The SMU Mustangs (0-3, 0-1 WAC) travel to Lawrence, Kansas, this Saturday to face the Kansas Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) in a non-conference matchup. SMU looks to end its three game losing streak and a 31-game non-winning streak vs. teams currently competing in the Big 12.

Head coach Mike Cavan announced at his weekly media luncheon that he plans on sophomore quarterback Josh McCown manning the position for the remainder of the 1999 season. McCown and true freshman Kelan Luker have been splitting time at the QB spot through three games this season.

"We've had two good days of practice with Josh (McCown) at the controls of the offense," Cavan said. "It is now his offense, he has been told that so he's no longer looking over his shoulder. I'm looking for Josh to take a leadership role, do what he can do, and not be something he's not."

Here are comments from Cavan and SMU players Austin Adami and Raymon Brown from the Wednesday press lunch:

Mike Cavan - Head Football Coach

I think our defense played well under the circumstances other than at the end when the game was pretty much over.

You cannot say you played well on offense when you don't score any points.

We still need to eliminate turnovers and cut back on the mistakes - but you have that with a young team. I wish I could put them in a time capsule and have them come out with experience this weekend.

The senior asked for a change in uniforms back in the spring and we did it to give these guys something new and fresh because they won't be able to play in the new stadium. Apparently I didn't do a good job of picking the uniforms out. I don't pick out my own clothes, my wife does - I guess I should have asked for her input.

If we stay together and don't separate as a team we'll be fine regardless of the win-loss record.

Saturday will see two teams that are wounded but are going to battle for a win.

We have to keeping putting them (the young players) in the game and have them develop that way. There is nothing else we can do to get them experienced and accustomed to playing. Ideally, you would like to redshirt a lot of these guys but we are not afforded that luxury right now.

Our focus as a team is to take care of our business and our team.

We have a simplified offense but we keep adding a little more to it each week. We need to do that in order to be competitive.

The key to defense is mixture and disguise - playing up close or laying back is the only way unless you've got two great corners that can line up man-to-man outside on the receivers each play. We have two freshmen playing corner for us right now so we have to mix it up with coverage and blitzing.

Our defense was helped some by the offense holding onto the ball for so long against Hawaii, but if we could have scored some points it would have provided the defense a greater incentive to play better.

(Senior running back) Rodnick Phillips competed hard and had some things go right for him Saturday. He ran the ball better than he has all year.

(Freshman running back) Kris Briggs learned a lot from the fumble - he learned you've got to protect that ball at all costs when you're down near the goal line because everyone is coming after you.

(Freshman quarterback) Kelan Luker is not quite ready to play right now but we needed to get him some experience is case we lost Josh (McCown) for some reason.

Generally you roll quarterbacks because one hasn't taken over or command from the other. It's time for Josh (McCown) to take command and that's what I want him to do -I'm confident he will do that.

We're focussed on putting forth the effort needed to win ball games. If we put forth that effort, the wins will come.

#70 Austin Adami - Senior Offensive Lineman

We can't dwell on the fact that we beat ourselves. We've got to come back and keep practicing hard. I have always said that effort will not be a problem on this team, so I'm not worried how we'll respond.

We have had a good week of practice and I think there has been a lot of self-checks going on. Practice has been better than in was before Hawaii.

The quarterback decision shouldn't effect the team as a whole, and the quarterbacks that we have are both capable of getting the job done. It's good to know that one guy will be coming to the huddle each play - it's more of a comfort thing because you have to learn each quarterback's style.

Any team that is like us is going to come out fighting. That is good because it helps elevate everyone's play a little.

We need to eliminate mental errors - especially the offensive line. We didn't make many against Hawaii, but enough to effect the game. We're still trying to get accustomed to playing with each other.

#4 Raymond Brown - Senior Safety

Having freshmen on the corners just makes Tracy (Hart) and me have to work harder to help them to be relaxed and use their abilities. Everyone makes mistakes but we just want to get them to where they are just playing the game.

My goal for the season was to lead the team in interceptions. I currently lead the team so if anyone gets close, I'll just try to get some more.

We can't be wondering if someone is going to make a mistake on the field. If someone isn't working as hard as they should you can correct that right away by either getting someone who will, or by lighting a fire under them.

The big plays we gave up to Hawaii were the result of mental mistakes and missed assignments, not because of better play calling.

We really turned up the intensity in practice this week and coaches have really stepped it up to keep us at that level. They are trying to ingrain that everyone stay intense and swarm the ball.