Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Media Luncheon Quotes
September 16, 2002 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 16, 2002
Coach Les Miles
On the Game
"It sure was a nice setup for a game, being at home, a great crowd, beautiful weather, and a great start. It was just like we would have liked to script it. It put pressure on them, they throw a pick, with the short field we get seven. We come back and have the opportunity to get another seven, but end up with three. The pressure is on them. Then in a few plays they come down the field and score quickly. It becomes a much tighter game. Then we give them a gift and throw a pick and suddenly the pressure is off of them. They are on the road but the crowd is not as loud. It is unfortunate that we have to continue to learn those lessons, but it happens."
On the play of the wide receivers
"Obviously John Lewis returning gave us some really needed speed opposite of Rashaun. Obviously Rashaun played extremely well. I think our wide receivers have proven to be more experienced and more capable, although John in his first game back made a couple of mistakes that cost us some penalties. We enjoyed getting him back."
On the play of the offensive line
"Our offensive line played a good defensive line in UCLA's. It was a match that we were concerned with, when you match an All-American against a true redshirt freshman guard (Corey Curtis). I thought watching his play that I was proud of his fight. He will improve to be a good football player. I think if those five guys get a chance to play together, over time they will develop into a pretty good offensive line. I think they need to for us to be a good football team."
On the play of Josh Fields
"Our quarterback played well at times. He made a few mistakes, some judgment errors. We see his future as being bright and one that he is going to push and correct those mistakes that he has made. They are not all his mistakes. Sometimes a receiver made a mistake, when he puts the ball in the right spot, but the receiver went astray."
On not going to Rashaun early in the game
"Initially, in the first drive I don't think that we did. We scored a quick seven. Then we were in position where we were going to throw it to him except we got a movement penalty that backed us up five. Initially, we wanted to stay after the defensive line and keep them at home. We didn't necessarily want to throw it from the start. We wanted to give them the realization that if they didn't play the run, it would hurt them."
On SMU
"I think they have a good defense. They were one of the top defenses in the WAC a year ago. They are run around guys, with two really good corners and two big safeties that will make tackles. They will load the box and make it hard to run. They appear sound and solid. On the offensive side they have a tailback that can rush the football. They had the opportunity to beat Texas Tech. We have to win that game and to improve. We need to beat SMU and improve in doing it."
OSU Player Quotes
Safety Elbert Craig
On making plays
"A lot of times we were just beating ourselves. We were in the right position at the right time, we just didn't make the play. We were giving up the big plays and that is what killed us."
On the defense
"As a defense we just gave up too many big plays. In order to be the good team you cannot give up big plays like that. We were in the right position but we just have to make the right play."
On correcting mistakes made in the game
"It is going to take hard work. It starts in practice and you practice how your going to play. Whatever results we want, have to come from practicing good during the week."
On conference play
"We need to win this next game. It would be great going into conference play 2-2. "
On a possible bowl game ahead
"We still have a great team to go to a bowl game. The sky is the limit for this team right now. We are not going to say that we can't beat any team in the Big 12. Every team is beatable, especially coming into our place. We still have a great chance to go to a bowl game"
Running back Seymore Shaw
On Saturday's game against UCLA
"We had too many mistakes and their team played well. We can't win with that many mistakes. Their defense made great plays and happened to be in the right spots at the right time."
On getting better
"This game was a stepping stone for us and we can't do anything but get better. It takes practice and for us to push each other during practice in order for us to get better."
On turn overs
"The turnovers killed us. I don't think that there is a team that can win with that many turnovers. Now we have to work on fixing the mistakes."
On UCLA's performance
"I think their offensive line did a great job and they held their own. The defensive line was big and the running backs hit the holes. They should keep up the great work and keep practicing hard in practice. They are young guys and they still have more to learn and I still have more to learn."
On the upcoming game against SMU
"SMU is a good team, but we are going to practice hard so that we can play our hardest to win. Their linebacker is going to make our two guards and the center even better. To me it is an honor when you can go against great guys and it shows how good you are when you can compete with them."
Defensive Tackle Kevin Williams
On how well OSU matched up with UCLA
"We matched up well with them on Saturday. At times we were dominating them up front and all over the field. Without the turnovers and missed plays I think that it would have been a very close game down to the wire or maybe we might have been up a couple of touchdowns. "
On OSU's defense
"We are putting together two and three good quarters and we need to get focused on finishing four complete quarters. We'll be all right as a defense once we do get focused."
On offensive turnovers
"Sudden changes are a part of the game. As a defense we have to pick that area up. When the offense turns it over we have to go out and try to hold the other offense to a field goal at least and not give them another touchdown.
