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Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe News Conference Quotes
9/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 15, 2003
Tulsa, Oklahoma -
Opening statement:
"Obviously it is good to win. It was fun for me to walk in the locker room to see the smiles on the faces of the players. That is really what it is all about when you win -- you have a chance to walk in the locker room and see the players enjoying themselves. I was disappointed with the way we played in the first half. I thought we played not to lose instead of being a little aggressive. The drive at the end of the first half was obviously big for us. When we took the lead 7-3, and then to come out and score on the first five possessions of the second half, I think we established a good tone. We need to continue to improve in all areas of the game. I think there is momentum that we can take out of this game. I thought our defense played well. Our frontline defense gave up three points to a team that is very explosive on offense. I think we minimized big plays. I think there are a lot of positives in this game but there is a lot of room for improvement. Winning is good. We need to experience winning but that is the appetizer, not the meal. There is a lot food still left on the table. Our attitude is good but our attitude has been good all year long."
On the crowd:
"The crowd was great. I think the crowd was big factor in us winning the game. The style of offense Texas State plays with a no huddle. Lots of communication is done on the line scrimmage, particularly on third and fourth down. I think we saw a couple times where the crowd affected their communication. Everyone was wearing blue and gold. I think it was an entertaining game. We need another good crowd this week. It is not myth with home field advantage, it's a fact."
What was the apprehension of the team playing not to lose:
"This team hasn't won a lot. They don't know how to win. Winning is a process in terms of learning to win and learning to play football the way it should be played and that is cutting it loose and letting it rip and not being afraid to make a mistake. We did that in the second half. I think a lot of times in our lives we can paralyze ourselves (our body) with things that go on in our mind. The great illustration I like to give is -- I like to play golf a little bit -- You stand on that first tee and you think don't slice, don't slice and invariably you slice. So again, I think it is just getting that mindset that we know we are capable of doing this. Don't worry about making mistakes. Mistakes are going to occur throughout the course of the game but we will correct those. Let's put them behind us and let's be aggressive and dictate the tempo the game rather than waiting around for something to happen. In the first half, we kind of waited around for something to happen."
On Arkansas State:
"They're a good football team. I think Coach Roberts and his staff do a great job. For them to go down to Texas A&M and play the way they did, I have a lot of respect for the way that they played at Texas A&M (I spent four years at A&M and know that Texas A&M is still Texas A&M. They have a lot of great athletes). Arkansas State wasn't fazed at all by the 75,000 people at the game or the nostalgia or history that is Texas A&M. A&M had less than 250 yards of total offense.
"They are a very steady ball club. They have two defensive linemen that will play on Sunday's. The middle linebacker is a heck of player and they have a free safety that when he knocks a player down, he knocks them out. They are strong up the middle on defense, just like baseball teams being strong up the middle. With the exception of the one defensive lineman from Minnesota, these defensive linemen are the best two guys we will have face this year. This is a great challenge for our guards, because they are an even front team and they have exceptional linemen. We may have to involve our center a little bit in some of the things we are doing. And then we have to be multiple in terms of making them defend."
"On offense, I think they have three quality tailbacks, a couple of quality receivers. Their offensive linemen are big and physical, and they have a quarterback that is very, very efficient."
On Kedrick Alexander being named WAC Defensive Player of the Week:
Kedrick is having a real fine season. I'm really proud of him. I have seen him improve every week and really everyday. He reminds me a lot of Dat Nyguen when Dat was at Texas A&M because Kedrick plays on Saturday the way he practices all week long. I think his play on Saturday nights has been a by-product of the way he plays on Monday through Friday. I am really happy for Kedrick not for the individual honor but I am happy that he sees that his hard work pays off. I think the rest of our football team can learn a lot from Kedrick in terms of the way he practices every day. He is great worker. He is very, very unselfish and a guy who is on his way to having a very, very fine career for us.
