Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU-TCU Post-Games
October 19, 2013 | Cowboy Football
Oct. 19, 2013
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Head Coach Mike Gundy
Opening statement
"It was a good win for us. It went just about the way we thought it would from watching tape and studying TCU. We felt like our defense would play really well, and they did. The one area that got us was turnovers. We knew that TCU was really good on defense and that we could have some issues upfront matchup wise. We wanted to affect them downfield by throwing the football. All that went the way we thought it would, but the turnovers were what got us. We had the two interceptions where the quarterback got hit releasing the ball, and then we made a poor decision in the end zone on an interception and when Jeremy (Smith) fumbled the ball.
"Our defense was tremendous. One thing that I've mentioned that I think is very important is that if you can find a way to win two of the three phases, then you have the chance to win a football game. The challenge in this game was TCU's return game. It's really good, but we won that game. We were poor at kicking field goals, but we won the return game and changed the field. We scored once in the return game, and I think that was the difference. We were really good on defense. There's a lot of talk about TCU's defense and they deserve it, but I don't think anybody should discount our defense.
"It was a great win for us. It's week-to-week in this league. In the long haul for us, we have to do a better job at taking care of the football and minimizing mistakes. We need to continue to improve the kicking game and make plays on defense."
On putting in Clint Chelf at QB, putting Rennie Childs in at RB
"We felt like we needed a spark on offense so we made a change. We played Clint, and we'll evaluate our offense this week and our gameplan for the next team and decide which direction we want to go. Rennie has been close to playing in the last few weeks. We felt like he was mature enough in the last game, but it just never worked out that we got him in. He's been productive in practice and showing some maturity. It's not just running the ball. He also has to understand the offense and be successful in those other areas. We felt like it was time today."
On Chelf's performance
"I thought he played good. I have to watch the tape. I know one of the interceptions he threw, he got hit. There were a couple of throws that didn't look good, but I think there were reasons for that. Overall, I thought he managed the game pretty well."
On taking J.W. Walsh out of the game
"It's a combination of things. You're planning against a team that has been very, very effective at stopping people and eliminating people from scoring points. There's just differences we feel like you have to attack them. In this game, Clint gave us some advantages in attacking their defense, in our opinion."
On if Josh Stewart was the best player on the field
"He very well could have been. He made a number of plays and made a big-time catch on a reverse pass. Obviously, his return was really good. I would say that it would be hard to disagree with that."
OSU defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer
On forcing turnovers:
"We keep emphasizing it, and today we needed those to win the game. That's the mentality I'm trying to stress to them is 'What do we have to do to win this game?' and just living in the now. We've got to get those turnovers. We need to match what the other defense is doing. I was very proud of that. That was the big difference. That's why we hung in there."
On the recent performance of the defense:
"Great defenses play with great emotion and great intensity. We're trying to be that, and we're nowhere close to that. All we think about is doing enough this game to win, and we did. They can be satisfied tonight, but all that matters is next week. People can be patting them on the back, but it's about the next game. We're just as good as what we're going to do next Saturday."
On linebacker Caleb Lavey:
"Caleb's doing what Caleb's always done. Just sit down and watch the film. He's doing what he's always done. I'm just proud of him. He's playing emotionally, physically and mentally like it will be the last year of football he'll ever play, and I wish they all would do that."
OSU offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich
On the decision to put Clint Chelf in the game at quarterback:
"I think it comes to a certain point where you have to make a decision. I don't know if it was exactly this or that. It was just time, I guess."
On the fourth quarter scoring drive that sealed the game:
"It was a lot like Kansas State. We finished the game strong. I just think there needs to be more of a sense of urgency throughout the game and more pressure throughout the game to come out and execute on every play and not take anything for granted. That's really important."
On putting Rennie Childs in at running back in the second half:
"Like a lot of things, it was time. He's practiced very well over the past few weeks, and even going back to camp. It's mid-season and the reps add up so you feel a little bit more comfortable about a true freshman playing."
OSU wide receiver Josh Stewart
On his 95-yard punt return:
"The punt was deep. I kept looking to see if I had space. I didn't realize I caught it so deep. As a returner, if you have space, you can't pass it up -- and I had space. I took it and had some great blocking. That's what happens when you practice something all week, and it works out that way in the game."
On amassing 265 all-purpose yards against the TCU defense:
"When you hear stuff all week about the level of secondary you will be playing against, it makes me want to make plays for my team. I had opportunities, and I just made the best of them."
On the late drive after TCU cut the lead to 17-10:
"We knew we had to continue to get first downs and get in the end zone. Our defense was holding them down all game so we had to do our part and come up big late. We were able to do that."
OSU wide receiver Tracy Moore
On having success through the air against the TCU defense:
"TCU has a great defense, but we had two weeks to get ready for them and we were detailed in our preparation. We had a good idea of how they would approach different situations. The main thing was recognizing coverages, and we were able to do that."
On whether he thought he would have the day he did earlier in the week:
"Definitely. You have an idea during the week of which guys are going to catch what. It could be any receiver any week."
On putting together a clutch fourth-quarter drive for the second-straight game:
"We're definitely the type of team that can perform with our backs against the wall. Obviously we would rather not be in a dogfight every week, but you just have to get it done when you have the chance."
OSU safety Shamiel Gary
On being able to have so much success as a unit so far:
"We are just out there playing for each other. We are trying to be servants for each other and play as a family."
On his performance individually:
"It's my goal every game to go out there and do what I can to help out them team. It's about taking care of my responsibilities."
On building momentum in conference play:
"The momentum is building. Everyone is gaining confidence and trust in the system in place. Everybody is gelling, and the chemistry is building."
OSU linebacker Caleb Lavey
On his big day individually today, and this season:
"Honestly, the defense around me has been incredible. The line is doing a great job of putting pressure on the quarterback, and the secondary is doing a great job in coverage. It makes my job much easier. For both of my turnovers, I happened to be in the right spot."
On whether this defensive unit embraces pressure situations:
"We love a little pressure. That's our mindset as defensive players. We all know we have a job on defense, and we have to do it regardless of what the offense is doing. It's about getting turnovers, getting off the field and giving opportunities to our offense."
On forcing a high amount of turnovers once again:
"It's effort. We all talk about effort. Effort gets us in the right spot. People running to the ball and making plays. If we can get to the ball, we're in the right position. It's all about effort and being in the right spot. That is what has made us successful."
OSU cornerback Justin Gilbert
On slowing down TCU's passing attack:
"We did a good job of attacking the receivers at the line of scrimmage and getting in their faces. We were able to disrupt the routes. Our defensive line did a great job of getting pressure on the quarterback, which really helped."
On the difference between last year and this year regarding individual interceptions:
"Just practice. I've been practicing catching the ball and playing it in the air more. I've been able to practice it against the receivers in one-on-one drills, and it's translating to the games. I've been consistent so far, and I want to keep it rolling."
On the importance of this win in regards to momentum:
"I think each Big 12 win we get is a big win. This week was the biggest game of the year, and next week will be the biggest game of the year. It was a big win for us."
TCU head coach Gary Patterson
On the team's mentality going for it on multiple fourth downs in the second half:
"We needed three scores, but we really needed confidence. If BJ (Catalon) catches the ball instead of trying to run with it, maybe it's a touchdown. When you play at somebody else's place, you have to play to win. We hadn't been down there [in the red zone] very often, but when you get down there, you have to get more than three points."
On Josh Stewart's punt return in the first half:
"It was a big one. One of the things we said not to do was to over kick it. We shanked one and then we over kicked it. Then, we started doing what we were supposed to and started punting it down the sidelines and not giving the guy an opportunity to catch it. We knew how dangerous he was. That was not the plan."
On Oklahoma State's strong defensive performance and the team's inability to capitalize on turnovers:
"I think they have some good players. They're leading the league in takeaways, but I think we won that battle today. When you go on the road, there's not anything else you can talk about. When you want to win ballgames, you have to go make plays. We did at Boise and against West Virginia last year. You have to find a way to make plays at the end of the game."
On Oklahoma State's ability to finish at the end of the game:
"Josh Stewart's a good player. You have to give Oklahoma State credit. We doubled him, we played over the top of him and he still found ways to get there. One thing about playing good defense is that you always get everybody's `A' effort. I didn't see that offense against Kansas State. Again, they had two weeks to prepare for us and were able to get some things done. You have to give Coach Gundy and Oklahoma State credit. They're 5-1, and they found a way to stay at home."
TCU guard Eric Tausch
On the urgency the offense had in the second half:
"We came out in the second half with our backs against the wall, and that's when we play our best football. If we could only play like that in the first half then the sky's the limit for our offense."
On if they made any changes in the second half:
"We kept the same scheme we had in the first half, we just executed. We always talk about finding a rhythm, and we found it in the second half and that's when we started clicking and started moving the ball."
On the TCU defense:
"The defense played lights out, but the offense and special teams couldn't help them out. We couldn't put all the pieces together and play a complete football game on both sides of the ball. The defense did a fantastic job and we as an offense have to start finding a rhythm and moving the ball like we do in the second half."
TCU defensive end Jon Koontz
On how the defense played today:
"We've been playing in these types of situations all season long, whether it's turnovers or special teams. When we've been put in those situations, we've usually done a good job at getting out of those spots that we wind up in.
On OSU's kickoff and punt returns:
"We lost the special teams game today with that kickoff return and the punt return they took back. It's huge. It's just as important in the game as the defense and the offense is. We work on special teams a lot, and we didn't do a very good job of it today. "
On the way the TCU defense has been playing all season:
"We've played well up to this point. We've had injuries and dealt with a couple more today. We've got to work on getting guys back healthy and back out there. I'm happy with the way the defensive line has played, but that excitement only goes so far."
