Sunday Conversation #3 With Guy Morriss
9/26/2004 12:00:00â¯AM | Football
Sept. 26, 2004
Coach Guy Morriss' 2-1 Baylor football team opens Big 12 play Saturday, Oct. 2, at 3-0 and No. 5 Texas. Kick-off is set for 11:30 a.m. in Austin, and the game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis.
Big 12 Special Order Sports, FSN Southwest's pay-per-view division, will produce and distribute on pay-per-view the Oct. 2 Baylor-Texas football game to participating cable television systems in Texas and nationwide to satellite dish customers. Suggested retail price for the 11:30 AM CT kickoff from Austin is $29.95. Fans interested in purchasing the telecast should contact their local programming provider for availability in their area.
The game is being telecast on pay-per-view because it was not selected for over-the-air broadcast or cable television coverage. Under conference TV rules, games not picked up for regular television distribution can only be televised live on pay-per-view.
"We worked with the universities at both schools to make this telecast possible," said FSN Southwest Senior Vice President/General Manager Jon Heidtke. "We're giving fans an opportunity to watch a game that they otherwise wouldn't be able to see on television at an affordable price."
Bill Land, host of FSN's weekly BIG 12 SHOWCASE magazine show, calls play-by-play and is joined by former New York Giants linebacker Gary Reasons as analyst and sideline reporter John Rhadigan.
A list of participating cable systems and satellite providers offering the pay-per-view telecast will be announced later.
The Baylor-Texas game will be replayed on FSN Southwest throughout the network's coverage area (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana) on Monday, Oct. 4 at 2:00 AM CT.
Here are portions of Coach Morriss' Sunday media teleconference.
Q: Did you or your players feel any sense of redemption with last night's victory over North Texas?
Morriss: "I don't and I can't speak for the players. Last year is last year. We as coaches don't try and motivate the players with revenge or anything like that."
Q: Do you feel last night's game showed that you were a better team than the one that lost to North Texas last year?
Morriss: "We were a better team last night than the one that went to Denton (last year). We didn't put the ball on the ground six times in the first half (last night), that was the biggest difference in this year's game vs. last year's game. Turnovers."
Q: How do you feel about your team right now?
Morriss: "I liked the way that they played last night. I think that each week they've picked up their focus and intensity level. We have to keep taking steps in those areas because the level of competition is going to increase starting this week. We've got some things we have to clean up in all three phases of our game or we won't have a chance to be in the game against Texas."
Q: How do you feel about your running game?
Morriss: "We are encouraged to see the results we had last night. We went into the game trying to throw the football a little bit more to maybe loosen the defense up and I think that's what happened. Last night, a switch kind of went on with our kids and we came off the ball better, blocked better and protected the quarterback better. As a result of all that, we got the running game going and were able to throw the ball a little bit more. They (North Texas) got back on their heels a little bit more, that's why I think our running game got going. Paul (Mosley) certainly had a nice game and Anthony Krieg was running hard. They were feeding off each other."
Q: Is it good to have the balance in your run game with Anthony Krieg and Paul Mosley?
Morriss: "Yes, as long as they are both being productive. But, if one of the guys is having a big night and the other guy is kind of struggling, then obviously you are going to stay with the guy that's got the hot hand. But, when they are both running hard and being effective, I think it is good you can split time. They are teammates and friends, encouraging each other and feeding off one another. That's a good situation to be in."
Q: It looked like all three phases of the game made plays last night against North Texas?
Morriss: "I think we played a little bit more with an attitude to win rather than just playing to not get beat. We played reckless and threw our bodies around good. I thought both coordinators did a good job of being aggressive in their play-calling. The kids like that (aggressive) style of play on both sides of the ball. I know we can't do that every week, but where we were at last night, it was good to see."
Q: Willie Andrews really seemed to fly around the football last night. Talk about his play against North Texas.
Morriss: "This kid has a knack for blitzing people. It is an art, I guess. I've seen a lot of guys, you send them and they just can't seem to make a play. They get juked, fall down or whatever. But, Willie has a knack for it and really came up big last night."
Q: Talk about the play of your secondary.
Morriss: "They are doing a good job, they did last night. We've got the kids in position and they are making break-ups. I think it is a group that really has improved."
Q: How much does the defense gain from its second-half performance (allowed 1 first down and 30 yards) against North Texas?
Morriss: "A lot. That has to help their confidence. Those are good, impressive numbers, I don't care who you are playing against. I think the thing that gets me excited is how they did it. They were playing relaxed, aggressive and flying around. That's the tempo we need to play with each week. That's what I'm happy about"
Q: Who stood out on defense against North Texas?
Morriss: "It was just a good, overall team defensive effort. The linemen were making plays, and I thought Michael Tolbert was making some plays and disrupting some things. We were good in the secondary. It was a good overall effort by the whole defense, really."
Q: How did the offensive line play?
Morriss: "They did a pretty good job. Glen (Oskin) played pretty well. We'll probably start the same five against Texas and see how it goes."
Q: What can you take from this game (North Texas)?
Morriss: "We haven't worked ourselves out of a job yet. There's some things we have to clean up and some areas we have to be a lot better in. For the moment, we are pleased with the progress we've made and the kids did what they needed to do last night. So, we have to keep improving and try and take another step this week."
Q: Was that easily the most comfortable Dane (King) has been in the offense this year?
Morriss: "I think it was his best outing, no question. I think he is just getting more comfortable in the system. He's a confident kid and I think the folks around him allowed him to showcase his abilities last night a little bit more than in previous games. The protection, for the most part, was pretty good, the running game was working. I don't think he had the feeling that he had to be the guy to carry the load, so that took some of the pressure off him."
Q: How do you keep your players from being intimidated by Texas?
Morriss: "I think this week we talk a little bit about the last Oklahoma game, going up there into their place, playing a highly-ranked team, and remind them of those experiences that they had last year. We have to have a good week of work, our focus has to be there, we have to clean up some technical stuff, spend the extra time in the film room, and just do a great job of preparing ourselves. It is kind of up to them, players play, and coaches coach."
Baylor Notebook: The Bears will take Monday off, then practice Tuesday through Thursday this week ... Junior quarterback Dane King threw for 213 yards against North Texas to become the first Bear signal caller since Aaron Karas in 2002 to record consecutive 200-yard passing games ... King is also the 18th player in school history to record at least two, 200-yard passing games in his career ... Baylor recorded 2004 season offensive highs for points scored (37), first downs (24), rushing yards (158) and total offense yards (371), while it had season-lows for turnovers (1), penalties (6) and penalty yards (41) against North Texas ... The Baylor defense allowed 2004 season-lows for first downs (8), rush attempts (35), rush yards (98), completions (6), pass yards (126), total plays (54), total yards (224) and total points (14) against the Mean Green ... Baylor has now won nine straight games when scoring 30 or more points since a 49-42 triple overtime loss to Missouri in Waco during the 1996 season ... Sophomore place-kicker Ryan Havens had five touchbacks on eight kickoffs vs. North Texas and for the season has recorded a touchback 64.4 percent of the time (10-of-16 kickoffs) ... Senior place-kicker Kenny Webb's 13 kicking points vs. North Texas were career-high and moved his career total to 68 points, good for 10th on Baylor's all-time scoring list for points scored by a kicker ... Webb's 11 career made field goals equal the 10th-best total in Baylor history (Wesley Bradshaw also had 11 career field goals back in 1921-22) ... Junior free safety Maurice Lane had a season-high 13 tackles (12 solo) against North Texas, marking the 10th time in his 26-game Baylor career he had recorded a double-digit effort. All of Lane's double-figure outings have come over his last 15 starts ... Sophomore punter Daniel Sepulveda leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally in punting this week with his 48.6 yards per punt average ... First-year Baylor defensive coordinator Bill Bradley was a senior tri-captain on Texas' 1968 team which tied for first in the Southwest Conference, beat Tennessee, 36-13, in the Cotton Bowl, and finished 9-1-1 and ranked 3rd in the final AP poll and 5th in the season-ending UPI listing.
