Tuesday Press Conference Quotes
November 15, 2016 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
Opening Statement
"Our guys are excited about this game to say the least. Coach Mike Leach does a phenomenal job at Washington State. And offensively that's exactly what they're known for, he's done a great job there. But defensively to me they've made big gains and that's made them won eight in a row. Offensively they've done a great job. [Luke] Falk, the quarterback, does a phenomenal job of understanding of what Mike wants of him. Looks to me that he's checking about 50 percent of the plays and they have a really good idea of what they want to do. Gets them in the right play a lot [of the time]. We're going to have to play really well that's obvious. But we're going to have to tackle in space. They spread you out horizontally. And how we tackle in space will be a big key in how we will be able to slow down their offense. Defensively they have a good front that stunts a lot, they have a lot of tackle for losses and harass the passer. Our offensive line will have to do a good job of handling that so it's going to be a great game and we're excited about playing Saturday afternoon, it's going to be fun."
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On Defensive Identity Preparing For Washington State's Offense
"Their philosophy and how they do it, they all tweak it a little bit according to each game. But the whole key is being able to tackle the receivers in space. One thing they've done a better job of is that they have three really good running backs. And they've been able to run the ball better which keeps you off balance. So we're going to have to be able to stop the run and tackle those guys. Again we're just going to have to be able to play really well and aggressive at times. And hopefully we're able to make more plays than their receivers are able to make and their running backs."
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On Stopping The Run
"With this week it's completely differently. [Luke] Falk never runs. He'll run and slide a little bit but he can sit in the pocket like Tom Brady and pick you apart. It seems like he has the calmness. Dawkins was really fast and we knew it. Similar to [Colin] Kaepernick, he can just take off running and make plays. He bounced outside of us a couple times and hurt us and we fixed that at the beginning of the second half. We thought we had that fixed at the beginning of the game but his speed and being able to bounce like number ten, we bounced outside us one time. So we were able to corral that a little bit. [Washington State] is a little different. They will run some stretch plays; they will call it. And there running backs will hit it well. It depends what front we're in and what hold they're going to it. So our guys will need to know where to fit it up. So hopefully we'll be stout enough against the run to eliminate that hopefully."
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On Jimmie Gilbert's Evolution As A Pass Rusher
"It does help the defense, he's able to beat guys one-on-one. He's able to blitz them. He has eight and a half sacks right now I believe and he missed a whole game basically. Which we needed him in that game. But he's done a good job. It helps because they've got to know where he is, their offensive line. It helps us in coverage."
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On Challenge To Become Great
"I do look into their eyes and I see their practice effort. When you're talking to them as a team, they're looking at you, they're engaged they understand what's going on. You've worked this hard, you just need to push the extra step. That's not a pressure situation at all just keep working and doing what you're doing and enjoy it. Really enjoy the moment. Then it's not an overwhelming feeling for you and our guys are excited about it."
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On Expectations Of Defense Against Washington State's Offense
"Yeah, they are very efficient at what they do. Mike does a great job with Luke Faulk of understanding what to do with the ball and where to go. We're going to have to play good defense to be able to win the game. We'll definitely have to score some points. When you're playing in a major game like this. High powered offenses on both sides of the ball going. Both defenses in their mind think that they can stop both offenses. So I think that's why both teams are doing as well as they are. I think both teams are pretty balanced football teams."
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On Success Of The Secondary And Preparing For WSU's Offense
"I think the challenge it watching Washington State on film. I don't think I need to say anything except we're coaching them on certain techniques we want them to play on certain things we want to see in this game. But there's no motivation, they're watching them on film and they're watching how Faulk throws it and how well they run their routes. They got once guy who just broke [Nelson] Spruce's record in the Pac-12. So they understand what we're going up against. There's no motivation or that type of thing. But there is an understanding of what the fundamentals we'll need to play to play against them well to stop some things they love to do."
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On Offensive Line Status
"The good thing about this compared to last year and the guys that were throw in there is that they've had starts and have played. You don't have as big of a drop off and you just stay steady. Jeromy [Irwin] was back practicing today. Gerrad Kough is still out, maybe he'll be able to do some stuff tomorrow, I don't know. So we've got that going we know that Jonathan Huckins and Sully Wiefels have played a lot in there. So I feel good about the guys that we have."
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On Coin Toss Success
"We talked about it. We talk about it before every game, what we want to do. Sometimes it depends on the wind and things like that. But so far that's worked out the best for us. "
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On Derek McCartney's Injury
"That was a wild sequence. I don't think everybody understands what happened in that sequence. Chido [Awuzie] makes the strip, we run it in. Then we co me back out the next series and Derek gets hurt, tears his knee up. I didn't know how bad it was but I knew he couldn't play anymore. Then we score, Sefo [Liufau] goes in. He throws a pass then he gets hurt. Then realize he's not going to play. They we kick it off and Diego Gonzalez blows his Achilles. And that was all in a four-play sequence. And I'm like what in the world is going on. And the crazy thing about it is that all three of those guys are roommates. So I said nobody is living in that house anymore. But the way that Derek handled, just as I knew he would. He's a young man that has deep faith. Everybody knows Coach Mac's stand on that. He lives it every day. He's been a team captain for us. He just won the NCAA Good Works award. They only give it to 11 players during a year. He represents that well as he was the blood donor. So he is a shining example of a young man that lives it, walks it, breathes it. Everybody respects him and he is also a very tough, hard-nosed football player. He is a very good student. He wants to be a doctor and he has the opportunity to do that. He's doing really well in school. And he's just an outstanding young man. And the way he handled that, he handled that with grace. He was very down but he's been at the training room every day. He's been to practice; he's been to games. He's doing exactly what you would think and the good thing is that we have him back for another year next year. So he handled it exactly how I thought it he would."
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On If He's Nervous Before A Game
"What time was the Arizona game over? Right when I got on the bus, ate my 'In and Out' burger and started thinking about the next game, so right then. It's funny when young men end up coaching and they come to us and they're [Grad Assistant's] they always come into my office in the middle of the second week of the second game. They always say now we understand why you're always so crazy on Tuesday and Wednesday. They say 'they got to get it, they don't get it and know we get it'. You wish all guys could coach then go play. It's our job as teachers we have to prepare everything on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And really if they don't get it by then trying to do it on Thursday and Friday and they have to play it on Friday. They get hit, there's people running at them and there's things happening. People are screaming. They get up and their elbow is hurting, and somethings hurting but they've got to play. They have to be able to go play and execute it. So we have to be able to get it all across to them early in the week in all different types of ways that we do it. So we all look at ourselves as different types of teachers. The difference in our teaching philosophy is, and I'm not saying that everybody is this way but our kids have to know it. And if they don't know it and screw it up then everybody goes it's their fault like a professor and you need to study and be better next time. But no, we're the professors and we're the ones who get in trouble and we're the ones that get yelled at. So we have to get it across those young men so they can perform well and reach their dreams. So the great thing about having a more experienced team and more guys passing it down to our younger guys like they are is that they understand that when we tell them that if they have to play inside leverage and they go into a game and play outside leverage they'll get scored on. They've had that happen. If we say play inside leverage they play inside leverage. If we say lineup outside they got to do this. They see it quicker and now our younger guys are learning that to without having to make the mistakes to see that. I start getting nervous all week."
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On Shane Callahan
"I told Shane in front of the whole team how proud I am of him. He is a phenomenal young man and I think the most highly recruited guy in his state coming out, at least lineman wise. Chose to go to Auburn after a year he gave us a call and chose to come back to Colorado, said we'd love to have him here. He was on and off through his career here. Hadn't played a lot early he had helped us tremendously on special teams. He was able to start the other day and played really well. He never said boo he just worked hard and had a great team attitude. He's an example that's what you have to have for you to have a chance to win championships. People got hurt, things happened and people had to step in, star in the role and when they star in the role everybody's dreams will come true. That's how you're a good team. It's not just the first 11 and how good they are, it's the depth you have and they come in and they're ready, they're prepared, they have a positive attitude. If he had been sulking the last eight weeks he wouldn't have played well at that would have hurt us. He has unbelievable parents and he is an unbelievable young man and I couldn't tell you how proud I am of him."
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On If This Is The Most Fun He's Had Coaching Football
"It's all relative. I had fun coaching football at Davidson college my first year and I'll never forget when we upset College of Southern. We were Division-3 non-scholarship basically playing a scholarship team and beat them. I'll never forget that locker room with those young men when I was the defensive coordinator. I'll never forget coaching at the Dallas Cowboys and we beat the New York Giants on Monday night football overtime on a last second field goal. It just goes time after time. These young men have been phenomenal. I've enjoyed it and we have a lot left to do. The most fulfilling thing you get as a coach, my thought on it is to see those guy's eyes and see their faces and see them enjoy it and accomplish something no one thought they could accomplish. And how many times in life do you get to do something that nobody thinks you can do. And you may have even doubted it. Then you overcome doubt and you overcome fear and you can't teach them a better life lesson than that. Because they're going to face a lot of hard things in life that they're going to have to look it in the face and overcome it. So when I look at that and I see those types of things happen, that excites my heart."
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On Whether He's Coached A Big Game Such As The One Coming Up
"I don't know if I have one that comes down to these two teams. There hasn't been one quite like this where you have two teams that nobody thought they were going to be here. That both believe that they can be here and the excitement of it. And have the chance to control their own destinies on both sides of the conference. We can all meet again to in three weeks. So that's kind of interesting in the thought process also. So it's exciting it's a great opportunity and we're excited about it. It's a pretty neat situation I would say."
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On Uniform Combination He's Excited For
"No we haven't had the uniform combination. Just wait and see."
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"Our guys are excited about this game to say the least. Coach Mike Leach does a phenomenal job at Washington State. And offensively that's exactly what they're known for, he's done a great job there. But defensively to me they've made big gains and that's made them won eight in a row. Offensively they've done a great job. [Luke] Falk, the quarterback, does a phenomenal job of understanding of what Mike wants of him. Looks to me that he's checking about 50 percent of the plays and they have a really good idea of what they want to do. Gets them in the right play a lot [of the time]. We're going to have to play really well that's obvious. But we're going to have to tackle in space. They spread you out horizontally. And how we tackle in space will be a big key in how we will be able to slow down their offense. Defensively they have a good front that stunts a lot, they have a lot of tackle for losses and harass the passer. Our offensive line will have to do a good job of handling that so it's going to be a great game and we're excited about playing Saturday afternoon, it's going to be fun."
Â
On Defensive Identity Preparing For Washington State's Offense
"Their philosophy and how they do it, they all tweak it a little bit according to each game. But the whole key is being able to tackle the receivers in space. One thing they've done a better job of is that they have three really good running backs. And they've been able to run the ball better which keeps you off balance. So we're going to have to be able to stop the run and tackle those guys. Again we're just going to have to be able to play really well and aggressive at times. And hopefully we're able to make more plays than their receivers are able to make and their running backs."
Â
On Stopping The Run
"With this week it's completely differently. [Luke] Falk never runs. He'll run and slide a little bit but he can sit in the pocket like Tom Brady and pick you apart. It seems like he has the calmness. Dawkins was really fast and we knew it. Similar to [Colin] Kaepernick, he can just take off running and make plays. He bounced outside of us a couple times and hurt us and we fixed that at the beginning of the second half. We thought we had that fixed at the beginning of the game but his speed and being able to bounce like number ten, we bounced outside us one time. So we were able to corral that a little bit. [Washington State] is a little different. They will run some stretch plays; they will call it. And there running backs will hit it well. It depends what front we're in and what hold they're going to it. So our guys will need to know where to fit it up. So hopefully we'll be stout enough against the run to eliminate that hopefully."
Â
On Jimmie Gilbert's Evolution As A Pass Rusher
"It does help the defense, he's able to beat guys one-on-one. He's able to blitz them. He has eight and a half sacks right now I believe and he missed a whole game basically. Which we needed him in that game. But he's done a good job. It helps because they've got to know where he is, their offensive line. It helps us in coverage."
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On Challenge To Become Great
"I do look into their eyes and I see their practice effort. When you're talking to them as a team, they're looking at you, they're engaged they understand what's going on. You've worked this hard, you just need to push the extra step. That's not a pressure situation at all just keep working and doing what you're doing and enjoy it. Really enjoy the moment. Then it's not an overwhelming feeling for you and our guys are excited about it."
Â
On Expectations Of Defense Against Washington State's Offense
"Yeah, they are very efficient at what they do. Mike does a great job with Luke Faulk of understanding what to do with the ball and where to go. We're going to have to play good defense to be able to win the game. We'll definitely have to score some points. When you're playing in a major game like this. High powered offenses on both sides of the ball going. Both defenses in their mind think that they can stop both offenses. So I think that's why both teams are doing as well as they are. I think both teams are pretty balanced football teams."
Â
On Success Of The Secondary And Preparing For WSU's Offense
"I think the challenge it watching Washington State on film. I don't think I need to say anything except we're coaching them on certain techniques we want them to play on certain things we want to see in this game. But there's no motivation, they're watching them on film and they're watching how Faulk throws it and how well they run their routes. They got once guy who just broke [Nelson] Spruce's record in the Pac-12. So they understand what we're going up against. There's no motivation or that type of thing. But there is an understanding of what the fundamentals we'll need to play to play against them well to stop some things they love to do."
Â
On Offensive Line Status
"The good thing about this compared to last year and the guys that were throw in there is that they've had starts and have played. You don't have as big of a drop off and you just stay steady. Jeromy [Irwin] was back practicing today. Gerrad Kough is still out, maybe he'll be able to do some stuff tomorrow, I don't know. So we've got that going we know that Jonathan Huckins and Sully Wiefels have played a lot in there. So I feel good about the guys that we have."
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On Coin Toss Success
"We talked about it. We talk about it before every game, what we want to do. Sometimes it depends on the wind and things like that. But so far that's worked out the best for us. "
Â
On Derek McCartney's Injury
"That was a wild sequence. I don't think everybody understands what happened in that sequence. Chido [Awuzie] makes the strip, we run it in. Then we co me back out the next series and Derek gets hurt, tears his knee up. I didn't know how bad it was but I knew he couldn't play anymore. Then we score, Sefo [Liufau] goes in. He throws a pass then he gets hurt. Then realize he's not going to play. They we kick it off and Diego Gonzalez blows his Achilles. And that was all in a four-play sequence. And I'm like what in the world is going on. And the crazy thing about it is that all three of those guys are roommates. So I said nobody is living in that house anymore. But the way that Derek handled, just as I knew he would. He's a young man that has deep faith. Everybody knows Coach Mac's stand on that. He lives it every day. He's been a team captain for us. He just won the NCAA Good Works award. They only give it to 11 players during a year. He represents that well as he was the blood donor. So he is a shining example of a young man that lives it, walks it, breathes it. Everybody respects him and he is also a very tough, hard-nosed football player. He is a very good student. He wants to be a doctor and he has the opportunity to do that. He's doing really well in school. And he's just an outstanding young man. And the way he handled that, he handled that with grace. He was very down but he's been at the training room every day. He's been to practice; he's been to games. He's doing exactly what you would think and the good thing is that we have him back for another year next year. So he handled it exactly how I thought it he would."
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On If He's Nervous Before A Game
"What time was the Arizona game over? Right when I got on the bus, ate my 'In and Out' burger and started thinking about the next game, so right then. It's funny when young men end up coaching and they come to us and they're [Grad Assistant's] they always come into my office in the middle of the second week of the second game. They always say now we understand why you're always so crazy on Tuesday and Wednesday. They say 'they got to get it, they don't get it and know we get it'. You wish all guys could coach then go play. It's our job as teachers we have to prepare everything on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And really if they don't get it by then trying to do it on Thursday and Friday and they have to play it on Friday. They get hit, there's people running at them and there's things happening. People are screaming. They get up and their elbow is hurting, and somethings hurting but they've got to play. They have to be able to go play and execute it. So we have to be able to get it all across to them early in the week in all different types of ways that we do it. So we all look at ourselves as different types of teachers. The difference in our teaching philosophy is, and I'm not saying that everybody is this way but our kids have to know it. And if they don't know it and screw it up then everybody goes it's their fault like a professor and you need to study and be better next time. But no, we're the professors and we're the ones who get in trouble and we're the ones that get yelled at. So we have to get it across those young men so they can perform well and reach their dreams. So the great thing about having a more experienced team and more guys passing it down to our younger guys like they are is that they understand that when we tell them that if they have to play inside leverage and they go into a game and play outside leverage they'll get scored on. They've had that happen. If we say play inside leverage they play inside leverage. If we say lineup outside they got to do this. They see it quicker and now our younger guys are learning that to without having to make the mistakes to see that. I start getting nervous all week."
Â
On Shane Callahan
"I told Shane in front of the whole team how proud I am of him. He is a phenomenal young man and I think the most highly recruited guy in his state coming out, at least lineman wise. Chose to go to Auburn after a year he gave us a call and chose to come back to Colorado, said we'd love to have him here. He was on and off through his career here. Hadn't played a lot early he had helped us tremendously on special teams. He was able to start the other day and played really well. He never said boo he just worked hard and had a great team attitude. He's an example that's what you have to have for you to have a chance to win championships. People got hurt, things happened and people had to step in, star in the role and when they star in the role everybody's dreams will come true. That's how you're a good team. It's not just the first 11 and how good they are, it's the depth you have and they come in and they're ready, they're prepared, they have a positive attitude. If he had been sulking the last eight weeks he wouldn't have played well at that would have hurt us. He has unbelievable parents and he is an unbelievable young man and I couldn't tell you how proud I am of him."
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On If This Is The Most Fun He's Had Coaching Football
"It's all relative. I had fun coaching football at Davidson college my first year and I'll never forget when we upset College of Southern. We were Division-3 non-scholarship basically playing a scholarship team and beat them. I'll never forget that locker room with those young men when I was the defensive coordinator. I'll never forget coaching at the Dallas Cowboys and we beat the New York Giants on Monday night football overtime on a last second field goal. It just goes time after time. These young men have been phenomenal. I've enjoyed it and we have a lot left to do. The most fulfilling thing you get as a coach, my thought on it is to see those guy's eyes and see their faces and see them enjoy it and accomplish something no one thought they could accomplish. And how many times in life do you get to do something that nobody thinks you can do. And you may have even doubted it. Then you overcome doubt and you overcome fear and you can't teach them a better life lesson than that. Because they're going to face a lot of hard things in life that they're going to have to look it in the face and overcome it. So when I look at that and I see those types of things happen, that excites my heart."
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On Whether He's Coached A Big Game Such As The One Coming Up
"I don't know if I have one that comes down to these two teams. There hasn't been one quite like this where you have two teams that nobody thought they were going to be here. That both believe that they can be here and the excitement of it. And have the chance to control their own destinies on both sides of the conference. We can all meet again to in three weeks. So that's kind of interesting in the thought process also. So it's exciting it's a great opportunity and we're excited about it. It's a pretty neat situation I would say."
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On Uniform Combination He's Excited For
"No we haven't had the uniform combination. Just wait and see."
Outside Linebacker Derek McCartney
On His AllState Good Works Honor
"Honestly, the award is really cool. It's a great honor. The coolest part about it is really the reason I got the award. I got to donate blood stem cells to a man with cancer and recently received a letter that he's cancer free now. That's the most rewarding thing about it, knowing that someone gets to live life a little bit longer. It was really cool to be in front of the team and them get to hear what I did and everything and see the impact that you can have on other people. That's the cool part about it for me."
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On How Important Giving Back Is To This Team
"When Coach MacIntyre got here, he really wanted us to give back to the community in different ways, however we could. One of the biggest things was signing up for 'Be The Match.' I really didn't know what I was signing up for at the time. But I did it because he asked me to. It was really cool to see how things unfolded. Over the years we've done different things and helped out different places with kids. We've gone to the Children's Hospital a lot. It's just been really cool helping out over the years."
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On Receiving The News That His Blood Cells Saved A Life
"The first thing I thought is that it was a real blessing that someone was able to be helped by something like this. I got the chills when I first read it because it was so cool. I didn't know what to expect when I read it. It's just such a blessing to see how I could help somebody else."
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On The Process Of Donating Blood Cells
"What I did was give peripheral blood stem cells and when you do that you have to get these injections a couple of days beforehand. They said they're supposed to make you feel sick, like you have the flu. I did experience that but it was well worth it obviously. The day of the procedure, I sat in a machine and blood was moving from one arm to the other and it was collecting stem cells through that machine. It took five hours. It was a long time but it was definitely well worth it. That was in March."
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On Who Received His Donation
"The only information I've gotten so far is the letter. There's definitely privacy laws and I don't understand everything completely but I think after another six months or so I'll be able to get into contact with him so that'll be cool. I know it was a male, I think in his fifties or sixties."
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On His Recovery From ACL Surgery
"I'm doing well. I'm doing rehab every day and getting stronger every day which is encouraging. That's the good part. I'm super excited for the guys to keep playing and pushing this week and for the next couple of weeks."
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On Graduate School
"This semester is my first semester of graduate school with my physiology masters. I'm taking six credits this semester. I'm just working towards getting that masters and hopefully I'll get that next December."
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On The Team's Hard Work This Season
"Honestly I'm really proud of these guys. It's been really fun to see all of their success from all of the hard work they put in. I just know firsthand how much work they've put in and it's really cool to see where they are because of all of that hard work."
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"Honestly, the award is really cool. It's a great honor. The coolest part about it is really the reason I got the award. I got to donate blood stem cells to a man with cancer and recently received a letter that he's cancer free now. That's the most rewarding thing about it, knowing that someone gets to live life a little bit longer. It was really cool to be in front of the team and them get to hear what I did and everything and see the impact that you can have on other people. That's the cool part about it for me."
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On How Important Giving Back Is To This Team
"When Coach MacIntyre got here, he really wanted us to give back to the community in different ways, however we could. One of the biggest things was signing up for 'Be The Match.' I really didn't know what I was signing up for at the time. But I did it because he asked me to. It was really cool to see how things unfolded. Over the years we've done different things and helped out different places with kids. We've gone to the Children's Hospital a lot. It's just been really cool helping out over the years."
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On Receiving The News That His Blood Cells Saved A Life
"The first thing I thought is that it was a real blessing that someone was able to be helped by something like this. I got the chills when I first read it because it was so cool. I didn't know what to expect when I read it. It's just such a blessing to see how I could help somebody else."
Â
On The Process Of Donating Blood Cells
"What I did was give peripheral blood stem cells and when you do that you have to get these injections a couple of days beforehand. They said they're supposed to make you feel sick, like you have the flu. I did experience that but it was well worth it obviously. The day of the procedure, I sat in a machine and blood was moving from one arm to the other and it was collecting stem cells through that machine. It took five hours. It was a long time but it was definitely well worth it. That was in March."
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On Who Received His Donation
"The only information I've gotten so far is the letter. There's definitely privacy laws and I don't understand everything completely but I think after another six months or so I'll be able to get into contact with him so that'll be cool. I know it was a male, I think in his fifties or sixties."
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On His Recovery From ACL Surgery
"I'm doing well. I'm doing rehab every day and getting stronger every day which is encouraging. That's the good part. I'm super excited for the guys to keep playing and pushing this week and for the next couple of weeks."
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On Graduate School
"This semester is my first semester of graduate school with my physiology masters. I'm taking six credits this semester. I'm just working towards getting that masters and hopefully I'll get that next December."
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On The Team's Hard Work This Season
"Honestly I'm really proud of these guys. It's been really fun to see all of their success from all of the hard work they put in. I just know firsthand how much work they've put in and it's really cool to see where they are because of all of that hard work."
Colorado Quarterback Sefo Liufau
On Offense's Performance Against Arizona
"We somewhat got back on track. It's easy to be efficient in one week. But you play against a team like Washington State that will score a lot of points and do so no matter who they're playing. So I think it's important for us to go out there and have another good performance this week."
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On His Health
"I'm feeling good. I feel probably the best I have all year. To have the facilities that we have and the trainers that we have to be able to rehab whenever I want is basically a great feeling. I feel good and I'm ready to go for this week."
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On Changes On The Offensive Line
"Last week there were three different guys who got hurt and got switched in and out. For those who came in to step up, and basically we had no drop off, is great to see. It hasn't been that way in the past and to be able to have that depth, there's a lot of confidence in my line right now, especially in the run game and the pass game. They don't get enough credit for what they do, and it's really inspiring for me to see those guys come in. Especially Sully Wiefels, who came in on a third down and one on the goal line against Arizona State and he came in again last week on a third down. So for him to come in and step up like that is really big."
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On Coach MacIntyre's Statement That Its CU's Opportunity To Be Great
"That definitely resonated with me. We've done something, but I don't think we've done anything really. I think that a lot of people haven't had high expectations for us this year. But in this building and in the locker room we have very high goals for ourselves. We've done very well up to this point, even though we wish we could have done better. But 8-2 is a good spot to be sitting at and we've got two very important games and one very good opponent coming in this week in WSU. So we've got to do everything in our power to be prepared to go out there and basically play for a Pac-12 championship. Basically everything is in our hands right now and if we let it go who knows what will happen."
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On Preparation Now That A Pac-12 Title Is In Reach
"I don't think we've been doing anything differently. I think we've been trying to play at a high level all year long. Obviously you can be a little more intense. But I think for the most part each and every week that we've went into we've had very intense practices. If Coach Chiaverini has something on his mind he'll let us know, and if we do something wrong in practice Coach Lindgren will make sure we know what check to make or what look isn't good for what play. So we've been very focused throughout these weeks. And I know we haven't gotten the results we wanted even if we won. It's just another game that I'd like to treat as a championship game."
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On Jimmie Gilbert's Progression This Season
"He's definitely gotten a lot better. He's played all four years now and if he's able to put on some weight he'd be a dominant player. Not to say he's not good now, but to see his progression and how much better he's improved over the years is great to see. If you would have told me that he would be getting the most sacks his senior year I wouldn't have believed you. To see the progression and how well he's doing is great. And like Ryan [Moeller] said that the defense knows its job now and Jimmie is benefiting from that."
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On Any Unsung Heroes on the Team
"I think one of them is Andrew Bergner, I just call him Berg, and he plays special teams for us. But some of the looks he gives when he plays scout team corner here, and to be able to give us a good look on defense and to be able to challenge our receivers, is good. Sometimes you can't get the best look from your scout teams, because you don't have the depth or the players to go out there and give us a half decent look. And he's done a great job for us going out and playing ball, especially on special teams and in practice. Another one I think is Tim Lynott. I know he plays a lot on offense, but like I said earlier, linemen don't get a lot recognition. But to be a young guy and stepping up and blocking for me, it goes unnoticed in my opinion. But he's done a lot of great things for us this year."
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On Playing In A Championship Game In High School And Drawing On Any Experiences
"I don't know if I can draw from high school. I think it's a different beast when you get into college. The linemen are bigger and the guys are faster. It's just a little different. But what I think we can call on are the close games we've been in during the past three years. Yes, they haven't gone our way, but I think that it's helped shape us that if it's not going our way, we're not going to back down or be scared of anything. We're just going to continue to play and continue to give everything until that last whistle because anything can happen in a game. This is just another big game and we're all excited to be playing in it."
"We somewhat got back on track. It's easy to be efficient in one week. But you play against a team like Washington State that will score a lot of points and do so no matter who they're playing. So I think it's important for us to go out there and have another good performance this week."
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On His Health
"I'm feeling good. I feel probably the best I have all year. To have the facilities that we have and the trainers that we have to be able to rehab whenever I want is basically a great feeling. I feel good and I'm ready to go for this week."
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On Changes On The Offensive Line
"Last week there were three different guys who got hurt and got switched in and out. For those who came in to step up, and basically we had no drop off, is great to see. It hasn't been that way in the past and to be able to have that depth, there's a lot of confidence in my line right now, especially in the run game and the pass game. They don't get enough credit for what they do, and it's really inspiring for me to see those guys come in. Especially Sully Wiefels, who came in on a third down and one on the goal line against Arizona State and he came in again last week on a third down. So for him to come in and step up like that is really big."
Â
On Coach MacIntyre's Statement That Its CU's Opportunity To Be Great
"That definitely resonated with me. We've done something, but I don't think we've done anything really. I think that a lot of people haven't had high expectations for us this year. But in this building and in the locker room we have very high goals for ourselves. We've done very well up to this point, even though we wish we could have done better. But 8-2 is a good spot to be sitting at and we've got two very important games and one very good opponent coming in this week in WSU. So we've got to do everything in our power to be prepared to go out there and basically play for a Pac-12 championship. Basically everything is in our hands right now and if we let it go who knows what will happen."
Â
On Preparation Now That A Pac-12 Title Is In Reach
"I don't think we've been doing anything differently. I think we've been trying to play at a high level all year long. Obviously you can be a little more intense. But I think for the most part each and every week that we've went into we've had very intense practices. If Coach Chiaverini has something on his mind he'll let us know, and if we do something wrong in practice Coach Lindgren will make sure we know what check to make or what look isn't good for what play. So we've been very focused throughout these weeks. And I know we haven't gotten the results we wanted even if we won. It's just another game that I'd like to treat as a championship game."
Â
On Jimmie Gilbert's Progression This Season
"He's definitely gotten a lot better. He's played all four years now and if he's able to put on some weight he'd be a dominant player. Not to say he's not good now, but to see his progression and how much better he's improved over the years is great to see. If you would have told me that he would be getting the most sacks his senior year I wouldn't have believed you. To see the progression and how well he's doing is great. And like Ryan [Moeller] said that the defense knows its job now and Jimmie is benefiting from that."
Â
On Any Unsung Heroes on the Team
"I think one of them is Andrew Bergner, I just call him Berg, and he plays special teams for us. But some of the looks he gives when he plays scout team corner here, and to be able to give us a good look on defense and to be able to challenge our receivers, is good. Sometimes you can't get the best look from your scout teams, because you don't have the depth or the players to go out there and give us a half decent look. And he's done a great job for us going out and playing ball, especially on special teams and in practice. Another one I think is Tim Lynott. I know he plays a lot on offense, but like I said earlier, linemen don't get a lot recognition. But to be a young guy and stepping up and blocking for me, it goes unnoticed in my opinion. But he's done a lot of great things for us this year."
Â
On Playing In A Championship Game In High School And Drawing On Any Experiences
"I don't know if I can draw from high school. I think it's a different beast when you get into college. The linemen are bigger and the guys are faster. It's just a little different. But what I think we can call on are the close games we've been in during the past three years. Yes, they haven't gone our way, but I think that it's helped shape us that if it's not going our way, we're not going to back down or be scared of anything. We're just going to continue to play and continue to give everything until that last whistle because anything can happen in a game. This is just another big game and we're all excited to be playing in it."
Colorado Defensive Back Ryan Moeller
On Preparing For Washington State's Offense
"You've got to start in the same place you do very week. You expect to see their best shot, and you've got to watch film based on what they've been doing. Washington State's known for the air raid, and they like to move things around a little bit trying to get you caught off guard. You really have to start there, figuring out the different steps and different areas of where we think they're going to attack us. Then, it all comes down to communication out there for us."
Â
On Adjusting Defensive Strategy From Last Week
"I think you're still going to take the same sort of preparation for each player. Last week when we had the dual quarterback system, and this week we're going to see the more heavy pocket-passer. Washington State's quarterback will get out and move some, and I think that you've just got to be ready to expect anything. The moment you start counting someone out for anything, that's when they're going to get you."
Â
On Transitioning Into Playing Different Spots In The Secondary
"It definitely took a bit of a learning curve to figure out my role. When you're playing safety you always have to know what's going on in front of you. Coming to play this new position, I have a great appreciation for what the guys have to do down there. Those guys take a beating down there having to take on lead blockers and pulling guards. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't. It's given me a much better perspective of where I can expect people to be. When I get back there playing safety and I get some reps there, I'll have a more concrete understanding of where everyone's going to be. I think that me going to that position has helped me overall to become a more well-rounded player. And it's been better off for the team."
Â
On Adjusting Body For The New Position
"They actually asked me to lose weight when I was coming into the season. I've always been a little heavier than the rest of the safeties. But when they put me in this positon they kind of asked me to maintain or lose a little. I've still got to be able to cover, I'm playing a sort of nickel back right now. And so if I can't cover these Pac-12 receivers then I'll be in the wrong spot."
Â
On The Matchup Between Washington State And CU
"I think that X's and O's are a big part of it definitely. Ultimately when it comes down to it, it's going to be a showdown for sure. They're going to make plays and we're going to make plays. Really you can expect that from them for sure. The best thing you can do is move on, our coaches talk about one play and clear. So if you have a good play or a bad play its done, so move onto the next. Because if we start gripping on those mistakes, then we're pretty much hurting ourselves."
Â
On Jimmie Gilbert's Performance This Season
"His time spent both in the film room and with the defense has really helped him. Overall we've seen our entire defense grow because we've had the opportunity to understand the system rather than just kind of scraping the surface with our knowledge. Things like understanding the concepts and why we're doing what we're doing helps you get your job done and then it helps everyone else around you. That being said for our entire defense, if each one of our guys aren't doing their jobs then it's not going to work out. So the guys inside of Jimmie are going their jobs, and the same with the middle linebackers, it just kind of trickles back. Jimmie's success and our defense's success is a culmination of everything and everybody."
Â
On Handling The Last Two Games
"It's easy to see where we could get carried away with the different stories this season. I think that our coaches have done a good job of humbling us and I definitely don't see any problems with anyone around. I don't see people getting carried away personally or in any aspect. So personally I think that everything's just going on as it would as if we've been here before. The confidence is there, so that allows us to play fast and no one is nervous out there."
Â
On Washington State's Quarterback
"He's a very talented quarterback and he really knows their system. He knows where he's looking first as far as his progression goes. He definitely can make split second decisions if it isn't there, whether to move out of it or to do his checks, whatever he needs to do there."
Â
On Coach MacIntyre's Challenge To The Team To Be Great
"That definitely resonated with me along with the entire defense. I would say that it was felt by the whole team. I can feel that practice is been taken up another notch. And you can feel it from the coaches too, they say that they're here to push us and make us do the things we don't want to do, and that's right. Sometimes on a Wednesday practice here at the end of the year, you can get caught going through the motions a little bit and the coaches will put you in place and light a fire under your rear end to get you going again."
Â
On Playing A Nationally Broadcasted Game
"It's business as usual for us. But kind of a theme I've felt with the team is a sort of swagger. We aren't getting carried away, but we have a certain swagger. You can see it and feel it in how we're kind of carrying ourselves around. When you go through a couple of seasons where you're just getting worked over by everybody, you can feel it. That feels like there's a big cloud over you, and that cloud is gone now. Everyone is happy and they want to celebrate. But we haven't done anything just yet. We still have the rest of the season to play, and then the postseason as well. I would say that the swagger and the jump in our step is a big thing that's helped kind of keep us going and not letting us settle."
Â
On Dealing With Washington State's Running Backs
"It just depends on the play or the coverage. They like to get the ball into space wherever they can. They have ball skills, and both their running backs and receivers are really fast. Their linemen can get out and move too when they need to. They're going to keep us honest. So we've really got to be disciplined enough to know our techniques and responsibilities. And make sure we do our job, our "one-eleven" so everyone else can do theirs too. With that we can be successful as a group."
Â
On Getting Nervous Before A Game
"It's different for a lot of people. Me in particular I don't really get those anymore. I'd say I don't get those anymore because I'm prepared enough and confident enough in my ability. We're practicing very week for a test. You're studying every day, just like you would in school. So when it comes time to take the test, you see questions on the test and you're like I know that. It's easy, almost second nature. And that's how it is for us out there. So I know I'm prepared and I know that coaches have done a great job of getting us there. Coach Leavitt always says that you're the only one who's going to get you ready. I personally feel that if I have those bugs in my stomach then I'm not ready."
"You've got to start in the same place you do very week. You expect to see their best shot, and you've got to watch film based on what they've been doing. Washington State's known for the air raid, and they like to move things around a little bit trying to get you caught off guard. You really have to start there, figuring out the different steps and different areas of where we think they're going to attack us. Then, it all comes down to communication out there for us."
Â
On Adjusting Defensive Strategy From Last Week
"I think you're still going to take the same sort of preparation for each player. Last week when we had the dual quarterback system, and this week we're going to see the more heavy pocket-passer. Washington State's quarterback will get out and move some, and I think that you've just got to be ready to expect anything. The moment you start counting someone out for anything, that's when they're going to get you."
Â
On Transitioning Into Playing Different Spots In The Secondary
"It definitely took a bit of a learning curve to figure out my role. When you're playing safety you always have to know what's going on in front of you. Coming to play this new position, I have a great appreciation for what the guys have to do down there. Those guys take a beating down there having to take on lead blockers and pulling guards. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't. It's given me a much better perspective of where I can expect people to be. When I get back there playing safety and I get some reps there, I'll have a more concrete understanding of where everyone's going to be. I think that me going to that position has helped me overall to become a more well-rounded player. And it's been better off for the team."
Â
On Adjusting Body For The New Position
"They actually asked me to lose weight when I was coming into the season. I've always been a little heavier than the rest of the safeties. But when they put me in this positon they kind of asked me to maintain or lose a little. I've still got to be able to cover, I'm playing a sort of nickel back right now. And so if I can't cover these Pac-12 receivers then I'll be in the wrong spot."
Â
On The Matchup Between Washington State And CU
"I think that X's and O's are a big part of it definitely. Ultimately when it comes down to it, it's going to be a showdown for sure. They're going to make plays and we're going to make plays. Really you can expect that from them for sure. The best thing you can do is move on, our coaches talk about one play and clear. So if you have a good play or a bad play its done, so move onto the next. Because if we start gripping on those mistakes, then we're pretty much hurting ourselves."
Â
On Jimmie Gilbert's Performance This Season
"His time spent both in the film room and with the defense has really helped him. Overall we've seen our entire defense grow because we've had the opportunity to understand the system rather than just kind of scraping the surface with our knowledge. Things like understanding the concepts and why we're doing what we're doing helps you get your job done and then it helps everyone else around you. That being said for our entire defense, if each one of our guys aren't doing their jobs then it's not going to work out. So the guys inside of Jimmie are going their jobs, and the same with the middle linebackers, it just kind of trickles back. Jimmie's success and our defense's success is a culmination of everything and everybody."
Â
On Handling The Last Two Games
"It's easy to see where we could get carried away with the different stories this season. I think that our coaches have done a good job of humbling us and I definitely don't see any problems with anyone around. I don't see people getting carried away personally or in any aspect. So personally I think that everything's just going on as it would as if we've been here before. The confidence is there, so that allows us to play fast and no one is nervous out there."
Â
On Washington State's Quarterback
"He's a very talented quarterback and he really knows their system. He knows where he's looking first as far as his progression goes. He definitely can make split second decisions if it isn't there, whether to move out of it or to do his checks, whatever he needs to do there."
Â
On Coach MacIntyre's Challenge To The Team To Be Great
"That definitely resonated with me along with the entire defense. I would say that it was felt by the whole team. I can feel that practice is been taken up another notch. And you can feel it from the coaches too, they say that they're here to push us and make us do the things we don't want to do, and that's right. Sometimes on a Wednesday practice here at the end of the year, you can get caught going through the motions a little bit and the coaches will put you in place and light a fire under your rear end to get you going again."
Â
On Playing A Nationally Broadcasted Game
"It's business as usual for us. But kind of a theme I've felt with the team is a sort of swagger. We aren't getting carried away, but we have a certain swagger. You can see it and feel it in how we're kind of carrying ourselves around. When you go through a couple of seasons where you're just getting worked over by everybody, you can feel it. That feels like there's a big cloud over you, and that cloud is gone now. Everyone is happy and they want to celebrate. But we haven't done anything just yet. We still have the rest of the season to play, and then the postseason as well. I would say that the swagger and the jump in our step is a big thing that's helped kind of keep us going and not letting us settle."
Â
On Dealing With Washington State's Running Backs
"It just depends on the play or the coverage. They like to get the ball into space wherever they can. They have ball skills, and both their running backs and receivers are really fast. Their linemen can get out and move too when they need to. They're going to keep us honest. So we've really got to be disciplined enough to know our techniques and responsibilities. And make sure we do our job, our "one-eleven" so everyone else can do theirs too. With that we can be successful as a group."
Â
On Getting Nervous Before A Game
"It's different for a lot of people. Me in particular I don't really get those anymore. I'd say I don't get those anymore because I'm prepared enough and confident enough in my ability. We're practicing very week for a test. You're studying every day, just like you would in school. So when it comes time to take the test, you see questions on the test and you're like I know that. It's easy, almost second nature. And that's how it is for us out there. So I know I'm prepared and I know that coaches have done a great job of getting us there. Coach Leavitt always says that you're the only one who's going to get you ready. I personally feel that if I have those bugs in my stomach then I'm not ready."
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
OL
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OLB
/ Football
PK
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
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OLB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
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