Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Postgame Quotes
November 02, 2002 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 2, 2002
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Notes
OSU Coach Les Miles
On the game
"The focus of the game was to play two quality Big 12 opponents back to back and win. It is what we set out to do. The coaches and the players did a great job focusing on the task at hand. We played a quality A&M team that, in my opinion, showed a lot of character and guts coming out at halftime being behind and regaining the momentum of the game to play a very competitive football game. When you play a good football team close and win, it is something you want to repeat. "
On the first half
"Everything we did in the first half worked. We got a little slower in the second half. In the first half, they threw the ball very well against our defense. Our defense worked hard late in the game and made the plays to win the game. It was still a sloppy game on our part. We have to correct the mistakes we made with the field goals. We have too good of a kicker not to hit on those on a regular basis."
On Vernon Grant
"Vernon Grant has come in and played, since the day he arrived, very competitive and impressive football. He stopped some first downs and receivers. But he got a penalty because he arrived at the same time the ball did. But at the end of the game, Vernon Grant continued to play and got the interception that won the ball game."
On Tatum Bell
"Tatum has obviously given us a great spark in the running game. He has great speed which is why it will be hard for people to catch him. I like the fact that he runs through tackles as hard as he does. I suspect he will continue to develop into a quality back. "
On goals
"This team wants to win games. They're not playing for 1988, they're playing for this football team's desire to be a good football team. They're coming every week. We look forward in the schedule to opportunities. When you win games you get ambitious. This football team has players on offense, defense, and special teams. They play to win. They're continuing to grow in confidence and ability."
Oklahoma State Players
Defensive back Vernon Grant
On responding to game
"By me being young, it was a great experience for me. They had a lot of confidence in me to play so I felt I had to pick up my stuff, since I was starting this week.
On starting role
"They count on me more and more since he (Darrent Williams) went out. I think that I picked it up and played well."
On A&M offense keying in on him
"They always pick on the little guy, but I feel that if I make plays, then they will stop. They kept coming at me, so I kept making plays."
On game saving interception
"He got outside of me, so I had to run and replace, so I got outside of him. Massey tipped it and I came under and made the play."
Running back Tatum Bell
On big play
"It was a run to the left and I saw the linebacker flowing hard, so I cut back underneath them, broke a couple of tackles and it was over from there."
On improving performance
"That was one of my goals coming into this year, and then I got hurt during two-a-days. I kept getting frustrated so I had to show the team that when I get hit I just have to keep my head straight. I wanted to prove to the coaches and my teammates that I can run inside instead of always jumping outside, and I think I am doing that."
Quarterback Josh Fields
On defensive performance
"They (Texas A&M) shut the offense down in the second half so the defense stepped up and they deserve the credit for the win.
On lack of second half offense
"They made some big adjustments, by switching coverages and slowing us down a little bit. We had a good run and pass mix in the first half. In the second half we had some bad field position and they started doubling up on Rashaun (Woods). They did a good job today and shut us down."
Wide receiver John Lewis
On strong start
"We were clicking. We came out with some plays that we always run and it was very effective against their defense. We tried to find their weaknesses with film and two weeks of preparation, that helped us out a lot."
On the week off
"It gives you a chance to get your legs back, feel fresh for the game and get some injured players back. "
On team momentum
"It feels real good, we just want to keep rolling and keep the success flowing. We want to try to win the rest of our ball games by taking it one game at a time."
Texas A&M Head Coach R.C.Slocum
On second half comeback
"I thought our team showed some great character to comeback and play in the second half. We shut their offense down and moved the ball, but we just came up short. I was pleased how we reacted, to comeback and make a ball game out of it."
On getting behind early in the game
"We got too deep too early. That touchdown right before the half was very critical. Before that we felt like were still within striking distance, but that touchdown put them up by 21 and really hurt us. I was pleased how our defense came out and responded, and our offense moved the ball very well. They put some points on the board but we just came up short in the end."
On half-time talk
"We talked at half-time and made some adjustments. They (OSU) had a couple of weeks to prepare for the game and threw a few wrinkles in their scheme, but the difference was us just executing what we had to do. Other than just a couple minor adjustments it was just a question of playing better, playing with more intensity and playing smarter."
On preparation for the Sooners
"It's tough, coming off a loss like this, but I think our team will respond. This is football, and every week when you play in a league like this, it is going to be tough. We have what might be the best team in the country coming in next week, so it will be a test for us to see how we respond. There should be some excitement there, getting to go back home and play them and I feel our team will have that."
On Jamaar Taylor going out
"We hated to be going down the stretch without Jamaar in the ball game, he is clearly a playmaker for us. The initial look we got from the trainers was a knee sprain, but we'll examine him more in the locker room."
Opposing Players
Texas A&M defensive back Sammy Davis
On going to a bowl game:
"That's our main focus right now, to get that one win and be eligible to go to bowl, that's our goal."
On the difference between the first and second half:
"In the first half we were still trying to get used to the weather and their play, and once we came in at halftime the coaches made the adjustments and we were more comfortable, and we went out there in the second half and made plays."
Texas A&M defensive lineman Ty Warren
On how the team will rebound:
"We just have to stay focused, the season isn't over yet, we've got three games left. We're still focused on trying to get to a bowl and winning out."
Texas A&M quarterback Dustin Long
On the feeling of the second half:
"We came at halftime knowing we had to come out and play a lot better. We came out kind of flat in the first half, and the team did a good job of playing well in the second half, we just didn't have enough to come back."
On the feeling of the team after this game:
"Any time you go through a season like this you're disappointed because you want to go out there and win as much as you can, but right now we just have to take it week to week and try to win each game each week."
On the interception at the end of the game:
"I thought we had a good chance when he (Bethel Johnson) jumped up. At first I thought he caught it, but he said the defender tipped it. The ball just didn't bounce our way."
