Rice University Athletics
Monday Press Conference Transcript
11/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2007
Opening Statement
"The football game versus Tulane was amazing in the first half. The first 26 minutes of that game is probably as good of defense as we have played all year. At the end of the first quarter Forte had rushed for just an average of 2.7 yards per carry. Really at that point I was feeling good about how the defense was doing. "With four minutes left we made a mistake on a third and one and let him pick up a 49 yarder. We gave them the ball back and they hit a trick play and we missed two tackles. All of a sudden it was a game where we were going into halftime down 17 to 7. It would be nice to put a game together where the offense is performing at the same time the defense is. "The second half was different. Chase and the offense really came alive and started putting points on the board, but the defense was struggling tackling and carrying out their assignments. We played extremely hard at times and at times played as well offensively and defensively as we have. That makes it hard. We've got to continue to worry about fundamentals and improving this football team. We're going into this last one against Tulsa. I know the guys will show up today ready to practice. I know they're going to play extremely hard this week like they have the whole year."
on Tulane RB Matt Forté
"We wanted to stop him. When you have a great running back, though, when he did get out the first time it's a little thing. The invert man we have assigned to leverage the run and turn it back attacks the inside leg of the fullback instead of the outside leg of the fullback. That's what turns him. He sees what's happening and he goes 49 yards. That's what great backs do and that's why you can't make mistakes when you play."
on matching up with Tulsa
"Tulsa is averaging 40 points a game offensively. We're averaging 37. Defensively we're giving up 42 a game, they're giving up 30. We've got to create some takeaways in this one. They move well against Oklahoma at times. It's going to be one where we have to have 11 guys working together. If we have any assignment or alignment busts, that's where Tulsa has taken advantage of a lot of people. They're very multiple offensively. You'll see a lot of shifts and a lot of motions trying to create confusion. We have to have some takeaways in this one."
on the seniors
"That's one of the things being the last game for the seniors that they get to where they're concentrating and trying so hard in their last one just because they're seniors you see a lot of times you don't perform well. I understand why they want to go out there and play their absolute best ballgame. We have enough motivation to do that that I think we're just going to have to continue to talk to them all week about playing hard and playing for all the right things."
on motivation for the last game
"I think it's to our advantage right now. Any time there's a cause in football it's to your advantage, and there is a cause this week."
on what to expect from the Tulsa game
"I think a lot of points. They're a great offensive football team. Just last year they were number one in the conference defensively. They have a lot of returning defensive players. I think you're going to expect a hard hitting, physical football game. You will see us perform at our very best. I expect with what's on the line for them they're going to perform at their very best. I know there's probably a lot of Houston Cougars pulling for the Rice Owls."
on the Tulsa defense
"It's hard to go one year to the next, but Todd installed that defense when he was there two years ago."
on keys to the game
"It boils down to blocking and tackling. That's what they all boil down to. We've got to play a physical football game. We've got to risk to be great, and at the same time when you're risking not give up anything easy."
on playing against Todd Graham's team
"I think people want to win because we're Rice Owls. I don't think people want to win this one just because we're playing Todd Graham. We've gone into every football win expecting to win. So should we expect to win? Sure, that's how you have to do it. I think that we've got some very intelligent young men on this team that know what they have to do to perform at their best. I don't think this will be Todd Graham vs. David Bailiff. This will be Rice vs. Tulsa."
