Nov. 16, 2009

Mike Price Media Luncheon Quotes
November 16, 2009

(Opening remarks)

"We're very disappointed with the result of the game (at SMU). We're very disappointed to be in this position at this time of the year. We had all anticipated a better won-loss record at this time, and we don't have it. We have another game coming up, which is the great thing about college athletics. I thought our players played with good intensity (at SMU). They were focused from the start and executed and did some things very well at times, and at other times made mistakes. But the want was there. They wanted to win, they gave good effort all the way to the last play of the game and we just came up a little short against a good football team.

"We had our chances again. We left six points on the field in the first half with a fake field goal that didn't work and a blocked field goal. At halftime we were down 21-10, but we felt like we were in the game and ready to get back in it. Our coaches made some good adjustments at halftime and we came back and got ahead in the game, but we made crucial errors at crucial times. I guess it's always like that in a close game. We competed right down to the very end, but we lost our chance to go to a bowl game."

(On why Donald Buckram didn't get the ball in the last couple of plays)

"We chose to throw the ball in that situation rather than run. If it had worked, then it would have been a great call. There were guys open and we didn't hit them with the ball. The last play of the game, (Jeff) Moturi's guy fell down and he was in the back of the end zone and J.T. (James Thomas) was open on the other side. (Trevor) Vittatoe just didn't see it. He was scrambling around. He has a habit of running outside rather than trying to run in-between the tackles."

"They are really disappointed. They tried. They gave a really good effort, I thought. This team has a lot of character, a lot of pride. I trust that they will be ready to play again next week. It's fun when you win, and we need to emphasize that a lot over the next two weeks. To go out a winner is what you want both for the team and for recruiting."

(On what has been missing with this year's team)

"I think the missing component is our self-confidence. That's something that kind of wears on you (when things aren't going well). You have to be a very confident person to weather the storm like this. I think Rice is going through the same thing as us. They're the same kind of team with good character and good pride. It has just been the little things, and the little things are the difference between winning and losing and not making plays at crucial times."

(Is Donald Buckram's pursuit of the national rushing title something that you can use as motivation over the next two games?)

"The team can rally around something like that. Obviously our seniors want to go out as winners. Every senior class does. We have a chance to do something that has never been done at this university, and with a young man who is a tremendous person."

(Does Buckram's quest for the rushing title change your thinking in terms of offensive play-calling the next two weeks?)

"I've never been in a situation where I've had the nation's leading rusher, so I'd have to address that question when we get there. I'd like to win the game at all costs. That's the one thing I want to do. We don't want to lose the game and get him yardage."

(On Jeff Moturi's performance in recent games)

"Jeff Moturi has stepped up and he made some clutch catches in this game. We would've liked to have seen him (get the ball) at the end. Trevor was hot in the fourth quarter, 7 for 7 and 8 for 9 until his last two passes were incomplete. We thought Trevor to Jeff was a good combination to go to."

(On Trevor Vittatoe's confidence)

"I think it's getting better. I think he made some mistakes (at SMU). He looks calm and casual when he's in the game at times, but he has a burning desire to win. He has to step up and be confident too, and we need to support him so he can pull the trigger and not worry about throwing an interception."

(On Braxton Amy and Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith coming in and out of the game and back in due to injury)

"Braxton and Da'Mon sucked it up and played hard. They came out limping and went back in. And Clarence Ward was in the hospital the whole night before the game. He had food poisoning. Braxton is a playmaker. He just seems to have a knack for it. And Ward shouldn't have been in the game. I should've waited until he got his feet on the ground, and right away on the first series they threw the pass and he was nowhere to be found."

(On Rice)

"We like playing Rice. We like their stadium. We like going there. We have a lot of guys on our team from Houston. Rice has a new quarterback this year, a transfer from Alabama who played at a high school program in San Antonio. He's really, really good. He has completed over 60 percent of his passes. He has a strong arm. They have two good receivers. (Scott) Solomon, the defensive end, is a real good player and they have a "Cat," a monster back like Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, and he's Travis Bradshaw and he's a real good tackler. They beat Tulane, and Tulane beat us, so they should be favored. We're at their place, we should have to fight like crazy to win this one and that's what we intend to do."

(Will you play some of the younger guys more in the next two games?)

"We want to win. That's the most important thing. But we'll play young players if that will help us win. We're playing to win. If they can't help us win, then they'll get experience in spring football."

(Will you recruit a kickoff guy during the offseason?)

"We're going to recruit a kicker/punter/field goal/kickoff guy, anybody we can get who is really, really good. And we have a list of guys who we're looking at right now."

(Are you happy that Rice got the monkey off its back and won last week?)

"I'm happy that they won, because I like coach Bailiff. I don't think it has anything to do with us. I hope they went out and partied every night and will look past us, but I don't think that's the case."