Oklahoma State University Athletics
Postgame Notes And Quotes
November 16, 2003 | General
Postgame Notes
• Vernand Morency rushed for a career high 269 yards with three touchdowns. The rushing total is the ninth best in school history and the most since Gerald Hudson ran for 264 against Iowa State in 1990.
• Greg Richmond recorded two sacks and moved past Rodney Harding and John Washington (both had 20) into third place on the OSU career sack list with 21.5.
• Shawn Willis rushed for a career best 25 yards on four carries.
• D'Juan Woods 51-yard reception on the first play of the game was a career long.
• Chay Nease finished with a career highs in receptions (three) and yards (64), including a career long 32 yarder.
• Rashaun Woods caught four passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. He has now caught two or more passes in 42 straight games and has 40 career TDs.
• With a touchdown pass today, Josh Fields now has 52 career scores. He trails Mike Gundy, who threw 54 TDs, for the school record.
• Thomas Wright and Ricky Coxeff both recorded their first career interceptions while Daniel McLemore recorded his first INT of the season. McLemore made his first career start as well today.
• Oklahoma State finished 6-1 at home this season and is 12-2 in Stillwater over the last two seasons.
• OSU has recorded eight wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1987-88.
Postgame Quotes
OSU Coach Les Miles
On the game
“I thought the defense played with some intensity, they had two drives in the first half that resulted in some points based on some penalties. I thought the defense played well. The offense played spotty at times, but a great performance by Vernand Morency. I'm told that is the eighth best day for a running back in Oklahoma State history. He has tremendous talent and our offensive line played well. On special teams, Gabe Lindsay gave us good field position with the punt returns, so we are headed in the right direction.”
On Vernand Morency
“He's a very capable ball carrier. He jump starts pretty well and he likes to show people that he can do that. He had a nice day, ran hard. We needed him. We lose Tatum (Bell) and Seymore (Shaw) and Vernand Morency, in his own right, is very capable. We turned to him today and said ‘OK, we need you to play,' and he did. It's a mark of a good football team where you can turn to guys and put them in the fray and count on them to make big plays and he did. He has the attributes that all great backs have in that he sees where he won't be tackled. You can see in the way that he runs, guys that are unblocked, he knows when he has to make a move on them and not, and he sees the area where his greatest potential of gain is. He's a good back and we are very fortunate to be able to turn to a guy like that in a game like this and go get some big yards.”
On overcoming injuries
“Injury is a part of this game, you turn to the next guy and tell him this is what we need from this position on this day, and they are capable and they rise to the challenge and the team continues. The good news, I'm told, is that some of these injuries are just nicks and they will be back, if not for Baylor, surely in the season finale.”
On playing the final game
“We take for granted some things. We take for granted that (Josh) Fields and Rashaun (Woods) are on the same page. They misfired once today and that's us as coaches. We have to make sure we set up that scenario time and time again. I think our confidence is in tact and a part of this football team. I think they understood that they are a good football team and they were looking for the opportunity once again, at home, in front of our friends and family, to send the seniors off in the right way at home. It's kind of nice, in front of the supporters of our program, to have a senior class that has been so significant in their contributions to have success in their last game at home.”
Gabe Lindsay
On Senior Day
“Anytime it is your last game playing on your field it is going to be emotional. It does not hit you at first until you are walking down the tunnel with your family and it is sad, but you have to get over it and move on to bigger and better things.”
On near touchdown return
“I just caught it and Vernon Grant made a good block. I could not even see were the gunner was so I just ran up the sideline. I do not really want to talk about the rest. I should have made the punter miss. It makes me a little disgusted that I did not.”
Vernand Morency
On preparation this week
“I knew I was going to play. I did not know how many snaps I would get. I went out there in practice and prepared like it was the game.”
On big day
“I feel great for the line, they did a great job. Our coaching staff put a great plan together. I have great confidence in the coaches and their game plan. Whatever running plays that they say we are going to run I am quite sure that we will have success with.”
On becoming an emerging star
“I do not consider myself a star I just play day by day. I want to just help the team out in any which way. I just wish I could have transferred my yards over to Tatum today. He is my worst critic. We go at it. When I do something wrong he is the first one on me and visa versa. I just wish he could have got the yards today to help him in the Heisman race.”
Greg Richmond
On Vernand Morency
“It is new to most people, but I have watched him do it for a year and a half now. I already knew what he could do. He has made me miss before. He is an athlete and he is going to be a great back before he leaves Oklahoma State. I just look forward to turning on the TV in the future and watching him run the ball.”
On big second half
“We just wanted to come out and make a statement. We wanted to show people we could play a full game. We stepped up in the second half and made a bunch of big plays.”
On young guys stepping up
“It comes down to recruiting. The type of athletes we are getting at Oklahoma State University now are young, fast and aggressive guys that are just chomping at the bit to showcase their talent in the Big 12 conference.”
OSU Locker Room
Rashaun Woods
On last home game
“It was a good experience. We have to finish strong now. We need to go out and continue to get better for next week.”
Thomas Wright
On the interception
“It was the same thing that happened at the OU game. It was the same situation and luckily this time we made the right call and got the interception.”
On winning the last home game
“We needed this and we need to continue to finish strong. Going into the last game with an 8-3 record rarely happens at Oklahoma State. It feels good not to be at the bottom any more. This week, we need to continue working hard and get ready for the next game.”
Kansas Head Coach Mark Mangino
On the game
“We did some good things on defense, and then we give up some big plays on defense. We consistently make good plays, and then give up a big play. That's just concentration. On the offensive side of the ball, we moved the ball at times, but once again we get the ball down in the red zone but don't get it in the end zone. We've got to get the ball in the end zone.”
On his quarterbacks
“Adam (Barmann) did a good job for us, but he's banged up, and it's hard for a true freshman to play on two feet, let alone one, and he did his best. Brian Luke did some good, positive things.”
On the rest of the season
“I think our kids are still hungry and want to win, want to get that sixth win. I told our kids in the locker room, next Saturday will define the 2003 Jayhawk team. You play well and win that game, and all is forgotten about all the bumps in the road. I'm confident that our kids will play extremely well. Our kids are anxious to get on the bus, get back to Lawrence, and get to work on the next opponent.”
Linebacker Gabe Toomey
On the third quarter
“We started off well by getting a good interception. We tried to feed off of that, but the game just got away from us. I don't really know what to say about it other than that.”
On the chances to play in a bowl game
“We are definitely still in there and are going to concentrate on Iowa State. We are going to correct all of our mistakes and get after it this week. Iowa State has a pretty good ball club and we are going to have to go after them on Saturday. We have one last chance to make it to a bowl game.”
On the play of Vernand Morency
“He had a good game. We didn't watch any film on him. He is a great back who made some plays that looked all right. He is definitely a good back and a good athlete. He has good vision, is agile and hits the hole hard. That is what makes a good back.”
Quarterback Brian Luke
On rotating quarterbacks
“We both prepare the same as if we were both starting. When each of us is given the opportunity, we try to make the most of it. We have no surprises out there.”
On the team's attitude going into the final game
“The team has confidence in whoever is playing quarterback. We have one more game and we are going to go into it strong and confident. We feel confident in what we can do.”
Defensive Tackle Travis Watkins
On the Oklahoma State offense
“They are pretty good, but I think that we made a lot of mistakes. Their offensive line is pretty good. (Sam) Mayes and I were having a conversation and he is very talented. OSU's quarterback is good, Rashaun Woods is just awesome and the running back (Morency) played well filling in.”
On Vernand Morency
“We saw a little bit of film on him. Morency played a little bit earlier in the season and some last year. It doesn't matter if you see the guys on film or not. You still have got to tackle them.”
