Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Media Luncheon Quotes
November 04, 2002 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 4, 2002
OSU Coach Les Miles
On reversing trends
"This team enjoys the distinction of reversing the trends against Nebraska and (Texas) A&M. Now we have the opportunity to go to Lubbock. We have not won there since 1944. We are going to go in there with renewed enthusiasm with this victory. It will be a great challenge. They are a great football team. Our guys, especially our seniors, are enjoying the fact that they are doing some things that have not been done in awhile."
On playing on the road
"Every time you take the field it is important that you understand the position that your team is in. I think the opportunity to defeat two teams that we have played in our stadium will put added importance on the trip to Lubbock. I do not see playing away being very significant as it has been in the past. "
On Tatum Bell's improvement
"He is playing more confident. He is bigger and stronger. He is looking for the opportunity to break a run that will get you a first down. He brings a lot more punch to the line of scrimmage than he did a year ago. We look forward to his further development. We might have Seymore Shaw ready for this one which would give us a nice one-two punch at tailback."
On what it will take to win
"The defense must expand their ability to play the pass well. The offense must keep the ball when they can and score points. When the defense is on the field we need to stop them, get a turnover or two, chase the quarterback around out of the pocket and we need to get a chance to score points in the special teams. It is going to take a concerted effort against a good football team."
On pass defense
"We are going to emphasize tackling the receivers. If it is a two yard reception it should be a two yard gain. If it is an eight yard reception it should be an eight yard gain. It is the broken tackles that we can not have."
On Vernon Grant
"Vernon Grant has always had a bunch of confidence. He was just waiting to show us what he already knew. We will look to play him at corner the rest of the year. He is a very good young player."
OSU Player Quotes
Defensive Back Vernon Grant
On the Texas Tech offense
"Texas Tech throws the ball a lot. Our confidence level is high. We feel if we use our great technique and break on the ball that we should be able to make the plays. We have a great pass rush. If our big guys do their job up front, we can do our job."
On the teams confidence level
"I feel that we have overcome, and are getting closer as a team. We have confidence in each other. Being a freshman, I have to pick up my game. They will see me, and my teammates will have confidence in me. When they see me out there, they know I am there to make a play."
On the remainder of the season
"We just take each game at a time. At the beginning of the season we stressed the fact that we should take one game at a time instead of worrying about other teams and other games. We will concentrate on the fact that we have Texas Tech this weekend and we need to concentrate on their offense and what they are able to do."
Offensive Tackle Jason Russell
On controlling the ball at Texas Tech
"That is one of our main goals. We have got to keep our defense off of the field and run the ball four quarters. If we look like we did last week in the third quarter, you never know what might happen. One of our goals is to establish the running game and manage the clock."
On the Red Raider defense
"They are a good defense. They can come out and stop you. I don't know that they lack anything. To stay in the game, we have to manage the clock."
On gaining confidence with each win
"It is huge. We knew that we were always a good team, we just had to prove it by beating Nebraska first and then coming out to beat Texas A&M. That really is a huge confidence boost to the offensive line and the backs. We know what each other can do and we know how to win the big games."
On having a healthy Tatum Bell
"It is pressure off of me knowing that there is a healthy back who can hit even the smallest of holes and shoot out there like a deer. Blocking for him means we don't have to block forever. He hits the holes fast."
On the last trip to Lubbock
"I just remember getting beat up. We just didn't come ready to play, it was an emotional roller coaster that week. There is not much I can say about that, I have never experienced a loss like that."
On the progress of the team
"We are just meshing together. I know what the rest of the guys on the line are thinking and what they are going to do. We know what Tatum is capable of. We just come to play every game. We want to prove to ourselves that we are a good offense. We want the opposing defense to know that they are going to have to work. Runs like that boost our confidence."
