Colorado University Athletics
Tuesday Press Conference Quotes
September 04, 2018 | Football
Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
Opening Statement:
"It's great having Coach Mac [Bill McCartney] here. It was awesome coaching Derek, his grandson. T.C. was a graduate assistant the first year I was here, he went on to bigger and better things in the NFL, doing really well with the 49ers now. I have a close relationship with their family and love having Coach Mac around. He always inspired me. Basically, the way he lives his life inspires me more than anything else he's done."
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On Balancing Emotions During Rivalry Week:
"They are excited about playing this game, there's no doubt. They heard about since the last game of last season was over. I think everybody has been talking about this game all the time. I tried to temper it going into last week's game, but the buzz has been around, which is exciting for our players and our program. We're excited about going to play in Lincoln. They do understand the intensity as best as they can at this point, but they'll understand it when we get there for sure."
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On Preparing To Face Freshman Quarterback In First College Game:
"We saw him, he got hurt his senior year of high school too so it's been a while since he's played a lot. We watched the spring game and he played really well in that. That gives us our best tell-tale sign of him. We saw him play in high school and he was a heck of a player, [Adrian] Martinez was. He's a really good athlete that can do a lot of different things. We've been watching UCF film and watching spring game film, trying to figure out what they want to do. It's a little bit of an unknown. They'll always have a few new wrinkles and things that they do. Scott Frost and Troy Walters are excellent offensive coaches and I know they'll do really well with what their young men can do. It's really tough without any game tape. We are going off the assumptions that it's going to be similar to Central Florida but we prepare for everything. They have to put 11 guys out there and we have to put 11 guys out. All of your offensive and defensive schemes should handle everything. There's some things that might surprise you a little bit but our kids ought to be able to adjust to it. Now we just have to go play. Hopefully we'll be able to adjust as the game goes on in the first quarter of what they're trying to emphasize offensively with Martinez."
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On Staying Focused After Blowing Out Rival Colorado State:
"I sure hope they're not [reading their headlines], that was one game and we have a lot left to do. Practice has not shown that [complacency] the last two days, meetings, the way they've showed up to work, their attitude, their focus, hasn't showed any of those signs that you'd notice. I feel like they're locked in and want to go play really well in Lincoln."
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On Nate Landman:
"Nate's an excellent football as you saw. We saw glimpses of it last year and he had an excellent spring. Then about five days into fall camp, I said 'we have to get him, Drew [Lewis] and Rick [Gamboa] on the field at the same time. Matter of fact, I was walking up [to the Champions Center] after talking to the media after practice, and I'm walking up the hill thinking, 'I just said I was going to split time between them, why would I do that? I need to get all three of them on the field.' Drew is a good enough athlete that he can [switch positions] and it opens up our defense having Drew play outside linebacker. We can do a couple more things coverage wise with him because he can run and he's so athletic. Then bringing him off the edge, he brings speed. We have some really good outside linebackers. A lot of times we have a kid that runs a 10.5 [100-meter dash, Davion Taylor] and a kid that runs a 4.4 [40-yard dash, Drew Lewis] that both weigh 220 pounds and are close to 6-2.5 coming off the edge, with Nate and Rick inside. I think that helped our defense. Sitting down and talking to Drew was the biggest deal, but he said, 'Coach I'll do whatever the team needs.' He plays outside, then when we go to nickel he plays inside. All the kids on the team wanted Nate on the field, kind of like all the kids on the team wanted Laviska [Shenault] on the field, so we found ways to get them on the field and let them make plays."
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On Laviska Shenault's Versatility:
"[Co-offensive Coordinators Klayton Adams and Darrin Chiaverini] sat down and really started looking at how we could get all of those guys on the field at the same time. Viska can play tailback, Viska can play tight end, Viska can play wide receiver, he could 'mike' linebacker or outside backer. There's a lot of things Viska can do and we felt like we needed him on the field all the time and needed to utilize him in different spots. It makes it harder for them to key on him and gives us versatility with one package of players, so you don't always need to substitute and you can play fast and do a lot of different things. He gives us the ability to do that. Chev brought it to me and said, 'we can get all those guys out there.' I said, ' that's a great idea, let's work on doing it.' Klayton and all the offensive coaches put it together and we've been working on it. Each weeks we'll change up things and make different tweaks, but I'm excited about the way we're headed."
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On His Conversation With Drew Lewis About Moving To OLB:
"It didn't take much convincing at all. He played safety in high school, so the outside backer spot is a good spot for him. He can do some coverage things, he can rush the passer, then when we go nickel he'll be back inside because of his versatility there. He was fine with it and knew that it would help our football team if he and Nate [Landman] were on the field at the same time. [Drew Lewis] more versatility athletically to move outside and Nate fits really well inside. It's all about our team winning, and they'll make a lot of plays before the year is over."
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On Personalities Of K.D. Nixon And Laviska Shenault:
"K.D. was kind of the bell cow at the school and was kind of the [outgoing] guy at Desoto High School and Viska was his sidekick. They did everything together. Viska has a great personality, he's really funny. He's continued to open up and you'll get see that as you're around him the next couple of years. It was a lot of fun recruiting them. Chev and Darian Hagan recruited them and did a great job with those young men. We even have a package called 'Desoto' with both of them. It's fun with those two guys. K.D. is definitely outgoing but Viska is not as shy as you'd think he is."
On Emotions Of Coaching In Rivalry Game:
"The rivalry game is one that sticks with the coach 365 days a year. You get asked more questions about your rivalry games than you do the others. Growing up watching the Colorado-Nebraska game on Thanksgiving [Weekend], we always used to play the day after on Saturday. I knew about all the games. I didn't know [Darian] Hagan, but I knew No. 3. These young men here understand the Nebraska rivalry. I think when kids with us one of the first questions they get is, 'do you still play Nebraska? When do you play Nebraska?' I still get that question too. No we are, so we're excited about that. There is a little added energy for sure. There's a little added intensity. You wish you could say you line up with the same intensity in all 12 games, but you don't, there's a percentage difference. Plus going to play in Lincoln, that's a phenomenal place to go play a college football game. That's what you work for and that's what the players work for."
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On Whether This Compares To Any Rivalries He's Experienced:
"Georgia Tech – Georgia was a big rivalry, that was a lot of fun. It was a little bit closer. Then when I coached at Ole Miss, the Mississippi State rivalry, I would say was a hated rivalry. There was a hatred that ran in that rivalry. They had to have policemen at midfield when we warmed up. Our wives wouldn't even go to the games when they were played away. It was just that bad. I would imagine it's still the same way. It's a lot of fun to play in and coach in."
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On Scrambling To Prepare After Nebraska's Game Was Cancelled:
"It's funny David Plati, Rick George and I were all texting and they said it's canceled. I said, 'okay. We're their opening game.' As coaches, of course we want to get the film and get to work on it, but we didn't get any. Klayton Adams had an interesting story about it that I thought was pretty good. For some reason, one year at Boise State they weren't allowed to trade film, so they just had to practice against each other. The opponent got [Boise State] film. He said they won both games. They just practiced really hard and got out there and played. Film does matter, but hopefully our offense, defense and special teams will be able to handle anything they give us. People change things during the week."
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On CU-Nebraska Highlight Montage Playing Around Facility:
"They were just on when I got here early Sunday morning. I don't know who put it on, but all the televisions were on. The one in my conference room was on so I watched a few minutes of it, but then I turned it off because I need to go watch film on now and on UCF and everything else."
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On Whether Former Coach Bill McCartney Will Address Team This Week:
"I would love Coach Mac to do that. He's talked to our team quite often. He's able to come to practice any time he wants. It's awesome having him around and I would love for him to talk to the team. He's one of those speakers that gets you riled up. The last time he did it, he dropped the mic and walked out."
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On Coaching Against Scott Frost And Keys To The Game:
"Their offense is very dynamic going against it a little bit at Oregon. It has a lot of Chip Kelly emphasis in it. I can see some things that Troy Walters brings too, knowing old Oregon film and what they're doing now. Their quarterback they had at UCF is really a Houdini, he's amazing. They were able to let him get out and make plays and I think they'll do the same with Martinez. Controlling the quarterback will be tough. They have a lot of motion, a lot of movement. On defense we have to be able to handle the motion and line correctly so they don't crease you with a dive or a quarterback pull. There's a lot of option emphasis in their offense, which goes back to Scott Frost's days as an option quarterback. They do a great job with what they do offensively."
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"It's great having Coach Mac [Bill McCartney] here. It was awesome coaching Derek, his grandson. T.C. was a graduate assistant the first year I was here, he went on to bigger and better things in the NFL, doing really well with the 49ers now. I have a close relationship with their family and love having Coach Mac around. He always inspired me. Basically, the way he lives his life inspires me more than anything else he's done."
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On Balancing Emotions During Rivalry Week:
"They are excited about playing this game, there's no doubt. They heard about since the last game of last season was over. I think everybody has been talking about this game all the time. I tried to temper it going into last week's game, but the buzz has been around, which is exciting for our players and our program. We're excited about going to play in Lincoln. They do understand the intensity as best as they can at this point, but they'll understand it when we get there for sure."
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On Preparing To Face Freshman Quarterback In First College Game:
"We saw him, he got hurt his senior year of high school too so it's been a while since he's played a lot. We watched the spring game and he played really well in that. That gives us our best tell-tale sign of him. We saw him play in high school and he was a heck of a player, [Adrian] Martinez was. He's a really good athlete that can do a lot of different things. We've been watching UCF film and watching spring game film, trying to figure out what they want to do. It's a little bit of an unknown. They'll always have a few new wrinkles and things that they do. Scott Frost and Troy Walters are excellent offensive coaches and I know they'll do really well with what their young men can do. It's really tough without any game tape. We are going off the assumptions that it's going to be similar to Central Florida but we prepare for everything. They have to put 11 guys out there and we have to put 11 guys out. All of your offensive and defensive schemes should handle everything. There's some things that might surprise you a little bit but our kids ought to be able to adjust to it. Now we just have to go play. Hopefully we'll be able to adjust as the game goes on in the first quarter of what they're trying to emphasize offensively with Martinez."
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On Staying Focused After Blowing Out Rival Colorado State:
"I sure hope they're not [reading their headlines], that was one game and we have a lot left to do. Practice has not shown that [complacency] the last two days, meetings, the way they've showed up to work, their attitude, their focus, hasn't showed any of those signs that you'd notice. I feel like they're locked in and want to go play really well in Lincoln."
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On Nate Landman:
"Nate's an excellent football as you saw. We saw glimpses of it last year and he had an excellent spring. Then about five days into fall camp, I said 'we have to get him, Drew [Lewis] and Rick [Gamboa] on the field at the same time. Matter of fact, I was walking up [to the Champions Center] after talking to the media after practice, and I'm walking up the hill thinking, 'I just said I was going to split time between them, why would I do that? I need to get all three of them on the field.' Drew is a good enough athlete that he can [switch positions] and it opens up our defense having Drew play outside linebacker. We can do a couple more things coverage wise with him because he can run and he's so athletic. Then bringing him off the edge, he brings speed. We have some really good outside linebackers. A lot of times we have a kid that runs a 10.5 [100-meter dash, Davion Taylor] and a kid that runs a 4.4 [40-yard dash, Drew Lewis] that both weigh 220 pounds and are close to 6-2.5 coming off the edge, with Nate and Rick inside. I think that helped our defense. Sitting down and talking to Drew was the biggest deal, but he said, 'Coach I'll do whatever the team needs.' He plays outside, then when we go to nickel he plays inside. All the kids on the team wanted Nate on the field, kind of like all the kids on the team wanted Laviska [Shenault] on the field, so we found ways to get them on the field and let them make plays."
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On Laviska Shenault's Versatility:
"[Co-offensive Coordinators Klayton Adams and Darrin Chiaverini] sat down and really started looking at how we could get all of those guys on the field at the same time. Viska can play tailback, Viska can play tight end, Viska can play wide receiver, he could 'mike' linebacker or outside backer. There's a lot of things Viska can do and we felt like we needed him on the field all the time and needed to utilize him in different spots. It makes it harder for them to key on him and gives us versatility with one package of players, so you don't always need to substitute and you can play fast and do a lot of different things. He gives us the ability to do that. Chev brought it to me and said, 'we can get all those guys out there.' I said, ' that's a great idea, let's work on doing it.' Klayton and all the offensive coaches put it together and we've been working on it. Each weeks we'll change up things and make different tweaks, but I'm excited about the way we're headed."
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On His Conversation With Drew Lewis About Moving To OLB:
"It didn't take much convincing at all. He played safety in high school, so the outside backer spot is a good spot for him. He can do some coverage things, he can rush the passer, then when we go nickel he'll be back inside because of his versatility there. He was fine with it and knew that it would help our football team if he and Nate [Landman] were on the field at the same time. [Drew Lewis] more versatility athletically to move outside and Nate fits really well inside. It's all about our team winning, and they'll make a lot of plays before the year is over."
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On Personalities Of K.D. Nixon And Laviska Shenault:
"K.D. was kind of the bell cow at the school and was kind of the [outgoing] guy at Desoto High School and Viska was his sidekick. They did everything together. Viska has a great personality, he's really funny. He's continued to open up and you'll get see that as you're around him the next couple of years. It was a lot of fun recruiting them. Chev and Darian Hagan recruited them and did a great job with those young men. We even have a package called 'Desoto' with both of them. It's fun with those two guys. K.D. is definitely outgoing but Viska is not as shy as you'd think he is."
On Emotions Of Coaching In Rivalry Game:
"The rivalry game is one that sticks with the coach 365 days a year. You get asked more questions about your rivalry games than you do the others. Growing up watching the Colorado-Nebraska game on Thanksgiving [Weekend], we always used to play the day after on Saturday. I knew about all the games. I didn't know [Darian] Hagan, but I knew No. 3. These young men here understand the Nebraska rivalry. I think when kids with us one of the first questions they get is, 'do you still play Nebraska? When do you play Nebraska?' I still get that question too. No we are, so we're excited about that. There is a little added energy for sure. There's a little added intensity. You wish you could say you line up with the same intensity in all 12 games, but you don't, there's a percentage difference. Plus going to play in Lincoln, that's a phenomenal place to go play a college football game. That's what you work for and that's what the players work for."
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On Whether This Compares To Any Rivalries He's Experienced:
"Georgia Tech – Georgia was a big rivalry, that was a lot of fun. It was a little bit closer. Then when I coached at Ole Miss, the Mississippi State rivalry, I would say was a hated rivalry. There was a hatred that ran in that rivalry. They had to have policemen at midfield when we warmed up. Our wives wouldn't even go to the games when they were played away. It was just that bad. I would imagine it's still the same way. It's a lot of fun to play in and coach in."
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On Scrambling To Prepare After Nebraska's Game Was Cancelled:
"It's funny David Plati, Rick George and I were all texting and they said it's canceled. I said, 'okay. We're their opening game.' As coaches, of course we want to get the film and get to work on it, but we didn't get any. Klayton Adams had an interesting story about it that I thought was pretty good. For some reason, one year at Boise State they weren't allowed to trade film, so they just had to practice against each other. The opponent got [Boise State] film. He said they won both games. They just practiced really hard and got out there and played. Film does matter, but hopefully our offense, defense and special teams will be able to handle anything they give us. People change things during the week."
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On CU-Nebraska Highlight Montage Playing Around Facility:
"They were just on when I got here early Sunday morning. I don't know who put it on, but all the televisions were on. The one in my conference room was on so I watched a few minutes of it, but then I turned it off because I need to go watch film on now and on UCF and everything else."
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On Whether Former Coach Bill McCartney Will Address Team This Week:
"I would love Coach Mac to do that. He's talked to our team quite often. He's able to come to practice any time he wants. It's awesome having him around and I would love for him to talk to the team. He's one of those speakers that gets you riled up. The last time he did it, he dropped the mic and walked out."
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On Coaching Against Scott Frost And Keys To The Game:
"Their offense is very dynamic going against it a little bit at Oregon. It has a lot of Chip Kelly emphasis in it. I can see some things that Troy Walters brings too, knowing old Oregon film and what they're doing now. Their quarterback they had at UCF is really a Houdini, he's amazing. They were able to let him get out and make plays and I think they'll do the same with Martinez. Controlling the quarterback will be tough. They have a lot of motion, a lot of movement. On defense we have to be able to handle the motion and line correctly so they don't crease you with a dive or a quarterback pull. There's a lot of option emphasis in their offense, which goes back to Scott Frost's days as an option quarterback. They do a great job with what they do offensively."
Sophomore LB Nate Landman
ÂOn Being Named Pac-12 Defensive Player Of The Week
"It's been one of my goals ever since I started getting recruited. I love the Pac-12. I've been growing up watching the Pac-12. It's definitely one of my goals. I can't take all the credit. We had a great play from our defense and I obviously can't do what I do without my d-line or without my secondary there to help me."
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On His Performance
"I'm still a little star-struck myself. I just went out there and played my game. We had a great scheme that whole game. I have great coaches behind me helping me out there. Some mistakes were made, but if I made a mistake, I was doing it 100% and just playing my game."
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On How To Continue The Momentum
"Just getting better every week. Coach harps on that. Taking it one day at a time. We had practice today, and we'll watch that. We will learn from mistakes we made today and we will get better for tomorrow and continue to do that each week. Hopefully that will get us better."
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On Preparing For A Team With No Film
"It's a great challenge. They have that film on us, but we also have that one game and they haven't played yet. It is definitely tough when preparing. We have to see where their coaching staff came from and watch that film, watch their spring game. They are a great opponent and I'm excited to play them this week."
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On Moving The Defense Around To Get Him On The Field And How He Is Growing
"Obviously they moved Drew (Lewis) to the outside and he took that really well. He's a great leader. He is great out there and is super athletic. He makes plays and he is the only one of us that can go out there and be successful in my opinion. Last year I was struggling. I was swimming. It's a lot to learn. Coming as a freshman, I had great leadership that helped me get through. Coming into this fall camp, I was able to jump forward and make bigger leaps in understanding defenses and offensive scheme. I could say halfway through fall camp I felt most comfortable."
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On What He Is Expecting On Saturday
"I'm expecting a big crowd. Everyone is going to be pumped up. The coach is going to be pumped up. I've heard this is a huge rivalry. Obviously, they have the games playing everywhere around here in the Champions Center. I was talking to Coach Hagan (RB Coach Darian Hagan) today and he said he never lost to them, so hopefully we are going to keep that tradition up. I'm excited. It's going to be a big game with a huge crowd. I'm excited."
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On The Challenge Of Preparing For Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez And If They Played Each Other In High School
"We did not cross paths in high school. There is a challenge. We don't know what he is capable of yet. He is a young player. I know how that can affect you and what it takes to be on the field. He's a great player, obviously playing there at Nebraska."
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On If He Has Gotten In Trouble For Wearing Red
"I have not. I honestly don't really wear red, myself. I don't think I have anything red in my wardrobe at all actually."
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On How The Offense Helped The Defense
"Our offense came out and played great. They had great leadership on the team. (Steven) Montez was throwing balls, the end guys were making plays, the offensive line was playing great and when we are up like that, we are able to relax as a defense and not have to do too much. We can play our base calls and really work on the stuff that needs working on rather than being down and trying to make a big play. We can just go out there with the mindset of getting the ball back to our offense and I think that's what we did well."
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On What It Will Be Like Playing In Lincoln
"It's going to be intense. I don't know exactly how much that stadium holds, but I've heard above 90,000. Obviously, it's going to be their home game. I'm excited. Honestly, I think we will thrive in that atmosphere. Having that pressure on us will help bring out our best game."
"It's been one of my goals ever since I started getting recruited. I love the Pac-12. I've been growing up watching the Pac-12. It's definitely one of my goals. I can't take all the credit. We had a great play from our defense and I obviously can't do what I do without my d-line or without my secondary there to help me."
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On His Performance
"I'm still a little star-struck myself. I just went out there and played my game. We had a great scheme that whole game. I have great coaches behind me helping me out there. Some mistakes were made, but if I made a mistake, I was doing it 100% and just playing my game."
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On How To Continue The Momentum
"Just getting better every week. Coach harps on that. Taking it one day at a time. We had practice today, and we'll watch that. We will learn from mistakes we made today and we will get better for tomorrow and continue to do that each week. Hopefully that will get us better."
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On Preparing For A Team With No Film
"It's a great challenge. They have that film on us, but we also have that one game and they haven't played yet. It is definitely tough when preparing. We have to see where their coaching staff came from and watch that film, watch their spring game. They are a great opponent and I'm excited to play them this week."
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On Moving The Defense Around To Get Him On The Field And How He Is Growing
"Obviously they moved Drew (Lewis) to the outside and he took that really well. He's a great leader. He is great out there and is super athletic. He makes plays and he is the only one of us that can go out there and be successful in my opinion. Last year I was struggling. I was swimming. It's a lot to learn. Coming as a freshman, I had great leadership that helped me get through. Coming into this fall camp, I was able to jump forward and make bigger leaps in understanding defenses and offensive scheme. I could say halfway through fall camp I felt most comfortable."
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On What He Is Expecting On Saturday
"I'm expecting a big crowd. Everyone is going to be pumped up. The coach is going to be pumped up. I've heard this is a huge rivalry. Obviously, they have the games playing everywhere around here in the Champions Center. I was talking to Coach Hagan (RB Coach Darian Hagan) today and he said he never lost to them, so hopefully we are going to keep that tradition up. I'm excited. It's going to be a big game with a huge crowd. I'm excited."
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On The Challenge Of Preparing For Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez And If They Played Each Other In High School
"We did not cross paths in high school. There is a challenge. We don't know what he is capable of yet. He is a young player. I know how that can affect you and what it takes to be on the field. He's a great player, obviously playing there at Nebraska."
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On If He Has Gotten In Trouble For Wearing Red
"I have not. I honestly don't really wear red, myself. I don't think I have anything red in my wardrobe at all actually."
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On How The Offense Helped The Defense
"Our offense came out and played great. They had great leadership on the team. (Steven) Montez was throwing balls, the end guys were making plays, the offensive line was playing great and when we are up like that, we are able to relax as a defense and not have to do too much. We can play our base calls and really work on the stuff that needs working on rather than being down and trying to make a big play. We can just go out there with the mindset of getting the ball back to our offense and I think that's what we did well."
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On What It Will Be Like Playing In Lincoln
"It's going to be intense. I don't know exactly how much that stadium holds, but I've heard above 90,000. Obviously, it's going to be their home game. I'm excited. Honestly, I think we will thrive in that atmosphere. Having that pressure on us will help bring out our best game."
Junior QB Steven Montez
On Preparing For The Crowd Noise At Memorial Stadium
"I don't think you really can (prepare). In practice they have music on, but it's nowhere near as loud as what it is going to be in Lincoln. You really can't (prepare), but the crowd noise doesn't really effect you too much once you get locked in. You know it is loud, but in your mind and in your ears, you don't really hear it too much. Obviously with the cadence, we use the clap, I think it will be okay. If we run into any problems we will adjust on the fly, but we've played in loud places before and it hasn't been a problem for us."
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On The Rivalry
"A lot of the guys on the team know about the history. They have been playing all of the highlights and the clips around the Champions Center this whole week now. To us, we just treat it like another game. They are just another team wearing a different color than us. We have to go in and do what we do best, play our game, and hopefully it will work out for us in the end."
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On If The Team Has Been Told Not To Wear Red
"I have. I have multiple times. I was wearing a red lanyard one time, and Hagan (RB Coach Darian Hagan) said, 'What's that right there?' I was like, 'My car keys.' He said, 'I am talking about the lanyard. That is red. We don't where red in here.' I said, 'Alright.' And I went and got a white lanyard the next day. Don't wear red. Especially on Nebraska week. That'll be bad for you."
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On Nate Landman
"He is a leader. He is a leader on that defense. He obviously flies around the ball, is very physical, and hits very hard. Nate is going to be a very good player here for the next three years. Yikes. That is kind of scary. Especially after the game that he just had on Friday. He played really well and I think he is going to continue to play really well for us all season."
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On How Much Of The Offense They Showed On Friday
"We obviously didn't run very much of the offense. I thought that was fairly obvious. We ran a few plays that we had practiced a lot, and we ran them at a very high level. I think that is why we were able to run so few plays. We were executing the plays we were running at a very high level. Is our game plan going to be the same for Nebraska? I'm not sure. I'm not coach Chev (OC Darrin Chiaverini) so I couldn't tell you.
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On How His Experience Helps Him
"I think the experience definitely has helped a little bit. I think the biggest thing for me has been Coach Roper (QB Coach Kurt Roper) coming in and helping me out with defenses. I can't stress how important that has been for me and for my development as a quarterback. That has been crucial for me."
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On Why They Were Able To Be So Successful Against CSU's Defense
"They didn't cover the flats very well. Those are those fly sweeps and short little flat route throws that we threw all game. They kind of struggled."
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On How The Up-Tempo Offense Benefits Him
"It was good. Our tempo was kind of gassing them a little bit. They were getting a little bit tired on the field. I think that the quick tempo and getting to the line quick was something they weren't used to seeing in practice."
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On How To Prepare For Nebraska With No Film
"It is the same thing that happened (last week), but in reverse. Now they have film on us and on what we are going to do, but they still haven't played a game yet and they have a true freshman quarterback. We also don't have film on them so it goes both ways. It could be an advantage or a disadvantage. It kind of evens out."
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On What He Expects From Their Defense
"I think they are going to do the same stuff that UCF (Central Florida) did last year because that is where their coaching staff, Scott Frost, was from. I think they are going to do that and play some okie and play some coverages. I am not going to talk too much about it because that is between the offense, me, Coach Roper, and Coach Chev. That is between us."
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On How They Are Preparing For Nebraska
"We have been working really hard. We've just been working real hard. I think we are going to come into this game with a lot of energy and a lot of excitement. It is always fun to play football, especially on ABC at 3:30 ET. It is going to be awesome and exciting. I can't wait to play. I am very excited. We've just been working really hard, trying to do the things that we do best, and try to do them at a high level."
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On What He Remembers From Preparing For His First Start
"You just obviously don't want to go out there and make a whole lot of mistakes. Mistakes are going to happen, it's just a part of the game of football, but you don't want to go out there and start with a bunch of mistakes. It is your first start so you want to play pretty clean. I imagine he'll (Nebraska true freshman QB Adrian Martinez) be prepared. I imagine Nebraska's offense and defense will both be prepared to play this game. I think they will be ready. I think they are a good team. I haven't really seen their personnel on film yet, but I imagine they'll be alright."
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On How To Avoid A Hangover From Friday's Win
"It happens in practice. You have to come to practice every day with a clean slate, kind of like your 0-0 again, like you haven't even played a game. We definitely don't want to get complacent and we definitely don't want to think we are too good, and then come out and not do as well as we would like. We just need to keep working and keep reping our offense. Reping, reping, and reping our offense and get really good at certain things and I think we'll be fine. I think we'll stay hungry. We still have a whole lot to prove. One game doesn't prove very much."
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On How It Felt To Come Out On Friday With A Win
"It was good. It was good to come out and put up some points, but it is just one game. One game isn't going to win you the season, one game isn't going to get you to a bowl game, one game is not going to get you to a playoff or anything like that. We just need to stay the course and keep working and keep our heads down and focus on what we have to do for the task at hand."
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On The Team's Mindset
"We are just focused. If I were to describe our team right now it would just be focused. Focused and hungry."
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Senior TB Travon McMillian
On His First Game At CU
"It felt really good to be out there and to be out there with my brothers to experience the rivalry. We are all hungry and we are going to keep getting better each and every day. We are not done. It was just one came. We are going to come to work every day."
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On His Decision To Come To CU
"I saw Phillip Lindsay. He had a really awesome season. I saw the guys up front. I felt like they were dominating up front. I loved the way that Colorado was moving fast. I saw that they had Steven Montez here. There was a lot of talent on offense and I wanted to join somewhere with a lot of talent where I could just get in and get the ball rolling a little bit. When I was here on my official, I felt really comfortable with the coaches. They made me feel really comfortable here. Colorado is a beautiful place."
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On His Conversations With Phillip Lindsay
"I had a few conversations with Phillip. He told me about the tradition of Colorado and what Colorado is all about and everything like that. It was my first time visiting Colorado in general so it was a brand-new experience and everything. I am enjoying it so far."
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On If The Talent Of The Receivers Helps The Running Backs
"Definitely. Especially with those guys, they can stretch the field. They are dangerous with the balls in their hands. Those guys are talented and can open up the field for me and the other backs. I am looking forward to see how the season will go."
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On The Move He Used Twice On Friday To Lose Defenders
"When I am running, it is just instinctive. I was pushing up to the safety and he was stopping his feet a little bit so I gave him a little jab step to make him hesitate even more. I knew I could get the edge on him. I am planning on doing that a lot more throughout the season. Those guys up front, it's what they do that makes what I do worth it. As long as those guys up front continue to do their jobs, I feel I can continue to execute at my level."
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On Watching His Former School Virginia Tech Beat Florida State On Monday
"The defense played really well. They have some dogs on defense. It was nice watching them. I am glad that they got the win and everything. I reached out to my teammates and they reached out to me. It was nice to see them beat FSU."
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On Playing In Back-To-Back Rivalry Games
"Nebraska is a big time rivalry here. Coach Hagan (RB Coach Darian Hagan) has told me all about the rivalry and things like that. I have heard from everybody around the Champions Center that it is a crazy rivalry. We don't know much about it because it has been so long since Colorado and Nebraska have played, but we are taking this game really seriously. We are preparing as hard as we can in practice so when we go out there we can execute to the best of our ability."
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"It felt really good to be out there and to be out there with my brothers to experience the rivalry. We are all hungry and we are going to keep getting better each and every day. We are not done. It was just one came. We are going to come to work every day."
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On His Decision To Come To CU
"I saw Phillip Lindsay. He had a really awesome season. I saw the guys up front. I felt like they were dominating up front. I loved the way that Colorado was moving fast. I saw that they had Steven Montez here. There was a lot of talent on offense and I wanted to join somewhere with a lot of talent where I could just get in and get the ball rolling a little bit. When I was here on my official, I felt really comfortable with the coaches. They made me feel really comfortable here. Colorado is a beautiful place."
Â
On His Conversations With Phillip Lindsay
"I had a few conversations with Phillip. He told me about the tradition of Colorado and what Colorado is all about and everything like that. It was my first time visiting Colorado in general so it was a brand-new experience and everything. I am enjoying it so far."
Â
On If The Talent Of The Receivers Helps The Running Backs
"Definitely. Especially with those guys, they can stretch the field. They are dangerous with the balls in their hands. Those guys are talented and can open up the field for me and the other backs. I am looking forward to see how the season will go."
Â
On The Move He Used Twice On Friday To Lose Defenders
"When I am running, it is just instinctive. I was pushing up to the safety and he was stopping his feet a little bit so I gave him a little jab step to make him hesitate even more. I knew I could get the edge on him. I am planning on doing that a lot more throughout the season. Those guys up front, it's what they do that makes what I do worth it. As long as those guys up front continue to do their jobs, I feel I can continue to execute at my level."
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On Watching His Former School Virginia Tech Beat Florida State On Monday
"The defense played really well. They have some dogs on defense. It was nice watching them. I am glad that they got the win and everything. I reached out to my teammates and they reached out to me. It was nice to see them beat FSU."
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On Playing In Back-To-Back Rivalry Games
"Nebraska is a big time rivalry here. Coach Hagan (RB Coach Darian Hagan) has told me all about the rivalry and things like that. I have heard from everybody around the Champions Center that it is a crazy rivalry. We don't know much about it because it has been so long since Colorado and Nebraska have played, but we are taking this game really seriously. We are preparing as hard as we can in practice so when we go out there we can execute to the best of our ability."
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Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill McCartney
Opening Statement
"Just a couple of thoughts before you attack me. What I have learned over the years is everything rises and falls on leadership. Every home, every business, every church, every newspaper, and every station. It is a direct reflection of leadership. What I see in Coach McIntyre and his staff, and I don't know them well, but I watch carefully from a distance, is that these guys are good. They have character. They are trustworthy. They are genuine. There is no deception. They are the real deal. Having coached here for thirteen years, that gives me a lot of reward and satisfaction because I want this place to climb to the top and stay on the top. This is my school. I see in these guys, the ingredients that are necessary to climb that ladder. I coached basketball for many years. I was a disciple of Bobby Knight. He was ornery, but they played hard. They played disciplined. They were organized, and they played for four quarters. He was really a strong leader. That is what I see here. I see that kind of leadership here. I love Boulder. I live close by, and I'm not going anywhere. I think this is as good as it gets. I haven't ever seen a place better than Colorado, and Boulder in particular. But we have to rally them. We have to inspire them. The morale is to the physical as four as to one. It is four times as important your attitude, as it is your actual physical ability. If you think you can or can't, you're right. Big dreams create the magic that stirs men's souls. What I see here is the ingredients for success. I think our coach is a cut above. I think he is the real deal. I just think he has the character, the discipline, and the integrity that you want in a coach. I encourage the media to give him the benefit of the doubt, and to get behind him. You know why? Because you can inspire the throng out there. You have an influence on them. If you find fault all the time, they are going to find fault all the time. They are going to add to your list. But if you choose to take the high road, everybody is going to benefit. You all have a tremendous impact. I have read the sports page, not the whole paper, but I have read the sports page every day for forty-two years. I have never missed a day. You know what I do when I get up? I read the sports page. I find it always interesting and rewarding. There are a lot of people out there like me. The reason we buy a paper is to read the sports page. I'm not saying they are all that narrow, but that's the truth. While I get a chance, you all have a tremendous influence. I encourage you to recognize that what we have here right now is special. This guy is special and he is building something special. It is going to take a little while. Lastly, my grandson, Derek McCartney who graduated from here and is studying to be a doctor, they treated him so good. They developed him, they encouraged him, they rallied him, they disciplined him. It is a great experience that he had here. I want every kid to have an experience like that."
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On What Nebraska Brings Out Of Him
"It is game week. I would rather be dead than red. Seriously, here is what you have to understand about Nebraska. Here we have CU, CSU, Air Force, and the Broncos. You know what they got? Nothing. Just that team that's coming. There is nothing else there for them to do. When they get up every day, that is the only option they have is to get behind that big red thing. We have to beat them. That's the only thing they understand. They understand that. If you beat them, they'll salute. If you don't you will hear about it. We don't want to hear about it, especially from their media. They don't stop. You know what the media can be like right? You know how media gets a little out of control and wears out their welcome? It gets worse there. Sorry."
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On Why He Decided To Make Nebraska The Rival
"What had happened to me was, I was coming from the University of Michigan where our favorite saying was, 'Oh how I hate, Ohio State.' When I got here I said, 'Who is our Ohio State?' They said, 'What are you talking about?' I said, 'Who is they team we have to beat? I mean the season is riding on it.' They said, 'Coach, we have to beat them all. We don't like any of them.' There was no rival. There was no game to point to. See, when you get kids from the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, you have to give them targets to shoot at. You can't just give them a big picture. You have to say we are going to put it all together and we are going to keep getting better, then when we go to Lincoln we are going to hit them in the mouth until we take over the place. When we shut them all up we will leave. You have to project things like that. When I came here, there wasn't any of that. I'm not accusing anything from anyone that was before me, but they didn't have that picture. When I was at Michigan, we pointed to Ohio State. Oh how I hate, Ohio State. When I came here we identified Nebraska as the team. One of the reasons we chose them and not Oklahoma or others was because they are a neighboring state. They are next door. They can get loud. You got to shut them up. That is how we approached it anyway."
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On The Importance Of The Return Of The Rivalry
"It is more important than any another game. With all due respect, this is the game. I would like to have a shot at the players. Give me two minutes with them because we are all counting on them. We are depending on them. Sleep good this week and then bring your A game, and when you do, we will carry you off the field. That is how I look at it."
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On his favorite memory of the Nebraska rivalry:
"Shaking hands with Tom Osborne after we beat them. It didn't happen near enough. He was so gracious, he was very polite. Now, [Oklahoma Coach Barry] Switzer would use profanity, but Osborne was a gentleman."
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On getting players to understand the rivalry after long break:
"Tell them we'd rather be dead than red. This is what it's all about. This is bigger than the NFL. Then NFL doesn't get this big. The whole state can rally around this one, maybe not in Fort Collins. What I'm saying is, there a certain things that are more important than other; this is one of them. This is big. You all need to make headlines. You all need to corral our audience. People in Boulder are affluent and they forget how important this [game] is. You have to remind them. Remind them that everything is riding on this game and that if we don't win this game, it's on them. If they take that personal, we have a chance."
Â
On respect for Nebraska and Former Coach Tom Osborne:
"The teams that you want to beat the most are the best teams. When I was seven years old I knew I wanted to be a coach, you knew you were going into the media right? I mean that was your hope right? Well no, you lost all those other jobs and now here you are [laughter]. I knew I was going to be a coach in second grade. I grew up right across the street from a high school and my parents would let me go over there, it was safe, there was no traffic. I would watch the coaches and I'd tell everybody that I was going to be like one of those coaches. They'd tell everybody what to do. I went to University of Missouri on a football scholarship and my coach was Dan Devine, and man did I respect him. He spoke with authority and conviction. I said, 'I want to do that someday.' I was a basketball coach and I hung out with Bobby Knight, for anybody that remembers that guy. One day I was at clinic with 500 people where Knight was speaking and I raised my hand. He said, 'yeah fella, what do you want?' I had never been spoken to like that, let alone in a clinic. I asked him a question and he said, 'hey fella, I didn't come here to debate it. Sit down!' So I learned right away who Bobby Knight was. Anyway, coaches are amazing. In college, coaches go out and get those kids. They bring the team in from around the country and they coach them up. Between the ages of 18 and 22, that's when a boy becomes a man. What do you do if you line up across from a guy whose bigger, stronger, tougher and meaner than you are? Do you turn and run or do stay and play? Where else do you learn that! You learn that right now, in college. That's what football does."
Â
"Just a couple of thoughts before you attack me. What I have learned over the years is everything rises and falls on leadership. Every home, every business, every church, every newspaper, and every station. It is a direct reflection of leadership. What I see in Coach McIntyre and his staff, and I don't know them well, but I watch carefully from a distance, is that these guys are good. They have character. They are trustworthy. They are genuine. There is no deception. They are the real deal. Having coached here for thirteen years, that gives me a lot of reward and satisfaction because I want this place to climb to the top and stay on the top. This is my school. I see in these guys, the ingredients that are necessary to climb that ladder. I coached basketball for many years. I was a disciple of Bobby Knight. He was ornery, but they played hard. They played disciplined. They were organized, and they played for four quarters. He was really a strong leader. That is what I see here. I see that kind of leadership here. I love Boulder. I live close by, and I'm not going anywhere. I think this is as good as it gets. I haven't ever seen a place better than Colorado, and Boulder in particular. But we have to rally them. We have to inspire them. The morale is to the physical as four as to one. It is four times as important your attitude, as it is your actual physical ability. If you think you can or can't, you're right. Big dreams create the magic that stirs men's souls. What I see here is the ingredients for success. I think our coach is a cut above. I think he is the real deal. I just think he has the character, the discipline, and the integrity that you want in a coach. I encourage the media to give him the benefit of the doubt, and to get behind him. You know why? Because you can inspire the throng out there. You have an influence on them. If you find fault all the time, they are going to find fault all the time. They are going to add to your list. But if you choose to take the high road, everybody is going to benefit. You all have a tremendous impact. I have read the sports page, not the whole paper, but I have read the sports page every day for forty-two years. I have never missed a day. You know what I do when I get up? I read the sports page. I find it always interesting and rewarding. There are a lot of people out there like me. The reason we buy a paper is to read the sports page. I'm not saying they are all that narrow, but that's the truth. While I get a chance, you all have a tremendous influence. I encourage you to recognize that what we have here right now is special. This guy is special and he is building something special. It is going to take a little while. Lastly, my grandson, Derek McCartney who graduated from here and is studying to be a doctor, they treated him so good. They developed him, they encouraged him, they rallied him, they disciplined him. It is a great experience that he had here. I want every kid to have an experience like that."
Â
On What Nebraska Brings Out Of Him
"It is game week. I would rather be dead than red. Seriously, here is what you have to understand about Nebraska. Here we have CU, CSU, Air Force, and the Broncos. You know what they got? Nothing. Just that team that's coming. There is nothing else there for them to do. When they get up every day, that is the only option they have is to get behind that big red thing. We have to beat them. That's the only thing they understand. They understand that. If you beat them, they'll salute. If you don't you will hear about it. We don't want to hear about it, especially from their media. They don't stop. You know what the media can be like right? You know how media gets a little out of control and wears out their welcome? It gets worse there. Sorry."
Â
On Why He Decided To Make Nebraska The Rival
"What had happened to me was, I was coming from the University of Michigan where our favorite saying was, 'Oh how I hate, Ohio State.' When I got here I said, 'Who is our Ohio State?' They said, 'What are you talking about?' I said, 'Who is they team we have to beat? I mean the season is riding on it.' They said, 'Coach, we have to beat them all. We don't like any of them.' There was no rival. There was no game to point to. See, when you get kids from the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, you have to give them targets to shoot at. You can't just give them a big picture. You have to say we are going to put it all together and we are going to keep getting better, then when we go to Lincoln we are going to hit them in the mouth until we take over the place. When we shut them all up we will leave. You have to project things like that. When I came here, there wasn't any of that. I'm not accusing anything from anyone that was before me, but they didn't have that picture. When I was at Michigan, we pointed to Ohio State. Oh how I hate, Ohio State. When I came here we identified Nebraska as the team. One of the reasons we chose them and not Oklahoma or others was because they are a neighboring state. They are next door. They can get loud. You got to shut them up. That is how we approached it anyway."
Â
On The Importance Of The Return Of The Rivalry
"It is more important than any another game. With all due respect, this is the game. I would like to have a shot at the players. Give me two minutes with them because we are all counting on them. We are depending on them. Sleep good this week and then bring your A game, and when you do, we will carry you off the field. That is how I look at it."
Â
On his favorite memory of the Nebraska rivalry:
"Shaking hands with Tom Osborne after we beat them. It didn't happen near enough. He was so gracious, he was very polite. Now, [Oklahoma Coach Barry] Switzer would use profanity, but Osborne was a gentleman."
Â
On getting players to understand the rivalry after long break:
"Tell them we'd rather be dead than red. This is what it's all about. This is bigger than the NFL. Then NFL doesn't get this big. The whole state can rally around this one, maybe not in Fort Collins. What I'm saying is, there a certain things that are more important than other; this is one of them. This is big. You all need to make headlines. You all need to corral our audience. People in Boulder are affluent and they forget how important this [game] is. You have to remind them. Remind them that everything is riding on this game and that if we don't win this game, it's on them. If they take that personal, we have a chance."
Â
On respect for Nebraska and Former Coach Tom Osborne:
"The teams that you want to beat the most are the best teams. When I was seven years old I knew I wanted to be a coach, you knew you were going into the media right? I mean that was your hope right? Well no, you lost all those other jobs and now here you are [laughter]. I knew I was going to be a coach in second grade. I grew up right across the street from a high school and my parents would let me go over there, it was safe, there was no traffic. I would watch the coaches and I'd tell everybody that I was going to be like one of those coaches. They'd tell everybody what to do. I went to University of Missouri on a football scholarship and my coach was Dan Devine, and man did I respect him. He spoke with authority and conviction. I said, 'I want to do that someday.' I was a basketball coach and I hung out with Bobby Knight, for anybody that remembers that guy. One day I was at clinic with 500 people where Knight was speaking and I raised my hand. He said, 'yeah fella, what do you want?' I had never been spoken to like that, let alone in a clinic. I asked him a question and he said, 'hey fella, I didn't come here to debate it. Sit down!' So I learned right away who Bobby Knight was. Anyway, coaches are amazing. In college, coaches go out and get those kids. They bring the team in from around the country and they coach them up. Between the ages of 18 and 22, that's when a boy becomes a man. What do you do if you line up across from a guy whose bigger, stronger, tougher and meaner than you are? Do you turn and run or do stay and play? Where else do you learn that! You learn that right now, in college. That's what football does."
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Players Mentioned
ILB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
TB
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
TB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
BUFF
/ FootballColorado Football Weekly Press Conference
Friday, October 31
Colorado Football Coaches Show | Presented by Aflac | 10.30.25
Friday, October 31
Colorado Football Postgame Press Conference at Utah
Sunday, October 26
Colorado Football Press Conference
Friday, October 24