Dec. 1, 2009
S Earl Thomas
On playing in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday: I’ve never been there before. It’s just a great honor to be there after last year. We’re proud to be there.
On being named to the All-Big 12 first team by the league’s coaches: I just found out after practice. I didn’t know until my coach came up and told me. I just play ball and the personal accolades will come if the team keeps winning.
On the defense against Texas A&M: That’s just how it happens sometimes. Our offense played lights out. The defense has played well when the offense was not producing like they can; the offense carried us the other night. That just makes us a great team.
On the excitement to get back on the field: Everybody’s been waiting to get back on the field just to get that taste out our mouth even though we won. I think it’s going to be a great game between us and Nebraska because we both have great defense and their offense has a great running game. It’s going to be a treat out there.
On Nebraska’s offense: They’re a run, run, run, play-action kind of team. They have a lot of vertical game with (WR Niles Paul). He’s a good receiver. We’re just going to try to play physical on the edge and help the D-line and the linebackers out as best we can.
RB Tre’ Newton
On achieving his first 100-yard rushing night against Texas A&M: It was nice. The line helped me out a lot. They did a great job opening up holes all night. We’ve just been trying to focus on our run game more and get that going so we can help Colt (McCoy) out a little bit and clear things up for him. The line did a great job.
On his attitude as a player: I just always try to be ready whenever they need me in whatever situation, whether it be special teams or at running back. I just make sure I always know my assignments so I’ll be able to go out there and execute and help us get a win.
On his goal for this week: The goal is to go out this week and beat Nebraska. If the team needs me to carry it 20 times then I’ll do it, but if they need me to carry it once then I’ll do that.
On Nebraska: They’re a great team. They have a great defense, a great offense. We just have to make sure we go through this week and work hard and make sure we listen to our coaches and try to execute the game plan as best as possible.
On coming back from injury: You can’t get yourself down. Football’s a violent sport so injuries happen. You’ve just got to work your way back up, put it behind you, not think about it too much and pray to God that you can stay healthy.
WR/KR Marquise Goodwin
On how to block a punt: First of all you’ve got to get a good jump on the ball and get pressure to your man upfield and hopefully get around him so you can get a block. You just have to get off the ball and do your assignment and somebody will be open to block the kick.
On his kickoff return touchdown versus Texas A&M: People picking up key blocks at the beginning (made it happen). We had a rough time getting certain people on the kickoff team and so they picked up blocks, they got to him and allowed me to bust through the middle and get up the field.
On playing in Cowboys Stadium: It’s going to be great. You can’t really worry about the stadium too much. You’ve just got to worry about the task at hand and go down there and take care of business.
On Nebraska’s defense: They’ve got a pretty good defense. We’re a pretty good offense. We’re just going to do what we do, run our plays and just worry about us.
On his touchdown catch against Oklahoma and touchdown return versus Texas A&M: I just did my job, really. It’s not about me making big plays. It’s just doing what I needed to do to help the team out.
WR Malcolm Williams
On Nebraska’s defense: They are good. I’ve been watching some film on them. They have a really good defense. Their defensive backs play real physical. We’re going to have to play our best to match up with them.
On his improved play the last few games: It’s just having opportunities. The coaches are giving me a chance and I’m trying to harp on it and do what I can with them having the confidence to put me out there.
On his confidence catching passes lately: It goes leaps and bounds, because (Colt McCoy) having confidence in me to throw the ball to me lets me know that he’s gaining more confidence as time goes. It’s encouraging.
On the offense’s success: I feel like it says something for our offense, because we just need to continue to build on what we’re doing and continue in that direction on the right path. We can’t have a letdown.
DE Sam Acho
On Nebraska’s strong defense: We know that Nebraska has a great defense. They like to play defense and special teams. Offensively they try to manage the game. We know we have to stop them. We know we have to work hard.
On what Coach Muschamp says in film: He doesn’t necessarily highlight the missed tackles. We look at some positive plays and some negative plays to show that it wasn’t all bad, but also there are some places where we can improve.
On Nebraska: They have a great team. They play great defense and have a great special teams. Their offense is going to try to run it down your throat. We’re going to have to go out and stop the run and rush the passer on third down.
On playing in the new Cowboys’ stadium: It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ve been there once for a Cowboys game. It’s huge, but we’re used to a big audience. It’s going to be fun.
DT Lamarr Houston
On the defense’s mentality: We’re going to play Texas football. We’re going to worry about us. We’re going to go out there and play with our speed and quickness and execute our game plan and not worry about anything else.
On Nebraska’s quarterbacks: (Cody) Green is very mobile actually. Zac Lee can use his feet as well. Those guys are good quarterbacks. They do what they need to do to win. They’re a possession team. They’re not trying to hit the big chunk. They’re trying to run the ball, get the first down, hold the ball with three seconds on the play clock and hike it. They’re just trying to win the game.
On Nebraska’s offense: They have the same game plan as Colorado, but they use more tight ends in their blocking schemes. They’re more of a jumbo package team, and they’ll run until you stop them.
On Nebraska’s running backs: (Roy) Helu is a big guy – 6-2, 220. Burkhead is a tough runner. They’re tough running backs. You have to wrap them up and get them on the ground. They won’t stop until they’re done.
On playing in the Big 12 Championship: It’s huge to get to play in the Big 12 Championship and have the chance to play for so much more if we win. It means a lot to us.
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