Oct. 26, 2008
After a 32-20 conference loss to Nebraska, Baylor now set its sights on No. 14 Missouri as the Tigers visit Floyd Casey Stadium Saturday, Nov. 1. The homecoming kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
Here are head coach Art Briles' thoughts on the Bears' loss to Nebraska and the upcoming matchup against Missouri:
Opening Statement...
"We played with a lot of effort and a winner's attitude. That is really all that you can ask for. Home or on the road, when opportunities present themselves you have to take full advantage of them as coaches and players.... Our guys played to win, and that is all that you can ask for. Now we just have to learn to win together as a coaching staff and as a team. We are playing hard enough to win. That is my job to teach them how [to win], to help them."
On the importance of winning conference games on the road...
"Winning Big 12 games is important. That was a good chance yesterday to get a Big 12 win against a quality opponent. That is something that when we get those opportunities to win, we need to make sure and take full advantage of them."
On Nebraska controlling the play clock...
"It has kind of been there m.o. It didn't have to be an issue if we point up a couple of times in the second half, it becomes an ally instead of an enemy if we score in that third quarter, then the ball control bodes in our favor."
On the importance of momentum during the second half...
"It is all about momentum. When we didn't score there in the third quarter I think we lost a little bit of momentum, so that is something that we have to grow as a football team. If you lose it, you have to recreate it, and we never did get to that point yesterday."
On the strength of the Big 12 and the importance of growing as a program...
"If you make the All- Big 12 team that is like making the All-American team in all seriousness. It is a good league. The thing about it is, we cannot be satisfied with being in it, and we have to be a force in it. If other people grow and get better, we have to grow and get better. We cannot just sit around and watch other people flourish while we sit around and flounder as a football program. We are not going to run and hide just because everybody is good all of the sudden. We are going to get right in there and mix it up with them."
On Missouri...
"They are a team that played in the Big 12 Championship game last year and they have been rated as high as No. 2 in the nation this season. They are very capable. This is the year that they have been waiting on, and they are fulfilling. They have had a couple of tough losses, but it is hard to go through a season without getting punched once or twice, for anybody."
