Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Media Luncheon Quotes
September 02, 2002 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 2, 2002
Head Coach Les Miles
On the game
"It still hurts and it's an opportunity that we could have cashed in on. But our kids are resilient and they will play hard. We have a whole season ahead of us and all of our goals are unscathed. It's unfortunate but we have Northern Iowa on Saturday and that is what we are turning our attention to."
On playing at Lewis Field
"It's very fortunate that we get an opponent to play on Saturday. It's nice to come home to the comfortable confines of Lewis Field. We get to play in front of our friends and family but it would have been nice to take that one home."
On Northern Iowa
"I know that they can throw it and catch it. Their defensive scheme is pretty good and they have had great success in the past. They look like a formidable opponent and I think they will play us tough."
On the running game
"I think that we have the potential to have a very strong running attack. Happiness is not exactly what I feel after that loss, but I feel like we are potentially much better in the running game than we have been."
On punting
"I really think that Cole Farden is a good punter but the first time stepping back he missed the snap and didn't kick it with any average but he kicked it down there well. Sky Rylant came in and did a better job in handling the ball. I still think we will be a good punting team but I do wish we handled that snap better."
On offensive line
"Getting Sam Mayes in there will really help our football team. Putting that line together as late as we did, it is going to take time for them to gel. There were signs in that game that they are capable of playing well."
On tailbacks
"Our tailbacks really didn't get a chance to prepare hard and we only had one tailback 10 days before the game. I enjoyed the fact that they carried the ball in live drills with security because that was a concern of mine. Both Seymore (Shaw) and Vernand (Morency) have a responsibility in knowing how to carry the football. I would have liked to have more preparation for those guys and I think it would have made them better in this game."
Senior defensive end Greg Richmond
On the attitude of the team
"The attitude of the team is that we just have to keep working. We are almost where we need to be to have a winning season and be a great team as opposed to a good team. We are just plays away and steps away from being there."
On the defense wearing down in the fourth quarter
"Being tired in the fourth quarter played a little part in it. Our defense was on the field for most of the game. At times like that you just have to suck it up for the ball club and do what you need to do."
On opening up a big lead
"Being able to get a lead like that is good, but you have to seal the deal. We cannot relax out there, especially when you are playing a game in which the other team is not going to give up. We should have a better attitude when we get ahead of team so we can go ahead and finish it."
On moving on to next week
"Our seniors need to step in and show their leadership and the maturity of the team comes into play. We need to put this game behind us. This is not the end of the season, we still have 11 games to play."
Freshman tailback Vernand Morency
On what was learned from the Louisiana Tech game
"Louisiana Tech was a very good football team. We cannot relax in the second half no matter who we are playing."
On Northern Iowa
"From what I have seen in the film room, Northern Iowa is a running team. They are a very good team, and it will be a good test after this loss."
On being able to play four quarters
"We feel like we are a real good team. We felt like we could have scored whenever we wanted to on offense, and we feel our defense is real solid."
On diving into the end zone
"My ankle gave out on me after that cut. I was just praying to make it in there and their defense was not far behind me. My motto is do whatever it takes."
Senior safety Chris Massey
On what to work on
"We need to make the plays when we are in a position to make plays. Luke McCown is a good quarterback and will make the plays when given the opportunity. That is what we need to get better at. I should have had an interception in the fourth quarter. We need to make the plays when we are in a position to make plays."
On Northern Iowa's offense
"It is great for our secondary. We can come in and bounce back with another passing team coming in. We can establish ourselves as a secondary defense."
On putting the La Tech game behind them
"You can put it behind you, but it is one game that is always going to be on the back of your mind. It was a game we had the opportunity to win, but we have 11 more games ahead of us so we cannot just sit back and dwell on one game. We still have a whole season ahead of us."
On the secondary
"One of our goals in the secondary this season is to be a real physical secondary. We wanted to come out and establish that in the first game, and I think we did it in the first half. I think they realized that coming across the middle. They seemed to have a lot of dropped passes. If we can continue doing that than we can establish ourselves as a physical defense."
On the defense
"Our defense feels responsible because we are the ones who gave up the points. We just have to get better as a team and play through the fourth quarter. We have to forget about our injuries or how tired we are and come out and finish the game as a team."
