December 01, 1998
Talk about the task of playing the Kansas State defense after a lackluster performance against a Texas defense last week...
"When you look at how football works from week to week, it may be a totally different situation (this week against Kansas State). We're playing indoors, we're playing on Astroturf, it's a different defensive scheme, we're playing different guys. Kansas State has a tremendous defense. On paper, their defense has performed better this year than Texas' defense had. So if you look on paper then you say well you had trouble with Texas' defense and Kansas State's defense is better. That's true. That's a concern. This is a defense that over the season has played better than Texas. But it's not always like that. It's how that team plays that day. This will be a totally different set of circumstances. I think that's one of the big challenges in the game for us. Because of the explosive nature of the K-State offense, we can't do against them what we did against Texas - keep putting a premier player back out there on field time after time and seeing what kind of damage he can do. Players of that caliber usually can do some damage and you want to minimize your exposure to them. I think it puts a lot of pressure on our offense in this game."
What do you talk about to help get your team over the Texas loss -- winning the Big 12 title, a BCS bowl, a trip to New Orleans?
"All of those things or any one of those things should be sufficient to be motivating. We've had a great season. We're 10-2. We had an opening-season loss and then had a two-point loss on the road last week. We're happy to have another game. Plus we're playing the No. 1 team in the country according to the college head football coaches. That's a challenge in itself. Another one is to win the conference title outright. Another motivating factor is to go to a BCS bowl game. So there's a bunch of motivating factors and it's a high-stakes game."
Do those factors help you get over the sting of the Texas loss?
"I think so. When you first see the team on Sunday everybody still has the "mullygrubs" and feeling sorry for themselves. But I think it's really positive that you can't focus on that very long because you have a big game in front of you and a dorm full of TV cameras here today. All the news accounts that you read are about the game, so you have something else to focus on and I think without a doubt that we will be able to do that. By the time we get to the game there will be a real excitement about playing this game."
"Someone was telling me the other day about how bad things are...it's like an earthworm. It's digging around in dirt all day and that's not that much fun, but it beats the heck out of going fishing."
Talk about the respective linebacker corps on these two teams...
"I admire the way Kansas State plays. They are very good at linebacker and they play hard. They are well-coached and they have a good scheme. They really play. Those guys are some excellent linebackers."
How do the KSU linebackers compare to A&M's linebackers?
"They would be very comparable. I'd say their group of linebackers would compare with anyone's in the country. I'm proud of our linebackers, but I'd say that no one we've played this season can compare with Kansas State."
Considering all the things your team has gone through this year, are you surprised that you're playing for the Big 12 Championship?
"I would say I'm pleased. If you look at the other teams in the league, Kansas State is 11-0 and 8-0 in the conference. Then you drop down to the next team in the league and we're 7-1 and 10-2. If you look around there are a lot of good players on the rest of those teams. Coming into the season our defensive line was a major concern. We had all young guys who are all small guys. We lost most of our offensive line. I think we've gotten pretty good mileage out of these guys. I'm pleased with it and I think it's a credit to the team. This is a team that could have been a 6-5 team, if it wasn't for their character. We had plenty of chances there early to get separated. Just playing on ability, this team isn't going to win 10 games. But the team really played together. We've had as solid of chemistry on this team as we've had on any team here in a long time. I think that's a tribute to the coaches and I really think it's a tribute to the caliber of the young men that we have."
Is this the week that gets tested again?
"You test the ability level because the other team there has arguably the best quarterback in the country. They have two excellent receivers. They have a good tailback. They have a big line. They've got a very talented defensive team. They have dangerous punt returner. They have a kicker that is a great player. You start looking at the Kansas State roster and you see there's a lot of talent on that team."
With as good as they play defense and Michael on offense, it makes them dangerous on both sides of the ball...
"They beat people up. If you look at their scores, they're not just skimming by. They are beating them up, getting it over with, knocking them out and stomping on them. And they do it to just about everybody they play. They had a pretty close game against Missouri, but if you look at their whole season, they've beaten some people up."
How much pressure does Bishop put on your corners?
"He puts pressure on everybody on your defense. The defensive linemen are worrying about him scrambling. The corners are worried about covering their guys, plus him scrambling. Because of his ability to run, he gets so much time to throw the football. With a normal quarterback, if you can hold up their receivers for just a little bit then you figure someone is going to sack the quarterback or he's going to get rid of the ball. Because of his running skills, you dramatically lengthen the time you have to cover a receiver because of his ability to run around out there in open space with no pressure. If your defensive end comes underneath the tackle and Bishop runs outside, there's no one else out there. He's out there with an arm that can throw the football 60 or 70 yards down the field."
If Florida State was challenge for your young defensive line, how much of a challenge is Kansas State?
"I think it's a similar challenge. This defense (Kansas State's) would be comparable to Florida State -- quickness, intensity. They're playing with a lot of confidence too because they've had a lot of success this year."
Usually A&M has the advantage in special teams, but Kansas State is also known for its special teams...
"I think they have the same philosophy as us on special teams. They play great defense and force the kicking game. They have good return people. They work hard on their return units. You can just tell which teams work on their special teams. Kansas State does. They are good on special teams." (What about David Allen) "Every time you kick it to him, he's a threat to do something with it. He'll be the most dangerous guy we face all year. Even moreso than (Florida State's) Peter Warrick."