Oct. 10, 2006
Last week's game did not provide the result we wanted, but there were some good things that came out of the game. I thought that after a very poor first half, our guys showed a lot of character and toughness by getting back in the game. We had a chance to win the game. UTEP is a good team. If you would have told me before the game that we could hold them to 17 points offensively and not win the game, I would have been surprised. I thought our breakdown in the kicking game early in the first quarter was crucial in the outcome of the game.
With Corey Slater having to start at quarterback, he was put in a tough situation. He didn't play particularly well in the first half but as the game went on, I thought he came alive and played well for us. It took us a while to transition into doing what he was capable of doing.
I thought having DeMyron back was big. I thought he had some big runs, but unfortunately we got behind and had to throw to get back in the game. I thought he did some things that were good to see.
Defensively the first half, I was disappointed. We were sort of playing in the fog, giving up too many yards on the third down, not tackling as well. The second half was a different story. I thought we got our self going and played well.
In a game like that, when you are playing at UTEP with 40,000 people, it's a tough place to play. We are going to try and take something good out of it - the fact that we played a good second half, the fact that we were down and we didn't succumb to being down. We got the lead back, but we just couldn't hold onto it. That is a tribute to UTEP. They have some guys that will play on Sunday. We are going to try and take the positives from this game and take it into the Marshall game. We wanted to be able to come back here 2-0, we are not.
Last year we had a very good game with Marshall. I don't think their record is indicative of what kind of team they have. They have played at three tough places in Manhattan, Kansas, Morgantown, West Virginia, and Knoxville, Tennessee. That is a tough, though schedule.
I look at them offensively, and Bernie Morris, their quarterback, is very active. He has improved as a thrower. Ahmad Bradshaw could probably play anywhere in the country. They have some guys that have played a lot.
Last Wednesday, they lost a heartbreaker game to UCF, falling on the last play of the game on a field goal. But they are a team much like us. I think if you look right now in Conference USA, if you come ready to play and you are able to keep you better players injury-free, you will have a chance to win. We are going to have to get reorganized this week, get refocused and come out and play well to have a chance to beat Marshall.
On who the starting quarterback right now is...
Right now, it is Corey Slater.
On the emotional issues surrounding the team...
It was a distraction. I applauded the team and my assistant coaches for the job they did to keep us in the game. If we can learn something from this, we will grow form it. We have a lot at stake this weekend, so we have to get refocused.
On factors surrounding Justin Willis' eligibility... We support Justin. We care about him. I hope that at some point we get the problem resolved.
On Corey Slater's performance...
He did some things as the game went on and he got better and better. He started slowing down and the game sort of slowed down for him.
On Corey Muse and Justin Rogers... Right now I would say both of them are questionable for the game.
On knowing when DeMyron Martin would be back for UTEP game...
I didn't know last Monday. After Tuesday's practice he came to Coach James and said, "I want to practice, I can run." If we did one thing smart, when he hurt his foot we worked him extremely hard on conditioning. He was in better shape then we anticipated coming back because of the rehab job that our trainers did.
On managing the distraction issues with the team...
One of the things we are constantly talking about the choices that we make. My philosophy is, and will continue to be, that it is not a right, but a privilege to be a college athlete. If you are expecting to be treated like everybody else, then you have a lot to learn. People look at you a different way and it's a part of being who you are and who you want to be. I think we have guys that make good decisions most of the time. They are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. We constantly try to nurture them to do the right things and make the right choices and we will continue to do that. We have 120 kids in this program and we are trying to be fair to everyone involved and sometimes that is not easy. We support Justin Willis to the fullest but we have to abide by the rules. Hopefully it will be resolved and hopefully the players will learn from this mistake. Our focus right now has to be to come back together, get ourselves a good game plan and find a way to go out and beat Marshall.
On their approach coming into the game this week...
After watching them, I have tremendous amount of respect for them with the schedule they have played. There is not a nickel's difference between any of the teams in Conference USA. I think they are a dangerous team, a team we are going to have to be ready for. Last year was last year. I think this is a big game for our program. It's a home game and guys will be anxious to play.
On emotions as Justin Rogers was carted off considering the surrounding circumstances...
I was very fearful. When a young man has to have his helmet cut off of him with a neck injury, it's scary. It was very emotional. He leads by example, he plays every play 100%. In hindsight, I think our players got fired up. It was concerning at the time.
