The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
11.24.2014 | Football
Head coach Charlie Strong and players met with the media to preview the TCU game
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Head coach Charlie Strong and players met with the media Monday morning to preview Thursday's regular season finale vs. No. 6/5 TCU. Kickoff for the Thanksgiving Day matchup is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on Fox Sports 1. Below are quotes from Strong, senior CB Quandre Diggs, junior OG/C Taylor Doyle, senior WR John Harris, senior DE Cedric Reed, sophomore QB Tyrone Swoopes and senior S Mykkele Thompson.
Head coach Charlie Strong
Opening statement: We've had a really great few days of good work. We got over the game at Oklahoma State, then we get the bye week, and now we're getting ready for TCU.
The thing about it, they are really a good football team. That's the reason why they're No. 5 in the country. They have a great offense, and [QB Trevone] Boykin does a really good job of just managing the offense. The thing about it, they have so much speed at the running back position and the wide receiver. They get the ball in the playmakers' hands and make people miss. At one point, they [scored] like 50 points and [had] 500 yards a game through a five-game stretch. You can see why after watching the tape.
Defensively, they come with a lot of pressure. The thing they want to do is be very disruptive on defense, and they are disruptive. They get a lot of sacks, a lot of tackles for a loss, and they create turnovers.
It's going to be a big challenge for us. Without a doubt we're going to have to play very well in order to win this football game. We're going to have to execute. It's a great challenge for us.
Also, for our seniors, we need to send them out the right way. They've done a great job this season. Through everything they've been through with adversity, you see a group that's really come together and played well these last three weeks. That's the reason why we're in the position we're in right now.
On when he saw the confidence of the team kick in this season: It started turning when we started playing well on offense. We were trying to piece that offensive line together. Once we got it pieced together, the running backs started believing, and the offensive line could open up the holes and protect the quarterback. Also on defense, I think defensively we've always had confidence. It was just believing in their other teammates and just believing in all phases.
… Early in the season, we played really close against UCLA, and then to come back against Oklahoma and play very well [was encouraging]. Then, just to go get some of the wins, I think that just started building and guys start believing that we're a good football team. [We have] Five losses and we know we're nowhere near where we should be. We shouldn't have five losses in this program, but they understand that. But they still have the confidence, and then they start playing like it.
On what gives him confidence that sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes can put together a full game against TCU: It has to be more than just Tyrone. You look at our offense, and we have to play well offensively. The offensive line had to protect Tyrone and they have to open up holes for the running backs to go run. We need to start off fast, and the wide receivers need to make the plays with [junior] Daje [Johnson] and [senior John] Harris in there. Given the opportunities, Tyrone just needs to manage the offense and don't turn the ball over. Make sure that we just guard the football. If we don't get behind on the chains, we always have a chance. That's going to happen each and every game.
Just don't get behind. On first-and-10, let's get it to second and something very manageable, [something like] second-and-4-to-6. Just make sure it's not second-and-13. That's when you get behind. Now you've got to go try to make up yardage to get it to third and very respectable.
On being the underdog against TCU: Our players, they understand that TCU is the No. 5 team in the country. I have a lot of respect for them. They know they're a good football team. It's not so much that we're an underdog, it's just that's the way it is right now. We've just got to go out and play well and not worry so much about them. But we need to go execute and make sure we play well in all three phases.
Then, we've just got to make sure our players understand this is a big game … I always look at it from the seniors' standpoint in that it's their last home game in the stadium, and we need to send them off the right way.
On the playoff implications the game has for TCU: We don't even talk about them. It's all about us just making sure we need to go get another win for [ourselves].
On the seniors' growth throughout the season: Well, you can go back and look at like John Harris, and he's the one that hadn't played a lot. Now you look at him; he's 24 yards away from a 1,000-yard season. That's what's so great when you see guys like that step up and start just believing in their own confidence and believing in their ability that they have; then they start believing in their coaches.
[Linebacker] Steve Edmond, he's played a lot of football. [Linebacker] Jordan Hicks has played a lot of football, [cornerback Quandre] Diggs has played a lot, and [defensive end] Ced[ric] Reed has played a lot. With that group of guys, it's all about them all of a sudden coming together and saying, hey, this is our senior year. It's time for us to go get it done the right way.
We were sitting there at 2-4 and 3-5, and that's not the standard of this program. [They said], "Let's get this program where it needs to be. There is too much ability sitting there for us to be in the position that we're in." So I think of it as a collective group of guys with that group with [Jaxon] Shipley. Like I said, with Diggs and all those seniors, it was more them coming together and saying, hey, we're better than this. Let's start to play like it. Then the confidence starts growing.
On the seniors' leadership: With that senior class, it's not many vocal leaders. It's just guys that lead by example. That's more of what I was looking for. I think with this group of guys, I may have one guy that will talk, and that's [cornerback Quandre] Diggs. He loves to talk, but the rest of them, [not so much]. [Wide receiver] John Harris doesn't say much, [wide receiver Jaxon] Shipley doesn't say much. You can't get [linebacker] Steve Edmond and [defensive end] Ced[ric] Reed to say anything.
I was just looking for guys that just step up and become a voice, just become a voice for the team. Hicks and Diggs were the two that really started [it]. I called them up and I said break [the team down] down. It's always one of those two guys who are always breaking down the team. I knew if I could get those two to just relay the message and get the total group of seniors to just come together and start hearing the same message and speaking the same message, then the message would get across.
When I was talking about earlier is just senior leadership. I am looking for more guys to just be a voice and not be afraid to talk. What happens a lot of times, when you take over a program, they kind of try to feed and just try to play off what the coaches are saying and what the coaches are about. I think that a lot of them just don't want to step out because they think they may say the wrong thing or they're not sending the same message as the coaches, so they kind of back away. But I told them, guys, this is the message. That's why Sundays I would have meetings with them. This is what I want to say. This is what we need to do. This is where we need to get to as far as moving this program.
On TCU's quarterback, junior Trevone Boykins: Two years ago he came in as a quarterback around the same time they beat us, and then [played again] last season. He's a skilled guy that can play wide receiver. Then he ends up at quarterback.
If you look at him this season, he's making the right throws. [He is just] catching the ball and just releasing the ball out of his hands. But he's had athletes outside who can make those catches. Even if it's not a really good pass, they can jump up and get the ball or the ball can be thrown in any direction, and they can come down with it.
The running backs are moving really well. You look at the running backs, and he's got a lot of backs. Offensively, it's a lot of weapons on offense. It's not like they solely put the game in the hands of quarterback and say go win the game. He has enough around him to win.
On what it means to him to be able to develop the seniors on and off the field: You know what, it's all about just developing the man, and that's what you're trying to do as coaches. We know that at some point, if you just keep sending the message, keep sending the message, then eventually they will get the message.
With [linebacker] Steve [Edmond], you never know with him because he never says anything. You can talk to him as much as you like. But I talk with him because now he comes around the office all the time. He'll walk in the meeting and sit down and want to talk. You never could get that from him before. I was teasing him yesterday in a team meeting. I said to Steve Edmond, I remember I talk to him, and he talks [with his head down]. 'Yes, Coach, I did get that done.' I said, "Raise your head up and look at me when you talk to me."
But it was just all about just that whole process, and that's like with anyone. When you develop a relationship with them, then they start seeing that you really care about them. Then they start realizing that, hey, he's got my best interests at hand. All this starts developing, and it all starts coming around. I think that's what happened.
So a lot of guys don't have the confidence that you look for. Sometimes you have to build it, and you have to build it within them. I tell them, you're a good football team, you're a good person, and you're a good player. You have to constantly relate to guys, hey, you're a good team. Let's not think we're not. We're not playing the way we should or we're not doing the things we need to do.
On Daje Johnson: What I did, I wrote a contract. Daje and I, we sat down, and it was probably early August, somewhere around in there. And I said, this is what you're going to have to do in order to show me that you want to be a part of this program. If you get that done, we're going to shake hands, hug, and you go on about your business, and I'll go on about mine, and you'll be a part of it.
I'll tell you what: he's done everything I asked him to do. It's amazing just to see him change because I think a lot of people were telling me that there's no way he'll change. He will because, if it's important to him, he'll get it done. If it isn't, he won't, and he won't be a part of it. I'm just so happy because that's a young man with a lot of ability.
I say to a bunch of guys, my job isn't to run you off. I do not want to see that happen. I promise you, I would rather for you to be here than out somewhere else. Who knows what you would end up in? But just to see him change, it's amazing because he has so much ability out there on the playing field.
I tell him, let me tell you something: There are a lot of young men like you with a ton of ability, and where do they sit? They're sitting somewhere on Eighth or Ninth Street talking about where they were or what they did. I was the best. Okay, you were? Look at you now. I don't want you to be that person. You know what I want to happen to you? I want you to drive by them one day and they're yelling at you, and you blow your horn at them and keep driving. [And say] You know what, that's not ever going to be me.
He's a young player that came around and done everything we asked him to do. I'm just so happy for him to make that change. You just look at what he can do on the playing field, and you say, now just do it off the field. If you can do it on the field, you can for sure do it off the field.
On TCU head coach Gary Patterson: Gary and I have known each other for a number of years. I think one year, we were finalists for a Broyles Award. Actually, when we flew into Little Rock, we were picked up in the same car and went to the hotel together. We had a lot of time to just talk and share ideas. Always been a great defensive mind. When you look at his team, [it is always] a team that plays hard, but they play with a lot of effort.
You can remember the matchups when it used to be TCU versus Boise State all the time. The Mountain West always coming down to one of those two teams to see who would play for it all. It's just been amazing to see what he's done with that program and how he's really turned it around.
On if he believes junior defensive tackle Malcom Brown should be the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year: You want to put me on the spot, but he's my guy, so I'm going to say yes. I will say this about Malcom, [it is an honor] just to watch the way he goes to work at it every day and the way he practices. He comes up to the office and wants to watch tape. Then he goes from the tape right to the practice field. He works on the practice field.
He has a lot of fun and a lot of energy joking around, laughing. Like yesterday, we tried to throw a pass up there, and we said, you're [being] cut [blocked]. But, we can't cut him; I never would cut a guy at practice. The offensive line would just yell cut, and he acted like he wasn't cut. He acted like he jumps up and intercepts the ball and takes off with it. I said to him, let me tell you something, just don't play the play. You're cut, so act like you're cut, but I didn't say it like that.
It's been a lot of fun to watch him go play. Even when he's into the game, he's so into it. Like he's talking to everybody when he's coming off the sideline, "This is what's happening to me." But just for him to have the energy and the passion and the enthusiasm, it's fun to see. I'm just so happy he is up for those awards.
On wanting to show the fans one last good home game before the season ends: I'd like to give them that one good taste, but I'd also like for them to show up for the seniors and send them out the right way. They put a lot of work into this program. You think about some have been here for five years or four years. [Think about the] work that they've poured into this program, and I just think that they need to be sent out the right way.
I told the seniors: It's going to be very emotional for some of you. Some of you will never, ever put on cleats again. You're going to hang them up. And I hope for some of you have a chance to go continue on and go play on that next level.
But just for the fans standpoint, I just would love for them to come out and give support to the senior group … Just support this football team.
On Troy University's interest in Texas running backs coach Tommie Robinson: I tell our guys on our staff all the time, if they have an opportunity to better themselves and become a head football coach, I'll help them in any way possible. He's been an outstanding coach and has done a super job here.
On the atmosphere on the ride home from Kansas State: Well, it wasn't much of a plane ride back because we just got beat 23-0. It was not going to be a fun ride back. I think that game, it wasn't so much a wakeup call, but it just felt like we should have played a lot better than what we played. We just kind of went out there and went through the motions. We just didn't play well, but it needed to just burn in us. What we had to say afterwards wasn't very pleasant also. I think the message was very clear for them after that.
On Gary Patterson switching to the spread offense this season: Well, you know, that's Coach's philosophy and the way he stands. It's what he decided to do. There are a whole lot of ways to move the ball, and that's what he decided that's what he would like to do. It's working for him.
On stopping the spread offense: When you look at a lot of spread offenses, a lot of times people go to it is just the matchups. No, you try to see where that matchup lies, and you try to take that matchup and take advantage of it. What we try to do is make sure we change it up and not give them a clear picture every snap. You have to change it up. You can't give them the same look each and every snap. But just making sure we need to bring pressure. We can bring pressure. We sit back and play back and let things happen that will happen.
We also want to make sure that we dictate the flow of the game on defense, and just not allow the offense to get in rhythm. Spread offense is all about rhythm, and the thing we're going to have to do is just make sure that their rhythm doesn't happen.
On helping players on and off of the field: It started when I was an assistant coach. What happens a lot of times is that you see players, and they come from all walks of life, and it doesn't matter. A lot of players can be born with a lot, and a player can be born with nothing, but at the end of the day, they're just young people searching for direction. Really, they're just searching for someone to kind of just lead the way for them and just tell them, this is what is expected of you and this is really what you're going to do whether you like it or not. I'm only here to help you. I'm not here to boss you.
I always tell them, guys, when we give you advice, it's advice that we've been down that road. You haven't traveled that road. You're sitting here at 18. I've been 18. You haven't been my age. I can help you if you just listen to me. You just want to make sure that you build their lives and you help them with their life. It's not always about just the football side of it, and that's the way we try to talk to them.
All our talks are all about just life after football. Josh Turner came to me the other day, and he said, "Coach, I interviewed for an internship," and I said okay. He said, but it's amazing that the guy who was talking to him, he was talking about core values. He was talking about just leadership ability. And all of a sudden, he says to us, the guy was telling me that. I said, "So you don't believe me?" He said, "No, I believe you, but just to hear someone say it, it's amazing to hear what someone will talk about what you're talking about. When you step out in the real world, that's really what's going to happen to you." I said, "Yes, Josh, that's really what's going to happen to you.
Right now you're kind of in a bubble and you're so protected, but once you leave here, we have to prepare you for what's going to happen to you once you walk out of this program. I just want you to be ready, when you step out of this program, that you can handle adversity, where you can persevere through the tough times." It was just something that I'd grown up with, and I had some really good coaches around me when I started working for them, and just to take what they had had.
On what point as an assistant did he really figure it out: I think I was coaching at the University of Florida at the time, and I'll tell you where it really hit me. I was coaching this young man, he was an unbelievable player, and that's when we had Prop 48. I know some of you guys probably remember Prop 48. He came into Florida as a prop player. So I said to him, "You're a really smart young man. Really what happened to you? Why didn't you get your grades?" He said, Coach, "I'll tell you exactly what happened to me. When I was in the ninth grade, I was better than everyone. So I had a coach, and he would recruit me. So then when I got to the 10th grade, another coach recruited me to this school. Then I figured out the game. The coaches were just recruiting me for my abilities. They really didn't care about me. So I got to another grade, I got to another coach. I was just going for the coach that would give me the most things and do the most for me." I said, "That's not really how life works at some point. You don't just bounce around because someone is always giving you something. You have to work for everything you get. That's why you're a prop."
Then he said, "You know what, that's exactly right. I never felt grades were important to me because nobody ever told me how important it was." That happens a lot of times in college athletics. You see some coaches that are just so concerned about winning. Winning is the key, and I'm just telling you I never feel like winning isn't important, but I also want to make sure you develop the young person too, where they have to understand that, once you leave here, then there's issues. If you don't know how to handle it while you're in college, you will never be able to handle it once you leave here.
On his philosophies on recruiting: What happens now in recruiting, I just think a lot of times, when a guy makes a commitment to you, what he's doing is trying to get you to save a scholarship for him because he's going to go take looks. So what I've always said is with some of the players, let them go play out their senior year if that's what they want to do because what they're going to tell you anyway is, "Coach, I'm committed to you, but I'd like to go visit here, or I'd like to go visit here." I say, "Okay, until you're for sure what you want to do, you go take your visits, and if you feel this is the place for you, then you come back, and we'll have a scholarship for you." What young people do now, they just make a reservation. Just holding that reservation, Coach, and then if something better comes along, I think that's what I may do. But we're going to get the right players here. It's all about character, and it's all about the proper fit for this program. It's going to happen. It's still The University of Texas, great academics, great academics, and that's what it's all about. That's going to happen. We'll get the right players here.
On what this team's record is off the field: You know, just off the field, it's been amazing just to watch this group of guys. Because, when you come in and you take over a program, there's a process that you have to go through. There are players that are trying to figure out who you are, they're trying to really figure out who the assistant coaches are, what they're all about. Then for this senior group, this is a large senior class. I think there are 32 seniors in this class, counting the walk-ons. So, this is a class that has been around. They had an outstanding head football coach. We coach the same way now, develop young men and how we want to develop young men. Then to just watch us go through adversity and watch how they have handled that themselves and you know, as a player, they're going to hear more than what I hear. But just to hear what they had to hear and what they had to go through, this is a special group, a really special group, for them to overcome.
I tell them all the time, I said, "You can't let outside forces control the mindset of this football team. Don't let it happen." And never once did they let it happen. Then at any point they could have broke, but they never did. They continued to just have the trust and believe in the coaches, and they kept playing. They're still having the trust, and they believe in themselves, and they kept playing. Then, you know, when everybody counted them out it's so funny. One of the guys said in there the other day, they said, "Coach, did you think that we were going to get to six wins?" I said, "You know what, I never doubted you guys. You kept saying we would. So I was on your bandwagon." They said, "Oh, don't jump on the bandwagon now." But just to see this group overcome and persevere through it, it's just amazing.
That's why they're such a special group. I said to them I had them stand up yesterday in the team meeting because all the seniors sit down front. So I had them stand up and told them to face the team, and said to this senior group, "A foundation has been laid in this program, but what you're building right now is for that group behind you. Now that they've seen you battle through it, then they know how to fight and they know how to battle through, and they know how to keep fighting. Once that happens within, you know how to overcome it, good things are going to happen."
On if that is what a championship foundation is built on: That's what it has to be built on, where guys know how to continue to battle and just fight through adversity. I told them, I said, "I'm sorry that this had to be that group. I would have loved to walk out of here with an undefeated team walking into this week with a senior class and walk out with a double digit win. I would have loved for that to happen with this team, and it didn't. But I'm so happy that you guys were…..you held it together for us."
On if they can finally play loose since the pressure is off of them: I told them that's what the game is all about. You're right, I don't know if they ever had that chance to sit back and have fun and really enjoy it. You're right, it started with the dismissals and suspensions, and so much just rolled on them. It's so fun to see that now nobody thought they'd get to six, and just how they have battled through it all. You love to just see them have fun. The Oklahoma State game was a lot of fun for them. They had fun, and you could just see it on the sidelines; just how they kept in it from the start of that game to the end of the game. It was so lively on the sideline. They were joking around. They were just having fun, and they were just playing well and playing so loose.
On what are the best things that defensive coordinator Vance Bedford has done for the defense: I always had a lot of respect for Vance, who I met many years ago. I remember when I took the Louisville job, and I'd go in to see Vance because what they were trying to do, when I took the Louisville job, Florida was going to hire Vance as the defensive coordinator, and I got to him first. I said, "Listen, I'm going to take the Louisville job, and you're going to come in and be my coordinator." He said, "I will." I said, "Florida is going to try to hire you." He said, "You said it first. You're getting it." It's just amazing to see how he works. It's all about coaching and what he says about relationships with players, even on the offensive side of the ball. With him, it doesn't matter who the player is—he just has a great relationship and has a way of having fun with him when he needs to and really just jump into them when they need that. His job has been an "A" for me because I know this, that he's an outstanding coach and an outstanding person, just how he goes about his work. But players really respect him, and they know they're going to have fun when they're dealing with Vance.
On how much a win over TCU would accelerate the progress he's made in year one: You look at it and they're the No. 5 team in the country, and we're going to go compete, and it would be good for the program, get us to number seven. Set aside for the seniors, but it would send them out the right way also. You're talking about the No. 5 team in the country. One day that role is going to reverse, and we're going to be the No. 5 team or the No. 4 team and we're sitting in this position. Come Thursday, we're not. So we have a chance to go out, and we're at home, which is really special because we're playing at home.
On his favorite Thanksgiving treat: Here's my best. On Thanksgiving, I love my dressing, you have to have your collard greens and you have to have your sweet potatoes. You also have to have a mixture of sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, and you kind of mix it up. Your first plate, you get your dressing. You get two different plates. I don't know; I eat so much. Then I go out and work it off.
Senior CB Quandre Diggs
On if he thinks some players still have not bought into Coach Strong: I would hope not. I think we've got things going in the right direction, and guys have stepped up and bought in, I would say. We'll see if everybody continues to buy in. At the same time, I think guys are learning the new staff and knowing what they expect out of these guys. There hasn't been as much complaining as there used to be because we kind of know the ropes now. I think it's getting better, and I definitely appreciate the guys buying in. It's my last year, and I just want to go out with a bang.
On if Coach Strong has changed the lives of players on the team: No doubt about it. We came with the mindset that this is going to be different. You're not going to be the same person as you were when you came in. That's the most important thing. They want to us grow from kids to men. They want to see the change over these four years. They've only been here since January, and it's definitely been a lot of change around here.
I appreciate it because those guys have definitely changed my life. They've given me a different outlook on things. It's definitely helped me. Those core values are something that's going to live with us forever. So I think that's been the biggest thing that guys have bought into and understood. [Those values] are not just because we play football here, [they are] things that are going to help us in the real world. That's very important to growing up as a man. When you have your family you're going to have those tough times and things like that.
On his time at Texas: It's been rocky, but through it all, I'm definitely blessed I had an opportunity to come here and be able to have these four years of my life that a lot of kids dream of.
We went through some tough times, but at the same time, I've met some of my best friends in the world here. I have friendships that will last forever. A coaching staff that I think the world of because those guys that we have now, they really do care about us as people. They respect us as young men, and we have the same respect for them.
At the same time, we didn't win as many football games as I wanted to, but I think we are turning this thing around, and I'm glad to be the foundation. That will always be our history because I really think Coach Strong is going to get this thing turned around.
On if he is disappointed the team did not win more games, or excited that he is helping turn around the program his senior year: I think it's a little bit of both. Our group of seniors, we could have been real selfish. Three or four games ago, we could have gave up and said we don't want to play anymore. At the same time, it's a pride thing. I think everybody will always remember this senior class and everything we've been through. We went through it when the staff changed the first time when we were getting recruited. I went through the "defensive" coordinator getting fired after the first game of the season.
But we've been really resilient, and we stuck through it all as a class. My class is very strong, and we're all real close to each other. Some of those fifth year guys, with Jordan and John, they fit right into our class because those guys have been through a lot too. I think we're a prime example of sticking together through it all and continue to strive. We want to be the class to do great things and get this thing turned back around.
On what he expects his emotions to be like on Senior Day this Thursday: Honestly, I don't really buy into all that, you know. I just think it's another game. It's another opportunity for me to go out and compete, show my talents that God has blessed me with.
It's [too bad] that it's the last one that I'll play here, but at the same time, I have another one after this. You can reflect on all those times, and I'm not going to sit here and lie to you like I haven't thought about how fast these four years have gone by. It's just as a man growing up, it's time for you to move on sometimes. I've been blessed with this opportunity, and I can only say thank you for it. I can reflect on it, but I'm going to go out and play my game, and I'm still going to be passionate on Thursday. I don't think that will change the way I play.
On if the team is able to play more loose now that they have clinched a bowl game appearance: I think for the last three games you saw us loose and not worried about stuff. I think that's why we played so well. It's a great opportunity to go out and play the game that we love and have been blessed to play. It's a great opportunity to go out and play a great opponent on Thanksgiving Day with your brothers. [We] Just want to go out there and compete.
On attempting to upset No. 6/5 TCU's possible playoff chances: We're not playing spoiler to anyone. We're just going to go out and compete. I'm sick of the spoiler thing. We just want to play football, no spoiler. Go play football, go out and compete, and not even worry about the rankings. It's a big game. It's a big opportunity for us. Those guys are good. Appreciate the opportunity to go out and match up with a high powered offense and a great team. Like I said, we just want to go out and compete.
On how senior linebacker Jordan Hicks and he were able to help lead the team this season: I will tell you throughout the season it's hard because we kind of didn't know what to expect. The [coaches] do a great job of communicating with you, not just Coach Strong, but also [defensive coordinator] Coach Bedford. Those guys, they tell you exactly what they want and what they want to you do. You just go out and do it.
I think me and Jordan were able to relate a lot of things, but Jordan is the key guy that really does the talking. Well, the talking to the team. I do all the trash talking and stuff like that. You know, I leaned on Jordan because he's our guy. He gets guys lined up. He does all the things. Guys know, when Jordan says something, it means a lot. I kind of leaned on Jordan, but it was very important for Coach Strong to come up and talk to us two. It wasn't just me and Jordan, it was also Ced[ric] [Reed], [and]Malcom [Brown] the [defensive] tackle.
[Coach Strong] talked to us too. It was just a great opportunity for us [to go into] Coach Strong's mind and see exactly what he wanted out of us at the time. I think it paid off for us [on defense], and [Tyrone] Swoopes and Malcolm [Brown] on the offensive side of the ball, those guys took it upon themselves to do it for the offense. I think things just started coming together at the right time, and hopefully we'll finish out strong.
Junior OG/C Taylor Doyle
On how important the senior class has been to the team: Our senior class has been huge as far as setting the expectations and the standard high. Really taking the younger guys under the wing and showing -- demonstrating a work ethic, how to play hard and doing everything right off the field. So this game means a lot, as far as being on Thanksgiving as well as it being senior night. Obviously, we want to send our seniors off with a bang.
On who has been the most important one to him: On the offensive line, it was tough losing Dominic [Espinosa] the most. A guy whose entire career at UT, he's done everything right and kind of paving the way for us younger guys as a guy who leads by example.
On his relationship with Dominic Espinosa: It's been good. He's more than happy to share any tips he has, and he's definitely helped with that transition for me to move to the center position.
On if they are going to be able to go out and play loose and have fun: Yes, sir. It's always been important for us to, at the end of the day, go out there and have fun. Coach Strong really stresses that idea, just not getting too tight and worrying about things you can't control. Just go out there and play like you know how to and have fun with it. So, that's definitely important to us.
On how he would describe this year: This year has been exciting at every point. You know, no one really foresaw it happening how it did. So it's been exciting, and we've seen guys step up and do an unbelievable job. So it's been interesting to see guys rise to the occasion. That's probably been the coolest part.
On what was the moment it all started coming together for the offensive line: I don't know if I could put my finger on the exact time and place. It's definitely been exciting for us to come together. We were young coming into the season. We didn't have a lot of experience. And to see guys step up has been really exciting and encouraging. Obviously, we're still growing, and we still have a long way to go. So we definitely have our hands full in that area.
On how exciting it is to go play a team like TCU: TCU has a great defensive front, and we're excited for the opportunity to play them. We know it's going to be a dogfight, and we know how talented they are. So we're looking forward to another opportunity to play for the seniors on Senior Night.
Senior WR John Harris
On what it means to have gone through everything he has been through and know what Thursday night is: It just means a lot for me. Just maybe finish out the way I wanted to, coming in here, not starting the way I want, but a lot of people say, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. I think I finished a great way and left my mark on this place in the right way.
On if he will get emotional: I probably will. I got emotional when I was in high school when I left. It hasn't really hit me yet, but I'll probably get emotional running out to my parents out there on the field for the last time. I think maybe I will.
On how he has seen head coach Charlie Strong get guys lives back on track off of the field: He just tries to point guys in the right direction. Make sure they go to class, get their education, just make sure they do the little things right—everything that matters once you're done with football whether you're going to the next level or if you go get a job. He just looks out for you in the same way he does on the field. I feel like he just raises you as a young man in college to grow up a little bit and put the immaturity stuff behind you. I just look at him as a role model for rest of us. What a wonderful coach to have. He looks out for his players, cares for his players, and just wants the best for us.
On why he thinks Strong was able to succeed in getting inside their heads: I'm sure other coaches succeed, but I feel like there's just a level of respect for him. He's really a down-to-earth coach. He's always around us. He's always in that locker room. You can go up and speak to the coaches whenever you want. The door is always open to us. I think I go in the defensive room and talk to those guys all the time. They're just fun to talk to. Outside of my teammates, they're like big kids to us. I mean, they're just a levelheaded group of guys that we all respect and we can relate to in some way.
On how he would describe his senior year: Resilient, I think. Just finding a way to get the job done. Just not quitting and not buying into that I could never play here or what people have to say about me throughout my three years here. I think I proved so many people wrong, and myself, that I can come out here and play football at this level, and I think I can play at the next. I think I proved to a lot of doubters, a lot of people telling me I couldn't.
On if he can remember when the offensive live started to work as one: Oklahoma game. Just watching them, they scrambled a little bit after that, but just watching them the way they played, especially against a good Oklahoma team the way they did, I thought they did a tremendous job. These last couple of games, Oklahoma State and West Virginia and [Texas] Tech, J[ohnathan] Gray and Malcolm [Brown] have almost combined for 100 yards together. Just watching the way they play, they do everything that they're told to do. They try to give as much as they can. I know they're not the best prime guys in the world, but they play like they are. That's the level of ability that Coach Strong wants them to play.
On what a win over TCU would do for the program: I think it would really set the foundation of this program. You get a win over a top 25 team, then you get a win over a top 5 team in the month of November you're basically undefeated with a four-game win streak, so I think it would be a huge momentum swing going into next year, and especially going into the bowl game. You get a win there, hey, you never know where things can go after that. We've got this team believing in themselves again.
On if he wants to play Texas A&M in the bowl game: It doesn't matter. I'm just glad we got to a bowl game at this point in time being my senior season. It doesn't matter. Whoever we face, it will be a fun matchup. We'll go out and prepare for it the right way. I didn't get to play against them, so I wouldn't mind it.
On if they will be able to play loose and free this week now that they are bowl eligible: We've been playing loose, free, and relaxed for a couple weeks now, especially since the Texas Tech game. We believe our opening job is to go down and get points. That's our determination to start the game. We get a fast start; things are going well for us. Or just see if you can get the ball moving on a couple of drives down the field or a couple of first downs. Hey, next drive we'll come out and put some points back on the board. So I mean we feel loose completely as a whole team. We don't worry about not scoring points and the defense not getting stops or special teams causing turnovers. We're not worried about that stuff anymore. We're just going out and playing football.
On what Coach Strong's demeanor is in big games like this: Exactly what you said. He has everybody believing. We believe in ourselves. It doesn't matter what anybody says outside of that locker room. We believe in ourselves, hey, that's all that matters. Nobody else can step on the field with us. Fans can't be on the field with us. It's all about us. It's all about going out there, executing the plays to perfection and trying to get a win. We're going to go out, and we're going to do that. That's how we feel. That's how he preaches it to us. If you don't want to be here, if you don't want to practice, if you want to get beat, then go home. So he's going to push us. He's not going to give us anything. They're not going to give us anything—they never do. So that's just how our mentality is right now. We believe in ourselves, and we believe we can go out and win. It doesn't matter what their ranking is. It doesn't matter who they are. We can go out and get a win any time.
On what he thinks has helped the team this season: Just being together. You see some championship teams, they don't always have the best players or the best athletes. You're wondering how do they beat a team that's better than them in a championship game? It's just because they play together and believe in each other. That's what he's been preaching to us all year. We finally started believing in that and started believing in each other. You can see that when we're out on the field. I love celebrating with the defense when they get a turnover, and it's fun coming back and celebrating with them when we get a touchdown. We're all in it for each other these last couple of weeks, and that's what it's all about. That's what we're showing these younger guys that, when you're together, you can do anything. Nobody can tell you what you can't do.
On if he thinks the younger guys will be able to carry it on: I think so. I think they'll be able to carry it on, especially with a guy like Tyrone [Swoopes] and some of the defensive guys on the other side of the ball. I don't think there will be a false step in this team. As long as we keep rolling the way we are, I don't think there will be a false step coming into next year.
On how bad this team wants a third quarter touchdown: I don't even think we worry about it anymore. More so in the third quarter, we're just trying to move the ball. We want a touchdown in the third quarter, of course. It harps in our minds, like why can't we score in the third quarter? But when that fourth quarter comes around, we know we can score points in the fourth quarter—we've done it before. We know we're going to have to score this week in points, whether it's a field goal or a touchdown. So we're going to have to score points. So hopefully we can come out in the second half and generate some offense.
On if he has tried anything different at halftime: We haven't really tried anything different. I can't tell you what it is. Maybe we get on a roll in the first half and just get hot and kind of cool off a little bit, and we've just got to find a way to get the rhythm going. Or maybe the defensive coordinator is doing a good job with adjustments at the half. I don't know.
On his favorite Thanksgiving dish: Unfortunately, I haven't had Thanksgiving dinner at home in a while, but my favorite dish is probably stuffing. I love stuffing. My mom does a really good job with stuffing. I'll be looking forward to that on Friday after the game. It tastes really good after a win too.
Senior DE Cedric Reed
On if he's a quiet team leader: I don't know. I just haven't been a person of [many] words when Coach Strong's around. Whenever I'm with the D-line, I'll talk, or when we come together as a team, I'll say a couple words. But I'm not like that vocal, Ray Lewis, just screaming at everybody type of guy. I'm more of a down to earth, pull you to the side and get you going type of guy.
On how he would describe his senior season: I would say my senior year is exciting. I know a lot of people don't think I have a lot of stats, but behind the scenes, it's been a great year. This team is really fun. There are not enough people seeing that. We have a lot of fun behind the scenes. Quandre [Diggs], Malcom [Brown] [and I], we were having a talk the other day, and we were just like any other team we were on, we never would have had this much fun. It's definitely been a fun and exciting year.
On if t the coaching staff is changing players' lives on and off of the field: Yeah, definitely. We were just talking about that yesterday. There have been a lot of guys getting internships or just life outside of football. They've been telling us about everything he's done has really changed their lives and everything he's preached is really happening out there. It's really great to see those guys come back and talk to us about that.
On if he is happy with Coach Strong's first year: Yeah, I am. [For the] First couple months, everything surprised me about Coach Strong, but now nothing he does surprises me. He helped out a lot. Guys he is helping out right now, I thought it would take Dr. Phil to get through to them. But Coach Strong is helping them out, and I'm pretty sure it will help in the long run.
On if the team can play more relaxed since they have already clinched a bowl appearance: I definitely agree that we're going to be flying around out there. It's a Senior Day game. It's our last home game of the year. Guys have bought into this program. It's been a long year just trying to get everybody to buy into the season, and I think everybody has. I think everybody's going to let loose.
On if he came back for his senior season so that he could be involved in Senior Day: No, I came back to get my degree. That's one thing I'm really excited about also. It took me 3 1/2 years, and that's another goal that I didn't have until Coach Strong got here. He's helped everybody with it.
On where he would be if he had not come back for his senior season: I'd be degreeless, obviously. I'd be coming back trying to get it. This team has been exciting. [It has been] one of those years behind the scenes that I had probably the most fun.
On how it feels to lay the foundation for the future of Texas football: I feel great about it. I think that showed this team that the senior class can be resilient. We've been through everything that I think a college recruiting class can go through. We started off with a little controversy, but we stuck through that. We've been through a lot of changes, and we have a foundation that you can embrace change and can be resilient with anything you do.
On the improvement of TCU and their junior quarterback Trevone Boykins this season: It surprised me because a couple years ago, he was just a guy on the run. He would always run the ball. He was a guy that was a running back playing quarterback. Now he's the full package. He can throw the long ball, the short ball, he can run it. He's reading the defense well. He's just become a complete quarterback in a running back's body.
That offense is great. They've got [running back] Aaron Green, and they've got a great O-line. There are no bad parts to their offense. The key to stopping them is just definitely getting the quarterback down.
On wanting to defeat in-state opponents like TCU: There's a little bit of that. But to me, there's really no rivalry with TCU. I think we're going to go in there and just beat TCU. It's a senior night game. That's all that matters. It's not about collapsing their season or ruining their season. I think it's just another game on our schedule that we're going to play.
On his favorite Thanksgiving foods: I'm really sketchy on Thanksgiving. I like to have my turkey deep fried, and I like to be the first person to get the first slice out of it. That's my only thing about Thanksgiving. That's it.
Sophomore QB Tyrone Swoopes
On how the current seniors have helped him develop as a quarterback: They've been really big just because they've seen me grow and develop since I got here last spring. They kind of knew what I could do before I went out. They just pretty much told me, "What you've been doing in practice, just take it to the game, all of us have got your back." So guys like Quandre [Diggs], John [Harris], [Jaxon] Ship[ley], and Jordan [Hicks], those guys helped my confidence a lot just going out there and being able to play.
On how much he'll miss having senior wide receiver John Harris: He's a really good person, great guy, great teammate, obviously a great player. So we'll miss him a lot. Hopefully, one of the younger guys will step in and kind of develop into that role.
On what an upset win over TCU would mean to this team: I think it would be big. It would be a nationally televised game. It's against a ranked opponent. I think it would be huge just to get a win like that, especially on Thanksgiving Day.
On excitement for getting to play on Thanksgiving Day: I think it will honestly be big, but I don't think we'll let it consume us. We'll just go out there and play like we have been these last three games. I think, if we do that, then it will be a really good game on Thursday.
On how he describes his first season as the starting quarterback: I mean, it's been kind of a roller coaster really. Just starting, we didn't start out too well, and then just kind of coming to the end of the season, we kind of all developed and molded into something special. I think it's been a really great experience for everybody, not just me.
On if there is less pressure on the team since they already clenched a bowl game appearance: I think so, but we still want to go out and get these last two games. So I feel like we can't relax too much just because we're in a Bowl game. We still want to go out and win on Thursday. So I feel like there's a little pressure off but not too much.
On junior wide receiver Daje Johnson's progress this year: I think he made a lot of progress. Just coming from the beginning of the season, I think he was suspended or something that. So just coming from that, for him to step in and be a big role on this team, I think that shows what kind of person he is. I'm just really happy for him.
On his favorite Thanksgiving food and who cooks it: Just the usual. I really don't like anything too much. But my favorite would probably be buttermilk pie [made by] either my mom or my grandma.
Senior S Mykkele Thompson
On what a win Thursday night would do for the program: For the past couple of weeks, Coach Strong has been talking about sending the seniors off in the right way. With me being a senior, that would be the best thing, I feel. We're just trying to get as many wins as possible. This being senior night that game, that's the best thing for us.
On how he would describe his time at Texas: It went by fast. Me and a couple of guys went back and realized how fast these four years went for us. You never believe the seniors ahead of you when they say that you'd better cherish it while you can because it does go by fast. Me experiencing it firsthand, I wish I would have took a step back and just realized like how my four years had went.
On how important physicality is going to be in this game: We're just trying to be physical. It's not about knocking quarterbacks out. We're just trying to make sure that everybody knows we feel we're the best defense around, and physicality is one of the attributes that we have to present.
On if they are going to just play loose and have fun: Yeah, we had no reason to play tight anyway. So I guess, since we're bowl eligible, we should play more loose. We haven't been playing tight these past couple of weeks. We're just out there having fun. That's the main thing. We're out there having fun. There's no reason to be tight.
On TCU QB Trevone Boykin: He's a playmaker. He's the leader of the team, especially the offense. He makes plays. That's what you want out of a quarterback. They're putting big numbers up. As a DB, you just have to be on top of your game.
On how he will remember his senior year: It's been a roller coaster. I feel that's the most appropriate way to describe it.
