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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Big 12 Conference Coaches' Teleconference Quotes
October 19, 2004 | Football
Baylor Coach Guy Morriss:
“We made some mistakes at Nebraska, and I don't know whether it was a case of stage fright. We need to get after it and get ready for another Big 12 Conference opponent at home in Iowa State. The situations are similar in the Big 12 and the SEC when you're rebuilding. We just need to get focused and execute better, identify talent and keep recruiting. Having experienced the SEC at Kentucky, it's not more difficult. The quality of opponents is very good. Saturday's game would be our first conference win and a step for us in our growth and development in the program. Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer is a good athlete and he runs the offense well.”
Colorado Coach Gary Barnett
“We had a great special teams' effort all day against Iowa State, and Mason Crosby was spectacular with 54- and 60-yard field goals. Punter John Torp dominated the game, too, and gave us great field position. I don't why the defense has been so tough inside the 20, and we're working to improve on offense and get some consistency. We have our work cut out at Texas A&M because they have developed into one of the great defensive teams in the country and have a superb quarterback in Reggie McNeal. We will start Joel Klatt at quarterback Saturday. We have a great challenge on the road at Texas A&M Saturday, and I emphasize challenge. That's a tough atmosphere on the road.”
Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney
“We played hard and held Colorado without a touchdown for the last 55 minutes of the game. We missed a 22- and 24-yard field goal, and (CU kicker) Mason Crosby hit a 60- and 54-yard field goal. We have a tough road game at Baylor, and coach Guy Morriss is doing a great job there. They scored three touchdowns against Nebraska in the third quarter. This is the youngest team I've had at Iowa State, and Baylor has 14 starters but some very young people. (QB) Bret Meyer has improved for us, and we'll see how the game goes to decide about playing two quarterbacks. We have to keep avoiding dropped passes and keep improving in the offensive line.”
Kansas Coach Mark Mangino
“We will be traveling to Norman to play an awfully fine Oklahoma team. Traditionally, OU has a strong defense, and they are first in the conference in scoring defense. They have some tremendous defensive ends and great linebackers and a tremendous secondary. (QB) Jason White has fine mental toughness, and Adrian Peterson is a tremendous running back. Who wouldn't like to have a running back like Kejuan Jones? OU is well-coached and just tremendous all around. We probably spent one day exclusively on Oklahoma last week in practice. We have worked with our quarterbacks and want to practice a few days; both of them may play Saturday.
Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder
“It was a very interesting game for 3 quarters against Oklahoma, and we just couldn't keep tempo all the way through the game. Our offense and kicking game gave us some opportunities early in the game, but we had a big swing with the early fumble at the OU 18-yard line. Our football team responded well on offense at times, and we need to keep doing that. Nebraska proved the quality of their football program with a big win last week. There is so much there on offense and so much to prepare for when you play Nebraska. (QB) Joe Dailey has improved a great deal during the season. Our (QB) Dylan Meier has made some plays and is showing better poise. I'm proud of the way he has matured.”
Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel
“Texas is a great football team, and they did the things necessary to win. We have a tough challenge ahead against Oklahoma State, and (TB) Vernand Morency is a great player, compact, shifty as a runner, and has his own running style. OSU has a great offensive line, and Donovan Woods is doing a great job running that offense. Our defense is doing okay, and Oklahoma State is among the top 2-3 in the nation in turnover margin. (DB) Shirdonya Mitchell is a former wide receiver who has made the adjustment well to the secondary. We have things we think we do well, and we will look at problems any other defense (or offense) has had and work some of those things into the game plan.”
Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan
“We had a good win over Baylor, and we're looking forward to a big challenge down at Kansas State. I have studied the last 10 years of the rivalry, and I know how important this game is to both teams. You have to look at the divisional standings, and this magnifies the game even more. Kansas State has talent at every position, they play hard, compete intensely, and will be a tough test. Our team is getting stronger and developing, and our strength coach has been one of the most important people on our staff. Psychologically, it is important to have good strength training, and it has helped our team. Our guys (student-athletes) have responded well to everything we have asked of them.”
Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops
“I felt positive and good about the way our team responded last week at Kansas State. Kansas State is always well coached, tough and persistent. Jason White was excellent with his four touchdown passes and had some great throws and pickups in the second half of some of our scoring drives. Coach (Mark) Mangino and his staff have done a great job at Kansas. They have turned the attitude around and are playing good football at this point. (LB) Gabe Toomey has played well for Kansas, and he's still progressing defensively. Mark Mangino and I were together at Kansas State and Oklahoma for eight years, and our families are close. On the field it's program vs. program.”
Oklahoma State Coach Les Miles
“Texas A&M played extremely well against us. We made some mistakes early in the game and had a difficult time coming back. Missouri is a very talented team, very solid on offense and defense, and we have our work cut out for us Saturday at Columbia. We go on the road to Columbia and we are taking these next three games one at a time. We just need to get back on track. The rest of our schedule takes on a whole new caliber. Nathan Peterson has a knee injury, and we'll know more this week. It's difficult to come back any time when you're behind, and we want to use the clock and the running game. We are structured to give the ball to the running backs more often this year.”
Texas Coach Mack Brown
“It was a great win over Missouri. Cedric Benson ran well, and we were to control the line of scrimmage pretty well. Texas Tech's punter doesn't letter; they go for it on fourth down most of the time. It's a real challenge to stop themhopefully, we can slow them down some. (LB) Derrick Johnson is playing as well as any defensive player in the country, and we just have two seniors on defense. We'll have to find a way to get to (Tech QB) Sonny Cumbie). He's one of a lot of quarterbacks in the country who are tall with great arms and good accuracy. Tech's offense is different than anyone we will face all year, and we plan to start Vince Young at quarterback.”
Texas A&M Coach Dennis Franchione
“(QB) Reggie McNeal is very deserving of the national and conference honors this week. He had a great game against Oklahoma State. We feel good about the start of Big 12 play and got a good road win. It's hard to pinpoint one thing in the second year of programs we have taken over, but some of that was the first year we were in a new program. Many of them were down when our staff arrived. We talked to our players Sunday, and we understand that all glory is fleeting. Week to week, we need to do what has gotten this team to this point. Colorado is a physical team and likes to run the football. Their defense is giving up yards but not points.”
Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach
“We're looking forward to playing Texas, and we're just getting into our preparations. Most of our games have been sold out, and this one has been sold out the longest, so it takes on more importance with the fans. We haven't really had an open date since I've been here, so there was some culture shock Saturday night. Here at Tech, A&M, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are all big games for us as well as Texas. The Texas rivalry goes back a long way to the Southwest Conference days. Our defense is a year older, and we played seven freshmen last year. There isn't a specific player who has had a great impact, but we improved rapidly as a unit last season. It has come together well.”
“We made some mistakes at Nebraska, and I don't know whether it was a case of stage fright. We need to get after it and get ready for another Big 12 Conference opponent at home in Iowa State. The situations are similar in the Big 12 and the SEC when you're rebuilding. We just need to get focused and execute better, identify talent and keep recruiting. Having experienced the SEC at Kentucky, it's not more difficult. The quality of opponents is very good. Saturday's game would be our first conference win and a step for us in our growth and development in the program. Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer is a good athlete and he runs the offense well.”
Colorado Coach Gary Barnett
“We had a great special teams' effort all day against Iowa State, and Mason Crosby was spectacular with 54- and 60-yard field goals. Punter John Torp dominated the game, too, and gave us great field position. I don't why the defense has been so tough inside the 20, and we're working to improve on offense and get some consistency. We have our work cut out at Texas A&M because they have developed into one of the great defensive teams in the country and have a superb quarterback in Reggie McNeal. We will start Joel Klatt at quarterback Saturday. We have a great challenge on the road at Texas A&M Saturday, and I emphasize challenge. That's a tough atmosphere on the road.”
Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney
“We played hard and held Colorado without a touchdown for the last 55 minutes of the game. We missed a 22- and 24-yard field goal, and (CU kicker) Mason Crosby hit a 60- and 54-yard field goal. We have a tough road game at Baylor, and coach Guy Morriss is doing a great job there. They scored three touchdowns against Nebraska in the third quarter. This is the youngest team I've had at Iowa State, and Baylor has 14 starters but some very young people. (QB) Bret Meyer has improved for us, and we'll see how the game goes to decide about playing two quarterbacks. We have to keep avoiding dropped passes and keep improving in the offensive line.”
Kansas Coach Mark Mangino
“We will be traveling to Norman to play an awfully fine Oklahoma team. Traditionally, OU has a strong defense, and they are first in the conference in scoring defense. They have some tremendous defensive ends and great linebackers and a tremendous secondary. (QB) Jason White has fine mental toughness, and Adrian Peterson is a tremendous running back. Who wouldn't like to have a running back like Kejuan Jones? OU is well-coached and just tremendous all around. We probably spent one day exclusively on Oklahoma last week in practice. We have worked with our quarterbacks and want to practice a few days; both of them may play Saturday.
Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder
“It was a very interesting game for 3 quarters against Oklahoma, and we just couldn't keep tempo all the way through the game. Our offense and kicking game gave us some opportunities early in the game, but we had a big swing with the early fumble at the OU 18-yard line. Our football team responded well on offense at times, and we need to keep doing that. Nebraska proved the quality of their football program with a big win last week. There is so much there on offense and so much to prepare for when you play Nebraska. (QB) Joe Dailey has improved a great deal during the season. Our (QB) Dylan Meier has made some plays and is showing better poise. I'm proud of the way he has matured.”
Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel
“Texas is a great football team, and they did the things necessary to win. We have a tough challenge ahead against Oklahoma State, and (TB) Vernand Morency is a great player, compact, shifty as a runner, and has his own running style. OSU has a great offensive line, and Donovan Woods is doing a great job running that offense. Our defense is doing okay, and Oklahoma State is among the top 2-3 in the nation in turnover margin. (DB) Shirdonya Mitchell is a former wide receiver who has made the adjustment well to the secondary. We have things we think we do well, and we will look at problems any other defense (or offense) has had and work some of those things into the game plan.”
Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan
“We had a good win over Baylor, and we're looking forward to a big challenge down at Kansas State. I have studied the last 10 years of the rivalry, and I know how important this game is to both teams. You have to look at the divisional standings, and this magnifies the game even more. Kansas State has talent at every position, they play hard, compete intensely, and will be a tough test. Our team is getting stronger and developing, and our strength coach has been one of the most important people on our staff. Psychologically, it is important to have good strength training, and it has helped our team. Our guys (student-athletes) have responded well to everything we have asked of them.”
Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops
“I felt positive and good about the way our team responded last week at Kansas State. Kansas State is always well coached, tough and persistent. Jason White was excellent with his four touchdown passes and had some great throws and pickups in the second half of some of our scoring drives. Coach (Mark) Mangino and his staff have done a great job at Kansas. They have turned the attitude around and are playing good football at this point. (LB) Gabe Toomey has played well for Kansas, and he's still progressing defensively. Mark Mangino and I were together at Kansas State and Oklahoma for eight years, and our families are close. On the field it's program vs. program.”
Oklahoma State Coach Les Miles
“Texas A&M played extremely well against us. We made some mistakes early in the game and had a difficult time coming back. Missouri is a very talented team, very solid on offense and defense, and we have our work cut out for us Saturday at Columbia. We go on the road to Columbia and we are taking these next three games one at a time. We just need to get back on track. The rest of our schedule takes on a whole new caliber. Nathan Peterson has a knee injury, and we'll know more this week. It's difficult to come back any time when you're behind, and we want to use the clock and the running game. We are structured to give the ball to the running backs more often this year.”
Texas Coach Mack Brown
“It was a great win over Missouri. Cedric Benson ran well, and we were to control the line of scrimmage pretty well. Texas Tech's punter doesn't letter; they go for it on fourth down most of the time. It's a real challenge to stop themhopefully, we can slow them down some. (LB) Derrick Johnson is playing as well as any defensive player in the country, and we just have two seniors on defense. We'll have to find a way to get to (Tech QB) Sonny Cumbie). He's one of a lot of quarterbacks in the country who are tall with great arms and good accuracy. Tech's offense is different than anyone we will face all year, and we plan to start Vince Young at quarterback.”
Texas A&M Coach Dennis Franchione
“(QB) Reggie McNeal is very deserving of the national and conference honors this week. He had a great game against Oklahoma State. We feel good about the start of Big 12 play and got a good road win. It's hard to pinpoint one thing in the second year of programs we have taken over, but some of that was the first year we were in a new program. Many of them were down when our staff arrived. We talked to our players Sunday, and we understand that all glory is fleeting. Week to week, we need to do what has gotten this team to this point. Colorado is a physical team and likes to run the football. Their defense is giving up yards but not points.”
Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach
“We're looking forward to playing Texas, and we're just getting into our preparations. Most of our games have been sold out, and this one has been sold out the longest, so it takes on more importance with the fans. We haven't really had an open date since I've been here, so there was some culture shock Saturday night. Here at Tech, A&M, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are all big games for us as well as Texas. The Texas rivalry goes back a long way to the Southwest Conference days. Our defense is a year older, and we played seven freshmen last year. There isn't a specific player who has had a great impact, but we improved rapidly as a unit last season. It has come together well.”
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