Colorado University Athletics
Tuesday Press Conference Quotes
December 01, 2015 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
General
“We had a small senior class, but they did a great job; some excellent leaders in that group. Of course we had a record setting player in Nelson Spruce who is a phenomenal player but just a phenomenal person too. That's what I've been doing all day today, is meeting individually with all the graduating seniors and the rising seniors. Those are enjoyable but sad moments too when they walk out of your office for the last time. And then also, hearing about what they want to do in the future and finding out ways we can help them. I have guys that want to go into the military . . . I have guys that want to go in the FB I . . . Guys that are going to be playing pro football . . . Guys that rare going straight into business . . . So, I'm working on different things to make calls for them, write recommendation letters. It is always an exciting time to see that and see their minds shift to other things. It was an enjoyable day and also a sad day at the same time.”
On his exit interviews with seniors and the extent of those conversations
“I always talk to them about how much I appreciate them and different things, then I always ask for straight feedback – I do that with our players on the team now too. It's good to hear different things that they say. So far, it's all been real positive. They all think we're going in the right direction. They're saying that they like morning practices, they like these different things and so on. One of the guys said we need to keep our schedules more consistent, because we were changing our Sunday and Monday [practices]. I said, 'I would if we didn't get back in at 6:00 a.m. in the morning and you could all come back and practice.' He said, 'I hadn't thought about that.' But, I do get some good ideas and good tidbits that I've used throughout the years. It's always good to hear from the players perspective. I talk to them about that all the time, but as they're leaving, they probably feel more comfortable saying things sometimes.”
On if he feels this team improved over the course of the season
“I do think that we improved as the year went along, even with all the injuries that we had. I do think that we improved, but we again didn't finish some of those games like we would have liked to and had some miscues. But, I do feel like we're a better football team than when we began, I really do believe that. A lot of those guys are coming back. We are going to have a big senior class and a really big junior class. When you combine them together – the way I understand it – it's the biggest (junior and senior) classes they've had [at Colorado] since the 2001 season, which they had a great season that year. They've played a lot of football. We also have some guys that we thought were going to be seniors that are now juniors: [OL] Jeromy Irwin, [LB] Addison Gillam, those types of guys. It's good for our future.”
On how he maintains confidence in the team
“The way they were playing those games, the effort they always gave, the never give in attitude, the competitiveness, how they came ready to play. I think that showed that their mind was in the right place, there heart was in the right place. Also, when we had our life lessons night – we have it on Thursday nights before each game and we had it on Wednesday night last week and each senior gets up and talks. It was really interesting – I didn't tell one senior what to say; they could say anything they wanted to say - at least half of them talked about how far they've seen everything come and how close we are, and how frustrating it is to be that close and not get over the hump in more games than we did. A couple of them even talked about being on the field when it was [55-7] at Fresno State at halftime [in 2012] and a couple of other games. Now, they're right there tasting being able to beat those teams and they will. They talked about the Oregon games and Southern Cal games when it was over before it even started. I think them talking to the young men about that, about how far we've come, and then guys sitting in there that are playing a lot realize that it's a building process and it's always about the next step. I think that all year long they've felt that, and where their confidence was they felt like they could win every game they played. I wouldn't of said that has always been the case in the past. And they felt like that whether they came off a loss or came off a win, they felt like they'd win the next game.”
On if any players besides seniors will not be returning to the team
“None, as of right now that I know of. Everybody is returning. Nobody has said one thing to me about that.”
On how many commitments and scholarships available he has for the 2016 recruiting class
“We're sitting right now at about 11 or 12 in that area. There will be some guys, I hate to say this but you always have attrition. There will guys that go through spring and decide not to come back, that type of thing. So, we'll sign a few more guys understanding that that happens – kids that transfer or decide to graduate early, that type of thing. Usually that doesn't happen until about halfway through spring.”
On what former DL Josh Tupou's status is regarding returning to the team
“Josh Tupou's status is that he is planning on coming back to school in May, as of right now. Yes (he'll be back on the team) and he'll be able to graduate in December because he was way far ahead academically.”
On if he feels any increased pressure to reach a bowl game next season
“You always put pressure on yourself, you always want to be as successful as you can be. Definitely every year we want to be able to win the Pac-12 championship and be able to go to a bowl and see where that takes us from there. Every year as a coach or as a player you want to reach the ultimate goals that you want to reach and that's something that we're working for all the time.”
On 'getting over the hump' and what hurdles his team faces
“It's a process of growing, and we've made progress, there's no doubt we've made progress. Have we made progress as quickly as we would like, you never do that, I don't think you ever do that. We're in the process of doing that, we're making progress and our process is working. I think there are aspects in all games – it could be mental, it could be physical, could be a mistake here or an unbelievable play made by them that kind of change a game. I think it's also the maturity of our football team, understanding the attention of detail needed in the heat of battle. It takes preparation and practice and practice takes preparation and how many games they've played. I think it's all a process that will happen and a combination of all of that. Eventually it will happen (winning) more often than it doesn't.”
On if he's ever considered hiring a sports psychologist.
“We do have a sports psychologist, Chris Bader. He does a phenomenal job with all of our athletes and our football team. I work with him quite a bit on different ways to approach things or different ways to approach guys or the team or different games. He does an excellent job and has helped us a lot and helped me a lot. He comes to our games, he sits in on different meetings, he hears what we're saying so we can portray the right attitude to the kids. I think that's one thing that helps our kids, is we're tough on them but were positive on them, and I think that keeps their resilience going. Because if it's always negative, you don't have much reserve to go have resilience and I think that' why we're a pretty resilient football team and come back and play. We'll get more of those wins (next season).”
On AD Rick George publicly stating MacIntyre will be the head coach next season
“Honestly, I don't ever think about my status. I'm the head football coach at Colorado and that's what I want to do, and I'm going to work at it with everything that I got. If I worry about everything else all the time, then I can't do my job effectively. If a Mark Richt can get fired with 10 wins, one of the greatest men in our business, anybody can be fired. So, you can't worry about that. You can't let that affect how you treat young people or how you work with other people in your office and how you work with your staff. I've always felt that [President] Bruce Benson was behind me, [Chancellor] Phil Distefano was behind me, and [Athletic Director] Rick George was behind me 100 percent. I haven't ever doubted that. Of course we all want more wins, we all want more, but I think they see the progress we're making. I think they see the process within our program. Of course there are different things every year when the season is over and you look back and you refocus and evaluate just like you would in any business. You have to make different tweaks and look at what you are trying to do to progress your program. But if during the heat of the battle you're worried about that, you're not being an effective leader by any stretch; you're being a reactive leader, you can't be reactive. You have to lead with a process, a progress, with a sense of self-worth, a sense of pride and a sense of confidence. If you're doing that (worried about your job status) than you're not (leading with confidence). I grew up in the business, so I know how that works 100 percent.”
On if he's considered making coaching changes among his assistants
“I'm still evaluating everything. I don't like to make knee-jerk decisions quickly right after the season. I'm still evaluating what we will do within our whole program – every phase of it – because it all works interconnected. I do know that all our people work extremely hard and have a lot of pride being here.”
On the new indoor practice facility and when they will move into it
“The new indoor practice facility is going to be exceptional. It's going to be great. You walk right from the locker room right to the weight room right into the indoor facility and right onto our new practice fields that will be connected to that too. I think it will be a huge benefit for us this offseason. You also have a track around it, so there are a lot of advantages to that. I don't know the exact date we can move in there yet, I'm definitely hoping when we get back we can get in there extremely quick. I know that the turf is almost completely done in there, so that's a positive sign. They have the parking garage underneath and all those types of things. But I don't know exactly when they will let us in, hopefully when our guys get back we'll be able to go right into there then.”
On if LB/QB Jaleel Awini will move back to LB for spring practices
“That's something we have to evaluate and look at and see. Also, the progress of [QB] Sefo [Liufau's] foot will be a big issue in that also. But Jaleel did some good things when he came in the other day [at Utah] the way we were utilizing him and he was exciting about doing it.”
On the process of players applying for medical hardship waivers
“You apply for their redshirt when their time comes, you don't do it right now. So [LB] Addison [Gillam] would play next year and be like his 'senior year' but knowing that he had a full year out (due to injury) that they would apply after that season is over. Usually all of those go pretty smooth if they are underneath the amount of games (played necessary to be eligible for medical hardship waiver) and did all the protocol. That's when you apply, you don't apply right now to find out, and that's how the NCAA does that.”
On the quarterback competition in the spring with Sefo Liufau unable to compete
“They (QB's Cade Apsay, Jordan Gehrke, and Steven Montez) will get a lot of reps in the spring without Sefo out there on the actually practice field – he will be in meetings and around. Those young men will get more reps which will give them more opportunity to improve, it will also give us more opportunity to evaluate. That will be definitely an interesting process there. It will also give us a chance to look at some of their strengths and weaknesses.”
On if there are any coaching decisions he regrets now looking back on the season
“I've done that every Saturday, every Sunday, every Monday, every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday . . . We try to redefine certain things. After each game we take notes and log things away of how we would have handled certain situations differently. We ended up handling some situations different as the season went along. It's always easy to second guess, especially when you lose a game, it's always very easy to second guess. I'll go back and watch a game in its entirety looking at different situations, where we are on the clock . . . was it a good decision to make . . . was it not. It may have been a good decision but you weren't successful. You have to kind of look at that. Would you kick an onside kick . . . would you punt it there . . . would you try to block a punt . . . those types of situations. Because there are certain times when you want to try and block a punt in certain down and distances on fourth and long, certain times you wouldn't if it's under that because if a guy runs it and gets a first down. So, all those types of situations, you look at and make sure I made the right decisions. Sometimes in a game, you're watching the game and you're thinking, 'We're stopping them pretty good, or we're not stopping them' that also goes into your decision. It's not always just by the book. Sometimes you can tell, 'Woah, we're really tired, we're probably not going to be able to hold them,' and vice versa. You can make decisions off of that too.”
On DB Chidobe Awuzie and WR Nelson Spruce being named All-Pac-12 second team
“I think they're both first team (All-Pac-12 players), there's no doubt in my mind. You have the leading receiver in the history of the Pac-12, of course our team didn't win as many games as we would've liked. I think if we would've won more games they would both be first team. But I think they are both first team Pac-12 football players. I think they would start on any team in this league, either one of them. Also, they are excellent students, excellent kids, I mean they are big-time good students. Really they're not great kids, they're men now. Matter-of-fact, I met with 'Chido' today because he's a rising senior and we were laughing because I said, 'Remember when I first saw you play as a 10th grader?' and he said 'Yeah.' So, I've known him since he was a 10th grader and now he's graduating, that's pretty special. He'll graduate next December, so he's doing really well and is ahead of schedule; he will graduate in three-and-a-half years which is pretty cool.”
On why the offense struggled this season
“We had different issues that happened at different times, especially if you're juggling your offensive line a lot; it's not an excuse it's a fact, but we have to figure out how to fix it. The good thing about it is we'll have a lot of (offensive linemen) back that have played a lot. A guy who really improved as the year went along is john Lisella; he really improved and he's just a freshman. Next year, he'll have all those plays under him and he'll get bigger and stronger in the offseason. I think the other thing that hurt us at the end of the year is I think we were red hot in the Southern Cal game, I mean red hot . . . and Sefo goes down. I could see it in their eyes, I could see the way we were moving the ball, he was throwing it accurately, we were running, and then that hurt us. If he (Liufau) doesn't get hurt then I don't think you're asking that question to be honest with you.”
On if he was ever worried about DB Chidobe Awuzie declaring eligible for the NFL Draft
“No I was not worried about 'Chido' leaving for the NFL for one minute. I know his parents and I know what he is all about, he wants to get his degree and he's ahead of time, so he'll have plenty of time to get ready. He's a great leader on our team, I haven't even discussed it with him. I always discuss it will all our juniors a couple different times during the season because there's these guys called runners out there that work for these agents and they try to get in these kids' heads which is totally wrong. So I go over that with them so they don't make any wrong decisions that would make them ineligible. So, I've talked about that with a lot of our guys over and over and I always do that. You never know, but I thought definitely he would be back for sure.”
On a wide receiver stepping up to help fill Nelson Spruce's void
“I think we have some excellent receivers there, Shay [Fields] was one that was having a really good year again and then hurt his ankle in the Arizona game and it kind of hampered him a little bit throughout the rest of the season. Bryce [Bobo] is a really good player. I think we have a lot of good receivers that can make some plays and do some things. I'll be excited to see who steps up, and we would like to have a few of them do that. It's definitely hard to replace Nelson, there's no doubt about it.”
On helping players such as WR Devin Ross and K Diego Gonzalez regain confidence
“You instill confidence in them all the time and work with them. Diego is a rising senior and we met today and talked about a lot of different things. Diego is a very talented young man and he has a big smile on his face, and I'm excited about his future. You just keep working with them and keep helping them and going from there. Devin is a guy who has made some big plays and he just has to keep focusing on his catching skills and keep working on that. You keep the process going, you keep instilling, you keep working, you keep pushing them and showing them and kind of move the puzzle around and keep trying to find ways to help them. It's kind of never ending with all the kids.”
On if they will change anything to try and prevent the amount of injuries
“Knee's and broken foots, there's really not as much you can do about that, the way things sometimes happen. Our off-the-field injuries are kind of crazy too, so I don't know how you really fix that. But you do get bigger and stronger, more physical. We're playing against good football teams. We need to just keep getting more guys bigger and stronger. The more depths we have helps you too. Some years, you're kind of lucky, you just don't have many. Hopefully this (upcoming) year will be one of those years.”
Colorado Players
DB Chidobe Awuzie
On the season and not reaching goal of going to a bowl game
“Obviously a disappointment we didn't get that goal, so overall a lot of us are down, frustrated that we couldn't make it to a bowl and send the seniors off right. For us coming back there is more motivation to get those seniors that bowl game and there is going to be a big senior class. We need to find a way to get it done. Personally, and on the defensive side, we had our own goals too. We got a couple of them, but some that we didn't get. I think overall we just need to improve and use it as motivation for next year.”
On possibility of leaving early for the NFL
“I'm definitely coming back. I came in with a class, a lot of those guys mean a lot to me, and Coach Mac means a lot to me. We got a good thing going and I want to see the progress finish and us get to that bowl game and have some success.”
On level of hunger between junior and senior classes
“I wouldn't say more hunger. I wasn't there when those seniors came in, in the dorms when they were freshmen, they had that bond. I can speak on our class and we had a great bond and we still do. I think we're Coach Mac's first class, so we kind of know what he expects out of us. Those seniors did a great job and we're going to try to follow suit and do another great job, except this time try to get to a bowl game.”
On why close games didn't turn into wins
“Everybody says it, but I definitely think it's the little things. Coach (Dave) Forman, especially even in the weight room when we go around, he always has individual talks to us, about the little things in the weight room, finishing reps, stuff like that. I think in the summer, in the spring going into this offseason, is going to be really important for us to get over that board. Finishing the fourth quarter was honestly a goal of ours, to finish the fourth quarter, and sometimes we didn't do that. We ended up losing a couple heartbreaking losses, so I think those are just things we need to work on.”
On if he prefers to play nickel back compared to cornerback or safety
“I just love the position DB, defensive back. I played safety last year, freshman year. I played nickel this year, I played a little bit more corner. Wherever they play me and what they feel like is the best position for me to play and to win, I'll be accountable playing it. I love playing nickel, I love playing corner, I love playing safety is basically what I'm trying to say. I just loving playing defensive back.”
On adjusting to new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt and the defensive system
“Coach (Jim) Leavitt, Coach (Joe Tumpkin) came in and some guys were skeptical, some guys were excited. Once we started getting going, everybody was excited. They fit into great roles on our team and a lot of us fell in love with them, and just really wanted to play for them hard. One of our goals was to finish in the top half in the Pac-12 in scoring defense. I'm not sure if we did that; I think we might have finished at number six, so that's pretty good. We did pretty good on the passing defense side, I thought that was pretty good. Another thing that coach Leavitt always says is that good gets you beat. Obviously we didn't get those wins, so we have to find a way to be great or be excellent. We can't be perfect but we have to get as close to it as we can.”
On if team maintained confidence after losses mounted
“We definitely never lost confidence. As competitors when you get in those situations of adversity you actually build more confidence. You start to go back to the practice field, back into the film room and work harder. Confidence is in your preparation, so I think when we started getting those losses we started preparing harder. Even if some people didn't see it, I still saw our team as progressing. We had a couple downfall victories that were kind of blowouts, other than like two of those games we were progressing pretty good. We definitely have to get wins and we have to find a way.”
On how he maintained confidence
“If it was a team of individuals, people would probably look at themselves and be really down and probably lose confidence, but we all know that we're all in this together, everybody has each others' backs. If one person makes a mistake or feels like they lost the game they know they didn't. It's a team effort and as long as we know we are together, I think that confidence is real high and we know we have each others' backs.”
On raising the bar for the 2016 season
“Definitely I think its accountability. We have to hold each other more accountable, even ourselves sometimes. It's hard to regulate ourselves in certain situation when emotions get high or emotions get too low, but we have to be that bright spot for this team and show great leadership in the weight room, in training, in practice, all those types of things. If people start complaining, we can't let that happen. We just really need to be positive, because we know it's coming, we know that we can be a great team and be a great defensive team; we just have to keep going.”
On the type of quarterback redshirt freshman Steven Montez is
“He's a very talented quarterback. It's hard to see as a scout team quarterback to evaluate him because the defensive coaches sometimes tell him who to throw to in double coverage and stuff, but he definitely has talent. He has a big arm and I'm excited to see what he going to do.”
On how the offense replaces WR Nelson Spruce
“First off Nelson is great, he is one of those guy that I look at from afar. He pushed me just because I saw how he worked and how great he was and what all he accomplished at this level, so hats off to him. I think it's going to be a group effort definitely to replace a guy like that. We'll see who steps up, but I feel like all of our receivers are great from the bottom to the top. It depends on who has that work effort like Nelson did. Everyone has seen Devin Ross, Bryce Bobo, Shay Fields, Lee Walker. Lee Walker is a guy who is really fast, if he has that work ethic I think he can break through.”
On being named second team All-Pac-12
“It's a honor, it's is a high blessing. I feel like it's a culmination of Coach Leavitt and Coach Tumpkin really coming in and changing the coach of our defense. I felt like we had a lot of great players on defense and I just happen to be the one chosen by whoever chooses that. It's a blessing and it's an honor. I think it's a representation of our team and that's good. Obviously I wish I could have had first team, but that just gives me a reason to grind harder.”
On raising the bar personally for next year
“I just have to keep raising my standard of play, expect more out of myself and by doing that also being vocal and trying to raise the standard of other players to get their max potential. Hopefully it works out that we have more all-Pac-12 players because I feel like we have a lot of all-Pac-12 players on the team, we just have to show it and also wins help that. We need to have great leadership to get those wins too.”
On if he sees himself as a leader
“I definitely do. Last year it was my junior year and as an upperclassman I felt that obligation, but definitely now that I'm a senior this is my last go-round. I feel like it's necessary to regard myself as a leader and to be that guy or be one of those guys.”
On if he deeply considered leaving for the NFL
“Not really as a possibility. Education always came first for me and my family. I obviously talked to them, but it was always in the back of my mind. I think definitely I always knew I was going to come back it was never really a question of myself; I think maybe other people made it a question, but not myself.”
On his thoughts on the leadership council
“First off, I think leadership council or captains, all that stuff, is good, but there's a lot of leaders outside of that too. We just need great leaders. I don't know if it's going to be leadership council or captains. I liked it though, but I just think you don't need that label as a captain or being on the leadership council to be a leader, to lead yourself, to lead others. We just need a lot of people to step up.”
WR Nelson Spruce
On reflecting on his career and the fact that he set 42 school records
“I had my exit meeting with Coach Mac, so I feel like it is really over now. I've been looking at that (receiving records), that's awesome. That's why you play football, to be the best. Obviously I couldn't have done it by myself. Setting those records is something that I am always going to remember. From a team aspect, playing college football, that's always been my dream; I'm probably going to look back on these years as the best years of my life. Hopefully I get to play at the next level. From what I've heard and from what I can imagine, college football it's not so much of a business, it's guys playing it for the love of the game. I'm definitely going to miss it here.”
On what was said during his exit meeting with Coach MacIntyre
“It was me and him going back and forth about how much the program has changed since I started here; obviously how frustrating this season was because we were so close, but couldn't finish some of those games. He told me what we're going to accomplish next season and the years to come. I am still a part of that. Then we talked about the next level. He'll help me out with anything that I need as far as that goes. I'll be in touch with him; I'll be checking in on the program and he will be checking in on me.”
On being named second team all-Pac-12
“It's good. You want that type of recognition. First team would have been better. That was my goal coming into the year. My individual goal was first team because last year I was second team as well. But there are some good receivers this year, so I'm happy with it.”
On handing the top receiver position to Shay Fields
“Last week I was joking around and said whoever has the best game this week gets the torch. Shay's kind of been the number two, but with that being said I think it's kind of close in terms of who can step up and be that number one guy. Brice is my roommate, and I told him there is no reason he can't be (the number one receiver). This off season is going to be big for (him), just like it is going to be huge for Shay, just like it is going to be huge for Devon. Once P-Rich (Paul Richardson) left I knew it was my time; (I knew) I had to step up. It's going to be a case of whoever wants it the most and whoever puts in the most work can be that guy. They are all talented, but it is just going to be a matter of who wants it.”
On if he was surprised by the amount of records he broke
“I've always been the quiet type, under the radar. Coming out of high school I felt that I was under recruited; I wasn't that big of a name. I've always been confident in myself. I knew there was no question that I could be a playmaker at this level; I could be a starter. I think the amount of records I was able to set was surprising."
On Coach MacIntyre and the staff's ability to advance the program
“I (believe it's their) passion. You see Coach Mac on the sidelines in these close games and it looks like he is about to have a heart attack or something. He brings that passion every day and I think the players feel it. Coach Leavitt on the defensive side of the ball is just as passionate. Next year, Coach Mac said we are going to have the biggest junior, senior class since 2000 or 2001. That amount of guys that are all on the same page, all preaching the same message, I think that's a positive for the team going ahead.”
On the advice he can give to his teammates
“Seize the opportunity every day. That's how I attack the game. We have the athletes on the team, but it's just going to be a matter of treating every day like that the last chance you are going to get. The thing with this program is, if we can do that, then we are going to be competitive against these top team. It's (about) coming to work.”
On the struggles of the offense this season
“Injuries are definitely a big part of it. Up front we had a few (injuries). We always had guys moving around up front, when protection is huge for us. That being said, we can't blame it on injuries because every team goes through injuries. That was what was tough for us, we could pinpoint exactly what it was. I think if we could have then we would have been able to fix it. I felt that we never fully hit our stride on offense. That was the frustrating part, because we were never able to pinpoint it. Every week, it might have been a different thing. From all aspects we never put a complete game together.”
On preparing to graduate
“I have one class this semester. I am taking my final in a couple weeks. I will head back home and decide what agent I want to go with, and then decide where I want to train. It will probably be at home in Southern California somewhere. Then hit the ground and run with that and focus on that.”
On watching the NFL Combine
“The last few years – knowing that hopefully that was in my future – I've been watching it, especially the receivers. I take note of different receivers and what they do that.”
On what all-star games he has been invited to
“I committed to the East-West [Shrine Game], so I'll be playing in that. I got invited to the NFL PA, but I didn't get the Senior Bowl invite.”
On the research he has done on the NFL
“That was really helpful last year. I got to gather all the facts and see how the whole process works. Now, I feel like I'm really prepared for what's to come. Last year, I talked to agents that were talking to me and they were really helpful in giving me feedback and letting me know how the process goes. I'm glad that I looked into it.”
On getting advice from former Buffs on the NFL
“[TE Nick] Kasa I talked to, and P-Rich (WR Paul Richardson) a little bit. Guys like that have all given me advice here or there.”
On how he can train to improve his speed
“A lot of it for the 40-time is technique which I never really had any speed training, so that's going to be a big thing for me. Obviously your start is huge. I did a little training last year training, not knowing if I was coming out yet or not. There's some things you can work on: lower body strength is huge. A tenth of a second can make a huge difference, so I'm trying to shave off as many of those as possible.”
On what his target is for the 40-yard dash
“It's hard to tell for me, because I've never really been timed. I don't know where I'm starting at or what's reasonable to get to. You see some of the times that've been posted – like 4.3's – I don't think that's realistic for me. High 4.4's and 4.5's would be cool for me. The NFL places such a premium on speed. That's not my game; I'm not going to be running 'gos' every route. I'll try to do the best I can at it. I think once I land on a team and show them what I can do, I think there will be a spot for me no matter where I'm at.”
