Baylor Coaches Media Luncheon -- 9/3/02
9/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2002
Director of Athletics Tom Stanton and head football coach Kevin Steele spoke to the media at Tuesday's weekly press luncheon. Below are excerpts from their comments.
Director of Athletics Tom Stanton:
"We've hust started this football season. We're all a little hurt, a little wounded. I think anytime you absorb a loss like this and have the love and care our coaches have for these student-athletes, it hurts. Nobody enjoys losing... but it's not the end of the world. We're not going to go jump off a bridge or slit our wrists because we went out to California and didn't win a game."
"What has Kevin Steele done for Baylor? He has represented the faith-based mission of the University to the utmost. The academic performance of the football program has improved tremendously... I asked Kevin personally to instill discipline into this team... and he has certainly done that.
"I am proud not only of Kevin, but of the leadership all of our coaches have brought. This was a program that sorely needed organizational skills... Kevin and his staff has done that. This staff's relationship with Texas high school coaches is the best since Grant Teaff was here.
"I asked him to run a clean program. Maybe some people think I'm wrong about that, some don't, but it's what we aspire to. I can't speak enough for the character and integrity of Kevin Steele."
"Eventually, it all boils down to winning. We all know that. And we're going to win at Baylor University.
"Kevin Steele is the leader of our football program. That's not going to change just because we went out to California and lost a football game.
"Kevin Steele is our football coach, and is going to stay our football coach. He will be out coach this week, and next week, and the week after. Some folks may not like that, but that's the way it's going to be.
"When the season is over, if Kevin Steele and I sit down and decide that we want to do something else, then we'll decide we want to do something else."
Head Football Coach Kevin Steele:
On last week's loss at Cal:
"The best way to address that is to say that it was ugly. Unexpected. Unacceptable. Very frustrating. Quite frankly, enough is enough. We've got to take care of business and win football games here. We've got to learn how to win."
"One game does not make a season. It was so unexpected, it's been a shock to all of us in the program. I also think in many ways, it's been a galvanizing experience."
"Losing tends to be very gut-wrenching... As the team's leader, I need to make sure we recover, and recover quick. I speak for this football team, for the staff and for myself when I tell you that we cannot and will not forget that one."
On this week's game against Samford:
"Somebody asked me why we're playing Samford. We had to get a 12th game. Samford came about as a sister Baptist institution."
On the Baylor quarterbacks:
"I'm not ready to disclose [who will start Saturday]. It's not a controversy, and we're not trying to keep a secret. I just don't think we need to say right now. Whoever plays will play well. If we play two quarterbacks, they both will play well."
"I feel bad for Greg [Cicero]. He took a lot of blame for the loss, and there were two crucial mistakes. But a lot of people made two crucial mistakes. That position tends to be singled out, and often takes way more of the blame than is deserved."
"Aaron [Karas] has progressed very nicely. You know, minus the two big plays, Greg played pretty well. Aaron is not quite as far along, but he's the kind of guy who makes plays. It's not always the right play, but he seems to make it work."
On the Athletic Director's words:
"I appreciate it. But this program is not about Kevin Steele. It's about creating and sustaining winning. I have no fear of the unknown... Quitting is not an option, because when you teach your players not to quit, can you let the thought enter your own mind? I don't think so."
