University of Oklahoma Athletics

Mike Stoops Media Day Quotes

Mike Stoops Media Day Quotes

Oklahoma Football Media Day
Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops
Aug. 2, 2014

Opening comment:
“It’s been a pretty rough couple of days. It’s been fun being back on the field with this group, with so many expectations. The thing you have to guard against -- we were in a different position a year ago, trying to find our way as a defense and as a team. Now everyone is patting you on the back and telling you how good you are when we haven’t played, really, a game. It’s something you have to protect yourself from. Certainly players who played well a year ago, there’s no guarantee. You have to make yourself a better player, a better team and a better defense. Certainly that’s our goal. To me, expectations are met when you make sure your work habits match those expectations. That’s what we have to get back to; the things that make us better as a team.

“Certainly there are signs that we can be a better defense than we were a year ago, but again, it’s a whole new year. We have to start from ground zero and work this group into a position that can consistently compete every time we step onto the field, where our discipline, our attitudes, our technique will carry us through 12, 13 games. That’s the attitude we have to have if we are going to strive to be as good as we can be. I can see a little bit of that creeping in over the summer.

“It’s early but we haven’t been as good as we need to be. I was hoping for more earlier on, but it’s early. We have to knock some rust off and get back out there; have that same hunger and desire that we had a year ago. That’s probably my biggest fear as a defensive coordinator is that you can become complacent. There’s no place for that in football. If you do that you’re going to get slapped, and it will happen quickly. We need to make sure we’re not taking anything for granted.

“This year there are so many positives: the nine returning starters and all that, the way we ended last year, and have that same hunger and drive. That’s really what makes you great as a team -- striving to be the best. There’s a lot of room for improvement. Even as good at times as we were a year ago, there’s a lot of room to improve.”

On the team’s defense since he returned to OU:
“We’ve been a different team all three years. Our styles really changed from the first year to the second. I think there’s a comfort level with everything you’re doing, knowing what you’re getting from the players and coaches who have been together for our second year as a group. Our players have improved. Our enthusiasm, our excitement as a team has improved. That’s really what I’ve noticed. Our kids have gotten stronger throughout the three years that I’ve been here.”

On the players carrying his message throughout the locker room:
“Everyone is in first place right now. Everybody thinks they’re the best team in the country right now. We have to prove ourselves. We have to impose our will every time we step on the field. That’s why I want this group to look at the big picture.”

On what the strength of the defense is:
“At every level of our defense we feel very confident in our players. It’s probably the most complete group of 11 players we’ve put on the field in the last three years.”