Oct. 7, 2008
Head Coach Art Briles
Opening statement...
Saturday was not the outcome that we expected. People may wonder, but I certainly don't think the score was indicative of the closeness of the teams. I think OU came out of the gates pretty fast, had some good things happen to them early in the game. The last three quarters was a 21-17 football game, so I'm proud of the way our guys battled and fought. We are going to continue to do that and get better and win which is what we need to do this Saturday against Iowa State.
On learning anything new about your team after playing against Oklahoma...
I didn't learn anything new about our football team. I knew we would fight hard, play hard and compete hard. I think in a game like we had Saturday you have got to have a couple of things happen early on as opposed to Oklahoma having things happen early. We have been through some wars already. The guys are feeling tested and ready to go. We just need to go out and win. That's our approach this week - to go out and win a Big 12 football game.
On Iowa State's offense...
They're really getting better. They have been moving the ball, getting points. Their moving the ball, doing a good job, the quarterback (Austen Arnaud) is doing a good job for them, I think they have a lot of confidence in them. I think he has got a good arm and he runs the ball well enough to keep you off balance. They are a pretty established football program. From 2000-2005, they were in bowl games five of those six seasons. They are fighting to get to a bowl game just like everyone else is.
On both teams being hungry to win...
At any time in any conference play, everyone is going to be hungry because the stakes are higher. You have your conference [schedule] and your non-conference [schedule]. That is where we live and play and that is where we recruit so that's where we're going to be judged and so we need to do well in conference play. When you play in conference games, you are going to fight hard to win and that is the bottom line in the Big 12.
On Iowa State being ranked nationally in defensive turnovers...
I'm aware of that on both sides. Our guys have done a good job taking care of the football the last four games. We hope that trend continues because it is a big plus for us on both sides of the ball. It gives us an opportunity to win football games. On the other side of the ball, Iowa State has done a good job at getting some takeaways. Hopefully, we will do a good job and they won't get any.
On balance and spreading the ball around...
Yes, without a doubt, there are certainly a lot of errors we need to improve on. We had 42 plays the first half Saturday and we just didn't have a lot of yards to go with it and that is a little troubling. When we get that many plays, we need to be more productive yardage and point wise - that needs to go hand in hand. We will spread the ball around as much as we can to create situations that allow us to be successful.
Freshman Robert Griffin
On the importance of getting off to a good start...
We need to come out of the gate how we did against Washington State and Northwestern State. If we come out strong, it helps us a lot throughout the game not to get into a hole.
On getting a win this weekend...
We definitely need a win to get us back to 3-3 and continue to help with our goal to make it to a bowl game. You can't really worry about the other team and why they need the win.
Senior Vincent Rhodes
On the importance of a win this week...
We did not start last week how we wanted to in the conference. So it's a must that we come out of this weekend 3-3. We have a sense of urgency now since we still have goals like making it to a bowl game so we have to come out with a win.
On Iowa State...
It's going to be two very hungry teams out there trying to get their first (conference) win. They have aspirations of returning to a bowl game and we're trying to get to a bowl game. So I imagine it will be a tough game going down to the last minute.
Junior Joe Pawelek
On the importance of a win this week...
It's a huge game for us, so we want to come out well in front of a home crowd and get that first conference win.
On getting a good start...
When you start out 28-0 in the first quarter, it's tough from a coaching stand point as far as what calls to make. So we're ready to come out strong.
Senior Jason Smith
On bouncing back from last week...
It is very important that we go out and do what we're supposed to do. We just really need to execute on offense and defense.
On importance of getting off to a good start...
It is very important because football is a game of chess. Your first move always matters.
On Iowa State...
Iowa State is hungry for a win and we're hungry for a win. So it's going to be a battle of the hungry.
