Opening statement...
"Hey, everybody. It is good to get another win to go on the road and beat a very well-coached David Bailiff football team. I thought Coach Bailiff and his staff did a really nice job, they really challenged us early and so my hat is off to them and at the same time I'm proud of our coaches and our team for the way we played the last three quarters. I thought we kind of got things going a little bit and did some really, really good things, but this week with Oklahoma State coming to town the challenge gets ramped up quite a bit so hopefully we can have a good week of practice and improve on our consistency and be a better football team when the Cowboys come to town."

On distribution of carries among running backs and if that will change...
"We would really like to have the three of those guys get an equal amount of carries. I mean there's not one of them we don't like. Shock (Linwood) and Terence (Williams) and JaMycal (Hasty) all have a little different style, which I think is good for us. I think it gives defenses problems when they see different types of running backs. We could get into a game where somebody has just really got the hot hand and feel like we can't take him off the field, but I think right now we have great competition from all three of those guys and if they stay healthy I'd love to see us come out of pretty much every game with a pretty equal number of carries for each kid."

On changing something to deal with slow starts...
"Well, I think as much as anything it's just execution. What we're having really is nine or 10 guys doing the right things and one person breaking down whether it's Seth (Russell) with a throw that's a little off target or a receiver dropping a ball or running back not finding a seam in the defense or possibly missing a block up front, those are the kind of things that are holding us back a little bit and once we kind of get things figured out a little bit everybody gets better. So we`d like to figure things out a little quicker. The slow starts are a little bit of a problem, but we've played pretty good overall and so I think going forward with the Big 12 games getting cranked up we probably would like to start faster. No question."

On doing things in practice or pre-game to get off to a faster start...
"Well I think what happens to us, especially offensively, is we know teams have a tendency to do different things at the start of games. We may see more blitzes, we may see more of a different type of coverage whether it be man, man free, zone coverages and sometimes you have to hunt and peck a little bit to start figuring out what you're getting and then settle into some certain plays, and I think KB (Kendall Briles) and our guys offensively have done a really good job after halftime, and the other night I thought, really even after the first quarter, we started drawing a little bit of a beat on Rice, but going forward defensively we've seemed to start a little quicker and hopefully the offense can do that. But you have to give the people we play a little bit of credit. They're going to come in and typically try to give you some wrinkles so to keep you off balance and I think the key is being able to adjust as the game goes on."

On downfield passing...
"Well, I think that's going to be the key for us going forward is to take what the defense gives you and if underneath stuff is there you have to take it. But I think if you can get a little bit of both, if you can stretch the defense a little bit vertically and get down the field, then that helps you with your underneath stuff. It varies from week to week and like I said there's going to be some weeks where you get more blitzes, more base defense, differences in coverages and what not, so you have to kind of pick and choose what you're going to be able to do and that will be, I would think, different every week."

On what Oklahoma State does best...
"Well, the thing that they certainly did against Pittsburgh is they hit the deep ball and that got everybody's attention. I don't think there was anybody that watched that game that wasn't impressed with how well, not only how well the receivers got down the field and got behind the corners and caught the football, but how well the quarterback throws the deep ball. He gets great height on the ball and that makes it really tough on the defensive backs because it kind of drops in over them so that was really, really impressive. The thing that scares you is that they've got more than one receiver. They had one that had the great day, but they have good speed at all the skill positions offensively and a couple running backs that are very talented. So what they do to you is they've got some individuals that can really hurt you, but you can't double cover those guys because they've got good balance all over the field."

On how team is handling off the field distractions on the field going into conference play...
"I think the team has done a great job of handling distractions and as you know they continue. We have distractions every week, at least we have so far, and so the attitude we've really taken with team is there's going to be distractions off the field but the important thing for us is when we are in meetings, when we are at practice, and when we go out to play games is that we can focus on playing good football and I think our team and especially our coaching staff has done a great job pulling the kids together and getting them to focus on football knowing that there are going to be some things from the outside that could distract the team, but trying to get the guys to focus on being good football players and being a good team."

On field goal kicking...
"I talked to our team yesterday about that. Talk about the toughest job on every football team, it's kicking. I told the team it's no different than if you're a golfer and you're trying to make a five-foot putt to win The Masters - that isn't easy. It's really, really tough, there's a lot of pressure and the problem is that you can't simulate the pressure in practice. No matter how much you yell and scream and try to create distractions it's a lot different on game day when the pressure is there to make the field goals and what Chris (Callahan) did the other day he pushed the first field goal to the right and then overcompensated on the next one and that's just typically what happens. So I just want our players to understand how hard a job that is. We have some other players on the team that have a hard job, the quarterback has a hard job, corners have a hard job, all the guys that are out there by themselves they have the toughest job on the field, so I think going forward what I talked to Chris about today is just go do the best you can and that's all you can do, hit the ball as good as you can and try to go through your routine all the time. I think we have good competition at the kicking position right now. I would say that Chris going forward has to earn his job, but it's really a thankless kind of position, when you hit the field goal everyone says, `You should,' and then when you miss one they think, `How could you miss that?' But it's a tough job and not something that everyone can do and I still have confidence in Chris and want him to continue to compete for the job and do better."

On RB JaMycal Hasty's productivity...
"Yeah, it was fun. I really don't get much into who plays, that's kind of Jeff Lebby's job coaching the running backs but JaMycal has been a guy since day one that I've wanted to see more of because he's so explosive and I just think we have a great situation. Shock Linwood, obviously, all-time leading rusher in the history of Baylor football is special and has certain things that he brings to the table, and Terence Williams is the big guy that's a north-south guy that gets a forward lean and can knock people around a little bit. And JaMycal has the great quickness and foot speed and so that gives us three guys that bring different things that they bring to the table, all of them dangerous and all of them are good running backs so it's fun for me to see JaMycal get a chance because it's always fun to watch the young guys get an opportunity and we're really pleased with Shock and we're really pleased with Terence. It's a great situation for us right now to have three running backs that we're comfortable with."

On if this team can compete for Big 12 title by end of the year, and why that would be the case...
"Well I think we've done a good job defensively so far, now the competition's going to ramp up, but, I've been really pleased with what Coach (Phil) Bennett and the defensive staff have been able to do. I like the energy of our defense, I like the depth that we have on defense, the competition that we have right now, and typically you think that teams that play better defense have a better chance to compete for championships. There will be a lot of good defenses in the league this year, but I think that Phil Bennett and his staff are doing a good job and I like what our kids are doing. I think, offensively, Seth will continue to get better, you know, he missed a lot of playing time last year, missed a lot of spring ball, and I think he'll continue to get better, and I like our special teams. The only part of our special teams I haven't liked is our punt return team because we've had penalties on all the good returns Tony (Nicholson) has had, we've had a penalty. So we have to cut that out, but I just feel like we're a football team that has the potential. Potential basically means you haven't done it yet, but I think we have the potential to be pretty solid in all three areas and that gives you a chance to win every time out. The problem we're going to have is we play some great teams."

On if there will be a more wide open offense now that conference has started...
"Yeah, absolutely. I think, I don't know whether it was non-conference or whether we were worried about Seth, but we certainly want to keep him healthy, and as much as we would like to just hand the football off and let him throw the football, one of his real strengths, you know, is running. And so going forward I think our goal is to kind of take the gloves off a little bit and let him play and give him some opportunities to run with the football. He has to be really smart when he does; pick and choose his opportunities, but when he does run we'd like for him to be smart about taking on defenders, and I'd rather see him try to make defenders miss rather than run over them type deal, but I think our offense is geared toward having a quarterback that can run and throw, and that's what Seth's strength is, and I think that will actually take some pressure off him to be spot-on on every throw, giving him the opportunity to run a little bit."

On beginning Big 12 play...
"I think we're about as ready as we're going to be. I know we still have some things to work on this week, but we'll get those things fixed from (watching) film. I feel like we're coming into a home game against a really good football team, and we just have to be able to come out and start fast. We always say it, and I think we're starting to mesh more. If we can get that going early, then we'll be good."

On starting fast...
"That's what we've always wanted to do, and that's score touchdowns. When we don't do that, everyone kind of gets on edge. We start making more mistakes rather than just focusing on the ball. That's always our emphasis -- to score on the first drive whether it's a touchdown or field goal. Whatever it is, it's to get points up on the board and put pressure on the opposite offensive team."

On if running the ball helps him get into a rhythm as a QB...
"I'm just playing football. If I have to run the ball, I'll run it. If I have to do things differently than what I've done prior, then maybe. If I run the first series and get those jitters out, great. But we'll see."

On being one of the best ranked teams in Texas...
"They're always gunning for us. We're Baylor. We've been a high-powered offense, and people are starting to steal our offense now. Not to name any teams or anything, but it's proven. The stats are there. Guys want to play in an offense like this. We're going to play offense. Being who we are, people want to beat us. We have a target on our back. We've been pretty good the last several years, and we're not going to stop being great. It just adds to it. It's part of the game. You want to be the guy that everyone is gunning for. You don't want to be the guy sitting in the back that nobody cares about. I love the competition, and we're ready for it."

On the team putting the offseason behind them...
"I have not seen any other team besides Penn State that has gone through something this drastic, and I feel like as a team we have really overcome it. We put the negatives aside and really focus on the positives. With what we've been through, I feel like we've handled it the best way that we can. The whole team is on board with it all. We're just ready to play football. We're not worried about all the negatives. As long as we can get out on the field and throw the ball around and hit somebody, then we'll be good."

On the running back trio...
"Shock (Linwood) brings us what he has -- his energy, his intelligence and experience. Terence (Williams) brings that power run game that we need. He does a really great job of doing (that). JaMycal (Hasty) is a speedster who can hit the holes whenever he needs to hit it. You can also move them out wide, and they can each catch the ball really well. That adds another thing to our offense. They all complement each other for sure."

On the team mentality going into conference play...
"It's the start of a new season. Preseason is over with. As our strength coaches say, `it's our heavyweight rounds.' These guys are coming in swinging hard, and we need to answer back. Intensity in practice has to step up. I know a lot of guys are pretty anxious to get going after having another day off, which is good for recovery. A lot of guys want to come up and watch film. Anything to get a step ahead and get an advantage of some sort, we're going to do it."

On WR KD Cannon...
"He's doing what he's supposed to do. If we need a first down, he's who I'm going to look at."

On complexity of offense shown so far...
"We didn't show everything we can do in the non-conference season. We had to dip into our goodie bag a couple times but as long as we came out with the W that's all that mattered."

On need of another receiver to step up alongside KD Cannon...
"It'd be great to have somebody else step up. All the guys have really stepped up but KD has been the one to standout. It's just a matter of getting everyone on the same page."

On what he's thinking right before he hits somebody...
"I'm just trying to drive them as much as I can."

On upping the pace for conference play...
"This has to be the week that things get better. We have to start fast and just continue to play hard."

On Taylor Young's leadership style...
"He's a guy that's always going to bring some spark and energy to the team. He's always the guy that's making great plays and big tackles. He's a great leader on and off the field."

On Big 12 play starting...
"The competition is rising so the margin for error goes down tremendously."

On playing Oklahoma State...
"They have an explosive offense so we have to start fast and if we're lacking anywhere then they can put up a lot of points so it's going to be an exciting game. We have to limit their explosive plays. They're going to take their shots and we have to withstand them all. Make them one dimensional and limit explosive plays."

On dealing with the offseason scrutiny...
"We have dealt with it by coming together as a team. It's not about proving anyone wrong, it's about proving our family and everyone right."

On the defense starting out games stronger than the offense...
"We take a lot of pride in our defense; we don't want to be in anyone's shadow, even our own team's."

On the defensive line chemistry...
"This D-line group has been the closest I've seen since I've been here."

On the first three games being close in the first half...
"Early on we just try to get three-and-out but it makes you step up a little bit more. When one side is a little bit behind, you just have to pick it up, and they'll do the same for us."

On slow starts the last couple weeks for the offense...
"It's a new team. We have to start fast. We have to execute. We know what we're doing wrong and it can be fixed."