Jimbo Fisher and select players met with the media on Monday for the UTSA game week press conference inside the Kyle Field Media Center.
Video and a transcript of Coach Fisher's comments are posted below. Video of player comments are available below as well.
After evaluating the film, I think our guys are still making small and subtle improvements and gradually getting better and better in a lot of phases. A lot of the little things that are starting to add up to results when a lot of little things are happening with more consistency. So you're having more and more of them in a row, which is allowing you to execute better with your drives on offense and defense. Special teams are playing better. Guys are working hard on their techniques and are getting better. A lot of little things I've seen in practice that were off and on, now we're starting to take to the field and doing more consistent, more consistent, more consistent in communications and things especially up front. That's allowing the skill guys to do some things, routes or throws. They know it's allowing us to function in a different way and get some balance in the run and pass game and in the different things we're doing.
Defensively, still doing a good job. Missed some fits in the run game. We've got to get that fixed in the run game so you don't give up like that, but we did create three big turnovers. Getting those three turnovers were very good and played I thought well into offense, transitioned very well. In other words, from the turnovers we got out and then scored three straight times. That was huge because you've got to transition that way. I think one of the things we've got to work on a bit on defense, we got some big drives on offense and get up two or three scores and then we gave up a drive and let them kind of hang in there. We've got to learn to close that door, too, in the transition and play off the momentum.
Special teams I thought we covered kicks extremely well. We had three punts, one was inside the 10, one was about to the 10 or 11, and then the other one, he hit a really high punt, we got it up there with good hang and we got it covered and did a good job. (Ainias Smith) almost got out of there on one of the punts. Kickoff return, had a couple better kickoff returns than what we did (before). Almost got another block kick on a PAT, got good penetration inside. So we continue to make strides and the little things are adding up to big things. We're taking them from the practice field to the game field, and our young guys are consistently getting better. They're starting to understand, as I said before, just the strain and the focus that it takes when you're a young guy, even though you're talented, to play--not just play--but play well, and play winning football. Guys are practicing better, we're getting there. But there's still a lot of room for growth now. We still have a lot of room. Like I say, all of a sudden when things are bad, they're never as bad as they seem. And all of a sudden when things are good, they're never as good as they seem. Usually it lies in between somewhere and in how you're practicing, how you keep preparing. So hopefully we'll keep learning those lessons and do that and get ready to play UTSA this week.
How nice is it to see Kendrick Rogers reappear in this offense? And what does it do for the totality of this offense when he's playing like he can play?
Well, I mean, I think to have all your options, all your available receivers have to be a threat. People say, you know, you can hide guys, you could move guys, you can create plays for different guys, but they can always double team guys. You can create one on ones, and when everybody has the potential to make plays and are making plays, then the quarterback's job becomes much easier because the one-on-one matchups, those guys can win if you get the ball to them. They can force you in one-on-one somewhere and take double teams other places. And that's how you've got to play. So in that regard, his ability, with his size and length, and also his physicality, is really good.
Kendrick had those I guess you could say couple of tough games against Arkansas and Alabama. What was it that made you stick with him?
He has potential. He practiced more last week and got into practice, and was off nicked and knacked. And you got to keep staying with him. We know what his potential is. But at the end of the day, there's got to be a point, like we tell them, listen. We're only going to stay with you so long, you've got to start getting results in play. And he did that. Hopefully he will continue to do that and understand the grind it takes to do that, because he practices hard, works hard and plays hard. We've just got to keep getting the results from him.
When you started seeing the improvement was it just part of the process or was there kind of a light bulb moment?
It's part of the process, that you've just got to keep growing and keep grinding and when they don't do it, you make them do it. At the end of the day you don't ask them to do it, you've got to make them do it and make them do it over. Here's the point. Kids today, and I'm making a general statement, hey, coach. I can do it right. Well, can you not do it wrong? There's a difference. And we did more of we couldn't do it wrong in the game then we did periodically doing things right. And I think that's where youth and inexperience, does it understand the responsibility that each time that I do it wrong could change the game? Even though it's nine out of 10 times I do it right, that can change the game, especially when you're playing as good of people that we play in the tight games in which we play. That mentality has to be there, and it's still not there all the way. We're still growing in that regard. We have to get there.
A quick follow up on that. How important is patience, given the youth you have on the team?
As a reporter, y'all ask that question? (Laughing) Y'all ask all kinds of questions, don't you? (laughing) No, no, I joke about it, but no it is. Listen. As a coach, you've got to know, we see things you don't see. Because everything you and the fans see, which is what the game is about—it's about results. There's no doubt. But there's a process to it and why those things are happening. And are they not capable of happening? And why are they not happening? Can they be fixed? As I assume all of us do with our kids…a lot of people don't see your kids the same way you do every day, behind the scenes at home and what they're capable of when they do things like they're supposed to do. So you don't throw them away and you don't can them. You stay with them. They can get there. But there's a fine line where the production and the things have to come, and that's what we walk. You've got to find that in-between and that's what we're doing and we're still on that. We've still got to get there. You know, it's funny as a coach, it's always there like that, no matter what. It's always there like that, and you've got to keep fighting for those inches that I talk about and stay with guys and keep believing in them.
I know you like players from near and far, but is it pretty neat when you have a guy or two guys contributing from pretty close, like Caldwell over here, Iola over there in Morris and Renick? Is it even neater that they grew up here?
Those guys played really good games. Morris made a heck of a big pick, a big turnover in a game that got us going. And you know, it's funny when you say that. Those kids that grow up around here, you dream of playing here. Most guys that grew up around whatever school they grew up around that area, that's their dream, to be able to see that. Sometimes they get there. But sometimes there's such pressure from being at home. You don't play as well. Sometimes it doesn't always pan out, then you walk around your whole life, and people say you went there, but you didn't get it done. That's a big burden to carry. People don't understand that on kids, the pressure on that. For them to be able to come out here and make plays and contribute and really do what they're doing, I'm happy to see it. It's a great thing and great for our team. And Renick is playing super football. Lemme tell you something. All that guy does is do it right. Blocks where he's supposed to be. Puts his hat where he's supposed to. There's a lot of unheralded things that people don't see that that guy's doing, helping us play good football.
I was gonna piggyback on Renick, in July he probably was like the fourth tight end at best…the role of a walk on. Do you treat them any different?
We don't treat them any different, but they're not always given certain opportunities that other guys are at times, because the other guys are here because of talent levels and things. Like guys like Kendrick and guys that are up and down, sometimes injuries and different things, maybe sometimes walk-ons aren't given as many opportunities. That's just the nature of the beast. I'd love to, but the other guys, you know, there's talent there. There's things there. But that tells me about Renick. His perseverance, his mentality, his toughness. That guy's also coming off an ACL, he's four and a half, five months out. For him to even be out there is amazing, let alone be playing. That young man will be successful in whatever he does in life. He's a tough son of a gun, and he understands football. For him, the perseverance to do that, it's great. I've been fortunate to be around some great walk-ons in my time, and they end up being really, really special people. Most of them really become successful and persevere through all that. It's amazing how successful they are as people. It really is. You go back and look at some of the ones, I was thinking about that the other day, how successful they are in their life. Because they just go to work. They ain't told what they want to hear. They ain't always the first pick. They ain't always the guy that gets picked. And they step back in the back and wait for the three opportunities they get and take advantage of 'em and say, Yes, sir, I'm happy. All of a sudden, they're successful in life. That toughness, the mentality it brings, it's amazing how successful they become. Renick will be one of those guys, I really do. And right now he's playing really good football for us.
It was about this time last year, I think it was the Ole Miss game, where you said that you felt like maybe a light came on or a corner was turned. Do you have any kind of sense of something similar happening?
No, just because you played one great game doesn't mean that light bulb's on. But sometimes they flicker. Hopefully they don't flicker. Hopefully we keep the juice going. If we learn why…we always say, okay, why did you make mistakes? Why did you play bad? You all want to know that. Well why did we play well? It's the same thing. As a player, why did we play well? Well, okay, we prepared. Maybe I watched more film this week. Go back and review why you played well. Maybe I wasn't on social media 19 hours a day. I did my work. I did what I was supposed to do. I did my film time. I studied. I did extra film in practice. I had a great mentality in practice. I was really focused and it carried over to the game. So you can repeat it. If you learn why you have successes and failures, then you can either stop them and repeat them like you want. Stop the failures and repeat the successes. And hopefully we can learn from that and continue to play well.
Five touchdowns accounted for for Kellen, what are you seeing from number 11 right now?
A guy who understands what's going on. He trusted his eyes in the game with his decision making. Didn't try to predetermine. Gathered the information, trusted his eyes, reacted and allowed the game…I always tell them, the game is bigger than anybody that's ever coached it or ever played it. Mark it down. As soon as you think you got it mastered, it will bite you right in the tail. You can't force it. You can't go out saying I'm gonna throw for 300 today. I'm running for 100 yards. I'm gonna run for 200. I'm gonna win this game. No, you better coach this game. You better play this game. And you better do both right, and then you'll get the results you want. And I think that's what he did in that game. He trusted his eyes. He took what the game gave him. Made great decisions. Was accurate with the ball. Distributed the ball. Wasn't selfish. There were some plays he could have had some passes, checked back to runs that gave us really good plays. And vice versa. Just made the right decisions. All of a sudden, we really excelled. And we played well around him.
Do you have an update on Elijah Blades and Demani Richardson?
Yeah, Elijah should be practicing. Banged up a little bit, and we'll see how that goes. Trainers are checking him out. Demani, the same way.
I know that you really don't have much of a choice in the matter, but are you a fan of playing nonconference games in the middle of a conference slate?
Yeah. It doesn't bother me. It doesn't bother me at all.
So 40-plus years of playing and coaching this game, have you ever seen one player run off with another player's shoe?
I've seen them grab a helmet, because they get ripped off sometimes, a guy will take a helmet. No, I've never seen it. That I can remember. I've never seen a shoe. That was a new one. And I didn't realize it happened at the time, actually.
So that's what I was gonna ask you, based on that. And I know you said after you didn't want Prater doing that. He did get the shoe back…
Yeah, but let the official go get the shoe. Listen, I understand it totally, but I don't condone it. Because it hurts the overall purpose of what you're trying to do. You understand what I'm saying? Over a shoe? If he's got him on the ground beating him up, maybe I understand getting him off of him. It comes from a good place. It doesn't come from a bad place. But you've got to understand. We're on the 2-yard line. It's a 14-7 game. That can change everything. I say that in the locker room. Listen, don't let your personal ego, your personal ambitions, override what we're here to do as an organization and as a team. You can't let those things happen. Listen, does that mean I don't like Prater? I love Prater. I'd walk down an alley with him in two seconds. I don't have that problem. But what I'm saying is, let the official go get the shoe back. Like they're gonna make him play without shoes. Maybe they get a penalty for running away with a shoe? But no. I didn't realize that happened at the time, but I've never seen that happen. I gotta tell Kellen, if you'd just make the dadgum guy miss and get in the end zone, we ain't got that problem. (laughing)
Coach I know you never want to overlook an opponent, so what potential challenges could UTSA bring?
Shoot, defensively, their stunts and blitzes. Constant blitzing team, exchanging fronts, bringing pressures all kind of times. Different looks up front. You have to be on the same page offensively with the different formations. Listen, I've known Frank Wilson a long time. He is a great guy and a great football coach. I knew him back when he started high school, he built O. Perry Walker down in New Orleans who was…I mean, they hadn't won anything. They had never won. And he took them to how many state championships in a row? We got a lot of great players off those teams when I was at LSU. Turning things around and coaching and doing the things he's done, he's been a great college football coach, a position coach. Does a good job. He'll have those guys ready offensively, defensively in every way. And they present a lot of problems defensively with their blitz schemes, different fronts, stemming and moving. They really do. As much as anybody we've played. The different things they do on offense and special teams, they'll have some tricks and things there, so we have to go play. And again, it's not about who you play. I don't care if it's Alabama, I don't care if it's UTSA. It's how you play, and how you prepare, and the things I go back to. You say I sound like a broken record. Yes, I am. Because that's what has success. The game rewards that. You got to keep doing it, practice well to play well.
You guys have a ton of young guys, a lot of the freshmen playing. Are you surprised at how productive they've been? And when do you stop coaching them like freshmen?
I never have stopped coaching them like freshmen. I joke about that. I don't because I tell them, listen, if you're gonna play, you're responsible for playing well. Now is that hard? At times are the things you ask them to do limited at times by putting them in position to be successful? But when they have to be in those situations, you gotta call what you gotta call. You push them and then you hug them afterward to tell them this is why I'm pushing you, buddy, This is tough right now. Just understand it and go. And does it surprise me? No, not really. Because I knew that that group coming in was a very talented group and had a chance. But, you don't ever know how people are going to adapt and how quick they're going to adapt. I've learned that a long time ago. Guys that I thought would be coming in and doing it right away sometimes don't, and they end up being great players, but the transition's tougher. Guys who I thought may take a while, they transition. You don't ever know that. And in today's time with the numbers…these rosters anymore are more like 53-man rosters than 85-man rosters, with the injuries you incur and with the transfers you incur. It's not like playing with 85 guys anymore. So your freshmen are gonna have to make an impact. A significant impact.
Video and a transcript of Coach Fisher's comments are posted below. Video of player comments are available below as well.
After evaluating the film, I think our guys are still making small and subtle improvements and gradually getting better and better in a lot of phases. A lot of the little things that are starting to add up to results when a lot of little things are happening with more consistency. So you're having more and more of them in a row, which is allowing you to execute better with your drives on offense and defense. Special teams are playing better. Guys are working hard on their techniques and are getting better. A lot of little things I've seen in practice that were off and on, now we're starting to take to the field and doing more consistent, more consistent, more consistent in communications and things especially up front. That's allowing the skill guys to do some things, routes or throws. They know it's allowing us to function in a different way and get some balance in the run and pass game and in the different things we're doing.
Defensively, still doing a good job. Missed some fits in the run game. We've got to get that fixed in the run game so you don't give up like that, but we did create three big turnovers. Getting those three turnovers were very good and played I thought well into offense, transitioned very well. In other words, from the turnovers we got out and then scored three straight times. That was huge because you've got to transition that way. I think one of the things we've got to work on a bit on defense, we got some big drives on offense and get up two or three scores and then we gave up a drive and let them kind of hang in there. We've got to learn to close that door, too, in the transition and play off the momentum.
Special teams I thought we covered kicks extremely well. We had three punts, one was inside the 10, one was about to the 10 or 11, and then the other one, he hit a really high punt, we got it up there with good hang and we got it covered and did a good job. (Ainias Smith) almost got out of there on one of the punts. Kickoff return, had a couple better kickoff returns than what we did (before). Almost got another block kick on a PAT, got good penetration inside. So we continue to make strides and the little things are adding up to big things. We're taking them from the practice field to the game field, and our young guys are consistently getting better. They're starting to understand, as I said before, just the strain and the focus that it takes when you're a young guy, even though you're talented, to play--not just play--but play well, and play winning football. Guys are practicing better, we're getting there. But there's still a lot of room for growth now. We still have a lot of room. Like I say, all of a sudden when things are bad, they're never as bad as they seem. And all of a sudden when things are good, they're never as good as they seem. Usually it lies in between somewhere and in how you're practicing, how you keep preparing. So hopefully we'll keep learning those lessons and do that and get ready to play UTSA this week.
How nice is it to see Kendrick Rogers reappear in this offense? And what does it do for the totality of this offense when he's playing like he can play?
Well, I mean, I think to have all your options, all your available receivers have to be a threat. People say, you know, you can hide guys, you could move guys, you can create plays for different guys, but they can always double team guys. You can create one on ones, and when everybody has the potential to make plays and are making plays, then the quarterback's job becomes much easier because the one-on-one matchups, those guys can win if you get the ball to them. They can force you in one-on-one somewhere and take double teams other places. And that's how you've got to play. So in that regard, his ability, with his size and length, and also his physicality, is really good.
Kendrick had those I guess you could say couple of tough games against Arkansas and Alabama. What was it that made you stick with him?
He has potential. He practiced more last week and got into practice, and was off nicked and knacked. And you got to keep staying with him. We know what his potential is. But at the end of the day, there's got to be a point, like we tell them, listen. We're only going to stay with you so long, you've got to start getting results in play. And he did that. Hopefully he will continue to do that and understand the grind it takes to do that, because he practices hard, works hard and plays hard. We've just got to keep getting the results from him.
When you started seeing the improvement was it just part of the process or was there kind of a light bulb moment?
It's part of the process, that you've just got to keep growing and keep grinding and when they don't do it, you make them do it. At the end of the day you don't ask them to do it, you've got to make them do it and make them do it over. Here's the point. Kids today, and I'm making a general statement, hey, coach. I can do it right. Well, can you not do it wrong? There's a difference. And we did more of we couldn't do it wrong in the game then we did periodically doing things right. And I think that's where youth and inexperience, does it understand the responsibility that each time that I do it wrong could change the game? Even though it's nine out of 10 times I do it right, that can change the game, especially when you're playing as good of people that we play in the tight games in which we play. That mentality has to be there, and it's still not there all the way. We're still growing in that regard. We have to get there.
A quick follow up on that. How important is patience, given the youth you have on the team?
As a reporter, y'all ask that question? (Laughing) Y'all ask all kinds of questions, don't you? (laughing) No, no, I joke about it, but no it is. Listen. As a coach, you've got to know, we see things you don't see. Because everything you and the fans see, which is what the game is about—it's about results. There's no doubt. But there's a process to it and why those things are happening. And are they not capable of happening? And why are they not happening? Can they be fixed? As I assume all of us do with our kids…a lot of people don't see your kids the same way you do every day, behind the scenes at home and what they're capable of when they do things like they're supposed to do. So you don't throw them away and you don't can them. You stay with them. They can get there. But there's a fine line where the production and the things have to come, and that's what we walk. You've got to find that in-between and that's what we're doing and we're still on that. We've still got to get there. You know, it's funny as a coach, it's always there like that, no matter what. It's always there like that, and you've got to keep fighting for those inches that I talk about and stay with guys and keep believing in them.
I know you like players from near and far, but is it pretty neat when you have a guy or two guys contributing from pretty close, like Caldwell over here, Iola over there in Morris and Renick? Is it even neater that they grew up here?
Those guys played really good games. Morris made a heck of a big pick, a big turnover in a game that got us going. And you know, it's funny when you say that. Those kids that grow up around here, you dream of playing here. Most guys that grew up around whatever school they grew up around that area, that's their dream, to be able to see that. Sometimes they get there. But sometimes there's such pressure from being at home. You don't play as well. Sometimes it doesn't always pan out, then you walk around your whole life, and people say you went there, but you didn't get it done. That's a big burden to carry. People don't understand that on kids, the pressure on that. For them to be able to come out here and make plays and contribute and really do what they're doing, I'm happy to see it. It's a great thing and great for our team. And Renick is playing super football. Lemme tell you something. All that guy does is do it right. Blocks where he's supposed to be. Puts his hat where he's supposed to. There's a lot of unheralded things that people don't see that that guy's doing, helping us play good football.
I was gonna piggyback on Renick, in July he probably was like the fourth tight end at best…the role of a walk on. Do you treat them any different?
We don't treat them any different, but they're not always given certain opportunities that other guys are at times, because the other guys are here because of talent levels and things. Like guys like Kendrick and guys that are up and down, sometimes injuries and different things, maybe sometimes walk-ons aren't given as many opportunities. That's just the nature of the beast. I'd love to, but the other guys, you know, there's talent there. There's things there. But that tells me about Renick. His perseverance, his mentality, his toughness. That guy's also coming off an ACL, he's four and a half, five months out. For him to even be out there is amazing, let alone be playing. That young man will be successful in whatever he does in life. He's a tough son of a gun, and he understands football. For him, the perseverance to do that, it's great. I've been fortunate to be around some great walk-ons in my time, and they end up being really, really special people. Most of them really become successful and persevere through all that. It's amazing how successful they are as people. It really is. You go back and look at some of the ones, I was thinking about that the other day, how successful they are in their life. Because they just go to work. They ain't told what they want to hear. They ain't always the first pick. They ain't always the guy that gets picked. And they step back in the back and wait for the three opportunities they get and take advantage of 'em and say, Yes, sir, I'm happy. All of a sudden, they're successful in life. That toughness, the mentality it brings, it's amazing how successful they become. Renick will be one of those guys, I really do. And right now he's playing really good football for us.
It was about this time last year, I think it was the Ole Miss game, where you said that you felt like maybe a light came on or a corner was turned. Do you have any kind of sense of something similar happening?
No, just because you played one great game doesn't mean that light bulb's on. But sometimes they flicker. Hopefully they don't flicker. Hopefully we keep the juice going. If we learn why…we always say, okay, why did you make mistakes? Why did you play bad? You all want to know that. Well why did we play well? It's the same thing. As a player, why did we play well? Well, okay, we prepared. Maybe I watched more film this week. Go back and review why you played well. Maybe I wasn't on social media 19 hours a day. I did my work. I did what I was supposed to do. I did my film time. I studied. I did extra film in practice. I had a great mentality in practice. I was really focused and it carried over to the game. So you can repeat it. If you learn why you have successes and failures, then you can either stop them and repeat them like you want. Stop the failures and repeat the successes. And hopefully we can learn from that and continue to play well.
Five touchdowns accounted for for Kellen, what are you seeing from number 11 right now?
A guy who understands what's going on. He trusted his eyes in the game with his decision making. Didn't try to predetermine. Gathered the information, trusted his eyes, reacted and allowed the game…I always tell them, the game is bigger than anybody that's ever coached it or ever played it. Mark it down. As soon as you think you got it mastered, it will bite you right in the tail. You can't force it. You can't go out saying I'm gonna throw for 300 today. I'm running for 100 yards. I'm gonna run for 200. I'm gonna win this game. No, you better coach this game. You better play this game. And you better do both right, and then you'll get the results you want. And I think that's what he did in that game. He trusted his eyes. He took what the game gave him. Made great decisions. Was accurate with the ball. Distributed the ball. Wasn't selfish. There were some plays he could have had some passes, checked back to runs that gave us really good plays. And vice versa. Just made the right decisions. All of a sudden, we really excelled. And we played well around him.
Do you have an update on Elijah Blades and Demani Richardson?
Yeah, Elijah should be practicing. Banged up a little bit, and we'll see how that goes. Trainers are checking him out. Demani, the same way.
I know that you really don't have much of a choice in the matter, but are you a fan of playing nonconference games in the middle of a conference slate?
Yeah. It doesn't bother me. It doesn't bother me at all.
So 40-plus years of playing and coaching this game, have you ever seen one player run off with another player's shoe?
I've seen them grab a helmet, because they get ripped off sometimes, a guy will take a helmet. No, I've never seen it. That I can remember. I've never seen a shoe. That was a new one. And I didn't realize it happened at the time, actually.
So that's what I was gonna ask you, based on that. And I know you said after you didn't want Prater doing that. He did get the shoe back…
Yeah, but let the official go get the shoe. Listen, I understand it totally, but I don't condone it. Because it hurts the overall purpose of what you're trying to do. You understand what I'm saying? Over a shoe? If he's got him on the ground beating him up, maybe I understand getting him off of him. It comes from a good place. It doesn't come from a bad place. But you've got to understand. We're on the 2-yard line. It's a 14-7 game. That can change everything. I say that in the locker room. Listen, don't let your personal ego, your personal ambitions, override what we're here to do as an organization and as a team. You can't let those things happen. Listen, does that mean I don't like Prater? I love Prater. I'd walk down an alley with him in two seconds. I don't have that problem. But what I'm saying is, let the official go get the shoe back. Like they're gonna make him play without shoes. Maybe they get a penalty for running away with a shoe? But no. I didn't realize that happened at the time, but I've never seen that happen. I gotta tell Kellen, if you'd just make the dadgum guy miss and get in the end zone, we ain't got that problem. (laughing)
Coach I know you never want to overlook an opponent, so what potential challenges could UTSA bring?
Shoot, defensively, their stunts and blitzes. Constant blitzing team, exchanging fronts, bringing pressures all kind of times. Different looks up front. You have to be on the same page offensively with the different formations. Listen, I've known Frank Wilson a long time. He is a great guy and a great football coach. I knew him back when he started high school, he built O. Perry Walker down in New Orleans who was…I mean, they hadn't won anything. They had never won. And he took them to how many state championships in a row? We got a lot of great players off those teams when I was at LSU. Turning things around and coaching and doing the things he's done, he's been a great college football coach, a position coach. Does a good job. He'll have those guys ready offensively, defensively in every way. And they present a lot of problems defensively with their blitz schemes, different fronts, stemming and moving. They really do. As much as anybody we've played. The different things they do on offense and special teams, they'll have some tricks and things there, so we have to go play. And again, it's not about who you play. I don't care if it's Alabama, I don't care if it's UTSA. It's how you play, and how you prepare, and the things I go back to. You say I sound like a broken record. Yes, I am. Because that's what has success. The game rewards that. You got to keep doing it, practice well to play well.
You guys have a ton of young guys, a lot of the freshmen playing. Are you surprised at how productive they've been? And when do you stop coaching them like freshmen?
I never have stopped coaching them like freshmen. I joke about that. I don't because I tell them, listen, if you're gonna play, you're responsible for playing well. Now is that hard? At times are the things you ask them to do limited at times by putting them in position to be successful? But when they have to be in those situations, you gotta call what you gotta call. You push them and then you hug them afterward to tell them this is why I'm pushing you, buddy, This is tough right now. Just understand it and go. And does it surprise me? No, not really. Because I knew that that group coming in was a very talented group and had a chance. But, you don't ever know how people are going to adapt and how quick they're going to adapt. I've learned that a long time ago. Guys that I thought would be coming in and doing it right away sometimes don't, and they end up being great players, but the transition's tougher. Guys who I thought may take a while, they transition. You don't ever know that. And in today's time with the numbers…these rosters anymore are more like 53-man rosters than 85-man rosters, with the injuries you incur and with the transfers you incur. It's not like playing with 85 guys anymore. So your freshmen are gonna have to make an impact. A significant impact.