Nov. 13, 2007
UCF Football Press Conference Audio
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF head coach George O'Leary met the media on Tuesday in the interview room at Bright House Networks Stadium for his weekly press conference. The media confronted the coach about the road win at UAB and the upcoming game against SMU.
Kickoff for the game between the Knights and Mustangs will take place at 3:00 from Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Below is a transcription of selected comments from the press conference. All-access subscribers can listen to the press conference by clicking on the link above.
Opening Statement:
"Just to recap last week. Saturday's game, I thought we probably did not play as well as we would have liked to, but I thought we played well enough to win and that is the ultimate goal. Offensively, we made some plays when we needed to make them. Defensively, we were just not as sharp as we have been the past three weeks that is a concern. You are always looking for consistency in all phases of your game offensive, defensive, and special teams. That has been the thrust this week as far as consistency in getting guys to understand that every game is an important game. We just need to play with a lot more intensity on defense. I was disappointed in the play of the defense on Saturday."
With the ECU loss and the close game at UAB, does it make it easier to focus on SMU?
"I would think that does not make it that much easier as much as East Carolina losing. I think that was a big item there. Before, we did not control our own destiny as far as what could happen, now we have a chance to control what we can do and where we end up, which that is the position that you want to be in as far as a football team is concerned. We just need to take care of business one week at a time.
"The next team is SMU, who when you watch them on film. I think is a very good offense. They have sort of hurt themselves a little bit with turnovers in games. That was a team that earlier in the season was picked to do well. Again, they have athletes and anytime you play away and it is the last game at home for the seniors. We seem to be running into that right now, senior day. They always give a little extra effort on senior day, so we will have to be ready to play. Obviously, I expect a tough football game."
Are you still trying to get Phillip Smith a few more carries?
"I think we need to play Phillip more. I have really been impressed with him and I am annoyed that we are not getting him in to be honest with you. I think he deserves to play more and obviously, Kevin is out there. Obviously, Kevin does not want to come off the field. I am amazed at Kevin's stamina. He gets stronger as the game goes on. I want to play Phillip more, especially because he is going home this weekend. You know he is from that area, so that would be something that I want to be done. I started to play him more in practice, today, offensively."
What problems will SMU bring on the offensive side of the ball?
"I tell you, the quarterback is really a good player, [Justin] Willis. He reminds me a little bit of Joe Hamilton as far as some of the things he does with the ball, running and throwing and just making people miss.
"They are an option type team that breaks defenses down into one on one responsibilities, so you know the defense has their work cut out for them as far as accountability and making sure everybody does what they are supposed to do and not try to do someone else's job. They have an offense that I think has scored points against everybody.
"I think what has happened is that they have gotten themselves in some trouble with some turnovers and field position. I think offensively they are a very solid football team and defensively they play hard. I have been very impressed and I am not saying that because we are playing them. I have been very impressed with SMU and the effort, the second effort and just guys running around. The way I look at it, I look at special teams and they are very aggressive on special teams. They are playing with good effort. It is hard when you are without a coach and your season has not gone the way you would have wanted it to go.
"I think that they show up every week and they had a tough loss last week. They thought they had the game won. I guess Rice had called a timeout with one second left and kicked a field goal to win the game 43-42. They have been in most games and basically three or four of those games could have gone the other way."
Where does SMU try to target the defense?
"They run a bunch of different type of [formations]. Like Nevada, when we played Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl, they run that pistol offense a little bit. They run some one back offense and some two back offense. They pretty much try to keep the ball in 16 [Justin Willis]'s hands and let their playmakers play. They have some good receivers that can catch it. They are a good screen team. Defensively, I think they are very sound in their adjustments and they play their positions well. I think field position has hurt them more than anything else."
Coach, is this the time of year when you are having a little more fun?
"It is all the same. I pretty much look at consistency and stuff. I have been to the bowls before and all of that, but I like the position where you control what you do. You know what you have to do. There is no worrying about anything else. Just take care of your team and your business and everything works out well at the end of the year for you. That is a good position to be in. The kids understand that.
"I think that was probably the second half lift. It was 17-17 at UAB and someone told me when I came in at halftime that East Carolina lost 26 to 7. I mentioned that to the kids and they hit the field running. I thought offensively we did some good things. I think defensively we were just soft and were not real aggressive as we were the past three weeks."
What are your thoughts about SMU's current Athletic Director Steve Orsini?
"I think Steve is a good friend of mine. You think about the guy who had the blueprint here was Steve. Walking around now, Steve was the one who had the initial thought process on the dorms, arena, stadium, and everything really. I mean in conjunction with a lot of people who had input to help, but I think Steve was the one who had to put his foot forward and put his head out there. It was not always that easy. There were a lot of people taking shots that we cannot do that stuff. He stuck to his guns and I think that tells me a lot about a man. That he believed that we could get it done and I do not think Steve has been back to see the end result has been yet.
"Every time, I go out speaking about what took place here, his name has to be mentioned because I think he was the guys who put the initial stamp on it. Here is how we get it done from a financial, logistics, and architectural standpoint. I have mentioned this to Steve that he has something to be very proud of at UCF and he will get the same thing done at SMU.
"I know he is happy there and helping them out administratively, which I think is the key to any AD. I think you can have a great AD, but if the administration is not behind the AD and the sports program. You are not going to move forward. I think that is the key here. I think you have an administration that supports athletics and they understand that academics is the crux of everything. Athletics should be a part of a school and I do not think there is a better way to get notoriety from a marketing standpoint, then from a college football game on television. I mean especially a national game. I think the exposure that you get is unbelievable. I know that admissions pickup when football teams do well, that is a proven fact. But, I am happy for Steve. I think when he sees what he has done here, when they come down next year. He should be proud about what he did."