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Nov. 16, 2010

CB Carrington Byndom
On if he expected to play when the year began: We definitely have a lot of depth at corner. I was trying to learn from the seniors that are already here and fill in my role whenever needed.

On the game with Florida Atlantic: Every week our goal is to win. We’re going to try and take that next step and get back on track this week.

On the importance of making a bowl game: Every year we come in with expectations of winning the Big 12 and of course going to a bowl game. Expectations are real high. We definitely want to go to a bowl game, and we definitely want to win.

On if the team is deserving of a bowl game: I think we deserve to [go to a bowl game]. We play our hearts out every week. We practice hard. Every week going into it, we work hard for it. We feel that we do deserve it.

On the people who have helped him as a freshman defensive back: Definitely having Curtis [Brown], Chykie [Brown] and [Aaron Williams] and Coach Akina, you definitely learn a lot. Day by day, I learn different things that help me out.

 

WR John Chiles
On the losses this season: I think it reminds you how hard it is to win. Here at Texas, we win a lot. I think sometimes we take winning for granted. Losing those games definitely put winning in perspective.

On the importance of making a bowl game: Definitely as a senior it’s our responsibility to get the team together and finish on the right note. This season hasn’t been perfect. It hasn’t been what we planned. At the same time, we have two games we can finish the right way.

On getting quick starts: It’s always important no matter who we’re playing, whether it be Oklahoma, Baylor or Iowa State. As an offense you always want to get to a good start. That’s something we’ve been working on, something we’ve been focusing on – coming out with more tempo and things of that nature. It’s going to work out for us in the end.

On if winning the last two games can erase bad memories: It definitely could. Just finishing on the right note now and a lot of years from now, we’ll remember being with the team and the senior season. I think back to all of the great teams that we’ve had since we’ve been here. Finishing on the right note would be very positive for us.

 

RB Fozzy Whittaker
On whether this is the week for big production in the running game: It just depends on what our gameplan focuses on. If it requires a running back going for 100 yards to get a victory, then that is what it takes. If it requires us all together going for 100 to get a win, then that is what we will do. 

On Florida Atlantic's defense: They are very athletic. They have a lot of skill and great speed. They fly around the ball everywhere, so they will be running around and making plays. 

On Tre' Newton: It is a real heartfelt story. You never want to see anybody have to quit the game that they love, especially in the way that he had to. But it was the best thing for him. It was better for his health and also his future. I talked to him yesterday. We were able to have some one-on-one time together and just chill, relax, and catch up on things outside of football. I think that he will still be fine.

On what Newton's retirement means for the running game: We have to take on a little bit more of the workload. Whenever Tre' was in the backfield, we could split the carries up three ways. Now, we will be splitting it up with Chris Whaley and Ryan Roberson as well. They have not had as much experience, but they will probably get some good experience this week. 

On whether it is good to get a break from Big 12 play: I think that it is. Florida Atlantic is a good team. They have a lot of athleticism and a lot of team speed that we look to harness. We just have to go out there and play to the best of our abilities and play together as one team. 

 

S Kenny Vaccaro
On what losing this season has taught the team: It just really teaches that putting on the jersey is not necessarily going to make you win. You cannot get too complacent. You have to go into each week well-prepared, whether we are playing lesser teams or better teams. It just really humbles it. We know as a team that winning is not always going to be around. When we do win, we have to cherish it and go into each week thinking that it is going to be a fight to the end. 

On holding up the tradition of winning at Texas: Of course, being at Texas there is a lot of tradition and a lot is expected because of each team that plays each year. We can only do the best we can. If the cards are going to fall, they are going to fall. Of course, for the alumni and the people who played before us, we want to win for them, and we want to win for our fans. Times get tough. Not every Texas team was great. People fail to realize that not all teams have winning seasons. Coach Brown actually put up a chart showing all of the seasons, and not all of the eras were great, but most of them were. And we just want to hold up that winning tradition. 

On whether the team is looking ahead to next year: We have two games to win. That is all there is to it. We are still focused, and we are not looking ahead. We have two games, and we just need these two wins to make a bowl and potentially  [have] a winning season. 

On breaks not going Texas' way this season: With preparation, opportunity is going to come. Another statistic that Coach Brown [showed us] is that we forced more turnovers this year than last year at this time. We just have not gotten on the ball - when last year we got a lot more of those balls back. Things are going to go our way. We just have to keep pushing. 

On how he has matured: Last year, I was a freshman. It was just a different setting for me. I came in - new guy on the team - I was not comfortable yet, and I was not confident yet. The main thing that I knew that I needed to work on was the mental side of the game because people fail to realize that football is not all physical. It is really mental. The more mental aspects of the game that you understand, the faster you can play, potentially, and you can make more plays. That is why guys like Blake Gideon, Earl Thomas - any successful safety - they understood the game and made the right reads, which made them play faster.