11/10/03

Monday press conference players' quotes

Jason Glynn
How do you feel about last Saturday's game?
"I was excited. We struggled and had a close game in the first half, but we came out in the second half and played very well as a team. The defense did great getting some turnovers. When a team turns the ball over, the game is going to change quickly and that's kind of what happened."

How do you get the momentum of the win to carry through the last two games?
"Coming off a win you feel better, and playing well as a team like we have the past three or four weeks is encouraging too. It kind of helps you with your attitude going into the next game, instead of 'we can', it's 'we will.'"

Is it hard not to talk about the possibility of a BCS bowl?
"I don't think so, not for us, because of the fact that we talked a lot about it the last three years and that didn't do it. Now we're not talking about it; we're just doing what we need to instead of talking about what will happen. We just have to win this week first and then see what happens next week."

Do you notice a different attitude among your teammates from last year to this year around the same time?
"I think there is a different approach. Everyone seems to have the attitude that it didn't work for us the last three years, and now everybody is hesitant to talk about it because of that. We just want to go out and win, and I think that attitude is held by everyone on the team. All that talk is not going to happen."

Justin Blalock
How important is it for you guys to stay on the field so you can keep the Tech offense off the field?
"It's obviously imperative this week, especially with what they try to do. Our offense tries to outscore the opponent every week and give our defense a break, which is probably the most important thing we can do this week."

What would it mean to make it to a BCS bowl?
"It would be a great feeling, but right now Texas Tech has to be our bowl game or else it will be over from there."

Does the team talk about it?
"It's obviously everywhere and everyone is talking about it. You can't ignore it, but we have to do our best not to focus on it."

Does the team feed off of Vince Young's energy and what he does on the field?
"He's starting to develop and become a very good leader for us. It's easy to take some of his energy with you. He's always excited about a small play. He's an excitable guy and gives off a lot of energy. It's inspiring to see him in the huddle all pumped up and it makes it a little easier for all of us."

Derrick Johnson
What do you think of going to a BCS bowl?
"We think about it sometimes, but you can't really think about it a lot because we have to win out. If we don't, then none of that counts."

What is the danger of thinking about it?
"You can get complacent when you start talking about going to one bowl or another, but you really don't know. You just have to focus on the rest of your season, and none of that matters if you don't win the rest of your games. You can't go to the bowl you want to if you don't look at what is in front of you and what you have to play for."

Have the close calls to a BCS bowl the last couple of years influence the thinking this year?
"I think so, because Texas Tech beat us last year and crushed our chances of going to a better bowl that we went to. This year we're in the same situation, and we just have to take charge and get a win on Saturday."

Phillip Geiggar
What is the key to slowing down or stopping them?
"I think first off we have to get pressure on the quarterback. If he sits back in the pocket too long he's going to find someone to get the ball to. That's where we will start, getting pressure on the QB."

Does that mean you can never relax because they can come back so quickly?
"Definitely, they can score on you very fast. If we do go up, we can't relax. They're not a good team to relax on."

What do you think of the possibility of a BCS bowl?
"None of that matters right now unless we beat Tech. It does sound good, but we can't really think about that right now."

Did Nathan (Vasher) thank you for helping him out back there last Saturday?
"He did. It was kind of a joke, but he did thank me a little bit. I also thanked him because he picked one off."

B.J. Johnson
Are you guys able to throw with confidence now after Saturday?
"Definitely, we had confidence all season. We just had to go out there and show that we can be physical and are able to run the football."

Is it tough not to think about the BCS?
"Yes, but it's just something you have to worry about once you get a bid in the BCS. Right now, we have to worry about Texas Tech and then A&M, and everything will take care of itself."

Does last year's bad experience with dropping out of the BCS affect the thinking this year?
"That's why I personally don't like to think about it. The last couple of years we've talked about and had a chance to get there and then it didn't happen. Right now, in my opinion, I don't think we need to talk about it until it's there in front of us. Right now, we just need to focus on Texas Tech."

Is this a sad week for you being a senior in your last home game?
"It's definitely something that I wish wasn't coming right now. We still have to go out there and play. I still have some football games left in the season. It's not going to bother me until it's finally over. The last home game will be a little tough, but I think I can handle it."

Rod Wright
How well is the team playing right now?
"Week by week, the defense keeps getting better and the offense keeps getting better. The younger guys are getting more experience and we're all playing as a team. The defense answers the offense and the offense answers the defense; it goes back and forth all game. We're playing well right now."

Are you guys peaking?
"We still have room to improve on things. In the first half, OSU was driving on the defense and they were converting a couple of third downs. We've been very good with blocking field goals, but their kicker hit all of those. We need to get back on track, because there is always room for improvement."

What do you think about Texas Tech's offense?
"It's a hard offense to stop. They throw short passes. For a defensive lineman, you get back there and as soon as you hit the quarterback the ball is already off and someone has it. We have to get back there faster so we can help out the defensive backs and linebackers. They are a very good offense and they're going to make plays. We just have to limit them."

Is the key to get the front four rushing?
"I think so. If we have him throwing the ball on his heels and making quick decisions, he'll eventually start throwing picks, and I think that is the key."

Mike Williams
Are you guys having fun out there now?
"We're having a lot of fun; we're playing team ball right now. We're just trying to get better each and every day and each and every game."

Can you pinpoint why the team's improvement has been so drastic?
"We don't really have the pressure. When you start a new season you have pressure to win every game. Right now, we're just trying to play hard. That's what we've been doing and that's what we've been using."

What would it mean for this team to make a BCS bowl?
"It would mean a lot, but our goal is to finish. As long as we play hard and finish it doesn't matter what bowl we go to."

Is this a game where you have to realize that they're going to make plays but you just have to try your hardest to win out?
"Their offense is set up to score points and get down the field, but as long as our defense plays as a team and sticks together I think we'll be all right."

Aaron Harris
Coach Brown talked about the team having more fun now, which translates into better play. How does that work?
"If you play uptight, you're too worried about your assignments and how you're doing. If you're having fun, you just go out there and make plays. I think we had a little pressure on us during the beginning of the season being ranked so high, but now we just have to go out there and play. It's not that we're uptight, we're just going out there and trying to have fun."

What has this defense proved the last couple of weeks?
"We have proved that we can play as a team. We can do what people don't think we can do. We just have to keep proving that every week and get better every week."

Roy Williams
Can you believe this is your last game at the stadium?
"It went by so fast, but it's here now. I have to think it's going to be a regular game; I can't let my emotions take over my ability to think out there on the field. I'm going to treat it like a normal game."

Is it always special to play Texas Tech?
"There isn't any doubt about that, especially when your brother was an All-American receiver there. We have something going on right now. It's a family thing, I guess you can say. He's been talking to me for about 357 days right now, so I have something to prove."

Does your brother root for Texas when he comes down to watch?
"He roots for me. He's in a no-lose situation. If we win, he's happy for me, but if we lose he's happy for Texas Tech."

Do you have one shining moment from this stadium that sticks in your mind?
"I guess you could say beating Nebraska. They are a great football team full of tradition. It was a great game. We came out on top, 31-7, and I will probably remember that game for the rest of my life."

Nathan Vasher
How do you feel about your performance last Saturday?
"I felt like I did a pretty good job. I was just in the zone out there; I had a very good week of preparation as far as film and going out to practice. I feel like I was as prepared as I could be."

How satisfied is it to have that kind of performance?
"I think it's something I looked forward to all season with the type of year (Rashaun Woods) is having catching the ball and making touchdowns. I wanted to go out there and show that I was one of the premier defensive backs in the country and try to contain him and do as much as I could."

Did that game do more than any NFL combine could for you?
"I think so with all the man-to-man coverage that I had. Things didn't go well all the time, but I think it showed a lot about my character to bounce back after the touchdown and play as well as I did in the second half."

Is Saturday going to be a sad day being your last home game?
"I think going into it, some of the seniors will look a little misty-eyed. I think knowing this is our last time playing here will get us really fired up. Hopefully at the end of the game it will be a really satisfying feeling that we left it all out on the field."