UCF Head Coach Josh Heupel
On weekly adjustment…
“Every week it is a little bit different. New match ups; scheme how they're playing. You've got to be able to adjust it during the course of the ball game. You have ideas going in and our players have adjusted really well. Our coaches adjust every single week. We did it pretty quickly and got ourselves going and scored a lot of points in the first quarter.”
On Adrian Killins Jr.…
“He played really well - good job at wide receiver. He made a couple of catches there. As the running back, he did really good job tonight. We've split that formation with them but then - just as the sole running back – he did a really good job pressing the line of scrimmage. He comes up the back side and has a huge run. I thought our running backs did a really good job.”
On preparations and competing…
“College football scores vary week to week. There is such a fine line – a third down that you convert. Being on the right side of the fence as far as your preparation, playing on edge, your competitive spirit, how hard you're going to play. There are so many variables that go into a 60-minute game that it's extremely difficult to do. You've got to be willing to prepare in a great way, you've got to be willing to go compete and it's got to be about the team - don't care who gets glory. As long as you have those characteristics inside your locker room, you get a chance. We've got to continue to grow, learn from this one. We’ve got a big one on the road next week against a really good football team. It will be a big test for us. There's a lot to learn from that we need to correct to give us a chance to go win.”
On Matthew Wright…
“I didn’t want him in that position all night. But I thought he did a great job; he got a game ball tonight. Did a great job. We stubbed our toe in the red zone a couple of times and he goes out there, drains - put it right through the middle of the uprights. Really proud of what he's done. The last couple of weeks on special teams, he had the one kickoff that went out of bounds and they get on 35. But I thought he played really well tonight.”
On penalties…
“If you want to continue to win, you’ve got to play smart football. It can never be about you; it's got to be about the team. That's a 15-yard penalty that puts them on the 50, four-down territory. That's a penalty that it really is a seven-point play my mind. There are some things that happened tonight that we’ve got to correct. The good news is we went 1-0. The positive thing is we get a chance come back on Monday and correct it and push forward.”
On tackling...
“When he was playing early, we tackled well. We created pressure. We were assignment-sound, gap-sound. When you do that, you're going to be in a position to make a play. You’re going to make the ball bounce. Now you’ve got a bunch of guys coming to make the play and that's what you saw all night long.”
On the defense…
“They went to a more pass game. I didn't talk to Randy about it in the middle of the game, but we played tight man-to-man coverage. Still brought pressure, handled the run game, for the most part, all night long. We got in some third-and-long situations and got off field.”
On Aaron Robinson…
“The smile on my face, seeing him at pregame meal and then in the locker room again before kick off. He had almost as big a smile as I did for him. To be able to go out there and play, it's a great lesson for all of our players – don't take any day for granted. You get into the monotony and the grind of college football – it’s hard. But I think he learned to value each and every day. It's a great lesson for our entire team and I am just so happy to see him back out there competing, playing and having fun. Our entire football team is really excited for him.”
On watching other games…
“I had a chance to watch couple, but it's early in the season. College football should have a great respect for this conference before this whole thing is done. You look at all the Power 6 wins that the teams in this league have had. Whether it's home games or playing on the road - I think we’ve got three undefeated teams in our division alone and there is another one on the other side. This conference can line up and play every single week. For us it really is one week at a time and if you do anything other than that I think you're doing yourself and your team a disservice because it's hard to go win every week. We'll continue to focus on that and at the end of the day we'll see where that leads us.”
On the Military Appreciation game…
“I think it's a great night. We have got a bunch of players that have connections - family members and friends that have served in the military. I've had family that served in the military. I think you can't take for granted the opportunity and the privilege it is to live here. I think it's great to recognize all of our troops throughout the entire world that are helping serve our country.”
On McKenzie Milton…
“They just wanted to check him and make sure he was alright. He came back and was fine. No issues, no problem. He was 100% ready to go. We told him to get down, but I don't like to do that too often. We want to keep him as healthy as possible without eliminating any portion of his game. I am certainly glad that he was healthy and able to play for us.”
UCF Junior Running Back Adrian Killins Jr.
On Milton injury…
“I have been playing with McKenzie for a long time. He is a tough dude. He got back in the game and he did what he needed to do to have the team secure a win. McKenzie is a tough dude and I know he can't wait to get back to work for Memphis.”
On Otis Anderson …
“I know he has been itching to get in that end zone. Guys like him, they love to love those moments when they get a big play in. He has been waiting for the coaches to call that play. His number got called, and he just went in there, did what the coaches told him to do and executed. He got a touchdown to help us win the game.”
On running inside…
“Whatever play the coaches call, we just execute it. This offense, we can do a lot of different things with a lot of different players. We have so many players that can do so many different things. It doesn’t matter who’s in the game, and who’s going to run what. The offensive line did a phenomenal job as usual, week-in and week-out. Every day, we come to practice to get better and better. In the game, it shows what we have been working on, perfecting our craft. It shows up on the field on Saturday nights.”
On team skill players...
“It's very important to see that early in the season because it lets us know what we are going to have during the long run into the season. To know that we can pass the ball, run the ball and we have a balance of both. We have so much depth at receiver, running back and tight end. It lets us know that we can count on any guy when their number’s called and they are going to get in the game, know what they're doing and execute it.”
UCF Junior Defensive Lineman Trysten Hill
On first TD …
“First touchdown. I’ve been thinking about it all week. I was wondering if I was going to push the pile or go over the top. I decided to go over the top and make it look good.”
On preparation…
“The coaches had us dialed in this week. (SMU has) some really hard tendencies and they stuck to those tendencies. They didn’t come out with anything we didn’t see before at practice. Eliminating the run, obviously making them one-dimensional to pass the ball, that was our main goal as a defensive line, as a front seven. We did that and took advantage of it.”
On play call for the touchdown…
“There were rumors about it, ‘oh this is the week, this is the week here we go.’ But they say that every week. I made sure I was prepared but I knew it was coming a little bit. The numbers matched out and we took advantage of it.”
On formation…
“The formation’s in now. Other teams are going to see it. We’re going to try and take advantage of it every week. Being able to line up in a formation like that shows what UCF Football’s about.”
On strength and conditioning…
“I feel with the strength and condition staff, I was prepared to do it.”
On scoring TD…
“I was pretty hyped up about it. I was actually on the defensive sideline and ran like 50 yards to get onto the field to get into the formation. I was excited about it, seeing Pittman do it last year. And I was in that formation like ‘when am I going to get my shot?’ But, this year I did and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
UCF Redshirt Senior Kicker Matthew Wright
On practicing defending kickoffs...
“No never. Never. It is just winning the game. I am just there to help the team in any way I can. Obviously, it is great when I do things for me, but as long as we are winning the game, I do not really care.”
On fumble recovery…
“Yes, fumble recovery is definitely new. I haven’t done that before. I think that is the first time I have touched the ball with not my feet.”
On respect…
“We just go out trying to win every game. Obviously, whatever happens, happens, but we just go out every week with the mindset of ‘go 1-0.’ We just want to win every game; that is all we think about each week.”
On motivation…
“Yes, it just reminds us that there are other teams out there that are doing what we are doing. We just have to keep getting better and better, because we know they are getting better and better. We just want to make sure that we can do what we can control, and make sure we get better each week.”
On staying warm…
“Yes, I am kicking extra points all the time. I never have the chance to sit down and relax. I am always thinking ‘when I am going to have to kick next?’ It is a good thing to have.”
UCF Junior Quarterback McKenzie Milton
On injury…
“I’m feeling great. Hearing 40,000-plus people cheering your name coming off the field and coming back on gives you extra adrenaline to get back out there. Definitely thankful for Knight Nation. Thankful for the trainers just making sure I’m alright. I feel good. It was a great conference win against a good opponent. I’m just proud of the guys and the way we battled.”
On everybody being involved…
“It is awesome. Everybody eats on this team and that's the beauty of it. Last year Jamiyus Pittman caught a touchdown. Anytime you get those big D-linemen in the end zone, it is always fun. I think it is adrenaline and that is why he probably spiked the ball.”
On improving…
“I mean he kind of said, we're below our average on third down. I miss some easy throws. There is a couple runs (Adrian Killins Jr.) almost creates; he just had to make a safety miss. I thought today it was extremely balanced, run and pass. I think it is just little tweaks here and there, just little things. You can never get complacent. You always have to find room for improvement.”
On third down success…
“It is a credit to the coaches for getting us in good situations. Game planning, knowing what tendencies that defense are going to bring. If they're going bring pressure, drop out of it, and just getting good play calls. Once we get across the 50, we kind of feel like we're on four-down territory. If we can get a third-and-seven, and we get five or six, we are probably going to go for it. I think that that kind of has a bit of comfortability for us on third down.”
On Michael Colubiale…
“He is just a fluid route runner. He has a great feel of spacing in the field. He knows how to get open. You can play him in tight, you can play him out wide, in the slot. It's a huge weapon to have in a tight end. He is going to keep making plays all year.”
On the running backs…
“Any time (Killins Jr.) gets past the linebackers, I think he's about to score. He almost broke a few and then Otis Anderson ended up breaking one in the second half. Those little guys are hard to see in the hole. Once they squirt out, it is a big play waiting to happen.”
On Trysten Hill touchdown…
“It was pretty cool too. I do not know about the 15 yards. I think we might have to run some gassers this next week for that. It is awesome. Fourth and short says a lot about our big boys getting pushed up in-front and it was an easy touch down.”
On getting hit…
“I know I was close to the first down, I was trying to get it. Definitely have get down and not take those kind of hits.”
On playing on the road…
“It’s the same. You have to have a road warrior mentality. It’s part of college football, going on the road. It’s a tough environment in Memphis. We’ll be ready to roll. I think the only difference is flying on a plane.”
On being hit…
“It was just hard a hit. It was just a hard college football hit. It just rang my bells a little bit. But I was able to fight through and get back out there and that was the main thing.”
On SMU defense…
“I think the middle of the field was open most of the day. Our guys did a good job of squirting and catching runners inside. SMU made some good plays in the back end too, a lot of contested balls. We knew that coming in; we knew they had good players. Just keep playing each play and eventually we knew we’d break open.”
On Darriel Mack Jr.…
“I didn’t get to see too much of the series where I went out. I see him in practice every day and the way he performs. Anytime his number’s called, I know he’s going to be ready. I don’t think there’s much of a drop-off when No. 8 goes in.”
On leaving points on the board…
“I missed a few easy throws. It’s a ‘is what it is’ situation. SMU also made some good plays so I tip my hat to them. I think we left some points out there. I didn’t think we played our best. That’s part of the process. We’re about halfway through the season, we just keep trying to get better each week and I feel like we’ve done that.”
SMU Head Coach Sonny Dykes
On his thoughts on the game…
“I really feel that we have a good football team. I thought they ran the ball well. We just have to get better at making routine plays and I'm disappointed that we didn’t handle that situation better. We just have to keep working and keep improving.”
On Ben Hicks’ performance tonight…
“Will got a little banged up; he got hit on the shoulder early on and I feel like it really affected his ability to be accurate with the ball and miss open guys. Later in the game, we just thought he needed the snaps. That was our decision, so Ben came in and did some decent things for us. We’ve just got to play more consistent. There were times where we left the pocket a couple possessions when we didn’t need to. We’ve got to play better at the quarterback position; we just do. We’ve got to get those guys operating our offense a lot better than we already have been. A lot of stuff to learn. We continued to struggle on third down. We're not doing a very good job on first and second; we’re in third-and-long too much and that’s hard for us to convert right now. We just have to regroup, look at the tape and be confident for next week as we start getting ready for Tulane. We will have a chance to get after it these next 14 days. We need to play better than we did tonight."
On Hicks setting the school record for passing yards…
“This is a team sport; it’s not really about individual accolades. That’s a great accomplishment, obviously, and it’s something we will talk about, but I think individual stuff is for after the season to look back on and reflect on those successes. Our job as a football program, as coaches and as players is to figure out how to win these football games. So that’s what we will focus our attention on."
On playing their third ranked opponent…
“Our first six games are tough. We’ve played a bunch of good football teams. I wish we had won more than we did and I wish we played better in some of those games, but our guys are learning how to play hard, play physical, play for 60 minutes. We’ll look at the tapes and see if we took a step in that direction or not. It felt at times we competed hard. We did some good things. The next six are all conference games and those are all going to be big games for us. I think the division is kind of open right now. Houston's one of the few undefeated teams. Memphis has two losses and now we’ve got one. Tulane has got one. It's going to be a competitive division and our goal at the end of the year is to have a chance to try to get into the championship game. It’s going to be hard for us to do if we don’t continue to improve and play better in two weeks against Tulane.”
On if the offense was limited with three missing receivers…
“Our job is to get these guys ready to play and for them to play well and for us to be able to execute. I think the big thing we needed to do tonight was be able to run the ball and we averaged about two yards a carry. We’ve got to do better around the ball than we did tonight for sure.”