Nov. 14, 2011
RB Foswhitt Whittaker
On how he stays positive: Well, basically I'd rather stay positive than negative. You know, if I'm a negative person, especially in the state that I'm in, I feel like it would only lead to more negative things. So why not always look up. I know that it's not the ideal situation for me, and it wasn't the plans that I had going into that game, but I know that God has his hands on me and he has a bigger plan. All I can do is put my faith in him and stay positive. You know, the more positive I am, the better I feel about everything and how I'll be able to recover and bounce back from this.
On his state of mind when he got hurt: On the field whenever I first experienced it, I knew it wasn't a good feeling, and I knew nothing good could come out of it. I just was my words were, "Oh, man," and I just knew. It hurt very bad. I've sprained my MCL before, and I knew it was greater than that just because of the pain, and I couldn't walk on it at all. It was one of those things that hit me real hard, made me question myself, what's really going on? But ultimately I just had to turn back and give it back to the man upstairs and know that his hands are always on me no matter what, and there is a positive out of this situation.
On if he became angry or sad: I was upset. Mad. Sad. I was all of the above. You know, coming off to the sideline. But my mom came over there. She was able to come down as soon as I got hurt, able to comfort me and help me out, and I didn't want to stay in that state where I just was miserable because at that point in time there's nothing I can do about it. If I'm just pouting or if I'm just sad and mad at the world, I still cannot change nothing. My leg is still hurt. There's nothing that's going to come out of it, so why not go ahead and start flipping my attitude around. I took that type of approach towards it, and that's what I'm going to stay with. That's the type of person that I am, and I feel like it's been very helpful and beneficial for me 22 years of my life.
On how the team will function without him: The same thing. You know, my role was one that can be replaced. It's not as if I'm some type of irreplaceable guy. We already have people that have been practicing in the formation just in case situations like this happened, and whenever it did happen, guys are going to have to step up. I know that's what my team is going to do because that's all we've shown. This is a great university. Coach Brown picks the best athletes, and these guys are out here. I know they're going to play with their hearts, and I'll still be on the field. I will be right there with my team.
On getting a standing ovation in the team meeting: It was a surreal moment. You know, whenever we brought it up in the team meeting yesterday after the game - I got my results from my MRI and it showed that I'll be done for the season. [Coach Brown] asked me if I wanted to announce that to the team and have it released, and I told him yes, that's fine, because I want my teammates to know what's going to be happening with me and how I plan to bounce back from that. After he actually said it, he asked if I had any comments, and I didn't really have any comments, and I just really enjoy my teammates, and after Coach Brown said it, the guys started clapping and stood up for me. It was just a surreal moment to know that they really appreciated me as much as I appreciated them.
On if it is hard to know he has played his last game: It is hard. A couple of us older guys, we were actually talking about it before the Missouri game. Just saying, you know, it's going to be the last night game, home game. You're going to trade a lot of memories, especially it being your last time playing in DKR. Just being able to still be with the team is going to be a great and memorable experience for me this coming up weekend.
On if he will continue to mentor the younger players: I think it's been very important just because like I always say, whenever I came in, I was mentored myself by Jamaal [Charles] and Chris Ogbonnaya, and those guys helped me become the person that I am today. It's only right that I give back to the younger guys coming in what they gave to me. Even though I am injured and I won't be able to be out there physically on the field with them, that doesn't change the type of person that I'm going to be to them off the field. I'm always going to continue to help them any way that I can and be there to support them in any way possible, and that goes with everybody on the team.
On how much fun he had running the “wild” formation: It was a lot of fun. Coach Harsin, I always have to give the credit to him just for trusting me in that type of formation. There's a lot of things going on, and he put his trust in me to take care of the ball and just run the plays in that formation. Just seeing the way that he put his trust in me means a lot, and just saying the way that the offensive line, the fullbacks and the wide receivers came together just for one play and one formation, you know, it really means a lot to me, and I always have fun in that play. No regrets, you know. I had fun. You know, in it, whenever I did pass, the incompletions (laughing). But just having the opportunity to throw it was fun in and of itself, [and] just being able to be out there with my teammates was the best.
On the seniors’ leadership role this season: Well, it means a lot to us just because we have so much pride and so much passion for the game that we play, especially for this university. We're a big representation of the university and the state, and what happened last year was something that we weren't proud of. We were very embarrassed, and we took it upon ourselves to make sure that leadership [occurred]. The senior leaders of this team were going to make sure that we didn't let that happen again, and we were going to find a way, brick-by-brick, build a new foundation to build up this team so that we're stronger than ever.
On players stepping up to fill roles: I don't think it's a matter of it being a new name or a new face. Guys that have been playing in the previous weeks, the running backs, the wide outs, the Oline, the quarterbacks, everybody. That's not changing. I'll be a guy that's off the field, but ultimately those guys, they were playing just as good as people before them, and I just feel like that now that I'm out, it's just going to be more time for them.
On what is next for him: I'll make sure that I rehab and get my knee back right, and that's really the only thing that I'm really focusing on is rehabbing every single day. Trying to do as much as I can to get as well as I can and finishing the season off right with the team.
On if he has a timetable for his surgery: It's kind of, I guess, not really set in stone yet. They want my MCL to heal up before they can go in and surgically repair the ACL, which they said will take around four to six weeks, so that will be sometime in mid December. Mid to late December. They don't want me doing it during finals week, either, though, so it doesn't conflict with class and they don't want me doing it too close to Christmas so I am able to still move around and don't have to be sitting around in the house not being able to enjoy the season. I'm hoping to do the surgery sometime mid December so it would give me as much time as possible to try to recover and still have a good holiday season. And then depending on what bowl game we're going to, I plan on being there with the team, as well, and just supporting them as much as I can doing what I can.
On if he plans to pursue the NFL: That is true. I've got to make sure I get all the way right before I can go out there and try to pursue that dream, as well.
On if he will get his masters in December: I won't. I have six more hours after this semester, and so hopefully I may be able to finish that in the spring, depending on where I'll be at and how my knee is doing.
On if he heard from ex-teammates: They texted me. Chris [Ogbonnaya] actually texted me and a couple guys on the team previously like Frank Okam and Roy Miller. A couple of guys like that. They hit me up and really poured their hearts out to me. A.J. Williams, also. A couple of guys, they talked to me already and they kind of helped me out, being my support system.
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TE Blaine Irby
On the senior class: I think there's a lot of maturity in our senior class. We have a lot of guys that played their true freshman year, talking about Blake, Emmanuel, Kheeston, and we have some guys that definitely redshirted as in I want to say
Keenan Robinson,
Tray Allen [and]
Christian Scott. All those guys, and so it's a very diverse group, a lot of leadership. And even when we talk about Fozzy Whittaker, who we lost this last week, a lot of leadership, a very selfless class. So it's guys that just kind of really bought into the program here at UT and really waited for their turn to succeed. It's shown. A lot of these guys were contributing during the national championship year and even during the year when we went to the Fiesta Bowl. So it's a successful class. Last year wasn't as successful as we wanted, and this year we're still making our mark.
On if he can sympathize with Fozzy: I didn't realize how bad it was during the game because I didn't see him make the cut. I only just saw him go down. After the game I kind of went up to him and just let him know that I love him and I'm praying for him. Fozzy is one of those guys that he's so emotionally strong, and he's got a lot of thoughts and prayers going out to him, and I think he's going to be fine. It's going to be a tough couple weeks or tough couple months for him, but if anyone can get through it, it's Fozzy. He's got a lot of support from our fans and from the team, and so if he needs any help at all, I'm sure it's not going to be hard to find.
On what Fozzy has meant to the program: Fozzy is a true leader on our football team, really is a selfless player, and so he's been here for five years. He's definitely worked his way up to the top, and even this year with two bigtime running backs coming in, he took time out of his schedule to really mentor those two running backs. He just stepped aside and let these guys play. Fozzy wants what's best for the team, and he's been like that ever since he's gotten here. It was a sad thing when he went down. He's definitely our leader in the group. He's definitely our spokesperson, really. The Fozzy that you guys don't see - Fozzy is obviously a goofy guy when off the football field, but when it's time to work, Fozzy is the first one in line getting everyone right. I know he's going to be fine whenever he's rehabbing and his future career with football, wherever that goes. My thoughts and prayers go out to him.
On if Fozzy’s injury had an effect on the team: It's one of those deals in football where when a starter goes out, another guy has to come in and fill his spot. Especially during the game, he came out I think it was in the first quarter. He got hurt, and so we couldn't really think about it as much during the game just because we had confidence in Jeremy Hills' play. But unfortunately the game didn't work out the way we wanted on offense. We couldn't get anything done. But losing a guy like Fozzy is definitely going to put a dent in our offense.
On stepping up after this rash of injuries: I think everybody on the team, on the offense, on the offensive line, tight ends, quarterbacks, receivers, I think everybody needs to step up to really make sure that the next guy in line at running back, we don't put too much weight on his shoulders. Everyone just needs to do a little bit more, and last week we didn't do that, and it kind of showed. We weren't able to roll at all on offense. We can't put too much weight on the next guy that's coming in just because it's unfair. The guys that have been playing on the offensive line and our quarterbacks, we just have to do a little bit more work. And during the game we have to put a little bit more responsibility on ourselves.
On his last home game: It's kind of a surreal moment. I mean, it's a little crazy. I still remember the first game that we had, versus Arkansas State. I don't know if you guys remember that. Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I mean, my time here has been - it's hard to believe, but it's been definitely the best five years of my life, going through the experiences I've gone through and the experiences that our team has gone through. It's been a wild roller coaster, but it's been fun. So what better way than to finish it off than with a win over Kansas State.
On the passing game improving: We're just trying to figure out ways to win, and so versus Kansas and Texas Tech, we were really successful in the run game, and so that's what we concentrated on during the game. But you know, during practice every week we're trying. I mean, we're practicing hard on the passing game and running game, so it's going to come. This last week, unfortunately, we just couldn't get anything done. So I don't think it was really the passing game. It was more the passing game and running game that we couldn't get done. This week, like I said before, everybody on the offense really needs to step up just a little bit more and just kind of prepare just a little bit more. Hopefully we'll have some more success this week.
OG David Snow
On what RB Fozzy Whittaker has meant to the team: Fozzy has meant a lot to us, knowing him over four years now. He's been a great friend to me. When I first got here he reached out to me. He just brings that high energy kind of demeanor to the team. He has that extra spice that it's very special.
On how to get past the loss last week: It's the 24hour rule. Either a win or a loss, you've got to put it behind you after 24 hours after the game. Start focusing on the next opponent. KState is a really good team, both offense and defense, so you've just got to prepare for them and put this one behind you, learn from it, move on.
On if that is hard to do: I mean, you just have to do it, no matter if it's harder or anything else, especially losing somebody like Fozzy. It's kind of an emotional thing, but you just have to get focused on the next week at hand.
On the senior class: You know, it means a lot to us. It hasn't really quite hit me yet, playing this last game. I have kind of a thick skull so it'll probably sink in a bit later.
On how Fozzy remains positive: Fozzy is an upbeat guy. That's just his personality, and he's always been that way. He doesn't let things get him down. He's an opportunist. He looks at things in life and doesn't let things get him down.
OG Mason Walters
On the offense: We need to go straight back to work starting today. We need to really analyze our opponent and then after that we need to do all the little things that we didn't do well enough last week. Maybe a little bit too much confidence coming off two wins, and we just need to do all the little things. As small as get sleep, eat what we are supposed to, get in the weight room a little bit more, cool down after practice. Because you look at games that you lose and you see what did I do differently, and it's usually small things. It's nothing huge. I mean, you work hard in practice, do the same things there, but you just check your routine, and we're going to have to be a lot more strict about that this week.
On if anything was learned in last year’s KSU game: Well, I think we learned a lesson that we could have learned last year watching film but we learned it at a different level. They're going to come, play physical football, and you'd better have your chin strap on tight because they're coming to play. I think this year more than last year we're going to embrace that challenge.
On how to make sure the offense gets going on Saturday: We have to embrace the fact that it's football. We have injured players, we know that. That's part of the game. It's not easy at all, like you said, and Kansas State is going to take advantage of that in any way they can. People that are healthy, Coach [Brown] talks about you've got to pick up where the other guy left off, and if somebody is injured, people that are playing, you need to play harder to pick up the slack for them, and whoever comes in for them just needs to work their tail off. Somebody getting injured creates opportunity for somebody else. And that's the good thing about it is somebody embraces that, really internalizes it and says, “This is my shot.” And that can make a good player a great player.
On seniors David Snow and Tray Allen: Coming in, both those guys, they were already kind of established older guys when I was new on campus, and they've both helped me out in places on the field and off the field. Like you said, for them, they've got their last home game here, and it's going to be one of those things where we go out and fight for them as hard as we can in the last home game.
CB Carrington Byndom
On Kansas State’s offense: I know they have a good quarterback, a good balanced attack. It's pretty much the same thing each week. You've got to be able to stop the run, and you've got to be able to stop the pass. We know they're a little bit more of a run threat with their quarterback, but he can pass, too. I think we're kind of going in with the same game plan, stop the run and defend the pass.
On learning from last year’s KSU game: Last year we just had a lot of miscues, a lot of turnovers, and when you have so many turnovers in a game, it's hard to win. I think we're looking to cut down on turnovers and be efficient on offense and defense.
On the defense versus Missouri: You know, there's always positives. I think we played well the second half. I don't think we started the game too well. Giving up two touchdowns is not our goal. We scored five, so we always try to limit the number of points they score. Overall, I think we played okay. We definitely can play better. We definitely can improve on the performance.
On KSU QB Collin Klein being a big guy: Size is not too big of an issue. He's just like everybody else. You still have to be able to hit him. So I don't think size is that much of a factor for me.
On being a cornerback versus an option team: Me being on the outside, most of my role is probably stopping the pitch. I don't really focus much on inside with the quarterback and things. I'm more of a pitch player. But I think we're just going to take this week like any other week. Last week we had a running quarterback, too, so I think it's kind of in the same category. We'll just look to stop the run, though.
On the seniors: They've definitely been mentors for us throughout this whole season, and you know, to play for them on senior night, it's an honor for me. And I'll go out there and give it all that I have for them and for the team. Definitely having those guys back there is an honor.
On RB Fozzy Whittaker: Losing Fozzy was devastating, but I think that the guys [that] had to go in for him just had to step up. And losing a guy like him is kind of difficult with his excitement and just leadership, but I think we have guys that can step up and handle the job.
LB Emmanuel Acho
On how he will play his last game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium: I'm going to go out with a bang. Hopefully I'm planning on playing my best game. I'm going to work this week to play my best game and just give it all I got for the fans. Give it all I got for the team and just for the community that's supported me for so long.
On how he wants to be remembered: More so as a person than as a player. I try to be the best player I can be, but I think Sam has been a testimony to that, and I've tried to be a testimony to that. Just try to be a good person. It's not about what I do on the field, but it's about who I help. Who I can inspire and who I can affect off the field. You know, in 20 years I hope they're talking about me as a great person [more] than a player.
On the senior class: I think it's been a heck of a class. I think this class has come together. I love this senior class. I love the way that we've grown together. We've been through a lot. We've been through the ups. We've been through the downs. I like where we are, and I like the friendships that have formed.
On if it is hard to believe this will be his last home game: It's crazy. I was talking to Blake [Gideon] about it earlier. It was kind of surreal. I remember the first one, and now it's going to be my last one. I'm just going to try to take it all in, look into the stands, look at the entire stadium and just take it all in.
On RB Fozzy Whittaker: I texted Fozzy last night, and I was doing homework and it came to my heart. And I just shot him a text last night, and I just let him know, God has a plan. Fozzy might have planned his own steps, but God orders his path. It was hard. I mean, it was hard for me to see him go down just because he's so charismatic, such a leader, so much fun, such a good guy, and it really hurt me seeing him go down. But it's going to be a tough loss. We have to build as a team around that. Everybody has to get better individually. I'm praying for him. I wish him the best. I wish him a speedy recovery. But it's clearly a tough loss.
On the Kansas State offense: It's going to be a heck of a game. They're a physical team. They have a very downhill running attack, downhill running mentality. I'm excited for it because this is a big linebacker game, and I like that because I think our linebackers are kind of the backbone of this defense. Me and Keenan [Robinson]. It being our last game here, we're going to have our best game. We plan to, and we're going to prepare like that. I'm excited for this game. Kansas State is a very good opponent, and it's going to be fun.
On KSU QB Collin Klein: He's one of those guys you've got to stop him before he gets started. You have to do that with any good runner, because when they get started, then they just start going and it's a lot harder to get them stopped then. We have to do our job to contain him, do our job to stop him before he gets started. As a defender you kind of pride yourself on a game like this. You kind of pride yourself on a team that wants to run the ball, and they're saying they're going to run the ball, and it's our job to tell them they're not.
On if KSU is difficult to prepare for: I don't think they're too difficult to prepare for just because this is what you look forward to just as a defensive player. The Big 12 kind of takes you out of your comfort zone making you chase little skinny receivers around, but as a linebacker this is what you come to Texas for and this is why you're a linebacker. For a game like this, when a team is going to try and run it down your throat. I'm excited for the challenge and I'm looking forward to it.
On why Kansas State has had success against Texas: You know, my guess - they seem to have our number. We're 2 and 5 against them, something like that. Some stat Coach Brown told us. But it's a new year. It's a new year. It's a new game. So nothing historic matters. I think that's been proven in last week's game. History doesn't matter. It's all about what you do now. It's all about what you do currently. I'm going to prepare for this Kansas State team, and this is a Kansas State team we're going to play, and we're going to have to play well against them.
On KSU QB Collin Klein being a big guy: I'm surprised he's so durable, but again, he's a tough guy. He's big, and he's a physical runner. We've faced running backs and guys like [Nebraska QB] Taylor Martinez, but he was more so to run around you than to try to run through you. Credit to him for being so durable, being so tough, and it's our job to try to break him.
PK/P Justin Tucker
On time going by quickly: Man, it goes by quick. I mean, like you said, I remember meeting you when I was a freshman at Westlake and now seven or eight years down the road here about to graduate in December actually, and then out into the real world, I guess. But coming into this last game, it is a little bit surreal, kind of looking back and reflecting, seeing how quickly it all really goes by.
On how he wants to be remembered: I hope I can be remembered by fans and by friends and family more than anybody else as just a reliable, dependable player, and somebody who just put their best foot forward and just really tried to put their best effort out on the field as possible.
On if Saturday night will be emotional: As a kicker, emotions don't really come into play for me. All I can think about is it will just be a fun experience being able to walk into DKR for the last time. All I really want to do, and my teammates and I, all any of us want to do is send myself and the rest of the seniors out with a bang and just send us out right.
On if he has any pregame rituals: When I'm in the locker room I'll lay my uniform out in the shape of a man on the floor. I always walk off to go get tape and somebody messes up my setup. That's part of the ritual, though, is somebody has to mess it up. But as far as onthefield rituals, I mean, I really don't know. I know there's a lot of other kickers in the Big 12 and across the country that I've met throughout my career during camps and other events, and there's some guys with some pretty interesting rituals, as well.Kicking is about consistency, so my rituals have to stay the same game to game and season to season.
On when his ritual started: Well, laying the uniform out on the floor is one that was kind of inspired by "Primetime" Deion Sanders. I've been a big Dallas Cowboys fan ever since I was a little kid, and I know Deion Sanders, I guess he said in an interview he said, “One of my rituals is I lay my uniform out in the shape of a man on the floor and just kind of gets me ready for game day.” And ever since I was about 12 or 13 playing soccer, I started doing it then, and I just kept the tradition alive. And it's still alive, still going strong.
On the different handshakes he does with holder Cade McCrary: Cade and I, the handshake has evolved. It started out as really simple. We've added a few things here or there, and of course [former Longhorn]Greg Smith and I, we had a little salute that we did last year. And this year Alex Zumberge and I, we have a little salute that we do, as well. We do want to make sure that we keep these traditions alive because they're really important, and they just provide a positive energy going into the next kick that is always really important.
S Blake Gideon
On this year’s senior class: It's flown by, first of all, from when we all got here to now. It's hard to believe it's been four years. But you know, the guys that I came in with and even some of the guys that redshirted that were kind of adopted into our class. Fozzy, Keenan, all those guys, they're about as close to a brother as I've ever had. They're family. I'd do anything for those guys. I hope they'd do anything for me. But we have been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows in four years, and now I think we have a great opportunity to leave a legacy that we're going to go out as the leaders of a team that we really turned around from a down year last year to what we're hoping is a successful year this year.
On losing Fozzy Whittaker for the rest of the season: It's tough. You know, you're going to go through adversity every play in football. You just kind of count on it's not going to be that kind. That a guy is not going to be lost for the game or for the season in Fozzy's case. It's tough, especially being that it was Fozzy and the type of person he is and what he means to this team. just how all the young guys look up to him every day in practice. Fozzy is the same guy. It doesn't matter what kind of day he's having, he's going to make everybody else's day better. So I think that just speaks volumes about his character and the type of person he is beyond the field.
On what Fozzy has meant to him: Fozzy is like a brother to me. I don't want to say that I took it as hard as he did whenever he got the news, but it was definitely tough for me to take, just knowing Fozzy as long as I have. He was kind of my welcome to college football moment whenever we met on the goal line my first spring coming in early. Fozzy and I have had a bond that I don't have with many other people. I mean, we're family. We're brothers. We'd do anything for each other, and just knowing Fozzy as long as I have and seeing the kind of work he's put in, how far he's come, him seeing how far I've come, it's tough that he's not going to be able to finish out the year and our career, that we're not going to be able to do that together. But at the same time I know that Fozzy is good for me, and whenever something like this happens, you hope it's to somebody that's a strong person as strong as Fozzy, and there's no doubt in my mind that he's going to come out better for it.
On Fozzy getting a standing ovation in the team meeting: I think that was to be expected. I know for a fact that whenever we all jog out there for senior night and Fozzy makes his way out there that he's going to have the loudest cheers. I mean, he infects everybody else around him with the joy and happiness that he brings and that he has in his life. I think that's why he's such a blessing to everyone that knows him.
On Kansas State’s offense: You defend the option and all these different running threats by playing responsibility football, by having somebody on him. Somebody on the running back, and you know, it's preparation. We believe at this point in the season there's not many things that we're going to see on Saturday that we haven't seen on film. So it's about us getting in the film room this week and knowing what to expect and knowing how to defend it and trusting our game plan, and it's all going to come down to being the most physical team at the end. We felt like last year they physically dominated us, and there's really no question about who was more ready and who was the most physically prepared team.
On if the defense feels pressure to perform: I don't know if it puts more pressure on us. I think we put enough pressure on ourselves, and our coaches press us enough. But you know, as far as we're concerned, Saturday's performance was a subpar defensive performance. We didn't give ourselves a chance to stay in the game. Who knows, if we could have prevented two big plays, then maybe the offense is called differently knowing that they don't have a huge deficit to make up. So you know, we play a large part in that, in how the game flows along and momentum. At any moment we could have taken the momentum of the game with a big play, and we were just unable to come up with them.
On if he learned anything from last year’s game against Kansas State: Anything I learned? That minus all the schemes and theories and philosophies surrounding football, it comes down to who's the more physical team. You know, they didn't do anything too complex. They showed us a couple things we haven't seen, but this is college football. You go to the sideline and you make one adjustment, and then you're good. You go execute. It's not like they really outschemed us or anything. They just outphysicaled (sic) us. That's probably the biggest slap in the face for any football player, especially a defensive football player, that you were not the most physical team on the field. We kind of made it a point yesterday in the meetings that if we do nothing else on Saturday, we're going to be physical, and that was really embarrassing to watch. It's been embarrassing to see all year, that game from last year. We're looking forward to going out and being able to do something about it.
WR Marquise Goodwin
On how to improve on offense: I'd say continue to do what we've been doing. We got 900 yards the past three games, or I don't know how many yards we had last game, but the two games prior to this game we had 900 yards. We're running the ball really well. We get the passes when we can. I was always told, if it's not broke, don't fix it.
On of the passing game can make up for the running game: We're definitely able to respond and pick up the slack. We've got a lot of great athletes on the team. That's all Texas recruits is good athletes. If you can't stand up, man up and assume that role, then you're really not going to get the opportunity to go out there and play. We work day in, day out. We work hard at what we do. All we can do is get better.
On how to get better after the loss at Missouri: We've got to do what we've been doing. We've got to come back this week and forget about the loss. We've got to come out there and work hard every day. Can't let this team beat us twice. Coach Brown says that all the time. I'm sure y'all have probably heard it before. We've got to continue to work hard, bust our butts at practice and just be relentless. o out there and play with a swagger, with an attitude, and just go out there and focus. When it's football time, it's football time. We'll get it done this week.
On his feelings when Fozzy was injured: It definitely was a change in momentum for us because Fozzy plays a huge role in our offense. He's a great player. Our seniors are doing great this year. I love the team chemistry. The leadership that they bring to the team this year is just outstanding, and to have such a great leader like Fozzy go down, who happens to be a good friend of mine, is sort of depressing. But you've got to almost look past it, and somebody else has to step up. Things happened during that game. They lost their running back, as well. So you've got to keep fighting. Somebody else has to come in and do what Fozzy was doing. That's hard to say, but that's Texas football. That's what you have to do. That's what Coach Brown brings you here to do. And so when you get that opportunity, you've just got to make the best of it.
On what Fozzy has meant to this program: He's meant a lot. Fozzy, he has energy every day. You can always expect to see a smile on Fozzy's face. Man, so energetic. Words can't even explain, if you knew Fozzy, you'd know. It's just ten times better to be his friend, being around him. This is my third year. It's just a great opportunity to have a friend like him and a teammate like him. He pushes you. He works hard every snap, every play, every opportunity that he gets, and to see something like that happen to him is just it's a disaster. He'll be better, though. He'll get better with time.
On QB David Ash: David, he's a good guy. He's done a good job at staying poised and focused on what he needs to do. He studies film all the time. He's a young guy. He's stepped up. He's started the last few weeks. So I commend him on just being able to do that. It's hard. I played my freshman year, and it was hard to try to step up and try to make key plays. He's done it every snap. I only did that a few plays my freshman year, and he's done it every snap. And he has to run the offense. You know, he's done a lot.
On if he feels they are close to connecting on some big plays:
Man, I was always told, football is a game of inches, and that definitely is true, because I was inches away from catching a touchdown pass. Like I said, when we get the timing right and the chemistry between us gets better, we'll connect on those and continue to make explosive plays.
