Tuesday Press Conference Quotes
November 13, 2018 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
Opening Statement
 "Our guys are excited about playing Utah, they're a very good football team. They're big and strong on both sides of the line, Coach [Kyle] Whittingham does a phenomenal job, he's been there a long, long time. Now he has [Defensive Assistant and former Oregon State Head Coach] Gary Andersen, I told him that it wasn't fair their both together. Gary and I have gone against each other in the WAC and in the Pac-12. It's going to be a great day for football, I'm excited because it's going to be snowing and cold. I've never coached in a snow game before. Most of our players have never played in a snow game. I hope it's snowing sideways. That would be fun."
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On Message To Team Amidst Rumors About His Job Security  Â
"We talk the time about, we can control our guys, our people, your situation. I had a friend give me this picture, and I love it. I have it in my office – it's a Buffalo walking into a storm. I'm going to educate everyone here, I know some of you might know this, but the buffalo is the only animal that walks into the storm. All the rest of them run away from the storm. If you walk into the storm, you're going to get through it faster. They walk in it together. We talked about that this morning. We've had a storm here the last few weeks and lost some close games. I talked to them about life and what that means, and that we're walking into it together. Then we went outside and practiced. I thought they were really enthusiastic. I also tell them, and one of the things that I take to heart is, you have peace and joy from who you are and who I worship, my lord and savior Jesus Christ. That's where my peace and joy comes from., not my circumstances. That's happiness. Happiness is a roller coaster. So I tell them all the time, a friend gave this to me and I thought it was great – 'if you pray about it, don't worry about it. If you're going to worry about it, don't pray about it.' I love this football team. I like these guys, I like our coaching staff and we just have to find a way to win a football game. You win a football game, a lot of the noise goes away. That's the world we live in. That's why people follow it and are passionate about it both ways. That's some of what we talked about and I think they were really into it at practice, excited at practice, very enthusiastic. I thought it was good."
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On Whether This Is The Toughest Storm He's Ever Been Through
"As a head coach, yes. We set expectations high, we're doing really well, (suffered) tons of injuries, we lost a couple more guys today with concussions. You just keep going and keep working. It's tough but it's football. Tough was watching my dad battle M.S. and die. Tough is going to see my mom with Alzheimer's. Tough is, three years ago yesterday, my wife's mom dies of ovarian cancer. Those are tough situations. This is great to teach life lessons to young people, because we're teachers. They see how we handle it, how we walk through it. They're going to face a lot of hard times in life too. Hopefully this is a little microcosm of that, and hopefully we come out on the other side of it in good shape."Â
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On Frustration Of Rumors Swirling During Senior Week
"I think any time something gets released and they have no people quoted as a source, that's the world we live in now. I mean you see it every day politically. Everybody has to make a name for themselves. I found out at 11 or 12 o'clock at night, my phone rings and it's my son in California. He was of course up studying at 11 o'clock, so I said, 'Johnson, you're up studying!' He goes, 'Dad, what's going on!?' I said, 'What are you talking about?' He reads me (the headline) and I said, 'ah, don't worry about it, I met with [Athletic Director] Rick George two weeks ago and he gave me 100% support. I haven't seen Rick today. I never see him in the mornings, they know I get here at 5:30 in the morning and I go right through until now, we practice, I met with doctors, I met with trainers, and I'm pretty sure I'll see Rick sometime this afternoon. I know nothing about any of it but it's a shame you have to have those types of things come up. But I think it was good because it was a great point with our team this morning. Sad to say, the world they live in, that's going to get worse, and worse, and worse. They've got to be able to handle it and they've got be able to walk through it and keep functioning. Hopefully they see me doing it and our staff and feed off that."
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On His Current Job Status
"Two weeks ago he came in and saw me and said he's completely behind me. I've seen him multiple times since then and he's never said a word about anything to this effect. There's always going to be chatter. Who knows who the source is, who knows who the booster was, I don't know who it is, they can say anything they want to say. For an anonymous story to come out with no quoted source is kind of gutless the way I see it, but that's the world we live in. I understand that. I think it's also good that our team understands that, we talked about it, went through it. I thought it was a really awesome meeting this morning."
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On Whether He Feels His Job Is In Jeopardy
"I don't think my job is in jeopardy, but you got to win games. I do know this: when I came here a few years ago, this was the worst power football program (in the country), a laughingstock of college football. When I went to San Jose State, it was the worst football program in division I, period. We turned that around. We came here, and the gold helmet is not tarnished anymore. I got so many emails and texts today about how proud they are of what we do and how we do it. If you look at what our kids have done off the field since I've got my guys in here, we're not going to be on the cover of Sport Illustrated. We're going to do the right things. We've got great young players. We've got tons of guys hurt. Let's face it, look at the Cleveland Cavaliers without Lebron James. Players matter. We have a lot of kids that played now and played well. We have a bunch of young guys out there playing again this week, I think they get a little better just like Chido [CB Chidobe Awuzie] did, just like [CB] Ahkello [Witherspoon] did. Hopefully we'll have a different result Saturday. We've got some sophomores that are going to be big time pros, we've got some freshmen that are going to be big time pros. I think our quarterback has a chance in another year to be a big time pro. We've made this place better, there's no doubt about it but success is measured in wins and losses too. We've built it up and did some things, the Pac-12 South Championship 18 months ago was pretty because nobody thought we could do that either."
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On Keeping Focus On Football And Not On Himself
"It's not about me at all. I think about those guys in that room. It is about all of us. You always have to set high expectations. If you don't set high expectations than you are not a leader. I look at myself as a teacher and a leader. Hopefully I am a humble teacher and leader who cares about kids and cares about people in our program. I think those kids know that I love them, think they are worthy, believe in them, and care about them. Last night I was on the phone with two parents. One of our kids had to go to the hospital for an emergency. I finally got to bed at about eleven and then the phone rings for the other thing. It is a constant situation. Then you are back in here at six o'clock this morning, meeting with a mom, a kid and a doctor about his future of being able to play or not. There are so many things that go on as a football coach. I think it is good we set high expectations. I think it is good we were ranked 19th in the country. I think all of that is good. It is good we beat Nebraska and CSU. Those are good things. Those show where we are going in doing well. Losing five in a row is tough. It is not good. It is a tough situation, no doubt about it."
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On His Communication With Athletic Director Rick George
"I am pretty sure he will come see me this afternoon. I'm pretty sure we'll see each other this afternoon. I never see him in the mornings. I never see anybody in the mornings, but our football guys. We are going. That is our time. I have talked to him. I said I've talked to him. We have talked about what he thought about us and what we are doing. I see him quite often. Not every time we talk, we talk about those different things. There are a lot of other things we are working on and doing. I don't know what I need to hear from Rick. He has already told me what I need to know. I am pretty sure he will talk to me. We'll bump into each other, talk, and see each other."
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On Whether Missing A Bowl Game Would Tarnish 5-0 Start
"I don't think everything is tarnished. That is pretty doom and gloom. Hopefully, we will get one here and get two here. We are focused on one right now and then hopefully we get that one and try to win the next one, then we go to a bowl game. There are still a lot of things we can do. There is no doubt about it. Any game of sport or any game of trying to be successful in a lot of different ways when things are going good is the mental aspect of it. Can you fight through the mental battles within a game or in situations? Hopefully our guys can. I believe they can and I believe our coaches are doing a good job with them."
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On Injury Updates
"We are not going to have [CB] Delrick [Abrams Jr.] back (concussion) and we are not going to have [S] Evan Worthington back. We basically have one true starter in our secondary from when we started. We are still trying to find out about a couple others that are day-to-day. Last year we had very few concussions, but this year we have had a few more. [WR] Jay [MacIntyre] is also still day-to-day."
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On Status Of WR Jay MacIntyre
"He has recovered quickly from his concussions that he has had. There are no lingering or long-term headaches. We are just trying to give him time and make sure everything is fine there. That is always tough watching your child get hurt. Whatever it is like when he was out on a bicycle. Everyone that has kids understands that. I have enjoyed that (watching him play) and hopefully he will be able to get back out there this week. It looks like he can, but you have to go through the protocol. It will be fun watching him get out there and play, especially on senior night, his last time in Folsom. That would definitely be something that I would love to see and he would too. I know his mom would for sure."
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 "Our guys are excited about playing Utah, they're a very good football team. They're big and strong on both sides of the line, Coach [Kyle] Whittingham does a phenomenal job, he's been there a long, long time. Now he has [Defensive Assistant and former Oregon State Head Coach] Gary Andersen, I told him that it wasn't fair their both together. Gary and I have gone against each other in the WAC and in the Pac-12. It's going to be a great day for football, I'm excited because it's going to be snowing and cold. I've never coached in a snow game before. Most of our players have never played in a snow game. I hope it's snowing sideways. That would be fun."
Â
On Message To Team Amidst Rumors About His Job Security  Â
"We talk the time about, we can control our guys, our people, your situation. I had a friend give me this picture, and I love it. I have it in my office – it's a Buffalo walking into a storm. I'm going to educate everyone here, I know some of you might know this, but the buffalo is the only animal that walks into the storm. All the rest of them run away from the storm. If you walk into the storm, you're going to get through it faster. They walk in it together. We talked about that this morning. We've had a storm here the last few weeks and lost some close games. I talked to them about life and what that means, and that we're walking into it together. Then we went outside and practiced. I thought they were really enthusiastic. I also tell them, and one of the things that I take to heart is, you have peace and joy from who you are and who I worship, my lord and savior Jesus Christ. That's where my peace and joy comes from., not my circumstances. That's happiness. Happiness is a roller coaster. So I tell them all the time, a friend gave this to me and I thought it was great – 'if you pray about it, don't worry about it. If you're going to worry about it, don't pray about it.' I love this football team. I like these guys, I like our coaching staff and we just have to find a way to win a football game. You win a football game, a lot of the noise goes away. That's the world we live in. That's why people follow it and are passionate about it both ways. That's some of what we talked about and I think they were really into it at practice, excited at practice, very enthusiastic. I thought it was good."
Â
On Whether This Is The Toughest Storm He's Ever Been Through
"As a head coach, yes. We set expectations high, we're doing really well, (suffered) tons of injuries, we lost a couple more guys today with concussions. You just keep going and keep working. It's tough but it's football. Tough was watching my dad battle M.S. and die. Tough is going to see my mom with Alzheimer's. Tough is, three years ago yesterday, my wife's mom dies of ovarian cancer. Those are tough situations. This is great to teach life lessons to young people, because we're teachers. They see how we handle it, how we walk through it. They're going to face a lot of hard times in life too. Hopefully this is a little microcosm of that, and hopefully we come out on the other side of it in good shape."Â
Â
On Frustration Of Rumors Swirling During Senior Week
"I think any time something gets released and they have no people quoted as a source, that's the world we live in now. I mean you see it every day politically. Everybody has to make a name for themselves. I found out at 11 or 12 o'clock at night, my phone rings and it's my son in California. He was of course up studying at 11 o'clock, so I said, 'Johnson, you're up studying!' He goes, 'Dad, what's going on!?' I said, 'What are you talking about?' He reads me (the headline) and I said, 'ah, don't worry about it, I met with [Athletic Director] Rick George two weeks ago and he gave me 100% support. I haven't seen Rick today. I never see him in the mornings, they know I get here at 5:30 in the morning and I go right through until now, we practice, I met with doctors, I met with trainers, and I'm pretty sure I'll see Rick sometime this afternoon. I know nothing about any of it but it's a shame you have to have those types of things come up. But I think it was good because it was a great point with our team this morning. Sad to say, the world they live in, that's going to get worse, and worse, and worse. They've got to be able to handle it and they've got be able to walk through it and keep functioning. Hopefully they see me doing it and our staff and feed off that."
Â
On His Current Job Status
"Two weeks ago he came in and saw me and said he's completely behind me. I've seen him multiple times since then and he's never said a word about anything to this effect. There's always going to be chatter. Who knows who the source is, who knows who the booster was, I don't know who it is, they can say anything they want to say. For an anonymous story to come out with no quoted source is kind of gutless the way I see it, but that's the world we live in. I understand that. I think it's also good that our team understands that, we talked about it, went through it. I thought it was a really awesome meeting this morning."
Â
On Whether He Feels His Job Is In Jeopardy
"I don't think my job is in jeopardy, but you got to win games. I do know this: when I came here a few years ago, this was the worst power football program (in the country), a laughingstock of college football. When I went to San Jose State, it was the worst football program in division I, period. We turned that around. We came here, and the gold helmet is not tarnished anymore. I got so many emails and texts today about how proud they are of what we do and how we do it. If you look at what our kids have done off the field since I've got my guys in here, we're not going to be on the cover of Sport Illustrated. We're going to do the right things. We've got great young players. We've got tons of guys hurt. Let's face it, look at the Cleveland Cavaliers without Lebron James. Players matter. We have a lot of kids that played now and played well. We have a bunch of young guys out there playing again this week, I think they get a little better just like Chido [CB Chidobe Awuzie] did, just like [CB] Ahkello [Witherspoon] did. Hopefully we'll have a different result Saturday. We've got some sophomores that are going to be big time pros, we've got some freshmen that are going to be big time pros. I think our quarterback has a chance in another year to be a big time pro. We've made this place better, there's no doubt about it but success is measured in wins and losses too. We've built it up and did some things, the Pac-12 South Championship 18 months ago was pretty because nobody thought we could do that either."
Â
On Keeping Focus On Football And Not On Himself
"It's not about me at all. I think about those guys in that room. It is about all of us. You always have to set high expectations. If you don't set high expectations than you are not a leader. I look at myself as a teacher and a leader. Hopefully I am a humble teacher and leader who cares about kids and cares about people in our program. I think those kids know that I love them, think they are worthy, believe in them, and care about them. Last night I was on the phone with two parents. One of our kids had to go to the hospital for an emergency. I finally got to bed at about eleven and then the phone rings for the other thing. It is a constant situation. Then you are back in here at six o'clock this morning, meeting with a mom, a kid and a doctor about his future of being able to play or not. There are so many things that go on as a football coach. I think it is good we set high expectations. I think it is good we were ranked 19th in the country. I think all of that is good. It is good we beat Nebraska and CSU. Those are good things. Those show where we are going in doing well. Losing five in a row is tough. It is not good. It is a tough situation, no doubt about it."
Â
On His Communication With Athletic Director Rick George
"I am pretty sure he will come see me this afternoon. I'm pretty sure we'll see each other this afternoon. I never see him in the mornings. I never see anybody in the mornings, but our football guys. We are going. That is our time. I have talked to him. I said I've talked to him. We have talked about what he thought about us and what we are doing. I see him quite often. Not every time we talk, we talk about those different things. There are a lot of other things we are working on and doing. I don't know what I need to hear from Rick. He has already told me what I need to know. I am pretty sure he will talk to me. We'll bump into each other, talk, and see each other."
Â
On Whether Missing A Bowl Game Would Tarnish 5-0 Start
"I don't think everything is tarnished. That is pretty doom and gloom. Hopefully, we will get one here and get two here. We are focused on one right now and then hopefully we get that one and try to win the next one, then we go to a bowl game. There are still a lot of things we can do. There is no doubt about it. Any game of sport or any game of trying to be successful in a lot of different ways when things are going good is the mental aspect of it. Can you fight through the mental battles within a game or in situations? Hopefully our guys can. I believe they can and I believe our coaches are doing a good job with them."
Â
On Injury Updates
"We are not going to have [CB] Delrick [Abrams Jr.] back (concussion) and we are not going to have [S] Evan Worthington back. We basically have one true starter in our secondary from when we started. We are still trying to find out about a couple others that are day-to-day. Last year we had very few concussions, but this year we have had a few more. [WR] Jay [MacIntyre] is also still day-to-day."
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On Status Of WR Jay MacIntyre
"He has recovered quickly from his concussions that he has had. There are no lingering or long-term headaches. We are just trying to give him time and make sure everything is fine there. That is always tough watching your child get hurt. Whatever it is like when he was out on a bicycle. Everyone that has kids understands that. I have enjoyed that (watching him play) and hopefully he will be able to get back out there this week. It looks like he can, but you have to go through the protocol. It will be fun watching him get out there and play, especially on senior night, his last time in Folsom. That would definitely be something that I would love to see and he would too. I know his mom would for sure."
Quarterback Steven Montez
On Rumors Surrounding Head Coach Mike MacIntyreÂ
"I am going to keep what we said as a team private. As for the rumors, that's what I heard they are, just rumors. At the end of the day, it really doesn't change how we feel as players and how we feel about this season and that is to win these last two games and get to a bowl game. That is our goal right now. We are going to go out there on Saturday and try to play our best football regardless of the situation."
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On Staying Focus Despite Rumors
"A lot of the guys heard about it today. The energy at today's practice was the best energy we've had all season. Guys went out there, had a chip on their shoulder and were hungry. We practiced really hard and really well today. We were outside even though there was a bunch of snow on the field. We have to be prepared for Saturday's game because it is going to snow. We are locked in and are ready to go for Saturday and for Utah to come down here to Folsom. At the end of the day, we're here to play football. We're not here to worry about all of the stuff that is going on above our head. I am sure everyone is going to do their job and everything is going to be great at the end of the day. We're here to play the game so that is what we focus on. Today I woke up and was thinking about Utah and what they were doing on defense. That is how all of our players look at it. We are going to be ready to go come Saturday."
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On If The Team Feels Pressure To Save Coach's Jobs
"No because these are all still rumors, allegations and what not. We are playing these two games because we want to send our seniors out right and send them out on a high note. Especially with this last game being our last game at Folsom and it is there senior night. We want to send them out the right way and send them out on a special occasion. We are going to play extremely hard to do that."
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On Offensive Struggles Last Weekend
"Last week we kind of struggled to get some things going. We struggled a little bit on third down. We just couldn't seem to keep a drive going down the field. This week is a brand-new week for us. We are seeing a brand-new defense. It is not brand new because we have seen cover one before, but it is new people on the other side of the field. At the end of the day, that doesn't really matter either. We are worried about our team and what we are doing on offense. I think we will have a good game plan going in this Saturday as well."
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On Whether The Attitude In The Locker Room Has Changed
"I really haven't seen a change because it has just been high energy and high effort all of the practices we have been to all season long. The guys have been working hard. We have been giving tons of effort. We are just kind of missing the small details. That is what the game comes down to at the end of the day is details. We just have to tighten up those details and I think we'll be in good shape."
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On Roller Coaster Season
"I know football is a crazy game. This season has been a little crazy too, but I think what we have to do is get back to playing Colorado football. That is what we were doing in the beginning of the season against Nebraska, CSU, and all of those teams we were playing. We just have to get back to doing that. We have been playing hard this whole entire season. We have been playing our butts off. We just have to get back to getting those small, minute details. If we get back to doing those right and getting on the same page as everybody, we'll be in a good spot."
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On What Colorado Football Is To Him
"Tough, physical football. Physical is a key word. That is a word we have been focusing on this week. We know we have to play physical football up front and at all skill positions as well if we want to be successful."
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On Senior Night
"I don't want to bring it up too much to them. I know it can be emotional to some people. I just want them to enjoy it to the fullest. We have to play our absolute hardest football we have played all season to send them out the right way. That is all I am focused on this week. To make sure I see those guys go out the right way."
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On Offensive Line
"We have been moving some pieces around, but I think the O-line has been playing well. We have a few things we need to work on up front, but I think a lot of it is on me as well. I have to help them out with tempo and help them out with staying in the pocket when we have those drop back passes. It is a relationship. O-line is difficult. There are five guys working to be one unit. That is a difficult position. They are going to keep improving and we are going to keep getting better."
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On Fixing Struggles On Third Downs
"We have to shorten first and second downs if we want to be in third and manageable, maybe third and short. We've got a good game plan this week to do that against what we are seeing on first and second down for Utah. We will have a good game plan on Saturday."Â
"I am going to keep what we said as a team private. As for the rumors, that's what I heard they are, just rumors. At the end of the day, it really doesn't change how we feel as players and how we feel about this season and that is to win these last two games and get to a bowl game. That is our goal right now. We are going to go out there on Saturday and try to play our best football regardless of the situation."
Â
On Staying Focus Despite Rumors
"A lot of the guys heard about it today. The energy at today's practice was the best energy we've had all season. Guys went out there, had a chip on their shoulder and were hungry. We practiced really hard and really well today. We were outside even though there was a bunch of snow on the field. We have to be prepared for Saturday's game because it is going to snow. We are locked in and are ready to go for Saturday and for Utah to come down here to Folsom. At the end of the day, we're here to play football. We're not here to worry about all of the stuff that is going on above our head. I am sure everyone is going to do their job and everything is going to be great at the end of the day. We're here to play the game so that is what we focus on. Today I woke up and was thinking about Utah and what they were doing on defense. That is how all of our players look at it. We are going to be ready to go come Saturday."
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On If The Team Feels Pressure To Save Coach's Jobs
"No because these are all still rumors, allegations and what not. We are playing these two games because we want to send our seniors out right and send them out on a high note. Especially with this last game being our last game at Folsom and it is there senior night. We want to send them out the right way and send them out on a special occasion. We are going to play extremely hard to do that."
Â
On Offensive Struggles Last Weekend
"Last week we kind of struggled to get some things going. We struggled a little bit on third down. We just couldn't seem to keep a drive going down the field. This week is a brand-new week for us. We are seeing a brand-new defense. It is not brand new because we have seen cover one before, but it is new people on the other side of the field. At the end of the day, that doesn't really matter either. We are worried about our team and what we are doing on offense. I think we will have a good game plan going in this Saturday as well."
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On Whether The Attitude In The Locker Room Has Changed
"I really haven't seen a change because it has just been high energy and high effort all of the practices we have been to all season long. The guys have been working hard. We have been giving tons of effort. We are just kind of missing the small details. That is what the game comes down to at the end of the day is details. We just have to tighten up those details and I think we'll be in good shape."
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On Roller Coaster Season
"I know football is a crazy game. This season has been a little crazy too, but I think what we have to do is get back to playing Colorado football. That is what we were doing in the beginning of the season against Nebraska, CSU, and all of those teams we were playing. We just have to get back to doing that. We have been playing hard this whole entire season. We have been playing our butts off. We just have to get back to getting those small, minute details. If we get back to doing those right and getting on the same page as everybody, we'll be in a good spot."
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On What Colorado Football Is To Him
"Tough, physical football. Physical is a key word. That is a word we have been focusing on this week. We know we have to play physical football up front and at all skill positions as well if we want to be successful."
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On Senior Night
"I don't want to bring it up too much to them. I know it can be emotional to some people. I just want them to enjoy it to the fullest. We have to play our absolute hardest football we have played all season to send them out the right way. That is all I am focused on this week. To make sure I see those guys go out the right way."
Â
On Offensive Line
"We have been moving some pieces around, but I think the O-line has been playing well. We have a few things we need to work on up front, but I think a lot of it is on me as well. I have to help them out with tempo and help them out with staying in the pocket when we have those drop back passes. It is a relationship. O-line is difficult. There are five guys working to be one unit. That is a difficult position. They are going to keep improving and we are going to keep getting better."
Â
On Fixing Struggles On Third Downs
"We have to shorten first and second downs if we want to be in third and manageable, maybe third and short. We've got a good game plan this week to do that against what we are seeing on first and second down for Utah. We will have a good game plan on Saturday."Â
Safety Nick Fisher
On Team's Attitude
"It's got to be uplifting. We can't point fingers. Everyone's mission has to be to win. That is what everyone is focusing on right now."
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On Finishing The Season Strong
"I think we are going to figure it out these last two weeks. One thing that I have never had to deal with is losing so many people. We have lost a lot of starters. I don't think anyone really prepares for anything like that. We have lost so many people who are either starting or are very important to our football team. We've had to get a lot of guys in there who haven't really played. I think that is tough."
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On Utah's Win Over Oregon
"It is tough to win in the Pac (12). Any game you get to win is impressive. Everyone is good in the Pac-12. We are looking at Utah and they are a great team. Their quarterback played well and their running back played well. They got hit with some adversity and they did a pretty good job handling Oregon."
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On Senior Night
"It hasn't even hit me yet. I don't know when it is going to hit me that this is my last game at Folsom. I haven't been sad or anything like that. I haven't felt that. I don't know when that is going to happen. Hopefully it doesn't."
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On Playing Through The Distractions
"A lot of the guys want to win this game for the seniors. Send the seniors out right. Everyone knows that with one more win we are bowl eligible as well. It is a win-win for us. Win and you become bowl eligible. Everyone is really gunning for that win."
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On Team Mentality After First Loss
"(Head Coach Mike MacIntyre) addressed it this morning. I don't think anybody is worried about anything like that. Anything can be really galvanizing like you are suggesting. It is about putting that stuff to the side and focusing on winning. Distractions can be anything. Not even just that can be a distraction towards this week. We are focused on winning this week."
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On Potentially Becoming Bowl Eligible
"It is tough. We have played some pretty close games. I think everyone is excited at the thought of winning this game and becoming bowl eligible. No one is going to feel like we lost because this is all we did. Guys are still excited. We want to win. We don't want to go out losing seven straight. The attitude of the team is really excited. We are ready. Anybody who has lost five just wants to get a win."
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On Coach Mike MacIntyre's Message To Team
"Just that those rumors are out there. Telling us we need to stick together and play football. It is just distractions. Don't let it distract you. He told us to focus on Utah and to get ready."
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"It's got to be uplifting. We can't point fingers. Everyone's mission has to be to win. That is what everyone is focusing on right now."
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On Finishing The Season Strong
"I think we are going to figure it out these last two weeks. One thing that I have never had to deal with is losing so many people. We have lost a lot of starters. I don't think anyone really prepares for anything like that. We have lost so many people who are either starting or are very important to our football team. We've had to get a lot of guys in there who haven't really played. I think that is tough."
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On Utah's Win Over Oregon
"It is tough to win in the Pac (12). Any game you get to win is impressive. Everyone is good in the Pac-12. We are looking at Utah and they are a great team. Their quarterback played well and their running back played well. They got hit with some adversity and they did a pretty good job handling Oregon."
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On Senior Night
"It hasn't even hit me yet. I don't know when it is going to hit me that this is my last game at Folsom. I haven't been sad or anything like that. I haven't felt that. I don't know when that is going to happen. Hopefully it doesn't."
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On Playing Through The Distractions
"A lot of the guys want to win this game for the seniors. Send the seniors out right. Everyone knows that with one more win we are bowl eligible as well. It is a win-win for us. Win and you become bowl eligible. Everyone is really gunning for that win."
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On Team Mentality After First Loss
"(Head Coach Mike MacIntyre) addressed it this morning. I don't think anybody is worried about anything like that. Anything can be really galvanizing like you are suggesting. It is about putting that stuff to the side and focusing on winning. Distractions can be anything. Not even just that can be a distraction towards this week. We are focused on winning this week."
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On Potentially Becoming Bowl Eligible
"It is tough. We have played some pretty close games. I think everyone is excited at the thought of winning this game and becoming bowl eligible. No one is going to feel like we lost because this is all we did. Guys are still excited. We want to win. We don't want to go out losing seven straight. The attitude of the team is really excited. We are ready. Anybody who has lost five just wants to get a win."
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On Coach Mike MacIntyre's Message To Team
"Just that those rumors are out there. Telling us we need to stick together and play football. It is just distractions. Don't let it distract you. He told us to focus on Utah and to get ready."
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Players Mentioned
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