Oct. 30, 2007
Head Coach Rocky Long
(on preparing for TCU):
“It’s a little tough to get a gauge for their talent level because there are so many different guys playing than what you are used to seeing play. Most of them have been back in the lineup on and off. After watching all the films we have a pretty good idea of their abilities when they are healthy. I’m sure they are all going to be healthy now so we can expect their very best.”
(on the play of TCU DE Chase Ortiz):
“Chase Ortiz is probably the second-best defensive end in our league and has probably been the best defensive end in the league this year because he’s consistently played. He is very productive, he’s hard to block, he plays extremely hard, so right now I would say that he is the most productive player in our league.”
(on what’s most impressive about the Lobos this year):
“That we are a team. Right now it seems like whenever the defense needs to step up, it steps up, and when the offense needs to step up, it steps up, and we do just enough to win. If I was an opposing coach watching our film I wouldn’t be very impressed with us. Other than you look at our record and say, `How the heck are those guys 6-2?’ That’s just being brutally honest. So the best part of our team is that we are a team. We’re not anything special. Athletically we’re not anything special. We just play together and we play hard.”
(on Rodney Ferguson’s rushing effort):
“Forty-one carries is a bunch of carries. Probably the best thing was that we played on Thursday night because I’m sure he was really sore on Friday. When he came in yesterday he said he was fine. So he must have gotten over the soreness and he was ready to go. Forty-one carries is a bunch of carries no matter who you are. He got through it okay. If he carries it 41 times this week, it means we’re probably right in the ball game and have a chance to win.”
Senior DE Tyler Donaldson
(on how much confidence the team has):
“We felt that we have a lot of confidence, but we’re still down to earth. We know that we have a tough game this week and we need to stay focused, and not let too many things distract us.”
Junior TE Chris Mark
(on the mood of the team right now):
“Everyone is having fun out there, I think. It’s still business and we’re taking care of it, but we’re still finding ways to have fun in the games, at practice – you know just finding the groove and trying to stay in it.”