Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Media Luncheon Quotes
September 08, 2003 | General
OSU Football
Sept. 8, 2003
Media Luncheon Quotes
Head Coach Les Miles
On offense
'The offense got in a solid rhythm. We need to be better in our technique across the board on the offensive side as we go forward to this next game. '
On the defense
'I felt like the defense played real well to start, very crisp. We gave a a little too much rushing and on long throws late in the game. There are reasons to be optimistic about our play on that side of the ball.'
On getting the newcomers playing time
'I want them to be better quicker. The more opportunity they get on Saturdays' will make them better. I think game day is the best teaching tool you can have. I think you will see improvement week in and week out throughout the season.'
On the advantages of a running game
'Anytime you run the football well it gives them a problem on how to defend. We ran the football well so therefore they had to defend some extra guys on the run which gave us more one on one opportunities.'
On Cornerback Darrent Williams
'I think Darrent Williams played awfully well. He returned the ball well, played good coverage in the secondary and made a touchdown saving tackle on a long reception. He ran him down on about the seven-yard line and they didn't get in, costing them four points. That was a great play. '
On the veterans
'I think if you look at the defensive ends, both Antonio (Smith) and Greg (Richmond) played great all day. Rashaun Woods is now the all-time receptions leader at Oklahoma State, it's a great milestone for him. Tatum Bell is the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, and eclipsed Bob Fenimore on the all-time rushing list. Those are both very noteworthy.'
On the newcomers
'Marque (Fountain) is a very comfortable football player. He has a kind of natural feel for the game. I can remember he made a couple of good plays. One in particular, he ran on late, because of an equipment malfunction, he made a tackle on that play. It was kind of like winning the lottery. We sent him in on that play and he got to make a tackle. Victor DeGrate is going to be a great future linebacker for us. Both XLK and (Brad) Girtman got some snaps and they looked like they will be good players down the road, but they both played a lot like freshmen in their first playing time of any length. Everyone approaches the football game differently. XLK wants to work. He wants to work hard and he takes it very seriously.'
On Southwest Missouri State
'They have the ability to play a zone package on defense and have shown that they want to come after you at times. That's kind of what you would expect. They have some guys that can run to the ball and tackle you. On offense, they have the ability to break long plays. They have a nice concept within their offensive scheme both run and pass. We expect a good football game.'
'Last time I was here we had a two game series with these guys (SMS). We won handily and the other was the first overtime game in NCAA history. We had a good football team at the time, David Thompson was here and we had some good quality athletes. They understand that SW Missouri State has ability and skill and can run around and play.'
On Fullback Shawn Willis
'Shawn Willis has great potential but he is still a very young player. He is growing in ability on a regular basis, both carrying the ball and blocking. When he grows in that position he should be a pretty good fullback.'
On the agenda for next week
'First and foremost a win. There are no other agendas that are more important.'
Defensive back Darrent Williams
On the defense's play:
'We shut them down pretty well. We were going into the game expecting to get more turnovers, we still need to work on getting more turnovers. We did well defending the pass, the deep balls down the field, but they ran the ball well on us running it up the middle.'
On what the defense has been working on:
'We're working on getting off the field and getting the offense the ball more often so they can put more points on the board, and also giving ourselves (the defense) more of a break, so we won't be so tired like we were at Nebraska.'
On how to play with more intensity against Southwest Missouri:
'We just have to practice. These guys have two weeks to prepare for us, I know we're going to get their best shot. They're going to exploit some of the things these other teams have done to us, so we have go in and make corrections and just get better every day.'
On the defensive's goals for this week:
'Our goal is to dominate. We don't want to just win, we want to go out there and dominate, to show everybody in the nation that we are one of the best defense's. We just have to go out there and not let these guys (SMS) get anything against us, we have to shut them down.'
On he and Gabe Lindsay's punt return styles:
'I'm the speedster, I feel like I've got the speed to take it the distance every time. Gabe is quick side to side, he knows how to read blocks real well, he's been doing it for awhile now. He teaches me a lot, he's real good at judging the ball and setting up his blocks.'
Receiver D'Juan Woods
On Tatum Bell:
'When you have a great back that can make things happen, it makes it a whole lot easier, especially on perimeter blocking. You know that he can make a guy miss if you miss.'
On brother Rashaun's receiving yardage record:
'I told him after the game that he better pad it, because I'm going to try to come get it.'
On playing with intensity this week:
'We have to hype it up in a way to let everybody know that at any given time, you can be defeated. We have to keep an intense practice to keep everybody at 100 percent.'
On the new name of the stadium:
'It's great. I'm proud to be a Cowboy, and it's a great thing that he (Boone Pickens) is doing for the program.'
