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Rice University Athletics
Football: Ken Hatfield's Monday Quotes
11/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
"The defense shut down their running game early, and (SMU) saw that they couldn't run the ball a lot. That enabled us to play back and make some interceptions. We had three and could have had two others. The defense realy hung in there and came up with the big plays that turned the game around."
On the play of Dan Dawson -- "On Dan's first interception, it was 17-7 at the time and SMU was driving. They were on about the 30 yard line in our end of the field when Dan made the intereption. He ran for about 38 seconds before he got tackled. That was a slow death when you're on that other sideline. You're saying, 'Somebody just tackle him and get me out of my misery.' It went on forever, but it was a big play.
"Dan is a big-play man who loves playing the game of football. He has a knack for making big plays. I've always felt that he had all-America potential if he continued to develop here at Rice. There wasn't a bigger play than his first interception because of when it happened, and there wasn't a bigger play last year than his interception against TCU that turned that game around.
"The greatest joy is knowing that we was lying on the field a year in that SMU game with a shattered leg, and to see where he is today. He has great determination, for him to work those long, lonely hours by himself in rehabiltation, to get back to play the game like he did the other day."
On Rice's offense vs. SMU -- "Jeremy Hurd started his first game (since the opener). To get through those kind of weather conditions and that kind of game was big. SMU has always been tough defensively against us and we haven't scored many points against them throughout the years.
"I was pleased that Jeremy was able to handle the ball. We got some great blocking in the game. Blocking by the line, the backs and receivers was outstanding.
"Vincent Hawkins had two big runs in the game, and Anthony Griffin, a senior, had two big runs."
On the UTEP game -- "There's no doubt (that UTEP has more to play for this week with TCU's loss at San Jose State). The only two games they've lost were to A&M on the road and to Oklahoma on the road, two pretty good teams. This will insure a great crowd at the game.
"It's a challenge. We lost to them last year in an exciting game, one that we played well in. They came back and showed the explosiveness they have on their offensive team.
"One of our goals has been to finish strong. It's one of the things we have not done in the past, and this is a key game.
"There will be a lot of eyes on the game anyway with them being undefeated and in the driver's seat now for the conference championship. We'll try to be at our best for the game."
On UTEP's turnaround -- "I think of a lot of where they are is because of that last drive against us last year. To come from behind and somehow win that game, after Chad Richardson slipped down on the Owl at midfield and then to overthrow that pass, for them to win late and win on the road. When you end a season like that it gives you a lot of confidence going into the next year. A lot of those people were coming back.
"Gary (Nord) ran the offense last year, and now as the head coach he's continuing to do the same things. They've got an explosive offense, they're very confident and they have great skill people.
"Confidence is the great factor today. All it takes is one or two plays at the right time to give everyone that confidence, and all of a sudden you're playing in a different mode."
