Baylor Coaches Media Luncheon -- 8/27/02
8/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2002
Three of Baylor's head coaches spoke to the media at Tuesday's press luncheon. Below are excerpts from their comments.
Head Soccer Coach Nick Cowell:
On starting the new season:
"It seems like the last nine months have gone by fast. I'm excited about another season. Hopefully the injury gods will smile on us more this year."
On last weekend's scrimmage:
"It was an excellent runout for us, to play against top players without the pressure of bigtime competition. Our confidence level is important right now. We're a fairly young team, but with lots of experience."
On hosting the Baylor Labor Day Classic this weekend:
"We're excited to kick off the season with these teams coming in. Louisiana-Lafayette is vastly improved, but still a team we should beat. Mississippi State is a very tough team that will give us a lot of tough questions to answer."
Head Volleyball Coach Brian Hosfeld:
On the upcoming season:
"We're coming off a summer when the players took ownership in the program... We have a good group of returnees who are physically prepared. The key focus will be on mixing in the freshmen."
On starting the season this weekend:
"This is the toughest tournament by far that we've started a season with... All three of the other teams won their conferences last year, and I think two made the NCAA Tournament. It will be a real good test for where we are."
Head Football Coach Kevin Steele:
On starting the season:
"It's game week, and that's good. I saw several games this past weekend, and wished we'd played... I know our guys are ready to play... We'll fine tune things this week in practice, so we'll be fresh and ready to go."
"This football team has a lot of confidence in each other and in the package, due to execution and also to the talent across the board. What this game will do is give us the opportunity to show that -- not so much to others, though that is important, but to prove to themselves where they are."
On this year's team vs. previous seasons:
"All we've had is practice, but our practices are a whole lot better. The guys have energy and excitement... You can tell the execution is better, even in practice. Compared to last spring, last year, two years ago -- it's much better."
"This team will hit the ground running, but I don't think I've ever been around a successful team that was not in a building process. The team you see playing at Cal... is distinctly different from any team since I've been here. It's more focused, and has the weapons to take care of the mission."
"Last year, the team was very willing, with a lot of 'want-to'. Their confidence level was good... This football team realizes they can control their own destiny."
On Baylor wide receiver Reggie Newhouse:
"Reggie is a pretty special guy, off the field as well as on. When you factor in that a lot of the [other team's] focus and coverages go on Reggie, and that he's had to do it in different circumstances, then [the numbers] are that much more impressive... Reggie has continued to improve, and the rest of the receiver corp has elevated themselves to that. Hopefully things will open up more for Reggie, or if not, then for the other guys."
On the team's running backs:
"There's no perfect answer when you have three guys with good ability. Jonathan Golden is our No. 1 guy, Rashad Armstrong our No. 2. Both will likely get carries, and we'll go with the hot hand."
