quarters. Turnovers are the difference in college football games.
I think I was most proud that they all came out ready to play. After the Tech game, this could have been a day that they wouldn't have been as ready to play because it wasn't a national game. I was excited that this team grew up some and hopefully they're going to start playing regardless of the opponent every week.
On what a win like this does for the team's psyche: It's really good and it's dangerous. We play better, I really believe, when people are critical of us. We will have to be really hard on this team now, and we'll have to go back and look at every little thing that's out there. Usually the media does the coaching for me, and this week I'm going to have to do it. Very honestly, complacency kills in football. We've got to go back to work. We'll find a lot of things that we need to work on in this film.
On playing every eligible player: We've got two punters, two kickers, all the snappers, all the holders, so we got to work a lot of guys that don't normally get to work in a game today in a live situation. I think we got every eligible person today in the game, and that's something that's very, very hard to do and we're proud to do that.
On gaining style points from this win: I think when you're ahead 47-7 at halftime, that's style points.
Offensive coordinator Greg Davis
On the offense's outlook coming into the game: We really challenged our guys. I thought that they responded well, and we played up-tempo situation, and obviously that works in our favor.
On UTEP's defense scoring their lone touchdown: When they score, it is going to be The University of Texas. It is not going to be about offense, defense, or special teams. It is about scoring touchdowns. We always talk about being all in all the time. It does not matter who was on the field when it happened, they scored against Texas.
On Vondrell McGee: Vondrell is a very tough runner. We have really been challenging him to use his eyes. I thought he did that tonight and had several good plays. On the touchdown on the option, he did a great job stepping through a tackle, while at the same time protecting the ball. I was really pleased with the way he played.
On Fozzy Whittaker: I was glad we were able to get Fozzy some work. He came in and did a good job, and we are going to need him as we get into the meat of the schedule.
On whether he was disappointed they had to kick three field goals: I was disappointed that we had to kick some field goals, but through four games, we have scored every time that we have been in the red zone - either a touchdown or a field goal. We have come up with points every time.
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp
On the defense's play overall: We expect to go and play well. We talk about being a dominant defense. That is something that we expect to do. We challenge our kids all the time to play four quarters together regardless of the scoreboard. I was pleased that we were able to play everyone on defense again. We got the young guys a lot of snaps, and when they ran, they played pretty well.
On any adjustments the defense has made: A week ago, we challenged our guys to go out and set the tempo. We have great speed on defense, and we want to make people adjust to our speed in the game and not let them get ahead of us early in the series. Sergio [Kindle] is really rushing the passer. He has been outstanding all season. We really did a good job executing on third down.
TEXAS PLAYER QUOTES
DE Sergio Kindle
On his sack: It was a great play for me. I got around the tackle. Once again, the quarterback was sitting there waiting for me, and I made the play. I was glad some of our guys were there to recover the ball.
On the defense as a whole: Basically, everyone is clicking right now. We are cutting down on busted plays. Four guys putting pressure on the quarterback is always going to help. If we can keep doing that, I feel like we will produce every game.
QB Colt McCoy
On the offense: We put up 64 points, so it was a good day. We just have to play consistent. Coming into this game, that was our focus all week long. We wanted to really start strong out of the gate, and we did that for sure. The defense played lights out. They gave us some turnovers, and we capitalized on them.
On WR Jordan Shipley: He can do anything. He played great. He is just doing a lot of great things for us offensively. He runs great routes and knows how to get open. We are definitely clicking.
On the upcoming off week: I think an off week is always good if you take advantage of it. As an offense, we came out and produced how we wanted to, the defense played lights out, and special teams did as well. If we use this momentum and use this off week in the right way, it will definitely be a big help for us.
On Dan Buckner's touchdown catch right before halftime: Any time you have Dan [Buckner] lined up with a linebacker, I feel like that is a pretty good one-on-one match. Since Dan is playing the flex position, he is going to get a lot of match-ups with the linebackers. He did a nice job of making that catch and scoring for us right before halftime.
On the offense clicking: Our offense is really close to figuring it out, and I thought that we were one step closer to it today.
WR D.J. Monroe
On what he thinks about being the first Longhorn to have two returns for a touchdowns: Well Coach Brown said it's something possible that many people can't do, so it's something that is in history. My teammates are always there to block for me. They say, "You follow me and you'll get in the end zone." I trust my boys.
On if he knew he made history during the game: Coach mentioned (that I was the first Longhorn to return two kickoffs for touchdowns) to me on the sidelines, but I was too close to the game for it to really sink in.
On his plan for continued success with returns: I just keep chugging away. If I get it next week, then I get it, but if I don't, I don't. I'm here for the team and wherever else they need me.
On what it feels like to be a part of history: It feels great. I'm just hoping I can add on to it, and maybe do the same again.
S Earl Thomas
On Blake Gideon's interception: I just jumped on his back. I was happy for him. He caught it at the high point. It was just over the top. I'm glad he got one.
On where the defense is: We executed very well I would think. We played good and aggressive as a whole D. We held up, and played a whole game tonight.
On Blake Gideon and Ben Wells getting their first interceptions: We were all pumped, especially Ben getting it, because he hasn't had a lot of snaps. He read the play real well. He came up and made a good interception. I'm proud of them both.
On the defense's performance: As a team we played real good. We didn't give up too many big plays. When the first team got out, the second team came in and did a spectacular job. I'm proud of everybody as a group.
On where a strong defensive performance starts: It starts at practice, everybody communicating. They're taking the coaching very well, and it's paying off in the game. Up front it's getting a lot of pressure on the quarterback. It's making our life in the secondary much easier.
DE Sam Acho
On the difference in the defense's performance in the last two games against UTEP: I don't know what the difference was. We just worked hard and focused. We tried to be prepared, and I think we played well.
On the defense getting five turnovers: Coach Brown kept on saying that he knew they would come in bunches, because we had a lot of close opportunities. This week they started to fall our way.
On if it helps the defense's confidence getting turnovers: Coach Muschamp always focuses on trying to make turnovers. Now we're seeing it happen, it gives us more confidence as a defense.
On if the defense will get complacent after a strong performance: We're a hard working bunch of guys. We know we have to go back to work tomorrow. We'll be back here tomorrow working. We know we can't let off, because Colorado is going to come ready.
On not allowing many points this year: Texas Tech ended up having 24, so there are still some kinks we have to fix. I think we had a pretty good game today.
On if this was the defense's best game of the year: We're still making progress. It was a good overall defensive effort. The offense obviously put up 64 points. It was a good overall effort. We just have to keep on improving, watch this film tomorrow and improve from that.
DT Lamarr Houston
On the defense: It was really exciting because all week we've been working hard and we wanted not to have a step off and [have been] trying to improve. We made another improvement to this week from last week and it was good. It's exciting right now. I'm enjoying the win.
On the defensive line getting pressure: We are trying to push the pocket and make the guy uncomfortable back there. If we can do that, it makes us happy as a defense to give our cornerbacks and [defensive backs] and those guys some interceptions.
On going into the bye week: It's not really a week off. It's a week to work and a week to recoup. So, we have a bye week and everybody can fix some nicks and bangs and then get ready to play Colorado.
On the defense's level of play: It was a good game. It was a good show for us. So far, it's a step up from last game and that's all we're looking for is just another step from the last game.
LB Roddrick Muckelroy
On his level of play: I'm just continuing to go practice the things I know I need to do to get better. I've been working with coach Muschamp closely and he lets me know the things I do and the things that I can do better and just being coachable.
On being in the middle of the field: I'm in the middle and everything is happening around me. It's fun and when coach came to me earlier this summer, he told me he might need me to play middle linebacker and I was like, "okay."
On getting to sit on the sideline and watch the offense: They came right in and stepped up to the plate and started fast. They put a lot of points on the board, a lot of different people getting in the game, a lot of different running backs, quarterbacks; it was a fun game to watch.
On the defensive effort: We put a lot of different players out on the field on defense and a lot of guys stepped up. If you're a defensive player or a coach, I'm pretty sure you can't ask for anything more.
RB Vondrell McGee
On his long run: It was good, I wish I was a little more loose, but it was good.
On the running back competition: It's hard as you can see. Everybody that gets a chance to get in there does their thing, so you have to come with it every week.
On his confidence: It just helps my confidence knowing that I can make my cuts again on my ankle. I don't really care about the 100 yards.
On playing on special teams: Special teams are the only thing that really kept me loose, so I was doing that to stay loose.
On having vision as a running back: You just have to work on your tempo. You can't be sprinting full speed to the hole, and you have to work on your patience. You have to know where the hole is supposed to be and where the cutback lanes are going to be if they're there.
On what else he needs to work on: I think we can get better every day. Pass protecting - you can get better at that every week. I don't think there is one week you can just be 100 percent good at that.
S Blake Gideon
On the quick start: If there was one, I kind of noticed early on that we weren't starting off well as a team. We wanted to make it a point this week to have a fast start and to establish ourselves early.
On how the team played: It was a sign of good football and it just shows that whenever we all do what we're supposed to and we have good enough players on this side of the ball that we're not worrying about what everyone else is doing. We trust each other and we take care of our assignments.
On the turnovers: It was huge. That was a huge step last year and in the spring coming into this year. It's huge to have the interceptions. Coach Akina was talking about getting the monkey off of our back. We think we went for it tonight and it was a great start.
On the culmination of all the weeks: We're going to get better every week. You never stay the same, and you're never going to get better or worse. We've learned from our mistakes and we want to keep taking a step forward. With this bye week, we still need to keep taking our steps forward and begin looking to Colorado.
On how playing Texas Tech so early helped Texas: We better get started in a hurry. Tech came in here with a chip on their shoulder, so we had to be ready to play from start to finish. People weren't going to wait for us to get warmed up, so that was important for us to establish ourselves early in the year.
On the UTEP game: Like I said, it's another week and we are just trying to get better every week. So the mistakes we made and the pluses from that game are going to be taken into account and we are going to move with them.
On his interception today: That's a huge weight off my shoulders. I think I've been due for a while now. It's not too good as a middle safety last year to not have any picks and so it was good to finally finish one. Hopefully they'll come in bunches.
WR Jordan Shipley
On D.J. Monroe: He's so fast. You have to give a lot of credit to those guys out there blocking on those (special) teams, because they're doing such a great job, and playing so hard. You have to give credit to the coaches for the schemes. D.J.'s just really fast.
On the win: The difference was that we didn't make a lot of the mistakes that we made in the first game. We just executed a lot better in pretty much every phase. We got in a rhythm earlier. The guys did a great job blocking up front, and I think we ran the ball really well. Those two things definitely kick started us.
On a week off: We're always looking for things we can improve on. I'm sure we'll still have tons of things on film that we did wrong and need to correct. It will be nice to have an off week to get healed up.
On Colt McCoy: Colt's pretty much the same every time I see him play out there. He plays as hard as he can play every time he's out there. He always does a good job of trying to be an encourager, and he did that today just like he does every week. He came out and played great from the beginning. He was very poised back there in the pocket and the guys blocking for him did a great job.
On team attitude: It's so much fun to get to do what we're doing. It's such a blessing to be here and to be a part of this program. Shame on us if we can't go out there and have fun and play hard every time. I don't think there's any reason for us to be complacent. We've got a lot of work to do. We're all having a lot of fun playing, and this team has a lot of chemistry. When you get to be a part of something like that, it's hard to be complacent.
WR Dan Buckner
On his one-handed catch: I didn't even really know it was one-handed. I don't even remember catching it. I just remember getting up. Colt put the ball in a place where I could make the play.
On the offense: We had a faster start this game, which is something we haven't been doing so far. The whole line was moving fast, Colt was moving fast and we're catching the ball well in the first quarter. We're not where we need to be, but we're making strides.
On Jordan Shipley: Shipley gets a lot of attention. He's been here six years, and everybody knows him. He still catches the ball. I think he had around 10 catches for 122 and 180 in the opener. You just can't guard him, and if you do, he's still going to make the play.
On three dropped balls: Coach Kennedy's not really big on ripping us on the sidelines during games. In practice it would have been a different story, but in games he knows that sometimes dropped balls are going to happen and you just have to overcome them and keep playing.
On Malcolm Williams' special teams hit: He blew him up. Malcolm's an athlete. You can put him at offense or defense and he's going to be productive. He can play everywhere. When he's in the game, he makes catches and plays and gets first downs for us.
UTEP HEAD COACH MIKE PRICE
On the game against Texas: First off, I just want to congratulate Texas. They played really well. All their kids played well, the whole team. We played poorly. There's no way that you can even imagine trying to stay with a team as good as Texas is with the things we did wrong.
On the Texas special teams: I feared our special teams all week. I was scared of their speed in all positions. And obviously, the kid (D.J. Monroe) returned it for a touchdown.
On the comparison between Texas and Kansas: I think they're better than Kansas. I think they're the best team in the country.
On Colt McCoy and the fast-paced Texas offense: It wore us out. We were running guys in and out, trying to keep guys fresh and he just does a great job managing the game. I don't know if this was one of his better games. I don't know what his statistics were. They pulled him soon, and they should to keep him healthy for the long season, because they're going to be in every game. They have a chance to go all the way.
UTEP PLAYER QUOTES
CB Melvin Stephenson
On the interception return: That is my first touchdown since I've been in college, anything to help the team out.
On sidelines after the touchdown: It was a great feeling, I felt like we had a chance. I never want to let my team down, I never want them to think I don't believe in them at all. I still felt like we could come back and do something.
On the game snowballing: It seemed like one thing after another, we have to work hard on special teams. I thought that through the week we were way better than what we played today, and that's for sure.
On a wild start to the game: That's football, the punches, the blows, you have to be ready, you can't have a weak mind playing anybody, no matter what or how high ranked they are, or who they are, no matter what, that's one thing you got to do,.
On Monroe returning the ensuing kick off: It didn't deflate me. I was ready to go back on defense. I wanted another one, I really wanted to stay on the field. They are a good team, I do give them that respect, I do love Texas, they have a very good team and I know a lot of their players.
CB Dustin Bell
On Texas wearing the defense down: We weren't ready for the humidity, we were out there a lot of plays, we just got to go back and work on some things
On Texas offense: Their offense is great, Colt McCoy does a great job managing their offense, and their receivers are good route runners, and they catch the ball for him.
QB Trevor Vittatoe
On being a frustrating game: Yes, they're ranked No. 2 for a reason. They have a really good defense, good up front and good coverage. I think a couple of the interceptions I had, I was trying to force it, trying to make a play, and I pretty much learned from that really quick, you cant force yourself to do too much.
On struggling offensively: We had a couple things going here and there and I think they made adjustments and ended up stopping what we were doing in the first half. Donald [Buckram] was running the ball well in the first half, but that is what good teams do, they make adjustments and account for their mistakes in the first half.
On what you take from this game: Fighting from behind against the No. 2 team in the nation isn't something you want to do.
TB Donald Buckram
On getting a few things going your way: I broke a few little runs here and there. I felt like I was in a rhythm in the game but they pretty much inflicted their will against us and we did what we could against their line.