Oklahoma State University Athletics
Postgame Notes And Quotes
October 17, 2004 | Cowboy Football
OSU Football
vs. Texas A&M
Oct. 16, 2004
Postgame Notes
• OSU dropped its home conference opener for the first time since October 6, 2001. (41-38 triple-overtime loss to Missouri).
• Oklahoma State’s two-game win streak over Texas A&M ended tonight. The Aggies extended their series lead to 14-6.
• The game was OSU’s first sellout in four home contests this year and first since facing Texas Tech on Homecoming in 2003.
• Vernand Morency (28 rushes, 111 yards, one TD) scored a touchdown in his ninth straight game and went over the 100-yard rushing mark for the eighth straight regular season game. He also fumbled for the first time this season.
• Donovan Woods scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the year. He was 15-of-26 for 202 yards (all career highs) with one touchdown pass.
• Billy Bajema caught his first touchdown pass of the season and first since scoring against Kansas State on October 11, 2003. His five receptions is a new career high.
• D’Juan Woods’ 92 receiving yards is a new career high.
• Charlie Johnson caught his first two passes of the season tonight.
• Oklahoma State blocked an extra point for first time since Kansas State on October 12, 2002.
• The 27 points Texas A&M scored in the first half is the most points OSU has allowed for an entire game all season. It’s the most first half points OSU has allowed since Texas Tech scored 28 on November 9, 2002.
• Jason Ricks missed his second extra point of the season.
OSU Football
vs. Texas A&M
Oct. 16, 2004
Postgame Quotes
Oklahoma State Head Coach Les Miles
On the game
“You can not spot a good football team possessions. You can not start out your game by making mistakes. The poise of our team is what we have to address. They have to relax and play ball. The story is that we did not come out and play well. The good news is that in the second half they responded and did smarter things.”
On the upcoming schedule
“We play good football teams from here on out. We have to play smart. If we do that we will win a lot more ball games. We can not spot teams a lead and play from behind.”
On Morency’s fumbles
“We will review and critique them more significantly after tomorrow. He needs to have better ball security and he understands that. He is an awfully good back and maybe he was trying to do too much.”
On the touchdown to end the half
“It is kind of the same play we made at Colorado just before half. I liked our chances on that play, but the ball tipped so many times. I have been on both ends of that thing.”
On what the touchdown did to the momentum
“I came into the locker room and our guys were ready for the second half. They were disappointed, certainly. They understood the mistakes that they made, but they couldn’t wait to play. The wanted to get out of the locker room. I see resolve in this team. I see character. That is what will eventually be tested the rest of the season.”
On Reggie McNeal
“He is awfully talented. Every throw was pretty much on the money. He out threw coverage at times. They have a nice scheme on offense that allows him to make plays with his feet.”
On Billy Bajema
“There were a bunch of guys fighting like heck to win that game. Bajema was one of them. He had a good game. He would exchange that game in every way for a victory.”
OSU Locker Room
Safety Jamie Thompson
On the loss to Texas A&M
“We made some mistakes that they capitalized on. They did things better than us. They came and won the game.”
On getting ready for Missouri
“We need to play Cowboy football like we have all season long. We all make mistakes and this next week in practice we need to correct the things that we have done wrong in this game in order to win at Missouri.”
On the A&M offense
“Their offense was good because they came out and connected on a couple of scoring drives early in the ball game. We just made some key mistakes in the first half.”
Safety Jon Holland
On Reggie McNeal
“He is a very good athlete and quarterback. He just read the defense and switched up on things to make a play on us.”
On the loss
“We came out slow and we had to make some adjustments in the second half to cut their lead down. I got down on myself in the first half and you can't do that because if you do, the game might end like how it did tonight.”
On the upcoming game against Missouri
“They are a team like A&M because Brad Smith is a quarterback like Reggie McNeal that can go out and turn a well defended play into something good.”
Tight End Billy Bajema
On the A&M defense
“We watched them on film and they have a good defense. They have got a lot of talent. They are big and strong across the board and it was just a matter of time. They got it done today and we didn’t. We are going to bounce back and look forward to next week against Missouri.”
On your play throughout the season
“I feel great about my performance so far this year because I have been able to make more plays than I did last year.”
Texas A&M Head Coach Dennis Franchione
On the game
“First off, you have to talk about the defense. We gave them a little over 300. Morency got 111, but we made him do it in 30 carries. We got the turnovers tonight, something that we had not done.”
“Offensively, we scored on the first drive of the game and of the second half. The hail mary was a bonus in there at the end of the half. We made them pay for calling time outs on us. We played a fine team, nationally ranked and on the road. We played very sound and solid football. We played solid in the kicking game, for the most part. We played solid offense and solid defense and that is how we have to play.”
On the spread offense
“We felt like, with Reggie (McNeal) and our other skill guys that it was something that would be good for us. It has been good for us this year. I think we used it a little bit more tonight. I felt like we would need to mix it up and keep them off balance and we did that.”
On the drive before the end of the half
“When we got the ball back when Taylor Schuster makes a heads up play and we got the ball there, we have two or three different little things that we can do, why not take a shot? It is going to be the last play of the half. I told our offense during the time out that if it does happen to be intercepted, we have to tackle them, but lets take a shot at it. If they would not have taken the time outs, I would have taken a knee and just gone in.”
On gaining momentum
“This is a tremendous physical game, but it is also such a tremendous mental game. Right now, we are a team with some chemistry, positive feelings, self-esteem and a belief system that we are going to find a way. We are a team and we are doing the things that a team on a roll does. They were that team going into this game, but tonight we were.”
On Reggie McNeal’s improved play this season
“I think that the biggest reason is that he is a junior and has played in more games. He has been in the same offense for his second year in a row. We have been able to expand it. He has worked extremely hard. He came back in January with a much more mature, positive outlook on things. His supporting cast is playing well around him. Those are all reasons. If I had to say just one, it would be the maturity.”
Opposing Player Quotes
Offensive Lineman Geoff Hangartner
On the team’s progress
“We are definitely not where we want to be yet as a team, or where we think we can go. It shows you how far we have come as a team. We have put ourselves 3-0 in the Big 12, 5-1 on the season with five straight wins. It definitely shows the improvement we have made as a team.”
Receiver Jason Carter
On the team’s momentum
“Coach said we have not played our best football yet. We as players believe we have not played it yet. We had a few errors, I know I dropped one pass I should have caught, but we came right back the next drive and scored. We are in a groove right now.”
On leading the Big 12
“It feels great, because last year at this time we were last. The fans were awesome, they traveled the whole way and didn’t leave, and we gave them something to cheer about. It feels real good, I can’t even explain how it feels.”
Receiver Terrence Murphy
“I think back to the Utah game, when I told everyone at the press conference that this was not the team we were going to finish the season with. It shows every game the way we play hard and stick together. I think we have a lot of talent on this team, we are two deep at every position, and we are showing that every week.”
