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Coach Graham Previews Upcoming Southern Miss Game
11/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 22, 2010
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa Head Football Coach Todd Graham sat down with local members of the media Monday morning to discuss the team's victory over UTEP and to preview the upcoming Southern Miss game.
Opening statement
"It's awful exciting to go into week 12, have a meaningful game and compete for a championship. I'm really proud of our guys and how they responded on Saturday. We were able to get another big win at Chapman Stadium.
Going into Senior Day, it's a really, really special group of guys. They will be going out here on the field for the last time. Charles Clay, what an incredible person he's been for our program. What a great leader he's developed into. Jamad Williams has been a silent, great team player that's had a solid season. He's a guy that's meant a lot to our program.
Trae Johnson, Touchdown Trae ... I think of those seniors, it's going to be a special Friday for us. Tanner Antle, Odrick Ray, Charles Davis ... we have some special seniors and a lot of guys going out there for their last time. We're looking forward to going out there and having a great day for those guys.
And we're playing Southern Miss, in my opinion and after studying them since Saturday, the best team that we've played in our conference. They are playing great football and we're playing great football. This should be one heck of a football game. It's going to be an exciting afternoon on Friday."
Can you talk about Damaris Johnson's game again?
"One of the things that's unbelievable about him is he's just a junior and has quite a few games ahead of him. Our team, we recognized him and talked about him after the game. He's been phenomenal. It's a pleasure to sit there and watch him and watch the things that he does. I don't know if anybody in the country is better than what he is or what he does. He's one of the best football players that I've coached in 25 years. I'm very happy for him. He's been a big leader for us and our kids feed off his energy and his competitiveness. He's been a major factor for us and will need to be again this week. They have great returners and skill players.
One of the most interesting things about this week is they're No. 1 in the conference taking care of the football and we're No. 2. We're No. 1 in the conference in getting turnovers and they're No. 2. I think turnover ratio will probably determine this game. It's going to be very big. They are a very explosive team and scored 59 points on Houston last week. They have a very good quarterback, great skill players and play great defense. It's going to be a challenge."
You haven't given up 30 points since week 3. Can you talk about defensive improvement?
"That's the key and been the key number during the last few years. Our guys have played very hard. Our guys have been beat up and we're hoping to have everyone back in a short week by Friday. I'm proud of how hard our guys have played and the improvement they've made from the back end to the front end.
Last week was very difficult. Most people in Conference USA are pretty similar offensively. You have the spreads. UTEP is really different in how they are an old-school power (team). I'm really proud of our defense and how hard they've played.
The key stat is scoring offense and scoring defense. If you look in conference play, our guys have played really week except for week 1. We've played well defensively."
How do you handle Thanksgiving with the team?
"We don't have the day off. Thursday is Friday for us, so it will be the "day before the game" timetable. We actually have Thanksgiving for all the players and the families over lunch on campus. We'll go to the hotel and have Thanksgiving dinner with them as well. We'll go through a regular Friday procedure other than having the families here for lunch."
Is there a lot of different challenges given that it is Thanksgiving week?
"Oh no, I kind of like it. The kids aren't in school. We have a lot more time. The academic rigor is such a challenge that it's a little easier on the players in terms of getting prepared. I don't like changing a routine, so I don't like that about it, but it's the week of Thanksgiving and about being thankful for what you have. I can tell you that we're really thankful for the seniors and thankful to be a part of the university and what we are doing. There's nothing difficult about it going into the last week.
It's kind of a neat week for the whole state. Everybody is going to the last game and competing for championships. We're pretty thankful for that."
You need SMU to lose to win the division. They are on TV at 1 p.m. Do you watch that at all?
"I take the approach - and I am being sincere - I am not worried about that one bit. I believe the challenge ahead of us is a big one. Southern Miss is the best team we have played in our conference. We better worry about that one and beat them. I do believe, if we do that, it's going to take care of itself. I just believe that. I don't think it will go any other way. We have to win."
You are the only league team unbeaten at home this year and Southern Miss is 4-1 on the road. This is going to be a tough game.
"I'm very thankful that we're not playing at the Rock and here. We've played very well at home. Last week is the first close game we've had at home. When you're talking about Thanksgiving and all that, I think it helps being at home and not having to be on the road. We've always been at home the last game besides 2008 (Marshall). I know we played extremely well at home and these kids know what it is all about. Going for our ninth win, that's a big deal. Being at home is a big plus. Our guys play with a confidence at home and we have had a lot of maturity. Our guys expect to win at home. We talk about that. We're going to go into this stadium and defend it. Our kids take great pride in that and it's something they talk about all year long. That's going to be the key for us.
We need our fans out and especially to honor these kids that represent this program. They've honored this university and city in a great way. We need them to come out and be loud. We're thankful for the loyal fans that are here every week, especially the ones that were here last week and being loud and proud and supporting us out there. We're going to need it. We're playing a great football team."
You started the season with a heart-breaking loss and lost two of the first three conference games. What does it say about how this team has improved?
"It says a lot. I think your true character is exposed when you face adversity. I can tell you I was frustrated at the time. You can would-have, should-have and could-have all day long. I remember sitting here telling you that I believed in this team, that our team was not going backward, that our program was moving forward. I believe our program is built on a strong foundation. These kids have shown and proven what kind of character they have. Not only have they responded to that to put themselves back in first place and compete for a championship, they had arguably one of the biggest wins in school history this year. I couldn't be more proud of them.
It speaks about the foundation that we have here. It speaks to the job that our staff has done. It speaks to senior leadership. It speaks to these kids that have been here and the commitment they have. We live in a world where everything wants everything now. You're going to get hit in the mouth sometimes. You're going to get knocked down. You have to get back up. I really believe that if we would keep persevering, we'd get it to where it would be and we'd be ahead. You never put parameters on young people. You'll always be surprised on what they can accomplish.
I'm very proud of them and what they've done to this point. But we have to finish this race and I want to do it with a win this Friday and a win next Saturday. That's the only thing we're focused on right now."
Does it help in 2008 that you have a similar situation where you had to win and hope that Rice had to beat Houston to advance to the title game?
"It's never easy. I can remember the Marshall game, that wasn't an easy deal either. We had to make a first down and I remember Dave throwing a bubble route when we told him not to throw the ball. He made a good decision and I'm glad he threw it. I don't know if it helps. Anything worth having is difficult. You can't get too rattled when the ball doesn't bounce your way.
You look at 2005 and how that transpired. The odds of that were insurmountable. In 2008, we're riding high and lose one we should have one in Arkansas and we played terrible at Houston and had to have them lose. Rice had to beat them and we had to beat Marshall to go the championship for the second straight year. I guess that's why I don't worry about East Carolina beating SMU. All we can do is take care of winning. I just have a great feeling about it. My feeling is that if we win, we'll be in the conference championship game."
You said in the locker room after the UTEP game that there was no going home because you wanted to study Southern Miss. What jumps off the film?
"They have a winner at quarterback. The kid reminds me of Paul Smith. He looks like him. I think they have a really good quarterback. Then there is the speed. DeAndre Brown is a 6-6 wideout. They have a whole bunch of really fast guys. They have speed and that's the first thing that sticks out. They are real comparable athletically to Houston, except a lot better defensively.
They are explosive with big-play capabilities. I think the big difference is their quarterback. This quarterback is a winner and you can tell. You look at the games that they lost. They lost in OT to UAB and by one point to East Carolina and they lost to South Carolina, who is one heck of a football team. They beat Kansas and have some quality wins.
I'm pretty honest and straight forward about things. They are the best team we have played in our conference. No question."
What is more satisfying as a coach: Winning bowl games or conference championships?
"No question. Our first and foremost goal every year is to win a conference championship. I want to win bowl games and bowl championships as well. No. 1, first and foremost, we want to be conference champions year in and year out. One thing we emphasize to our players, year-in and year-out, is we want 100 percent to graduate and then we want to win the conference championship.
This year, a goal was to also take the next step and beat a BCS opponent on a national stage. We've reached one of those goals already. It was tough. Probably the hardest thing in the last 10 years of coaching for me was losing to East Carolina in the conference championship game. To be there two years in a row and not get that conference championship was tough. Then, facing some adversity in 2009 and coming out early this year and facing adversity. It would mean an awful lot. That's what our guys are focused on and there's only one way to get there and that's to beat Southern Miss. We have to figure out a way to do that."
Those extra practices during the bowl game is important, right?
"Not going to a bowl game last year impacted the first part of our season. When you go to a bowl game, you have two spring trainings and another 15-20 practices to develop your young guys and your depth. There's not anyone that can have a full-tilt practice at this time of year unless you have a lot of depth. With a 12-game schedule and as big and strong as these guys are now, it really takes a toll on your body physically.
Those extra days are critical and we're very excited that we're going to have an opportunity to have those practices and develop this young team. You look at our team and I'm excited about the future. I'm excited that we had four true freshmen that started on defense at some point this year. We finished the game at Notre Dame with four guys on defense and three true freshmen on offense. That's seven true freshmen that went to Notre Dame and won.
This winter, what I call winter ball, is critical each year. It helps you tremendously in developing your football team. I remember guys emerging during those practices and we would say `Wow, this kid is going to be a player.' There's no substitution for repetition. The more repetitions you get, the better you will be."
If SMU were to win, would that change what you would say to your kids?
"No. If you go out and win, you're still in first place. You're still co-champions."
Do you know Odrick Ray's status? Will you have him?
"We're hoping so."
Do you plan on sleeping or staying awake this week?
"It was a long night on Saturday and we've had early mornings. I love this time of year. We had a staff meeting early Sunday morning and I love this. I'm so blessed and thankful that I get to do it. I have more energy right now than I had the first day of camp. This is what you work for. It hasn't been easy. We didn't have a walk in the park this year. To be coming into this game and having a meaningful game ... we work because we love it and enjoy it. We spend more time than we need to ... I love coaching football and working."
Can you talk about Curnelius Arnick?
"He's really come on and has been a big-time playmaker for us. He's been really solid in the run game. I thought he made some spectacular plays last week. Our kids, I don't know if you asked them much about UTEP, they thought UTEP's line was the best that we've played in our conference.
Corn has been a guy that's really improved his game and continues to get better. He's just a junior and we're counting on him continuing to develop and get better. Shawn, Tanner and Corn, I don't know if there's a better linebacker corp in our league."
