The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.07.2013 | Football
Texas takes on Oklahoma in the AT&T Red River Rivalry Saturday at 11 a.m.
Prior to their Monday afternoon practice, head coach Mack Brown and players met with the media to preview this weekend's game vs. Oklahoma. The Longhorns and Sooners square off in the 108th AT&T Red River Rivalry Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Cotton Bowl. Quotes from the media availability are below.
Head coach Mack Brown
Opening Statement: Go back first and recap the Iowa State game. Obviously, happy to have won. The things that just killed us in the ballgame were the quarterback running and scrambling on 3rd downs, and they ended up making 10 of 20 third-down conversions. We did a better job with that the second half, but it killed us the first half.
The 97-yard touchdown pass was an absolute killer on 3rd down and 8. It changed momentum, it changed field position. That's a 14-point swing because if we can hold them, get a short field on the punt, we can go ahead and score. At that time the short punt hurt us and, you can't see it on video but Anthony Fera actually said it hit the ESPN wire, and he punted every other time during the night perfectly.
He said that it hit the wire, which I've never heard of before, and if it does I guess you just have to replay it and take it back, but they did not see that upstairs.
And then after the Joe Bergeron fumble, we didn't play very good sudden-change defense because they went down and scored immediately.
We did start the game well with our 10-0 start. We ended up the first half with a lot of momentum, with a tremendous play from Case to John Harris on the Hail Mary, which we took into halftime. Dalton Santos stepping up on a 2nd down and 2 stopping Iowa State with 3:43 left and forcing a field goal was such a key play in the ballgame. Then the 73-yard drive with three time-outs in our pocket left to go down and score and win the game 31-30, and then the interception at the end by Cedric Reed getting the ball and Jackson Jeffcoat intercepting the ball were all very, very positive things.
Iowa State will win some games in the Big 12 this year. Sam Richardson was well and healthy and ran very well and did a good job with it.
We announced on Saturday that David Ash would not play this week because he's had recurrence of symptoms since the Kansas State game. Now that window of time is one week that he has to be cleared of symptoms instead of 48 hours. So we met with our team on Saturday morning, and they were all there together. The doctors told us that there was absolutely no way that he would play in Dallas, so we felt like it was best with everybody there because we wouldn't see our team again until after we talked to you all on Monday that it was best for David to get it out and people not ask him during the week and also best for our team to know that he would not play and that Case would be the starting quarterback.
We'll continue to work Tyrone (Swoopes). We didn't put him in last week. Again, we were close at times but didn't feel like it ever fit, and we will also continue to work Jalen Overstreet more at quarterback simply because we're not sure about David for the future. They have not told us he's out beyond next week, but obviously there is some question mark.
OU week, Oklahoma game is one of the great games in college football for all the unique reasons; it's at the State Fair, it's at a neutral site. It's such a traditional game and one that all the changes in conference realignment has not hurt because it's still about the conference games, it's still about a conference championship, and it's still one of the more unique games with two bordering states that's really, really special, and again, I've been lucky enough to be on both sides of it.
Nike did approach both administrations last spring and wanted to make something unique about the uniforms for this game, so Oklahoma will be unveiling a similar type gold trim. The gold is on there for the Golden Hat and again, the administrations on both sides agreed to it. They agreed to the changes on the uniforms, and we showed our players this on Saturday morning, and they were very, very excited about being able to wear these. The way I understand it, it's an agreement for two years, and with us being the home team this year, Oklahoma will wear white, and then next year we will do something unique with the uniforms on both sides, while we'll be wearing the white and they'll be wearing crimson.
On in a game that is unique in it's format, are there things that are more exaggerated: I don't think so. I think because it's important to both states, and it is such a rival game, this one and the Texas A&M game have been our two unique rival games since we've been here, and both of them are very special to our fans and both of them are very special to our state. This one probably has more importance now since we're not playing A&M at this time.
On what did he see on film against Iowa State that he knows he has got to show up before Dallas: We probably got away from the running game too early, even though we did score points, and a lot of the plays are run-pass checks now, and because after Johnathan Gray's great run that was blocked so well, they put a lot more people in the box and we were going to have to make them throw, so a lot of the run-pass options went outside. But we felt like we had some advantages with our outside people and their corners, so we really tried to expose some of those issues in the second half especially, and we did. But the players blocked better up front than they got credit for by me after the game, for one, simply because we only had 29 runs and should have stayed with it a little bit longer.
On defense the quarterback runs killed us. He had a sore ankle, he hadn't been able to do those, but we were not in the right rush lanes and didn't fill the proper gaps on 3rd downs when he made so many long runs for 1st downs, and that really hurt us. But his running ability showed up in our game and it had not been something they had done in the previous games, and we really didn't get anything out of our kicking game except as far as returns.
Players of the game were Nick Rose because he kicked everything out on kickoffs, which was huge, and also Anthony Fera because he downed the ball I think five times inside the 15. Our punter and our kicker operations have been really good. We've got to get more out of our returns. We're not getting near out of the kick returns of what we need to.
On how he makes this next game just another game and not let the emotions of playing in the Red River Rivalry get to the team: This year it's unique for us that it is the sixth game so you're halfway through the season, so we have a week off afterwards, and that doesn't usually happen for us. This is a situation where everybody understands how important it is. They'll get everything they've got on Saturday and then we have a chance to take some time off and refuel and get ready for TCU. It's a perfect setup for us. We had Iowa State Thursday night so we've had a couple extra days to prepare. We worked on Oklahoma a couple weeks ago some when we were preparing for Iowa State, and now to have the week off afterwards, this is probably the best setup we've had for this game in quite a while.
On how does he wipe the slate clean for the guys that have played in this game the last two years: When you very honestly look at it, last year's game has nothing to do with this year's team because this is a new team and a different deal, and that's what you do. Win or lose, you start over. It'll be about Saturday.
On what is the biggest difference in having David Ash out there and having Case McCoy: The biggest difference is that David is more of a run threat. He can scramble and run the option better than Case, and that gave him the advantages of the quarterback position for us when they were competing.
On it's been hard finding the time to get Tyrone Swoopes in as quarterback and going into Dallas is he a little leary for this to be his possible first game: Yeah, I think you've got to prepare for him to be ready to play, and we've done that now for three weeks. We talked about whether to put him in the other night or not, and there really wasn't a comfortable situation. A 10th point came very quickly after a turnover. We were very disappointed we didn't score so we didn't feel like that was the right time to put him in, and then they scored 10 quick points and then 13, and then it was a dog fight for the rest of the night. So we'll continue to look at it.
But what people have to understand is what (offensive coordinators) Major (Applewhite), Darrell Wyatt and I have to decide is what gives us the best chance to win the game. We watch these kids every day, and if we thought it was better to put him in to win the game, we would put him in. We're pleased with him. He's making progress. You're right, it's not the friendly confines of home in Dallas on Saturday morning, but if we feel the need to put him in, we will do that.
On how does Swoopes handle all the uncertainty of how he might play, he has got to be ready to play, and practicing as the No. 2: He's been great. To be considered as a possibility to play is a great honor at Texas as a freshman, and he knows that he's got to continue to improve, and as soon as he gets Major's confidence, then he will be able to play.
On how does he handle that his first snap may happen in Dallas: You've got to plan on his first snap being in Dallas, and if it is, prepare him for it.
On why let everyone know that David Ash wasn't going to play on Saturday: That is a great question. With 125 young men and 45 staff members, you're going to tell all of them and nobody is going to tell anything with Twitter and Facebook? We can keep a secret. And then we've got Longhorn Network watching practice today. So there are no leaks with the Texas football program, so it would be very, very easy for me to keep anything private that I want, and you all wouldn't have asked today.
On feeling confident with McCoy's experience in big games and also especially with that late drive against Iowa State that he's prepared to take this job and do his best: Yes, and that's the other reason we very honestly made the announcement because it's unfair for David to be walking around all week and people asking him are you going to play, and he knew he wasn't going to play, so that puts him in a very difficult position. Also we thought the team needed to know. We would not see the team again until today after we met with you all. In our Saturday morning meeting David was there, the team was there, and we just felt like it was best, because it is Case's turn, and he has -- he did a great job the second half against Kansas State. He did very well the other night, tremendous drive at the end of the game. He came in when the game was over last year against Oklahoma but he made some great plays in this game last year in the last drive or two, and he has been on the road in tough environments before.
He'll be prepared for Saturday, and he's excited about that challenge.
On does the mindset change at all going into Oklahoma because of the rivalry aspect: It does. Everybody understands how big this game is. The guys are fully aware of that.
On how happy is he for Mike Davis that the conference didn't do anything and let the young man play this weekend: I will explain on the TV show this afternoon exactly about the play. Number one, Mike was wrong, and I hadn't seen the play at the press conference the other day, but he did cut the young man. He was in front. But it was after the whistle. In asking Mike, (co-offensive coordinator) Darrell Wyatt got on him after the play, and Mike gave me the same answer he gave Darrell; I didn't hear the whistle, I was trying to just compete. The play was a run-pass option, so Mike will show that this afternoon. I'm not making excuses for him, but the ball could have been thrown on the player to Jaxon Shipley outside and he is supposed to cut. But Mike is glad that the young man is not hurt. He's glad that he's still getting to continue to play, and the Big 12's reprimand was something we showed him and talked to him about, but Mike is not a malicious player and he's not a guy that goes out there and tries to hurt people each week.
On thoughts about Oklahoma's defense: They're playing great defense. They're so fast. They played really good defense at times last year, but this bunch, the linebackers are about 220, they can all run 4.5 or better, they're still big and strong up front. They're giving you pressman and they're covering you. They're really being aggressive and they're well coached, and you have to give them a lot of credit. They're the No. 9 defense in the country and in this league to be the ninth defense in the country is pretty special.
On thoughts about QB Blake Bell and how he compares them to Oklahoma's past quarterbacks: No, I don't think you can because he's so unique with his size and frame and he's run over us the past couple years on short yardage and goal line. People have questioned his ability to throw, and he's really answered all of those. They've got great receivers and they've got tremendous speed. The running backs can score like they did against TCU the other night, like they did against us last year. They can touch the ball and take it the distance very quickly.
They're doing a really good job of staying spread out but being physical and running the ball, and Bell is a big part of that.
On what makes him confident going into this and feel like you have a chance: We've got to play better. It's really more about us right now and getting things fixed than it is about Oklahoma's team for us this weekend. We've got to play better. They've proven they're going to play well in this ballgame, and we've got a lot of things we've got to get fixed. We've got to stop the quarterback scrambles, we've got to play the run better. We went into Iowa State to stop the run and we didn't do that. We have been forcing turnovers well and have been taking good care of the ball. Those are two things we've done. Our kicking game needs to get better. The punter and the kicker we said, and our return game needs to get better. We're not scoring points with our return game and we're not changing field position. Our linebackers need to play better. We didn't play well at linebacker the other night, and that's a key for this weekend because they're going to try to run the ball, and the last two years we haven't stopped the run against OU and unless we can slow the running game down the rest of it is unimportant. We've got to do a better job against the run this weekend.
On is the quarterback scramble especially tough to take because the back end is probably not allowing anything open, probably getting some pressure so can manage to accomplish two things he wants to do: Yeah, that's on us as coaches. We've got to get the guys in the right gaps, and we were getting pressure. We were running by them. So you've got to have more controlled pass rush and you've got to make sure you get in the right lanes, and that's something that we were disappointed in because we had talked about it last week, we worked on it last week, it didn't get done, and we've got to do a better job this weekend or Bell will be like Sam Richardson, and any time they've got a 3rd down or covering well, they're going to just run for the 1st down, so we can't do that. And Bell is hard to tackle in space, so that's another thing. It's been hard for one guy to get him down.
On what is the team doing well at: We've been throwing the ball well. Most of the time we've been balanced on offense, so we've been running it and passing it well. We're taking care of the ball. We're forcing turnovers on defense, other than the pass rush the other day. We've done a good job up front with our front seven. We've done a good job covering in the secondary by and large. And our kickers and punters have been great.
On what personally stands out to him about this game: It's the reason Nike would want to change some things, because it gets so much attention nationally. It's a reason that young people go to Texas and go to OU, because they want to play in this game. Every prospect in this state will be in this game, and they probably have already chosen who they like because they choose that early in their careers usually. But still, every one of them will be there. They'll feel the excitement around it, the number of people outside the stadium. It's just a great game and a very unique game.
On thoughts about DeLoss Dodds announcing his retirement having an affect on the football program next year: I really don't. I'm glad that he's here and going to stay here, and I've said numerous times I think he's done the best job of any athletic director in the country. Number one, to stay here 32 years is amazing, but look at what he's done. The facilities he's built, the amount of money he's made, the number of championships he's been able to lead as an athletic director, to win, staying pretty much clean with the NCAA throughout, and when it wasn't, fixing it quickly, having a very high academic standard at the University. Nobody has done those things like DeLoss Dodds, and I'm excited that he'll be here and that he'll be here to help hire the new guy and that he'll be here to help mentor the new guy because whoever is coming in, those are big shoes to fill. So somebody is going to have a load.
On how do the coaches help Case McCoy whether it's helping develop his run threat or getting more out of the other guys to help him on Saturday: Number one, we've got to run the ball better than we did Saturday and stay more balanced. And number two, because Oklahoma is going to fill the box, and then they're going to match up man-to-man outside, and you're going to have to win some of those man-to-man match-ups outside and we haven't done that well the last two years.
On thoughts about how with all the talk about concussions and targeting today if he looks back to when he played and how people survived that: I know, we're -- I think about the student athlete, I know the student athlete is in a much better spot from a health standpoint today than ever before. There are more doctors and more trainers that are involved in football programs and all sports programs than ever before. People are more cautious and taking better care of the student athletes than ever before. And coaches are not involved anymore. I'm sure when I played, coaches said get him back in there and he went. But that's all changed. All of this is more precaution for the betterment of the student athlete, and from that standpoint it's all good.
Texas co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite
On what the offense needs to do: Looking at these games in the past with turnovers, we have to protect the football, we have to be efficient in the run game, we have to make plays outside in one-on-one situations when they present themselves. You have to understand this type of ballgame. It can be an up-and-down game. Teams can hold leads; I've been in them, coached them. You just have to weather the storm at times and the momentum flows up and down quite a bit, so all of those things are important for us.
On Case McCoy's throwing experience: I think he's experienced more at bats, understanding when to take his chances. Where is the best place for this ball if I'm going to take a shot with it? Where do I need to put it? Low and away, those types of things, just overall experience.
On the comfort level of Case McCoy and where the offense is: I'm comfortable with Case throwing the football. Looking back on the other night, we wanted to do a little bit more on the run game in the second half. There was some times when we called some things, and didn't have success for whatever reason, whether we're throwing tags outside or whether we're missing people up front. We got away from it a little soon. In terms of winning the game, that was obviously our goal, but we're not going to sit and dwell on it too much. It's time to get ready for the next one.
On Daje Johnson's return: He spent a lot of the off week last week, because he wasn't 100 percent healthy, just trying to ease him back in the terminology and making sure he is out there hearing the calls and hearing the terminology, so it is not such a big surprise when he is physically ready at the same time. He has done a good job, and looking forward to him being back out on the field.
On Tyrone Swoopes handling the atmosphere if he plays in the Oklahoma game: We'll find out. We'll find out.
On Oklahoma's defense: Oh they are a great defense. Coach [Bob and Mike] Stoops has never put a bad defense out there, neither of them. They do a great job in all of their packages. You've seen them play in three-man fronts most of the time, some four-man fronts. They mixed it up a couple of years ago, and played both quite a bit in the game, you always have to be prepared for that. They do a great job outside in the secondary. Their secondary is very aggressive, but also very sound. And then up front, they do a good job with their defensive line, their ends in terms of creating a pass rush. It's just a typical OU defense, very solid.
On Oklahoma's defensive speed being an issue: It is. I think even more so this year with them playing with three down linemen and putting four [line] backers in the game and allowing more speed to be on the field. It shows up a lot more. We get a lot more different looks, a lot more looks with the overhangs that you have with those outside backers.
On Tyrone Swoopes handling uncertainty as a freshman: I think he's handling it well. He's coming in preparing, taking time on his own to come in and watch tape to make sure he is prepared and ready to go. The one thing you can never be prepared for is your first snap, in terms of the speed and the way things are going to accelerate once that ball is snapped. He has done a great job in practice learning. The speed of the game is something he continues to do a better job each and every day at practice.
On the importance of scoring early: I think it's important you go out and establish yourself. Whether it's a touchdown, whether it's a field goal, moving the ball, depending on what kind of game it is, that you're there to play. That's something that we have not done the last two years, and we've got to go out and establish ourselves, whether it's in the air or on the ground.
On what he learned from [defensive coordinator] Greg Robinson as a young coach: A whole bunch because I didn't know anything. It was my first year, and being a full-time coach, just a whole bunch. The hay is never in the barn. Don't leave a single stone unturned. All the different things as a young coach: talking to the players, just the detail and diligent, just never slowing down. That's basically the main thing. There's always work to be done. The road to the championship is always under construction was the saying. You can always find something else to do.
On having more on the line in this game than usual: I think it's all on the line, when you play Oklahoma, every year. I don't think these kids or coaches or anybody else feel any differently. It's the Oklahoma game, it's what you come to Texas to play for, same thing on the other side. It's extremely important. It's bragging rights. It's what you get to talk about when you're old and retired.
On what he's using as a fire for his guys: Each one of those guys are going to motivate themselves, ultimately. We may say something that's going to motivate them again and get them fired up for five or ten minutes. In the end, ultimately, when they get out on the field, the ball is kicked off; it's just going to be their determination and perseverance to be able to fight through the adversity that game often presents. It's going to come inside. That's one thing I learned from Greg Robinson: it's better to be intrinsically motivated than externally motivated. It comes from you, not somebody else. I think these guys have been motivated by the past, and they have created their little niche and they want to beat Oklahoma.
On if the players are mentally ready for the atmosphere: Most of them are. They got to be ready for it. We'll continue to prepare them for the rest of the week. The preparation isn't over. This is a game that you have to go in with confidence. You have to go in understanding that it's going to be loud; it's going to be physical; there's going to be ups and downs. By understanding that, accepting that, you're not shocked when it happens and you're able to put it in its own place and compartmentalize it and move through it, fight through it. If it's bad adversity, or if you're up 14-0, that doesn't mean anything. I remember in '99, we were down 17-0, and we won that game. Those types of leads are imposters are both ways because the momentum can change so much.
On if he's doing anything different: We do all kinds of different things at our closed practice to get them going, just to get them fired up.
On the rivalry between Mack Brown and Bob Stoops: It's just two great coaches at two great schools. There have been times when they've won a few in a row, and we've won a few in a row and it's kind of gone back and forth. Lately, they've gotten the best of us the last couple of years, so we've got to try to reverse that, but it's just two storied programs with two great coaches.
On Mike Davis' blocking incident: Mike's moved on from that. It's unfortunate that he didn't hear the whistle. It's a situation where he apologized for it. It wasn't something intentional. As long as I've known Mike, he's never been a malicious player, or a guy of mal intent. That's not him. That's not him at all. When he came over, I was shocked, because I was like 'why did he do it?' And he just didn't hear the whistle, and he was apologetic. That's just not Mike. I've known Mike for four years now, and he's not a guy that plays with mal intent that does that kind of stuff.
Defensive coordinator Greg Robinson:
On the first thing about Oklahoma's offense that jumps out at him:
Well, there are a lot of things that jump out at me, but Belldozer [Oklahoma QB Blake Bell], he has performed pretty well lately. Then you move along and see the offensive line, running backs, wide receivers, that's about it.
On the first time he coached against Oklahoma when he only gave up 12 points: When was that? Oh, '04 yeah. Yeah, that was a while ago. We are hard at work. We are looking forward to the opportunity of playing them.
On what stands out to him about Oklahoma QB Blake Bell's passing game: Oh no he can throw. His arm is good. He has a strong arm. He is an accurate thrower. I think that he really knows what he is doing. He understands their offense well. I've been impressed, very much so.
On if Oklahoma was a team he was evaluating pre-season in his previous role in early summer/fall: Yes, they are different. Their defense is different, obviously and even on offense I think there are more things that I see different.
On where the defense is mentally after begging rattled by BYU: I think they are fine. I think they are very excited about playing and I think that the game is so unique. Out of all the football games I've been in this one is by far the most unique one I've ever been a part of. And it's the whole deal with the crowd. I mean it can really throw you off. They're cheering for you and then all of a sudden you go "Wait a minute, they aren't cheering for us." It's a great, great environment.
On where is the most improvement he has seen in the defense since he has taken over: Well, I think that we are communicating pretty well. I can't speak for anything before, but I like the way our communication amongst each other is good. I think up front that group is getting more and more confident as a group. If I was to say right now, I just think of the last ball game and really a couple of games where we have had some really good play up front.
On thought process about having LB Dalton Santos and LB Steve Edmond both starting: Well I think that they are experienced players and I think that others are going to play. I mean this is a tempo game others are going to play. But I think that Steve and Dalton will work well together.
On what is the biggest culprit you are trying to overcome from Iowa State's 97-yard touchdown: Well minimize. It's even like in tackling. Often people think that there is never going to be a missed tackle, but there is going to be a missed tackle. But it's minimizing when there is a missed tackle, that's the fundamentals on how we chase the football and it's so important. Things like that that really go unnoticed sometimes. But if those are the things we keep on improving daily on, the basic fundamentals, good things are going to happen.
On the second tackle that was missed on the 97-yard touchdown: It really was a bad angle. It's an angle. It's something that we work hard on and concentrate on, but sometimes it does happen. You know, you have to learn from it and move on.
On if there is more on the line that just rivalry this year: Oh I don't know that. You know, there might be something, but I don't know, is there something that you're thinking of? I think it is an opportunity for us. Really, I think doggone it, you know we want to get it back on our side. So I'd like to think that is the mindset of everyone that is involved with it. We all feel like we have a responsibility to our Texas fans.
On if there is a style of running back that Oklahoma RB Damien Williams reminds him of: You know, I suspect I could say a lot of people, but what I do know is this: he's got a low center of gravity and he is very athletic. He jump cuts. There are very few backs that are good at what I call "jump cuts" two feet and then cuts back. This guy can do it. And then accelerate. I don't know what they say but I think he is 209 [pounds] or something like that, but I know this; his lower body is strong and he breaks tackles. He's impressive. Plus he can scoot, you know? He's got a great package. He's a good back.
On what kind of pressure that the coaching staff is facing this week: You know what? It's Oklahoma week. I would have to think that every year that this is the game that you want to play. This is what it's all about, and the pressure of wanting to win and beat them is exciting. That's what it is. It's an opportunity for all of us. I think that's how you look at it. It's how much can you get out of your guys come Saturday to do the right things and play well. So that's the challenge and I think we are all pretty excited about accepting that.
On did the stories he has heard about OU weekend paint a good enough picture on what it was really like or was he blown away: No. I was. And I don't know if I've ever had more fun at a game. I hated it that we lost, but man it was just a great experience. And I thought we were going to win the football game, I really did. It was 6-0 there with about six minutes to go and I thought something was going to go there and it just didn't. But it was a great game and it was so unique. You know I've been to the Cotton Bowl before coaching, but it was nothing like what that was like.
On in the past couple of years if he thought his coaching career was over: No. I even went and helped at a little high school last year. Volunteered at a little high school for a coach that I had coached at UCLA a few years ago. No. I'm going to be coaching for a long time.
On what his record was last year: Shoot. We made it to the playoffs, but I couldn't tell you what the record was. We did get beat in the playoffs by a darn good team.
On how excited he is about going back to the Cotton Bowl this year: I'm really excited. You know it's only Monday so I know I have to temper things, but I am excited. I truly am. It's a great opportunity.
Senior WR Mike Davis
On if he thought it was wrong when head coach Mack Brown said that the cut call was wrong and expressed that to him: I mean, we're taught to do that in a situation like that. We cut block and other teams do it, too. I honestly didn't think it's wrong... But I was glad he didn't get hurt. We were taught to do that.
On did he think the whole thing was fair that they're talking about it, or does he think it was blown out of proportion: I think it's blown out of proportion. It wasn't that bad. I mean I know it's wrong. I got the penalty for blocking after the whistle and I didn't hear the whistle but I know it's wrong.
On would he have been surprised if the conference suspended him: I mean, I don't think I'd be surprised because I kind of expect it but I was just really playing to the whistle and I didn't hear it.
On what is he preparing for on Saturday: Just to get after them and block, compete, get my team going, and try to come back with a W.
On does he have the same thoughts about the rivalry like how Quandre Diggs said the rivalry couldn't be explained to people who haven't played it before: He said it best. It's like a bowl game. Millions of people watching, it's a huge game, one of the best rivalries in the world, two good teams battling and competing in my hometown, so it's really huge for me.
On how much does it mean to him to go home and play in the Cotton Bowl Stadium which is just three miles from his old high school: It means a lot. Like I said, it's my backyard, and I know a lot of people in Dallas. I know they're going to be watching. I just want to go out there, have fun and compete to get the W.
On does he feel more pressure with this game because of everything that goes into it and the way it's gone the last few years: Not really. I mean, our backs are against the wall and they're getting all the pressure. I just want to go in and compete as a team, like how we've been doing the past couple games, and try to get a W any kind of way we can.
On what has been the toughest thing dealing with the losses: I just think we weren't -- I can't say we weren't ready. We just didn't start fast enough like they did, and we didn't match their tempo. Oklahoma is a good team, and when you play teams like that, you can't make a lot of mistakes against them, and we made a lot of mistakes. We really weren't disciplined with some plays. You can't do that. It will hurt us.
Junior CB Quandre Diggs
On how this year will be different from past years: It's going to be different because it's a new year, a new team and different leaders. It's going to be different. It's 2013, it's not 2012, and we know we've got to come out and play. We know we've got to bring that intensity and we've got to get off to a fast start. That's the most important thing: get off to a fast start and build that confidence up. We've got to continue to just go out and fight and throw the first punch.
On OU having upper hand recently: You always have that taste in your mouth and you always think about that when you go to sleep at night and when you wake up, that I'm one of the guys that's never beaten OU since I've been here. That's something that you really come to the University of Texas to do, to beat OU.
On how this game is different than others: It's the reason you come to Texas. To play in a rivalry game like this magnitude of the game is crazy. A lot of people don't ever get to experience anything like this in their life, and we're some of the guys that do, and we've got to take advantage of it.
On if OU players carry themselves differently than other teams' players: Oh, no doubt. They know they're a great university with great tradition and great players. They come out and they show their swag during pregame and things like that. We come out and we do what we've got to do. It's just one of those universities that's also on the same level as us, and they come out and they show it and they play like it. Like I said, we've just got to be ready to play. It's going to be a fun game.
On looking back on past two years: It's always going to be something in the back of your mind that you're going to know you didn't perform well the last two years against OU. For the type of rivalry game this is, it never should be the way it's been the last two years. It's something that you've got to pride yourself on. You've got to look at yourself in the mirror and you've got to step up to your failures and be able to go out and turn it into something positive this year. That's the goal and we've got to get after it today at practice.
On the team's confidence: If you win two games after the tough two we lost, I would hope your confidence is a lot higher than it's been the weeks prior when we lost. You know, 2-0 in the Big 12, that's always a positive thing. I know a lot of people are not going to like that because they're going to say we played Kansas State and Iowa State, but it's games that they didn't win, so we pride ourselves on that.
On the victory against Iowa State: We won. A win is a win. You know, there are a lot of great games that come down to the end and that's just part of it. That's part of football. Some games are going to be won big and some games are going to be won small. That one happened to be won small, and it still goes down as 2-0 in our conference.
On if Texas' play against Iowa State will beat OU: No. No, the way we played against Iowa State, you can't bring that to the OU game. The way we play against OU has to be up for the next game. It's just part of it. That's how it is. You can never play the same. You've got to get better. You've got to continue to just work and grind each and every day. We can't bring that same level of intensity out, either. We'll see how it goes this week.
On his favorite part of game, state fair and weekend: I feel like it's just the rivalry. You're going to be hearing it all week. It's going to be on all the big TV stations and all around town. Like I said, it's just something a lot of people don't get to experience. I knew how big the game was before I got here, but I never took part of it. I never had been to it. It was just something that amazes me each and every year when I go, to know that this is one of the biggest rivalries in college football, and at 18, 19, 20 years old and you get to experience something like that at a young age. It's a blessing and I'm thankful for it.
On getting young players comfortable and calm in a game like this: Just tell them it's different. I can tell you from my own experience, my freshman year, I would call my brother each and every day and ask him about it. It was still something that was just over my head. You've just got to have that will and that might to just go out and block out all the distractions and just go out ready to play. I feel like the older you get, the more it calms down. Like I said, they've just got to take it as a blessing and know it's something a lot of people don't get to do.
On OU talent: They're 5-0. Those guys put up points, and those guys will come out ready to play. Like you said, the University of Oklahoma, they're going to have players, too.
Sophomore RB Johnathan Gray
On if the OU game is different than any other: As far as preparation it is a little bit, yeah. We've got to be more focused, more in tune with what we're doing. For the past years we've known how Oklahoma plays and they're a hard-nosed team so we have to be prepared for that and it all comes down to who makes less errors.
On different atmosphere at Cotton Bowl: Yeah, it's a football atmosphere. It's men out there coming to get you and we have to stand firm and just go attack.
On why Oklahoma has had advantage last few years: Just mistakes. We made more errors than they did, and we have to cut that down and be, like I said, more focused, in tune, and go out there prepared and just play.
On mindset going into this game: You know it's a rivalry game, and it all comes down to this. Guys are more on edge, more focused, and more in tune, and we know what we have to get done to beat those guys.
On the Red River Rivalry: For me – I don't know how anybody else approaches it – but for me it's another football game. In every football game you have to go in focused and prepared and know what your opponent's weaknesses are. For me it's just go attack, and I know that it is for the whole team. We're getting prepared for those guys.
On if there's extra pressure with QB Case McCoy starting: There's no pressure. Like I said before, we rally behind any quarterback that's in the game. They know what they have to do to be prepared for the games and know how to lead the team. We feel comfortable with any quarterback that goes in, and Case is our guy right now. So, we feel comfortable with him and he knows what he has to do to get the job done.
On his favorite part of the game with it being state fair weekend: Just to play another football game. This is what you live for in the world of football, and you've got to love it, got to love the competition, got to love the fans that come to it, and just the whole atmosphere. It's an enjoyable game. Everybody wants to come and watch so it's a showdown. This is what we wait for the whole year.
On Oklahoma's defense: They're big up front. Those guys are I guess No. 1 in our conference, and they're a hard-nosed team. You've got to be prepared for that and be prepared to get into a fight.
On going in as the considered underdog: No, it's another football game, and who cares who the underdog is. It's all about the outcome. Like I said, be prepared for a fight, and it's going to be a great game.
On where Texas is finding confidence: Just from the last two games we lost against BYU and Ole Miss, you just look back at those games and see what we could have done better. Like I said, it's a lack of focus and we made more errors. For this game, you've got to sharpen that and be prepared for these guys, and we know what they bring to the table, so we have to get prepared for that and be focused.
On seeing OU last year and how prepared they seemed pregame: Me being a freshman last year, coming out and seeing those guys get on the field and go through their routine, you can tell that those guys were focused, and they were ready for that game. We have to be prepared and be ready for this game, and it's going to be a dogfight.
On where team is after Week 5: Confidence is through the roof right now. We're doing well right now and the team is getting better as we progress through these seasons. We feel comfortable with what we have right now and we'll get prepared for OU and be ready to go out and have fun.
Senior OT Donald Hawkins
On how excited Texas is for this weekend's game: I think we're pretty excited for this game. We did have this game circled on the schedule and we have a lot to prove in this game. We'd just rather prove it with our play than our talk.
On if the team feels 2-0 in conference play: I don't see why not. 2-0 is 2-0. It doesn't matter who you play or who you have to play. The record speaks for itself in the conference.
On last year's OU game and how it differs from this year: I got hurt in the first half of that game, and from that game to this upcoming week, I feel like I have a lot to prove. I mean, this is my last shot to play OU, and winning is a must. We've got to do it for the seniors and the underclassmen. For me it's a revenge game. That's how I look at the game.
On difficulties in last year's game: I think the most unexpected thing for me in that game last year was the crowd noise. It was hard for me to communicate and get the plays. That's what hurt my level of play because I didn't know the play. I couldn't hear them. It's kind of different for me this year. We've worked pretty hard at communication, so I don't think that will be an issue this year.
On what the mindset heading to Dallas: One of the reasons that this game is bigger than last year's is that we're trying to go undefeated in the conference, so this game is a must-win in order to do that. The mindset of everyone, obviously, is beat OU, but it's also win the Big 12 Championship. It's pretty big because this game is a must-win. There are no questions about it.
Senior DE Jackson Jeffcoat
On if OU taste has become more sour over the years: It definitely has become more sour, just because I'm from Dallas and to go home and play and not play the way we know we can play is very disappointing. That's the big thing that we're doing this year, making sure we get that corrected and executed right. The plan is in place. It's us; we have to do it right, do everything correctly and not make those little mistakes that end up turning into big mistakes.
On how this game is different than all others: It's just such a big game. We talk to each other about it. With the fans being split in the stadium, it's just something different. The atmosphere is crazy just because when we're running out you hear the OU fans booing us and then we get to the far end and our fans are cheering us on. You never deal with anything like that anywhere else except at the Cotton Bowl.
On the mentality heading to Dallas: Well, there's definitely more of an edge just because of who it is. Rivalry games bring a little more excitement. They're more exciting just because it's a rivalry. It's for bragging rights. And it's a game we haven't won the last three years. We're a little [ticked] off about how we played and we know we need to play better.
On what's been working in past years for OU: They've been making great plays, especially when we make mistakes. They capitalize on our mistakes. They've really made some great plays against us that we just didn't correct the mistakes that we made, and they just kept doing the same plays on our mistakes, and we just kept making mistakes. That's the most important thing: that we have to make sure we execute our plays right and play physical all day. That's how we know to play; we just have to keep doing it.
On what makes OU QB Blake Bell so unique: Well, they always talk about him being a runner but he can throw the ball. He's been throwing it really well so you have to get back there, make him uncomfortable and not allow him to throw a ball just standing on a spot because quarterbacks will kill you, especially good ones will kill you if they can sit back there and be comfortable. And also he can run the ball. He's big and he's hard to bring down because he's big. That's what makes him unique. He's a dual threat kind of guy.
On OU FB Trey Millard: He's a very talented guy. He's kind of a tight end/fullback guy, and he'll run the ball. He's well-rounded. He can block. He can run. He plays physically. We just have to make sure that we get back there and tackle him and get him down. We can't let him run all over us like he did last year.
On having a lot at stake this game: Absolutely. This game is always for all the marbles. Both of us have lost hard games before. It's an important game. We're fighting for bragging rights. It's a big game and we're also fighting for a Big 12 Championship. Both of us want one. That's important to us to win that, so we have to -- this is what we need to do. We need to win this game to win the Big 12 Championship.
On his interception against Iowa State: I could have taken it to the house for six. My guys were in position to block but they were saying get down. That was smart because if I would have fumbled the ball and they would have got it back and ran it back, that would have been horrible. I'm glad I listened to Chris Whaley. He was saying, 'Get down, get down,' so I got down.
On Texas defense forcing turnovers against Iowa State: That's what we work on. We work on getting turnovers. When you win the turnover battle you have a big chance of winning the game, so that's important for us going into this game. You've got to win the turnover battle.
On the Red River Rivalry and if he 'hates' Oklahoma: I don't hate Oklahoma. They're a rival game you want to win. You have extra motivation to win that game just because of all the history that's gone on between us. You hear older guys talk about that game, how important it is to them, and you realize how important a game it is for all of Texas, for all the alumni.
On putting on the Gold Hat: It would be special. It would be very special. That's our goal. That's our goal, to wear the Golden Hat.
Senior QB Case McCoy
On after getting a full head of steam based upon last week's performance, how does he keep that momentum going: I think I definitely feel like I have some momentum, and I think this team does, as well. I think we just have to stay within ourselves, understand it's a rivalry game. If things are going to go your way, some things aren't going to go your way, and the team that's going to win is going to be the team that can just stay level headed throughout the whole game and play four quarters.
On how frustrating have the last three years been for him in this game: I think it's been -- I don't know if you can really put into words how frustrating it's been because I think you get recruited and you get sold on this game, and this is why a lot of us came here, to play in this game. So I think we felt like we have not only let ourselves down but we've let our University down, we've let our coaches down. I think luckily we get four years at it, and [we] seniors have one chance to go out with a shot and turn it around and have something to talk about when we're older. I think that's where we're at right now. A lot of pride is on this game, and it's just about these guys and me and our team is going to stand up and fight to go out there and get a win.
On thoughts of only having one big rivalry a year and how losing to their sole rival is getting old: Yeah, without a doubt. There's no doubt that we're tired of losing to these guys. And that's something that we hear about all year-round, and especially you usually have those two games. Usually you have them and you have Texas A&M. Now we've only got one of those. Definitely there's nothing to make up for it, there's none of that and you've got to live with it year-round. I think we know that and I think we understand usually where our season goes after this game. When we lose, the direction our season goes the same and you look at history when we've won this game where our season tends to go. I think that's something that our goals are still intact about winning a Big 12 Championship, and we understand this is the next step to do that. So I think we're excited. We're fresh after playing a Thursday night game. We're healthy, and we're ready to go to Dallas and get a big win.
On how much of the Oklahoma game did he get to see, and can he tell how much different they are without LB Corey Nelson on the field: Yeah, I was able to watch it. Corey Nelson is a great player, there's no doubt about that. I mean that's losing a key guy, like for us Jordan Hicks. There's no doubt that you can say that that guy won't hurt them in a sense. Now, that game I wasn't sure who came in, who they would play and if they at that same level. It's Oklahoma, they have great athletes just like we do, and they'll find someone to come and fill in. But that is tough to lose a guy like Nelson. I'm sure they'll have a plan and they'll have someone in there. Luckily he's got a full week of rest. They'll be ready, they'll be all right, there's no doubt about that. But that's never fun to hear on your team or on another team, for someone to be out for a season with an injury. That's definitely tough for a team.
On if the team doesn't get off to a fast start, does he feel like they have the mentality to stay in it this time where the last few years they didn't: I do think it's important to get off to a fast start, without a doubt. I wouldn't start getting my mind thinking if we didn't. But I do think we are older, we are wiser, and we are more mature. I thought we got the first year off to a fast start against those guys last week, but then it kind of died down and we were able to come back. I think we need to get to a fast start. That's big. That's something we've talked about year-round, and like I said, it's a rivalry game, and I think in rivalry games there's so much emotion and so much momentum that goes in there. I think it's key when you can get going early and build the confidence that we need throughout the first quarter that will sustain you through the whole game. That's what we're harping on. We need a fast start and then we need to play for four quarters. You can't go one without the other especially in this game. That's where we're at right now.
On how he wants to improve upon his performance from Iowa State: Well, just looking back at the game, watching it and going over it, I can think just a couple of things. Like red zone area, I need to hit Mike (Davis) on that ball in the end zone. Just a couple of plays honestly you could bring back that would change the whole game where you get touchdowns instead of field goals and different things like that that you have to make in a game like this is the deal. I understand that, we understand that, and I think there's a lot of good things we can take out of that, but that's the good thing about a win. When you don't play well but still get a win, you can go to the film room, you can learn it, you can understand it and you can go correct that and understand that those mistakes will cost you games like OU.
On how does his preparation change knowing he is going to start on Saturday versus later on in the week: It doesn't change my preparation at all. I think you've all seen my career, I've been thrown in numerous times, and I understand that, and I understand that that's the position of a backup. If someone doesn't play well or gets a turned ankle or obviously a head injury, anything, you're in. And when you're in, you become the starter, and there's no -- there should never be any excuse or slack in the chain. You should be able to go in and take control and move forward like nothing ever happened. My preparation doesn't change, but it is nice to know early in advance without a doubt. That hasn't happened a whole lot, so that's nice to know and nice for the guys to know, understand what they're going to get, and we can start game planning, we can start prepping, we can keep building that connection that we're beginning to get with all my receivers and with my running backs. We're excited. I think it's exactly where we thought we were going to be at the beginning of the season, but after those first couple games we had to reevaluate our goals, and this is right where we want to be on the goals that we have in place. There's no doubt that we understand the situation. We understand the game. We understand what it means not only to us but to this University and to this rivalry. We're very excited for the challenge without a doubt, and we're ready to go play on Saturday.
On thoughts about the mood around Austin or around the school in regards to is it hard for him to block that stuff out: I think we are more mature. At times we haven't shown that, but we are a more mature team than usual, and I think just in our generation with the world we live in, social media is huge, and I've gotten off of it for the most part, and I think a lot of guys have learned to start handling it in a more responsible way. But any time you open up anything, you see anything, obviously we're reading and understanding the talk that's going around this University and this football program.
But at the same time I think -- I know I did because I've been around this program for a long time, and I think most of us understood getting recruited what we were stepping into, and playing at a university like this, to this prestige. I think it's something you've got to understand and you've got to embrace it. It is crazy, we're 2-0 in Big 12 and everyone is harping down on us. But at the same time we lost a couple games early that we shouldn't have, and we understand that, but we can't go back and replay those games. All we can do is keep moving forward, and now we're in conference play and our goals that we had in place at the beginning of the season and the ones we redid are still there, and we're on track and we're 2-0, and we wouldn't change that.
I think having a close game against Iowa State, we'd like to play better, but I think we learned a lot. Maybe that one-minute drill will come into play again maybe next week or down the road, and we learned something from that, and we understand.
I think there's a lot of outside stuff, and what we understand is none of y'all are going to play the game on Saturday, none of our coaches are going to play on Saturday, and the only guys that are going to play are the guys that have a uniform and a number on their chest. When it boils down to it, if we don't execute, if we don't play the game plan like it's supposed to be, if we don't play to the best of our ability, if we don't play with a fast start, if we don't play four quarters, then the outcome will be what it is. You can put whatever game plan you want, you can say whatever you want, but the bottom line is it comes down to us as players going out, playing with passion, playing with heart, playing in a rivalry game that we dreamed about playing in growing up, and going out and executing and winning a ballgame.
On with all the steps he has made the last couple years, has not turning the ball over been a real focus for him: Yeah, that's something that -- I'm a coach's son and I've been around the game, and you can look at every stat of every team, and I think the number one stat is the turnover ratio. You look at a game and you can not rush the ball real well, you can not pass the ball real well, but if you have less turnovers and your defense plays well and causes turnovers; look at A&M several years ago, just taking care of the ball, we did nothing that whole game.
I think that's something that I knew growing up, but through playing college football and through years of becoming a senior, I have learned that if we take care of the ball we can win games, and that's something we have not done in this game over the years since I've been here. That is definitely a key point in preparation this week, but it has been, as you said, all year.
The same thing goes to our running backs. We've got to hang onto the ball. I can't throw picks. We've got to hang onto the ball, and when we get into a situation, and you look at the end of the game, I guarantee especially in rivalry games, whoever wins the turnover battle is usually who comes out the winner. That's definitely big on our chart to check off at the end of the game is how we were handling the ball and how our defense was causing turnovers.
I've learned that, there's no doubt I've learned that, but I'm still learning that. I think the one guy that might not be learning that is Peyton Manning, but hats off to him because he says he's still learning it, too.
Senior OG Mason Walters
On beating OU as a senior: We haven't played well the past couple years against OU. They've been what we expected. They've been a good opponent. We haven't been able to come out and show the same. It will wear on your pride after two years. Everything is being done this week to make sure everybody on this team is ready. I know [we] seniors are going to do what we can. We don't want to go out like the last two years. We want to go out and fight and just show everybody that we're a good team that can execute in high-pressure situations.
On what's happened since last OU game: Not many people have stopped me on the street saying negative things. I don't know if that's out of a sense of respect or just because I'm a big guy, and I don't think they should. We're pretty sensitive about this game. But just things you'll hear or maybe the way you get treated maybe the week before, you don't get treated the same way. This is a game I thought about before I signed my name on the dotted line to play for the Burnt Orange. It's something we dream about. There's nothing worse than walking on the field and seeing the other team put up the Golden Hat, and that's something I want to experience as a player at the University of Texas.
On how the OU game is different than all others: I've been out there five years in a row and I always think what can I tell somebody who hasn't been here what this is like. Unfortunately for everybody that's not going to get a chance to run out of that tunnel, there are no words for what's about to happen. You just have to experience it. It's like nothing else. The preparation is so much more honed in, and you wish you could do stuff like that every week, but you can't because this game demands that respect and that preparation that's so unique. I truly can't explain it until you get a chance to put on the helmet and go out there.
On helping young guys prepare for OU: I'll just tell them to do whatever it takes to be ready, do whatever you can to make it familiar to you, because it's going to be a little bit different. Just like any game, once you get the first hit out of your system, everything starts to slow down a little bit.
On crowd noise being a concern: Well, I think we have some things going for us. When we went to Provo they were really loud there, and they were also this past Thursday at Iowa State. We've done some things to prepare us for that type of environment. We've used them on the road twice already. We haven't done anything that hasn't worked yet. We plan to use some of those things. We're pretty familiar with it. I'm sure the coaches will have loud music playing. You can't even hear yourself think during practice. The 50-yard line is something crazy out there, and once you get outside of it, you don't hear much of anything.
On feeling towards OU: You respect them, and I think you do that with any good team, and OU is a team that's been good consistently. When you see that you remember some of the hard work you put in, and I can remember off-season workouts at 6:00 a.m. this year dragging yourself out of bad. It's 5:30 during the summer. None of my peers do this; why do I do it? It's to give yourself a chance to beat OU this week. Those are the things you think about. I guess it might be a little different for players because when I see it I know it's a group of guys that work extremely hard and do the same things that we all do here, and we get a chance once a year to go out and see who's better.
On what Texas needs from QB Case McCoy: We just need Case to be playing his game. I told some people who were there that he's a gamer and he loves to play this game. I'm excited for him to have a chance to go out there and play in one of the biggest games we play wearing burnt orange. But I really think he's just got to know what role to play this week. We're going to have a good scheme, and it's all going to come down to execution. He's playing smart, and he's a great manager of the game, making plays when it's called. That's something we're going to need.
