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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Stoops and Players Meet with Media
September 19, 2006 | Football
NORMAN, Okla. -- OU head coach Bob Stoops and select players met with the media at the weekly football press conference in the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club Tuesday.
Senior quarterback Paul Thompson, sophomore defensive back Reggie Smith, senior defensive end Calvin Thibodeaux and junior running back Jacob Gutierrez answered questions on the Oregon game and the upcoming game with Middle Tennessee.
The Sooners host the Blue Raiders on Saturday night at 6. The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis. For complete information on receiving the game in your area, please consult our pay-per-view instructions page.
Now what's you reaction? We were denied all of that. That satisfaction going home on the plane, that satisfaction in the locker room, though not perfect, winning the football game, was taken away from us. The rankings and all of that is affected by it. So, our situation changed drastically in those moments.
Again, it's undeniable it's because of the situation in the game. With all the mistakes we made and players make in games, we don't have the opportunity to change it. Even officials on the field who are in the heat of the moment have to make a split-second decision and I get that. I've always said that is part of the game.
That wasn't the case here. What I find inexcusable and unacceptable is the views that were there and just by going what the Pac-10 commissioner said that there were ample, which means many, and the call wasn't what it should have been.
I still have trouble with that comment over the loudspeaker: Oregon possessed the football before it was stripped away. How that is explained I don't know either. Those are the two issues that are inexcusable and unacceptable to me.
I say all this in this way because I feel it's right to stand up for my football team. I'm not sitting here babying or whining about it. When I looked at my players yesterday and read the letter from the Pac-10 commissioner and what the penalties are for a particular group of people who had an opportunity to make it right and didn't -- I see the amazement in their eyes.
I conferred with all of them on what they wanted me to say and how they wanted me to say it so that's what I'm doing. I can't have all 100 kids who are my players who wanted to say something say something. I don't know how it's ever to be justified. I'm not one to say what the penalties ought to be.
Instead of being criticized for winning and how we could have played better, now we have to sit here and deal with a loss and not have the satisfaction of being 3-0 and improving our position in the polls.
I believe no one individually should be publicly ridiculed or threatened or harassed. On behalf of myself and this football team, we don't want that to happen to any individual. Anyone who has been responsible for that I would hope would stop. I do not believe under any circumstance that is right.
As a football team, we had a great practice yesterday. Our kids had an upbeat, good attitude. I believe through it all, though it is what it is, they realize that they did, no matter what anyone wants to say, play well enough to win - provided the game is officiated in the correct way. There is a sense of knowing what the potential is for this team, what our opportunities could be and what the future for the rest of the year could be. We have a lot of work to keep pushing to get better.
I'm sure it's fair to say that if you gave us an extra possession we didn't deserve, who knows what's going to happen as well. They weren't stopping us in the forth quarter.
The only reason I'm commenting on this today is because I feel the need to stick up for our players and say what they want said. The facts are what they are and as a team we put it behind us yesterday. Make no mistake about it, our focus is on Middle Tennessee. We're going to build and push ourselves to improve and get better."
On how the game's outcome was perceived by media:
In the end, they moved up and we moved down. It's like I always say; in the end it all gets down to wins and losses. Unfortunately, that's the way it is. That's what was denied us and that was a lot to be taken but we'll fight back from it and keep improving. We're not doing it with our head down or sulking - I can promise you that.
On instant reply:
I still think it's good. Even if the right call isn't made, at least it puts it out there for all to see what was and what wasn't. There is no denying that.
On President Boren's letter:
I appreciate our administration. President Boren and his support are always second to none. He's a great leader for the University and for all of us coaches. He gives us great support and guidance. I trust his judgment and appreciate him going to the forefront with it. I know Joe Castiglione would as well-because I can't. I'm only doing this because I have to say something for my players. But for me to do it and raise a big stink after the game, I become the issue. I become the story and then the true story isn't talked about.
On playing the Pac-10 again in 2008:
There is no question that Joe Castiglione and I may reconsider that game (at Washington) if the rule (about only Pac-10 referees working on Pac-10 fields) isn't changed. I think it's justified that we look into that.
On Middle Tennessee State:
Middle Tennessee is a team that is 2-1 coming off a shutout last week. Rick Stockstill is in his first year there and he's a great coach. He's been around a lot of good teams. We're focusing on our improvement and trying to correct our mistakes. We're looking forward to playing here at home.
On the defensive performance:
It's been terribly inconsistent. I think if you look at it, we've been poor early and we've been poor very late-there's a lot of good in between. The other night in Oregon, defense was part of building that lead. Then at the end, we didn't come up with the plays and the stops that we need. I see it as a lack of fundamentals and technique in a lot of areas. I still believe there is a lot of potential. Last year, we got a lot better as we went. We obviously needed to (this year) and that's what we're pushing toward.
On the offensive performance:
We're close to having some really big games. I'm very pleased with the way we're managing the game, at the way Paul, Coach Wilson and his staff are trying to move the football. With Adrian, when you have one of the best players in college football, everything revolves around him and it should. He carried a heavy load the other night and after three games, he's averaging about 30 carries a game, that's about what you want. I think it's fair to give him a few more breaks in the game. Not that he needs them, but to keep him fresh. The fact that we play-action to him is only smart.
On the secondary:
Reggie (Smith) had a great game with a bunch of deflections. We're going to continue to work in the secondary to get better play.
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SOPHOMORE DB REGGIE SMITH
On his emotions after the Oregon game:
It was unfortunate that it had to go down that way but we have to move on. It happened, it is in the past, now we have to think about Middle Tennessee State and the rest of our season. It was just terrible, I don't want to dwell on it too much, it's not going to change anything.
On the transition from the high school to college game:
Since high school, I have started since my freshman year.After I played a few games on the college level I got used it, and started playing naturally and feeling good about myself. It is all confidence. I have a lot of confidence in myself after the first few games.
On Middle Tennessee State:
They will put a lot of pressure on the secondary. It will be a good challenge. We will have to get out there this week, and get to the film room and know exactly what we are doing and what they are doing at certain times. We can't have those mental busts like we have had in the past.
On the kick return against Oregon:
I was just trying to get yardage. I was trying to get up there and get good field position. I looked up and they had a lane, so I started making people miss and get what I could up field.
On the OU defense and how they are playing:
I know we have the people to do it, it is just getting out there and actually doing it. I guess we are still feeling each other out a little bit. We have to practice like that. This week we have to get out there and practice well, go out and get better and better every week.
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SENIOR QB PAUL THOMPSON
On the apology letter from the PAC-10 Conference:
I'm glad they understand what they did and what they did was wrong, but at the same time it doesn't affect much. That was a big mistake and you can't do much to change that. We accept the apology because it doesn't change much. We feel like we've been cheated. We feel like we got a win and it was taken from us.
Senior quarterback Paul Thompson, sophomore defensive back Reggie Smith, senior defensive end Calvin Thibodeaux and junior running back Jacob Gutierrez answered questions on the Oregon game and the upcoming game with Middle Tennessee.
The Sooners host the Blue Raiders on Saturday night at 6. The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis. For complete information on receiving the game in your area, please consult our pay-per-view instructions page.
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HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
Opening statement:
To address the last game with Oregon for the last time before we move on to Middle Tennessee State, I personally wanted to comment that we as a team have looked at this thoroughly. First, we take accountability for what we could have done to change that game.
Anyone that's sitting there thinking that we're just pointing fingers and not looking at ourselves-it's not true. Through a lot of hard work Sunday, Monday and with the players, we take ownership of what differences we could have made in the football game.
That all being said, I'm proud of a football team who was an underdog on the road against a ranked football team in a sold-out, packed stadium that you all talked about being so difficult to play in and they put themselves in a position to win.
It's undeniable that the result of the officiating mistakes changed the football game. It isn't like it happened with 10 minutes to go in the football game and a lot could have happened- we were taking a knee. If we could successful take a knee for three downs, we're done and we win by six as an underdog on the road.
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Now what's you reaction? We were denied all of that. That satisfaction going home on the plane, that satisfaction in the locker room, though not perfect, winning the football game, was taken away from us. The rankings and all of that is affected by it. So, our situation changed drastically in those moments.
Again, it's undeniable it's because of the situation in the game. With all the mistakes we made and players make in games, we don't have the opportunity to change it. Even officials on the field who are in the heat of the moment have to make a split-second decision and I get that. I've always said that is part of the game.
That wasn't the case here. What I find inexcusable and unacceptable is the views that were there and just by going what the Pac-10 commissioner said that there were ample, which means many, and the call wasn't what it should have been.
I still have trouble with that comment over the loudspeaker: Oregon possessed the football before it was stripped away. How that is explained I don't know either. Those are the two issues that are inexcusable and unacceptable to me.
I say all this in this way because I feel it's right to stand up for my football team. I'm not sitting here babying or whining about it. When I looked at my players yesterday and read the letter from the Pac-10 commissioner and what the penalties are for a particular group of people who had an opportunity to make it right and didn't -- I see the amazement in their eyes.
I conferred with all of them on what they wanted me to say and how they wanted me to say it so that's what I'm doing. I can't have all 100 kids who are my players who wanted to say something say something. I don't know how it's ever to be justified. I'm not one to say what the penalties ought to be.
Instead of being criticized for winning and how we could have played better, now we have to sit here and deal with a loss and not have the satisfaction of being 3-0 and improving our position in the polls.
I believe no one individually should be publicly ridiculed or threatened or harassed. On behalf of myself and this football team, we don't want that to happen to any individual. Anyone who has been responsible for that I would hope would stop. I do not believe under any circumstance that is right.
As a football team, we had a great practice yesterday. Our kids had an upbeat, good attitude. I believe through it all, though it is what it is, they realize that they did, no matter what anyone wants to say, play well enough to win - provided the game is officiated in the correct way. There is a sense of knowing what the potential is for this team, what our opportunities could be and what the future for the rest of the year could be. We have a lot of work to keep pushing to get better.
I'm sure it's fair to say that if you gave us an extra possession we didn't deserve, who knows what's going to happen as well. They weren't stopping us in the forth quarter.
The only reason I'm commenting on this today is because I feel the need to stick up for our players and say what they want said. The facts are what they are and as a team we put it behind us yesterday. Make no mistake about it, our focus is on Middle Tennessee. We're going to build and push ourselves to improve and get better."
On how the game's outcome was perceived by media:
In the end, they moved up and we moved down. It's like I always say; in the end it all gets down to wins and losses. Unfortunately, that's the way it is. That's what was denied us and that was a lot to be taken but we'll fight back from it and keep improving. We're not doing it with our head down or sulking - I can promise you that.
On instant reply:
I still think it's good. Even if the right call isn't made, at least it puts it out there for all to see what was and what wasn't. There is no denying that.
On President Boren's letter:
I appreciate our administration. President Boren and his support are always second to none. He's a great leader for the University and for all of us coaches. He gives us great support and guidance. I trust his judgment and appreciate him going to the forefront with it. I know Joe Castiglione would as well-because I can't. I'm only doing this because I have to say something for my players. But for me to do it and raise a big stink after the game, I become the issue. I become the story and then the true story isn't talked about.
On playing the Pac-10 again in 2008:
There is no question that Joe Castiglione and I may reconsider that game (at Washington) if the rule (about only Pac-10 referees working on Pac-10 fields) isn't changed. I think it's justified that we look into that.
On Middle Tennessee State:
Middle Tennessee is a team that is 2-1 coming off a shutout last week. Rick Stockstill is in his first year there and he's a great coach. He's been around a lot of good teams. We're focusing on our improvement and trying to correct our mistakes. We're looking forward to playing here at home.
On the defensive performance:
It's been terribly inconsistent. I think if you look at it, we've been poor early and we've been poor very late-there's a lot of good in between. The other night in Oregon, defense was part of building that lead. Then at the end, we didn't come up with the plays and the stops that we need. I see it as a lack of fundamentals and technique in a lot of areas. I still believe there is a lot of potential. Last year, we got a lot better as we went. We obviously needed to (this year) and that's what we're pushing toward.
On the offensive performance:
We're close to having some really big games. I'm very pleased with the way we're managing the game, at the way Paul, Coach Wilson and his staff are trying to move the football. With Adrian, when you have one of the best players in college football, everything revolves around him and it should. He carried a heavy load the other night and after three games, he's averaging about 30 carries a game, that's about what you want. I think it's fair to give him a few more breaks in the game. Not that he needs them, but to keep him fresh. The fact that we play-action to him is only smart.
On the secondary:
Reggie (Smith) had a great game with a bunch of deflections. We're going to continue to work in the secondary to get better play.
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SOPHOMORE DB REGGIE SMITH
On his emotions after the Oregon game:
It was unfortunate that it had to go down that way but we have to move on. It happened, it is in the past, now we have to think about Middle Tennessee State and the rest of our season. It was just terrible, I don't want to dwell on it too much, it's not going to change anything.
On the transition from the high school to college game:
Since high school, I have started since my freshman year.After I played a few games on the college level I got used it, and started playing naturally and feeling good about myself. It is all confidence. I have a lot of confidence in myself after the first few games.
On Middle Tennessee State:
They will put a lot of pressure on the secondary. It will be a good challenge. We will have to get out there this week, and get to the film room and know exactly what we are doing and what they are doing at certain times. We can't have those mental busts like we have had in the past.
On the kick return against Oregon:
I was just trying to get yardage. I was trying to get up there and get good field position. I looked up and they had a lane, so I started making people miss and get what I could up field.
On the OU defense and how they are playing:
I know we have the people to do it, it is just getting out there and actually doing it. I guess we are still feeling each other out a little bit. We have to practice like that. This week we have to get out there and practice well, go out and get better and better every week.
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SENIOR QB PAUL THOMPSON
On the apology letter from the PAC-10 Conference:
I'm glad they understand what they did and what they did was wrong, but at the same time it doesn't affect much. That was a big mistake and you can't do much to change that. We accept the apology because it doesn't change much. We feel like we've been cheated. We feel like we got a win and it was taken from us.
I would love to play Oregon again. We've got a bye-week -- maybe we could play them then.
On what he thought happened from the sidelines:
I thought they (Oregon) recovered it. I did see Allen Patrick with the ball at the end but I thought maybe they were fighting and Oregon recovered it and Allen grabbed it at the end, as the officials thought as well. So I didn't really know anything until I came back here and saw it on the news.
On starting well early:
In the last couple of games, we have come out in the second half real efficient and effective. We've been moving the ball and putting up big numbers. We're going to try different things to get us started quicker. That goes with the game plan and with the plays that are called, getting the offense mentally ready to go out and make big plays.
We're going to try a couple things to get out on top. I think the last couple games we have been down at halftime or tied, so we definitely want to come out quicker and continue to do what we have in the second half as well.
It could be a mental thing. We just have to overcome that. We have some young guys out there and it might take awhile to get rolling. It might take a couple plays to add confidence. I think in upcoming games we will improve in that area.
The way we come out in the second half is big-we have the same guys coming out in the second half that we did in the first so I don't know what it is. We're going to try to get plays in early that we feel comfortable with and we're good at executing so we get a good jump. We just need to focus and jump out on the guys.
On this week's focus:
I think we got the bad taste out of our mouths for the most part. Our focus is on Middle Tennessee now. Our first practice back yesterday was good. Everyone was saying 'Let's just focus. What happened, happened and we can't do anything about it, let's move on.' I think everyone feels confident in what we displayed last weekend so we can move on from there in a positive way.
Everyone take it (last week) for what it's worth. Everyone has their own opinion on it but we feel if we take care of our goal that we have set forth on the season, everything should work out in our favor.
We can take a lot from this (Oregon) game. We want to build week in, week out on our previous performance. Our main goal was to not have any turnovers and we accomplished that. We put ourselves in a position to win on the road in a hostile environment. There's a lot to build on. We feel good about where we're at going into the next game.
On Adrian Peterson:
At the end of every run, he's punishing somebody. That gets me pumped up and gets our whole line pumped up. On one play when Coop (Jon Cooper) got hurt, AD had just run someone over and I couldn't decide if I wanted to congratulate AD or check on Coop because I was so excited.
I made sure Coop was okay and then I ran over to Adrian and just told him 'That's the way to finish a run.' That's what he does -- he's done that since he's been here and it's nothing new but it makes defenses a lot more reluctant to go and square up on him.
He's competitor. He gets the ball in his hands and that's why the team admires him-that's why he's a great running back. Sometimes after a play, I want to get in the huddle and talk to some guys but I can't do that all the time. With the clock running down, I have to get the play and get back in the huddle. I'll tell Adrian, 'Get in there. Get the guys lined up and ready to play.' He's definitely a big leader for us.
On Malcolm Kelly:
His ability is great. I think that's obvious. I definitely feel comfortable with him and I've known what kind of playmaker he's been since he's been here. I feel comfortable going to him with the ball and I know that he's going to make plays. That's what he does.
On finishing drives to get touchdowns:
We have to focus. When we get down there like we did Saturday, we've got to focus harder. It was definitely a loud environment and that makes it even more important to focus. We had penalties that kept backing us up and backing us up. I'm screaming out there. I have to be as loud as I can and they have to listen as well as they can. If you get three points every drive, chances are you're not going to win the game.
On running the ball:
I enjoy running the ball and I feel comfortable doing it. I think it puts more pressure on the defense. I would have had more carries but Oregon had a plan for that. A lot of the reads, I handed it off instead of running it. I don't think our game plan is for me to run the ball 10-11 times a game.
On Middle Tennessee State's defense:
They're physical. They've forced maybe 11 fumbles this year and they will blitz probably 50 to 60 percent of the time, so we've got to stay on our toes with that.
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SENIOR DE CALVIN THIBODEAUX
On what has been the biggest struggle for the defensive unit:
It is execution. We just aren't executing and doing things we have to do. The defensive coaches can make perfect calls, and we just don't execute. When we see it on film, the mistakes are things that can be easily fixed. No one on defense is holding their head downs like it can't be fixed. It is not the end of the world, they are some things we can get fixed.
On moving forward after the Oregon game:
We know what happened with the game. We just have to come out and put all of our attention on our next opponent, which is Middle Tennessee. We just have to put the same focus and prepare the same. If we prepare and practice hard, then everything will be okay.
On what they can take away from the loss:
We have a loss on our record. It was a hostile home environment. We started out bad as a defense. In the fourth quarter we were up 33-20. You can take from that, that we were tough on the road and could have possibly won the game in a very tough environment. Everyone on offense and defense, we had a chance to win the game.
On the defense and what needs to get fixed:
We want to get it fixed. It is something that we can get fixed. When we watch films where they were breaking us down and popping big ones, it is little things that we can get fixed. We are not far off. We have to play on one card. Right now we are not. And until we do that you are going to see big plays. I think that once we start fixing the little things, that everything else will fall into place.
On the expectations for the rest of the season, and if they can still win the National Championship:
Definitely, we just have to let it all play out. We can't control voters, we can only control what we can control. We have to go out and execute and play every game hard and let the rest play out. We can't control how someone votes or what a computer does.
On the mentality of the defense after the game:
We are moving on to the next game. It definitely hurts. We hate the position we put ourselves in and move on to the next game. On the defensive side, we feel that we could have never allowed the onside kick to have happened. We kind of feel like we put ourselves in that position.
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JUNIOR RB JACOB GUTIERREZ
On his playing time this year:
It is definitely hard not being able to play in the role that you want to, but Adrian (Peterson) is a phenomenal player and the things he has done for the team and continues to do for our team, there is no question that he should be out there on the field. Everyone has a role on the team and right now mine and Allen Patrick's is on special teams. If Adrian needs a little rest, like he did last week, Allen or I will be there to give him a little break. He is definitely our workhorse though.
On the importance of special teams:
It was a big emphasis for us at the beginning of the season, two-a-days and everything. Special teams can be exactly that, special, with a returner like Adrian and Reggie back there on kick returns and Reggie on punt returns it is easy to hold a block for a little while and let those guys do what they do.
On Reggie Smith's kick return against Oregon:
Reggie is amazing. He has a lot of talent and to see him make the cuts that he makes is just amazing. I am glad he is on our team. He put us in a position to make a field goal to win it. He did all he could do and our return team was also great on getting their blocks.
On the team's reaction to the calls at the end of the game:
Back at the airport we got to see a little bit of the replays, as far as the onside and everything. It is hard to watch that and to see something like that happen. All these guys played their hearts out. Adrian played his heart out, and to lose a game like that is hard to take and hard to swallow.
On the first practice after the Oregon game:
Yesterday's practice was putting it in the past. Moving on, getting a scouting report from Middle Tennessee and just getting on to our next game. It is definitely important to put that game behind us and get on to the next one.
On his community service:
I go to elementary schools, Madison and Cleveland specifically. I just go to different classrooms and check on the kids, see how they are doing. I get an opportunity to play some football outside, throw the ball around and shoot some hoops. Sometimes we go outside and read some, and play some instruments. At Irving Middle school we go in the mornings and get as many kids as we can and we talk a little about life and the gospel and the word.
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