Sept. 20, 2005
Head Coach Rocky Long
This is the first time since you have been here that the team is 3-0 – do you see any added confidence or swagger with the team?
“I think our team is a confident football team and I think we gain more confidence when we win. I think our team has confidence, but I’m not a real fan of that swagger deal because I think that sounds like you’re cocky and arrogant. I think being confident and being cocky are two different things.”
Talk about the tough stretch you have ahead with four of the next five games on the road.
“I think it’s really hard with the schedule having five home games and six on the road, and we have had two home games already. Over the next eight games we’re only going to be home three times, so how well our team plays on the road is going to be critical.”
The team knows they can play well on the road because they have already done it once this year, so that must make you and the team feel better?
“I don’t think we have any trouble playing on the road. In fact I think we’re a pretty good road team. We have been in the conference anyway, so I think our players don’t see any problem with it. Although you look at statistics and teams play better at home than they do on the road, but that doesn’t mean we can’t win on the road.”
What concerns you most about this UTEP team?
“They have great skill. They have a good quarterback. They have really good wide receivers and running backs – great skill on offense. It’s the best skill we have played against this year. They have real good speed in the secondary on defense and they are real big up front. I think overall this might be the best team we’ve played so far.”
Does their speed concern you?
“Yes, their speed at wide receiver and running back really concern us. We think we have decent speed on defense, but the stuff I have seen on them shows they have great speed at their skill positions. So it’s going to be tough for us to match-up.”
Is this a rivalry renewed that you would like to see played every year or is it a wait and see so you don’t lock in so many non-conference games?
“I like it. I wish we would play them every year. I think it’s a natural for us to play New Mexico State and UTEP every year. I think that it’s not much of a rivalry yet because we haven’t played each other in a while, but if we play every single year home and home it becomes one of those rivalries. I like rivalry games because they add some excitement and add to the crowd and everything like that.”
Do you feel your defense hasn’t clicked on all cylinders yet?
“I thought our defense played really well for three quarters against New Mexico State. I thought we put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, we caused some turnovers, we stopped them after turnovers and a punt that could have been blocked. We stopped them other than an 80-yard touchdown pass, so I thought our defense played really well for three quarters. We haven’t been very consistent on defense and our offense has played consistent the last two weeks, so if both sides of the ball start playing consistently we could have a very good football team.”
Senior Tailback DonTrell Moore
(on being undefeated so far):
“It feels really good right now. I think we have a hunger about us and I think it’s just a tribute to coach Long and the mindset that he’s instilled in us. I think starting the season with a conference game helped us out. That allowed us to maintain a level of focus that’s going to be very beneficial to us.”
(on scoring first against UTEP):
“It’s very important against a team that has the capability of scoring. We have confidence in our defense, but we want to make sure they have a level of confidence in us. Being able to score in opening drives is extremely beneficial to your mindset, to your confidence level and to the way that the game goes. We take great pride in being a great offense and being an asset to the football team.”
(on breaking records):
“I don’t really mentally or consciously make a note of records I could set, but subconsciously they’re there. It has a little effect on the way I prepare and I use that as an incentive to help the team. If I know that those yards come and those records are broken then hopefully those come in the context of win like it did against New Mexico State. I feel like if we’re having success as an offense and I’m able to run the ball and we’re having success in the passing game then those records will come and that means we’re doing good and we’re helping our team win and that’s most important.”
Junior Offensive Guard Robert Turner
(on the team’s attitude after the 3-0 start):
“The attitude is different. The team as a whole has a bit more of a swagger about it and I think that’s essential for a winning program and a successful program. I’m not saying that people are getting big heads, but I think you definitely have be confident in each other and confident in the coaches to get things accomplished.”
(on having more confidence entering Saturday’s road game at UTEP):
“I think the biggest thing that people sometimes don’t recognize is momentum. I think as a team we’ve gained some momentum and that’s what wins do. If you look at any sport, people feed off of momentum. I think that’s one of the biggest keys is keeping momentum and focus. As long as we haven’t lost focus during the game, we’ve played well this season. There have been some mental lapses and you see teams come back or us go stagnant on offense for a couple of series, but I think as long as we stay focused, everything is going to be fine.”
(on how the road win at Missouri helps the team entering Saturday’s game):
“I definitely think Missouri was a big win. You could feel it emotionally that it was a big win. I think the key though is not to lose focus. It was a big win, but we have to keep going. It’s a week by week thing. The win (over New Mexico State) was great on Saturday, I enjoyed it Saturday night, but now we have to prepare for UTEP because I’m sure they’re done celebrating about beating Houston in overtime.”