Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Football Luncheon Quotes
October 15, 2001 | Cowboy Football
Oct. 15, 2001
COACH MILES
On the response to the fumbles
"We talk about it. We drill it fully and will continue to do so. There has
to be some
personal questions people that are handling the ball must ask. The answers
must
revolve around maintaining possession of the ball. We will address the issue
throughout the week."
On how to motivate the team
"The only thing I would say is that this team has yet to reach the potential
that it is due
with the hard work that they have put in during the spring and summer. Now
we are into
the fall and we are underplaying our ability. Obviously, turnovers have a
lot to do with that.
I believe that we have a potentially good football team and we have to reach
that potential.
We are all sad that we did everything we could to give Texas a good
afternoon. I think
that this team maintains the desire to be a good football team and we have
another
opportunity to prove this on Saturday."
On a loss only lasting 24 hours
"I saw painful residue on all of us at Sunday practice. What happens is you
get out there,
get something going, break a sweat and practice. Suddenly, it drops a little
and there is a
little bit more looseness. On Tuesday, I expect us to be fully focused on
Iowa State."
On Iowa State turning their program around
"Dan McCarney is a good coach and he is doing the right things. They have a
quarterback that has some talent, a running back that can move the football
and break
tackles. The defense is sound and solid. It is the recipe for a winning
football team.
They do not turn the football over."
On the importance of Saturday?s game
"It is easy to see that if we win this game it provides a lot of
opportunities. I think that our
team sees that. If we beat Iowa State we are beating a good football team.
Let?s go find
out how good we are and win some more."
On getting better
"The get better is key to the remainder of the season. Becoming bowl
eligible is the great
motivation for winning. Mathematically we have to win this game and/or get
the team at
the end of the schedule. It is a very important game."
On jumping out to an early lead
"We have to understand that in every game there will be an ebb and flow of
momentum.
The way to sustain what you have started is to step up your intensity and
remain in control
of your environment. We have to maintain the same hustle and fight that got
us the lead."
On becoming bowl eligible
"If we do not win Saturday our chances are significantly reduced. If we beat
Iowa State,
Colorado comes here the next week and then Texas Tech which is a good
football team,
but vulnerable. After that it becomes a very tangible goal if we can win
this first game."
On seeing improvement
"I have seen improvement in positions and in certain play, but it is very
difficult for the
defense to improve when the offense is turning the ball over. It is
difficult for the offense
to improve and have statistical balance when they are behind in the game.
The opposing
defense knows that you have to throw the football and can play broad
coverage. Right
now we need more improvement of the offensive side so the defense can get
off the
field."
Player Quotes
Jeff Machado
On sustaining an offense for the whole game
"We went back and watched the film and there were some good things that we
did right at the beginning. They switched some things on defense, and that
kind of staggered our offense a little bit. We have to find a way to seize
that momentum and keep it going. We did what we were taught early in the
game by driving it in, but we got away from it later on. We have to keep
doing what we practice, and keep having drives like that because we have the
people that can do it."
On the adjustments Texas made
"We knew they were going to put a lot of people in the box to stop the run.
We knew the secondary was going to play a lot of man, but they started
playing zone and it took away the pass. We were forced to change some
protections and we knew running the ball was going to be tough the way they
stacked the box. Some things changed and we did not make the proper
adjustments to them."
On what it will take to become bowl eligible "This week will be the toughest to keep that kind of winning attitude. We have to get back on a winning streak and forget about the past games. You go into every game planning on winning, and I think the attitude going into every game is the same but once we start winning the negativity will leave and we will be back where we need to be."
On the frustrations of losing leads
"It is hard. The last two games we have held leads in the first quarter. we
shut down in some areas and lose all of our momentum that we had. It is
hard, but it will probably take a good two quarters before people really
have confidence in ourselves. Doubts will always be in our head that we
cannot lose it. We have to stop playing like that. We have to get a lead and
just say we are going to keep going. I think everybody feel good that we can
put points on people, we just have to keep doing it. We need to go out there
and play a solid game. Part of our problem right now is that we are too
inconsistent. If we just play a solid consistent game we will be fine."
Kobina Amoo
On having to go back on the field after a turnover "We have go out on the field and do our job. It does not matter if the offense turns it over or not. It is a little frustrating at times, but we are a team and we are going to stand behind our offense. They will make some mistakes and we will make some mistakes."
On the defense early in the game
We were disguising a lot of our blitzes and a lot of our zones, and I do not
think Chris Simms was picking up on it well. Once they got the running game
started, we had to go to more man coverage and it took us out of our
gameplan. It was working well early on in the game."
On going backwards after the two losses
"I do not think we took a step backward at all. Each week our effort
increases and we are devastated that we lose like this. It is very tough but
I think we are getting better each week."
On the leaders on this team
"Dwayne Levels has had several meetings with the defense telling us to step
it up while the offense is down. I have heard Jeff Machado meeting with the
offensive guys as well telling them the same thing. Are leaders are stepping
up."
On becoming bowl eligible
"We have five games left and we have to win four of those. If we lose this
one, we still have a chance. It is not over yet."
On this being a must win game
"This definitely a must win week for us. We cannot think about Oklahoma and
Colorado right now. We have Iowa state this week and that is what we are
trying to focus on."
On Iowa State
"We expect them to come out and try to get the running game started. They
will try to throw the ball to their receivers. Quarterback (Seneca Wallace)
is a very good football player and their running back (Ennis Haywood) is
very talented."
