Nov. 29, 2005
ORLANDO - UCF head coach George O'Leary addressed the Orlando media Tuesday to discuss the inaugural Conference USA Championship Game Saturday vs. Tulsa. Joining O'Leary in the press conference were UCF's three senior captains - Paul Carrington, James Cook and Brandon Marshall - along with Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky.
Below are quotes from Tuesday's press conference.
George O'Leary
On the benefits of a week off
"We had played 10-straight games and especially when you're playing a lot of young kids, their (high school) season stopped about two months ago for some of them. I think they've been very resilient, doing some of the things that they need to get done. We've been in pretty decent shape, so we didn't lose a step there. A lot of things that we coach each week you have to repeat again, but that's typical. We got our legs back. Some of things that were hurting us were just nagging injuries and they seemed to have healed up a little better. We've practiced two days; we've practiced fairly well. We've still got a lot of mistakes, but they're being corrected and we're anxious to play in this conference championship."
On expectations for the season
"I had one goal that we set after preseason and that was to get enough wins to be bowl-eligible. Because of where we're coming from with the season we had the year before, we didn't need a lot of goals, just one that I thought was reachable with our football team. Once they reached that goal, then the conference championship was the next."
On a matchup against UTEP or Tulsa
"I didn't care which team it was. I always get concerned with my football team and making sure that they know what they have to do. I don't think the team really cared either. More important was that we won enough games to get to the conference championship and whoever it may be, we're honored to be there."
On the statistical similarities between UCF and Tulsa
"It's how you get statistics that's important. As far as defense they're a three-five (defense). They've done a very good job putting pressure on people, tackles for losses, which mean they're an attacking defense. I've been impressed with the fundamentals that they have. Offensively they do a lot of different things as far as the movement is concerned with receivers and tight ends. That's where (other teams) have struggled because they get the matchups they want one-on-one and they get you out flanked for their running game."
On Tulsa tight end Garrett Mills
"He's got 75 catches. That is a lot for a tight end, so we'll know where he is a lot. He's a good player. He catches everything thrown at him - short, long and he blocks. I look at him as an H-back, not a tight end. He's more of a move guy. He's not going to sit at the line of scrimmage and pound you. They do a good job of utilizing him in that offense. They've got other good players. They spread the ball around in the run game and in the pass game, but he's the go to guy, no question about it."
On the loss of wide receiver Mike Walker
"He was no question a very dominant player for us. When this happens, the good thing there is that it allows the young kids to step up. I don't know if they can fill his shoes, but they're going to wear them. They better have some idea what we're doing there. I would worry more about that if we didn't run the ball. If you just relied on the passing game and you lose a receiver, you're in trouble. We're probably 60-40 run to pass. You'd like to be at equal yardage with the 60-40. I don't get as concerned. It is tough for Mike because he's had such a good year catching the ball and doing a lot of things for us. But we've got to move on. Whoever that guy might be, there are a bunch of guys who played a lot. I'll have to sit down with the offensive staff. It'll be Sergio (Joachim). Willie Thornton may be there. Someone will step up. That's what has to happen."
On quarterback Steven Moffett
"Your offense goes as your quarterback goes on most teams I've been around. If he's on target, making the right decisions, you have a chance to move the ball. That's the one area that he's really gotten better in is fieldsmanship, just understanding what's in front of him. We do check a lot and he's done a good job of checking out of bad situations and putting us in a good situation."
On Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith
"He's a real smart player. He makes good decisions, he knows the game, he's checking at the line. He doesn't give the ball up. He is very smart with the football. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He is another kid that can throw it, but can win games with his legs running the football. I'm impressed with his overall fieldsmanship, his overall control of the offense. He's got a good idea of what should be done and where the ball should go."
On the support from UCF fans
"I look at the student body, because they set the noise factor in your stadium. Every place I've been, it's been the student body. They've been terrific this year, they really have been. They've done their part and we're getting more and more fans. A couple of months ago, I had to tell them that it wasn't illegal to go to away games. Now, sometimes when we travel, we have a lot more fans (than the home team). We are doing well when people are starting to travel. It takes time, it doesn't just happen."
On freshman cornerback Joe Burnett
"Joe Burnett is unusual, he really is. He's a true freshman and he doesn't act like a true freshman. He is very poised. I yelled at him the other day and he looked at me like I was nuts, he's still in that stage. I think he's very poised for a young player. He's a quick learner and he is a competitor. That is something where you say "they all should be competitors". But a lot of freshmen don't learn to be competitors until they've been banged around a little bit themselves. He is a heck of a kid to coach and right away from day one, he came in with a "coach me, coach" attitude and he's taking coaching which is what's important if you're going to play as a true freshman. I've been nothing but pleased with Joe and he's just a great kid to be around. He's very respectful. Anyone I deal with in any of the support areas has nothing but great things to ay about him."
Senior WR Brandon Marshall
On Tulsa being similar to UCF
"It's kind of funny how things worked out. They had a lot of things that went their way on the other side of the division and we did, too. It's like the exact same team. They run some of the same things we run on offense. They're pretty good."
On replacing injured WR Mike Walker
"It's not just me filling the void. Its going to be an offensive struggle, actually. That's one of our key guys on offense, and its going to take Darcy Johnson to be more active in the passing game. And Rocky Ross, Kenny Jackson, Sergio . . . it's going to take a team effort. It's not just me. The best thing I can do is step up as a leader and be more vocal, be that guy they come to when they need help."
On Steven Moffett
"Steve came into the year confident. I remember in the South Carolina came he came into the huddle first drive smiling. I think he's more confident in us, in himself and the offense as a whole. Steve knows what he's doing out there.
One game I dropped a third down, and it was a big third down, and he chewed me out. Steve is more vocal. I guess that's what we need out of him. Our quarterback is our leader, sometimes of the whole team. But he's taken control of the offense, and it's worked out good for us."
On Saturday's crowd
"Anything can happen. We would like to see that. But one thing about the Citrus Bowl, if we bring out 32,000, it sounds like 60,000. Whatever's out there, we're going to be happy. We're thankful of our fans that support us. We're just ready to go. If there are 40,000, it's going to sound like 80,000. One thing about our fans, they're pretty loud. There is some chatter in the locker room about how many people come out this week."
On the campus environment
"On campus, it's crazy. Last Monday, there was a line all the way from the Student Union to Classroom 1 building. That's a long way. People are coming up to us everyday after class talking football. It's a much better environment when we're going to class. We're walking with our heads up this year."
On being the possible first class at UCF to go to a bowl game
"I was on the phone with Kenny Clark last night, and I was joking with him how we're trying to beat their record. They had nine wins when he and Culpepper were here. Telling him it feels good to be one of the first classes to take your team to a bowl game and a championship game. So it's a good thing, a good feeling. Hopefully we can go out there and bring it home."
Senior DE Paul Carrington
On the anxiety of the game to hurry up and get here
"I don't know if its anxiety as much as it is excitement. The week off was good for us because we went 10 weeks in a row without a bye week. Now we had a bye week before the championship game. It was good to get a rest. I think everybody's more excited that anything."
On replacing injured DE Glenroy Watkins
It's unfortunate for us. He's one of our better pass rushers on the D-line. Coach O'Leary says your always an ankle [sprain] away from playing. I think that's a good thing. He keeps us in line whether you're second string or third string. And there's always a chance you can get thrown in there. That's just the way football is. You have to be able to step up and fill the void when a good player goes down. It doesn't just lie on my shoulders. Chris Welsh, Kareem Reid and now Clarence Howard have to step up and replace him."
On the Florida heat
"That's a thing that's always been an advantage for us, being from Florida. Playing in the Citrus Bowl sometimes it gets very hot. Usually it's tough to play in an environment like that. I'm not sure if the heat will be much of a factor in an early December game, but if it is it'll be good for us."
On UCF's turnaround
"After the USF game, I know a lot of guys were thinking, 'Here we go again.' But the fortunate thing about seasons is, it's not how you start them, it's how you finish them. And again, that's something Coach O'Leary has always stressed and instilled in us. It's paid off for us, because since then we've won eight of nine, and here we are sitting ready to pay for the conference championship in our own back yard. It's definitely surreal, how everything's worked out for us."
On a turning point for the turnaround
"You got to go with the off-season workouts. You don't win games during the season you win them in the off-season. After the Kent State game last year, we were in here that Monday working out getting ready for this season. Coach O'Leary kept a lot of players here this summer, the freshmen came in early and we got the indoor facility [built and opened up].
We were working on pass skel, and D-Line and O-Line were working. We stayed positive, stayed motivated, and had great leadership. I'm sure the other seniors will agree with me, we had good senior leadership. Another difference is how the players are quick to jump on each other now. It's not always the coaches that are yelling. If a kid screws up, an upperclassman will jump on him. It's different when you have teammates yelling at you rather than a coach."
On Tulsa QB Paul Smith
"He's probably the best decision-making quarterback we've played this year. Very smart guy. He knows what to do with the ball when he passes. As James said, their offense, passing game, revolves around the tight end, a great players. It's a challenge for the defensive line. They have a stout offensive line. We're going to have a challenge. When he drops back, he's always looking to throw to 20. But he's got a first and second receiver, too.
Senior OLB James Cook
On Tulsa TE Garrett Mills
He's a good route runner. They look for the boot passes. He's a good player. But we've got a good player, too, Darcy Johnson. With us practicing against him some, it shouldn't be much different."
On changing goals from getting to a bowl to winning a title
"At the beginning, our goal was the bowl. But we always had the vision that we could have a chance to play for a conference championship. But it just ended up happening like that. We had a couple breaks go our way, and we won a couple close games. Now we're here, waiting to play in the title game."
On playing at home
"It's great that we get to play at home. All the fans are around us. They don't have to worry about a long drive. They're all around us. That's great for them."
On Mills
"The go-to guy is No. 20. But No. 3 is very quick, and a great returner. Basically, their offense tries to put you in open space and make you make a tackle. We have to make open field tackles."
C-USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky
"I'm happy to be here. This is a real exciting time for our conference. We realigned the league and we're completing our first full football season and it's been a remarkable one. We captured the interest of our fans in virtually every community and they've sustained interest all the way through the season which is something that we hoped for but we weren't sure we could attain and now we're very pleased to be on the verge of staging this first football championship game.
There's not a better place for this game in our opinion than right here in Orlando in the Citrus Bowl. We've followed this program and we followed the leadership of the administration here all season. The fans are on board and so it's very exciting and we're looking forward very much to playing the game. It seems like the folks in Orlando have embraced this and want to see it succeed and that's really neat from a conference perspective to see occur.
I think both teams are great teams. I've had a chance to see both teams play this year. They're different teams but they have similar stories. They're both teams that were not counted in the top at the beginning of the year that have overachieved and have impressed upon everyone in the league that they are to be taken seriously. The story here is one you all know well and that's a tremendous turnaround, an unbelievable turnaround and a historic turnaround.
One of the most historic turnarounds in the history of college football. With Coach O'Leary and what he's done is remarkable. The story that you probably don't know as well is the story of Steve Kragthorpe and what he's done with that Tulsa program is similarly very remarkable so for us to be able to put these two teams together in what has been an unpredictable season for yet another unpredictable event, in terms of the outcome, should capture the attention of virtually anyone here that cares about college football. I think it will capture the attention of people coast to coast that have an opportunity to view on television Saturday.
We're very pleased with the turnout thus far in terms of ticket sales. I think that the staff here has done a great job in a short amount of time. We've benefited from an extra week. It could be that we would be having this conversation and just learning Sunday I guess that we would be here. We got a jumpstart on it which is great. The administration has done a great job. The fans have done a great job of responding thus far. For the fans who have bought tickets, I don't think you'll be disappointed. For the fans that haven't bought tickets yet, I think you ought to hurry up and get some tickets because this will truly be a great championship game."