Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU vs. Baylor Postgame Quotes
November 06, 2010 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 6, 2010
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OSU Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening Statement
“Obviously it was a good win for us and it was probably the most complete game that we've played as a team since Tech. It was much more explosive than that. The offense was very good and had one of those days where everything worked. Special teams were good. Our coverage units continued to get a little better so it's nice to see the improvement in those areas. We've talked to our players a number of times about trying to get a little bit better every day in those areas that we were poor at two or three weeks ago. We have to continue to work hard and improve in those situations. The defense was excellent. I thought that as good as the offense was, I thought the defense was even better in the first half. They didn't have any points at halftime, so that's excellent. They forced turnovers so I was really proud of them to hold them to 14 points, for the most part. They wanted to stay in the game and they get a little bit upset at the head coach for taking guys out, but it's important at that point that everybody needs to play that has worked extremely hard and is loyal to our football program. They need to get in the game. The young guys need to be out there. They need to get reps. They need to play. I told them I was proud of the way they competed and what they stood for in this game. It's a good one to enjoy for the rest of the day and get back to work tomorrow.”
On Justin Blackmon
“It's good to have Blackmon back. I thought he handled himself well. He kind of put me in a corner when I rolled the dice on a fourth down play and he dropped it on us, but it was good to have him out there. Justin was extremely embarrassed last week. I noticed him on The Walk today and he spent the entire 500 yards of that walk over there touching all the hands of the little kids and the Oklahoma State people and he has not done that before. I noticed that and that's because he felt really bad for what happened and we put it behind us. The only thing he can do now is to continue to contribute to this team and this university and do the right thing. That's what he did this week and that's why he played well.”
On OSU's defense
“I think they had a really good plan. I think Coach Young and the defensive staff had a really good plan. They got caught off guard early. They were putting trips in the boundary and throwing that ball out there and those receivers they have are very physical and we weren't running through the blocks as well as we should have. But once we got that under control I think the key to that was a really good game plan. Our players have a done a nice job of focusing and preparing during the week, which is so important at this level because distractions can play a key part in these young men's lives.”
On Weeden breaking the single game passing yards record
“I'm happy for everything that anybody on our team achieves individually. Our team commitment is by far the most important, but you're going to have individuals' statistics and awards that come along with that when your team's doing well, so I'm happy for him. The pass was there more today than the run.”
On setting the school record for single game offensive yards
“It was one of those days where everything worked. Obviously there was a good plan and the players bought in and things just worked. Sometimes that happens and when that happens it's usually a pretty good day.”
Oklahoma State Players and Coordinators
Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen
On the offensive performance
"We are always searching for it to be a little bit better than it was. I thought we left 14 points out there in the first half and it seemed to me like it would have been easy to put up 14 more. Once we hit a couple of big plays in the third quarter we turned the ball over and then we had a three-and-out. So then they got some momentum and we weren't too happy with that. There is always stuff that you can do better."
On Justin Blackmon being back
"It is just the security of your last read more than anything. Brandon knowing that he is there. For me, calling plays is easier because if their safeties are playing hard then we can get it down field. He is a great player. He finishes things, he attacks the ball on third down."
On Brandon Weeden setting the record
"We wanted him to pass (Coach) Gundy, that is for sure. He played well. He gets better each week. He was comfortable in the pocket, he was extremely accurate two weeks in a row, and he took care of the football. He played really well. We knew he needed about four yards there so we gave it to him."
Defensive Coordinator Bill Young
On the defensive ends performance against Griffin
"I think they did a pretty good job, but we didn't get enough pressure and I don't think we knocked him down enough times. But at the same time he didn't run out of the pocket that often."
On keeping big plays down
"We had some coverage that we thought would match up with what they did and we tried to get some zone blitzes that we haven't called. We tried to mix it up a bit and used plays that would put us in the best position."
On the game as a whole
"Well that was a great win, but we are still the ones in control of our own destiny. That is all you could ask for at this time of the year. We have a big game at Texas and then we have to go to Kansas and play a big game here against Oklahoma. We have a long road ahead of us."
Safety Markelle Martin
On the defensive performance
"I think that each week we have a set goal to go out there and prove to our self that we can be better than we were the week before. It is something that we like to accomplish."
On playing Texas in Austin
"We understand it will be a different environment. We have to play our best game in a hostile environment. We know that they are capable of putting up points so we just have to take it as another challenge."
On being the frontrunners of the Big 12 South
"I think we will just let that take care of itself and continue to work."
Linebacker Orie Lemon
On playing against another fast quarterback...
"It gives us a little more motivation. We missed a few tackles when we played against Martinez and Nebraska so we knew that Robert Griffin was a good quarterback and he could do the same things as Martinez. We just tackled and played defense."
On Brandon Weeden
"He has been great for us as a leader. He even works with the defense and if he sees something wrong he tells us, he says 'Orie do this, Orie try this' and helps me get better as a middle linebacker. He has been a great leader on the team and a great quarterback."
Quarterback Brandon Weeden
On breaking the record
"We knew about it. It is an honor to be mentioned with those guys and have the record. It is a testament though to those guys that went out there and made plays today. We came out with a huge win."
On the team's performance
"I think special teams played great today. Our defense played excellent. They scored late and we had some younger guys in there. And we did some good things on offense. So yeah, on a whole, I would say this is the most solid game we have played."
On Justin Blackmon
"He is such a good guy. He knew he made a mistake, but he was ready to come back and play this week. He can really stretch the field vertically. He is dangerous and I was glad to have him back."
Baylor Head Coach Art Briles
On turnovers
“You can't [turn over the ball] on the road against a good offensive team and that's what we did. We had been good about not doing that all year and it just hit us today at the wrong time. Two of them were at their end of the field with the potential to get points and the other was about midfield. It definitely gave them momentum and they used it and took advantage of it. They've got a good football team.”
On still competing for the Big 12 South title
“If my math is right I think there is still a chance. But right now our focus is to play well next week against Texas A&M at home. That's our focus because we need to get this taste out of our mouth.”
On Oklahoma State's offense
“I think they were really hot today and I think they really played well. They made plays all over the field. I think the quarterback was on. It's not like they all of a sudden got good today. They've been good.”
On Justin Blackmon:
“He's a stud. He can play.”
On passing game:
“We had some shots, we just didn't connect. We felt like we had some things that could've worked. But it was just one of those days where we were just off a yard or two here and there.”
On most frustrating aspect of the game
“I think the frustrating part is not playing clean early. That's the most frustrating part: coming out and not taking care of the football and not getting stops defensively.”
On coming back next week after the loss
“We're going to fight and we're going to play because that's what we do. We'll regroup, refocus and recharge. And we'll be ready to go next Saturday against Texas A&M.”
Baylor Players
Quarterback Robert Griffin III
On not being able to come through against OSU
"You're acting like we're at the bottom of the Big 12 South: we're not. We're still there at the top. Maybe not at the very top, but we're still in this race and it's not a major let down for us. We lost the football game. You move on from it. There won't be a lot of laughing on the plane ride back, but we'll regroup and be ready to go tomorrow."
On being able to rebound
"I'm very confident that we'll be able to. I told the offense line right before halftime that I promise, myself, that we wouldn't be in this situation again and I'm proud of the team because we never stopped fighting and put 28 points up on the board. Obviously, it wasn't enough and it was a little bit too late, but the fact that we still went out there and played hard was big for me. I made that same vow, and that's why I put the blame on me because I have to just do better; whatever I've got to do to help this team win I've got to do."
On if the OSU loss was comparable to the TCU loss
"No, not really. Against TCU, we didn't make turnovers; we just weren't making plays. I think in this game, we were making plays, we just had a couple big turnovers that changed it for us. I made sure that they knew if they didn't have any heart left to not come back out there. I've been through the fire with these guys time and time again, and I know what the heart is. So, for them to go back out there and fight the way they did, that's definitely a plus."
Running Back Jay Finley
On the loss
"It's disappointing because we came here to win."
On the turnovers
"They were big. You could tell with the momentum: a lot of things were going our way. For instance, the one with mine, if I would've just held on to it, I don't know what would've happened."
On his fumble
"I won't be able to tell the film, but I think my knee hit it. I'm not really sure."
Safety Byron Landor
On OSU's offense
"They played a really good game today. They moved the ball around well; we just couldn't get stops. They came with a lot of fire. I think the addition of Blackmon back this week kind of added on to that, but we knew what it was coming into the game, we just didn't get stops. I just talked to coach (defensive coordinator Brian) Norwood a few minutes ago and he was saying it's on him, but, honestly, it's on us. They ran a lot of different plays. We didn't take care of our responsibilities individually, and it allowed the big plays to happen, and when you get big plays scored against you, that's how teams win games and keep the momentum on their side."
On where OSU's offense ranks against other offenses faced this season
"I couldn't tell you, but they played a hell of a game. I couldn't tell you. It's the Big 12 Conference: every offense is good, but they have a real good offense. They spread the ball around a lot. It made us kind of stay on our toes. They mixed it up a little bit: a screen here, pitch there, throwing it to Blackmon. They did a good job controlling the game and keeping the momentum throughout the game. They're a real good offense."
On still being in the Big 12 race
"Coming into the season, we said we're going to rise up and we said we're going to turn this program around. One thing with previous Baylor teams, as it got later on into the season, teams might have given up, I don't know what really happened, but we're not going to do that, and that's part of turning the program around. No matter what adversity you face, you have to face it like a man, and either you put up or shut up, and we're not going to shut up: we're going to keep on fighting 'til the end. No matter what happens, we got to keep on fighting."
