September 28, 1999
On Injuries:
"It is a major concern. We lost two guys off of our offensive line from last year that went to the NFL and replaced them with guys that didn't have that much experience. Shea Holder was the most experienced of our replacements. He had played more than Chris Valletta had. We lost Shea for the season, and his backup Tango McCauley did not practice on Sunday and is not expected to practice today, so we're scrambling around , trying to shuffle some people. We're still not exactly sure what we are going to do. We're going to move the backup right tackle to left tackle and then move Taylor Whitley out to tackle to get a third tackle ready to go. If Tango can't go, then Mike Mahan will be the starter. This happens in football, it is a part of the game, but you take the guys that you have and go with them."
On the Poor Performance of the Passing Game:
"It was disappointing in a couple of ways. Firstly, we had some guys open that we didn't get the ball to, and secondly, we had some guys that we got the ball to that didn't hang on to the ball. We just didn't have a good day, but it is encouraging that we did have some receivers open, and I think we'll get better. The Southern Miss defense did get a lot of pressure and sacked us a couple of times which is disappointing."
On Special Teams:
"I was generally pleased with the special teams on Saturday. I thought we had some big plays in the punting game. I thought our punt returns were real close to breaking, the field goal kicking was good. The 62 yarder was a big play in the ball game. Overall I was pleased with it. I was really surprised at the blocked field goals. We just didn't protect very well on those plays."
On Randy McCown:
"I would think that as the year goes on and he plays that he'll get better. You would hope that a guy would continue to get better the more times he's there and the more looks he gets."
On Offensive Line:
"I think we started off trying to replace two guys that just went to the NFL. We were working into the point of getting to where we could say that we are a good offensive line, and this sets us back, now that we've lost a starter who had some good experience. We have to move another guy up, and I think it moves us back in the development of the offensive line."
On Receivers:
"They're getting open better and I just think the group as a whole is more capable of making plays than they were a year ago. I feel better about the fact that we've played better in the passing game than we did in the first three games last year."
On Jason Webster:
"Jason is a good player. He is one guy who has really improved his level of play this year and I think he is a solid guy. When the NFL guys that come through here looking at him, he is catching a lot of interest from them."
On Playing in Lubbock:
"You like that kind of an atmosphere as a coach. I've had some bad experiences there that is for sure, but you kind of look forward to going into a charged atmosphere like that. They'll have as many people as they can get into their stadium this week, and the Tech team that we will play will not be the Tech team that anyone has seen so far this year. I know that from experience, having been in this situation before."
On Tech Personnel:
"We know what plays they're going to run. Tech has been pretty consistent with what they've done offensively, they just have different people doing it, and that makes all the difference in the world. I thought they got off to a pretty good start in the Arizona State game, and then they lose their guys, and have to play with out them for a few weeks. That makes a huge difference."
On Tech Defense:
"Despite of our new found success throwing the football, they'll still play us the same. I watch them against everybody, and they do the same thing regardless of who they're playing. They're going to have eight guys up front and they're going to play press coverage on the outside. I do feel better about our chances this year against that type of defense. I think we have some capable receivers on the outside and I'm more optimistic about us being able to make some plays on the outside."
On Jason Glenn:
"I've been impressed with him since he got here. Of course in high school, he was Defensive Player of the Year in the city of Houston as a safety. He came here and has been on the right path since he got here. He made some great plays last year, and I think he has elevated his play. He will be an all-star caliber linebacker for us."
On Terence Kitchens:
"He came to our football camp, and we knew that he had the potential to become a good kicker. It is so hard to go out and recruit kickers. We've had some success of going out and getting some guys in here, and once they prove themselves as a good kicker, we give them a chance to get on scholarship."
On Run Defense:
"Despite the numbers we've put up, I'm still concerned. We haven't really faced a team yet that is as good as some of our Big 12 opponents at running the football. That is still a question mark for us as to how well we'll defend the run."