Transcribed by Bill Seals
Opening comments:
“First and foremost, to Coach Fox and Drake, gosh, their kids…as I said on Tuesday I was really impressed with the detail and intensity that they play with. I thought their kids did a great job today. The fans from both teams…that’s not a great day to sit outside and watch football. I still thought there was a great turnout from both universities.
“And I’m really proud of our kids. I don’t think that’s an easy game and situation to be in, but the kids handled themselves in a lot of ways in a positive way. I was really proud of them.”
On what his sales pitch is to bowl reps after today:
“Gosh, I don’t know. Watch us. Adversity for us with obstacles in the way. A team that keeps fighting. I don’t know if I’ve got a great sales pitch.”
On what he thought team’s problems arose from, whether it was playing field or something else:
“Gosh, what do you think? To me, I’ve got to go back and watch it. I think it’s a really hard surface. Credit their kids, because they were able to make some intermediate plays. The ball slipping out of Brock’s (Purdy) hands. I don’t think Kyle’s (Kempt) was a field surface, but probably a bad read. Some of that was surface.
“We probably tried to play conservative, play to our strength and make sure we didn’t put ourselves in bad situations. A couple of times we did. What I do love is how our kids were able to fight through it. Hakeem (Butler) made a big catch at the end. Handing the ball off to David (Montgomery) and having him run the football…he wasn’t even at practice yesterday because he had the flu. That’s a pretty gutsy performance coming off the flu. It is what it is. At the end of it, I judge our kids as much on attitude and effort and their ability to do those things as much as anything. That’s why I think Drake did a great job as well.”
On if he really believes his team played with a lot of effort:
“Yeah. Did you? I didn’t think it was any lack of our kids playing hard. This team has come…we had a great week of practice and have played really hard. I thought detail…if we want to be critical in an area that would be it. I don’t know if we played with great detail, and on a surface like that where every inch and every step matters, detail is the key to success. Attitude and effort, I’ve never questioned in this group and I wouldn’t today.”
On how he thought Brock Purdy handled himself on Saturday:
“I don’t know. Most importantly, you’re going to play in games like this. It’s not perfect and you’re not perfect. The surface isn’t perfect. When that kid had to make plays for us today, he’s a freshman and he’s making those plays in those moments…I don’t care who the opponent is or what the situation is those are big-time plays. What he learned is he can overcome, no matter what the situation is. He’s been in a lot of those for a young freshman.
“There was a lot of growth today. You’ve got to remember, we’re a young team. Especially some guys out in the secondary, there are a lot of young guys in the secondary with opportunity to showcase, learn and grow.”
On any update he may have on Bryce Meeker and Marcel Spears injuries:
“No, I don’t. I hope for their sake that they’ll be alright, but I don’t have anything on those guys right now. Whenever we get together again, if it’s tomorrow, I probably will have better information on both of those guys.”
On if he’s worried about today’s outcome affecting the team’s bowl placement:
“I don’t know how it could. If it does, then so be it. All we can be is us. We were the best versions of us we could be in the situations we were in today. We’ll see what happens. My job is to coach our football team and our job is to go out and give our kids the best chance to win games and our kids the best opportunity to play as hard as they can. I think they continue to do that for us. Whatever happens, happens. I know we’ll be excited to go and compete.”
On the status of Greg Eisworth and if they’ll have him back for bowl:
“I hope so. Greg was dinged up the second half of that Kansas State game. I would have to imagine that with a couple weeks here we could get him back to where he needs to be. The Eisworths, the (D’Andre) Paynes, we held out Enyi (Uwazurike) because of the surface today. I think we just have to be smart and hopefully can get some of those guys back to full strength. No matter who we’ll play, we’ll need them.”
On what he saw in Drake that allowed it to hang around the entire game:
“Well, I said on Tuesday that I thought that was a thing that jumped out to me, that they’re a very disciplined football team that’s very well coached. Their kids play with great detail and it’s what’s allowed them to have success and sustain success. It’s really what kept them in the game. My hat’s off to Coach (Fox) and his program.”
On if he’s disappointed about not getting more guys work lower on the depth chart:
“I don’t think for me it was even a thought. You guys asked me that question on Tuesday. I saw the weather report. I knew what was coming. When you get those situations, especially the way our field has been, and we’ve got great people who work really hard at it, but man that’s a tough situation. We prepared for this and I’m glad we did. It’s ‘we before me’ and I just told our kids that there are probably some that are disappointed. But they’re not too disappointed being on an 8-and-4 football team with a chance to go get their ninth win. It’s a great learning experience even for some of those young guys.”
On if he’d rather Cyclone fans walk out of game being upset at final score or happy beating Drake:
“I don’t know how to answer that one. The reality of it is…what I really worry about is our kids. Fans realize this was a unique situation today. I thought our kids hung in there and did what they needed to do. We’ll let our fans be the judge. We’ve got great fans and I know they support. Winning by margins is never what I’ve been about, but doing it the right way is certainly what we’ve been about.”
On winning in margins being a concern since that’s been an issue the last couple games:
“We’ve won seven of our last eight games.”
On the play of David Montgomery against the Bulldogs:
“At some point, this place is really going to miss David Montgomery because he’s really special. What he’s done really at a time where you look at yardage and how he’s gotten his yardage over the last two years…those have been tough yards. It’s not been an easy road. It’s not been a veteran offensive line paving the way. So much of that yardage, he’s done by himself. He’s had help this year with tight ends and an evolving offensive line. He’s really special. He’s a guy that when you need him the most he’s been there. He certainly was there today when we needed him the most.”
On how much the loss of Meeker upset the flow of a line that had played together much of season:
“It will be fun to watch the film. It will be fun to watch the film. It was great for Sean (Foster) to get some really good reps. Bryce has had a great year. I don’t know if anybody’s grown in our program, especially at the spot at Bryce has, as much as Bryce Meeker. He had a phenomenal winter, put together a great spring, put together a great fall camp and all of a sudden put together a stretch of really good football. I think that was a huge loss losing him. But Sean Foster got to go into the football game and it will be really fun to watch that video and see where he grew from week one to where he ended up playing today.”
On what went into the move from Corey Dunn to Joe Rivera as punter:
“The biggest thing is catching the ball. Joe is a really good athlete and our holder. We have a lot of trust in him. In Corey’s situation, he didn’t catch the ball flush. I thought that it was critical for us in a day like this to catch the football. Priority number two is protection. Joe did a great job. Because of the weather situation, we knew he could handle it.”
Opening comments:
“First and foremost, to Coach Fox and Drake, gosh, their kids…as I said on Tuesday I was really impressed with the detail and intensity that they play with. I thought their kids did a great job today. The fans from both teams…that’s not a great day to sit outside and watch football. I still thought there was a great turnout from both universities.
“And I’m really proud of our kids. I don’t think that’s an easy game and situation to be in, but the kids handled themselves in a lot of ways in a positive way. I was really proud of them.”
On what his sales pitch is to bowl reps after today:
“Gosh, I don’t know. Watch us. Adversity for us with obstacles in the way. A team that keeps fighting. I don’t know if I’ve got a great sales pitch.”
On what he thought team’s problems arose from, whether it was playing field or something else:
“Gosh, what do you think? To me, I’ve got to go back and watch it. I think it’s a really hard surface. Credit their kids, because they were able to make some intermediate plays. The ball slipping out of Brock’s (Purdy) hands. I don’t think Kyle’s (Kempt) was a field surface, but probably a bad read. Some of that was surface.
“We probably tried to play conservative, play to our strength and make sure we didn’t put ourselves in bad situations. A couple of times we did. What I do love is how our kids were able to fight through it. Hakeem (Butler) made a big catch at the end. Handing the ball off to David (Montgomery) and having him run the football…he wasn’t even at practice yesterday because he had the flu. That’s a pretty gutsy performance coming off the flu. It is what it is. At the end of it, I judge our kids as much on attitude and effort and their ability to do those things as much as anything. That’s why I think Drake did a great job as well.”
On if he really believes his team played with a lot of effort:
“Yeah. Did you? I didn’t think it was any lack of our kids playing hard. This team has come…we had a great week of practice and have played really hard. I thought detail…if we want to be critical in an area that would be it. I don’t know if we played with great detail, and on a surface like that where every inch and every step matters, detail is the key to success. Attitude and effort, I’ve never questioned in this group and I wouldn’t today.”
On how he thought Brock Purdy handled himself on Saturday:
“I don’t know. Most importantly, you’re going to play in games like this. It’s not perfect and you’re not perfect. The surface isn’t perfect. When that kid had to make plays for us today, he’s a freshman and he’s making those plays in those moments…I don’t care who the opponent is or what the situation is those are big-time plays. What he learned is he can overcome, no matter what the situation is. He’s been in a lot of those for a young freshman.
“There was a lot of growth today. You’ve got to remember, we’re a young team. Especially some guys out in the secondary, there are a lot of young guys in the secondary with opportunity to showcase, learn and grow.”
On any update he may have on Bryce Meeker and Marcel Spears injuries:
“No, I don’t. I hope for their sake that they’ll be alright, but I don’t have anything on those guys right now. Whenever we get together again, if it’s tomorrow, I probably will have better information on both of those guys.”
On if he’s worried about today’s outcome affecting the team’s bowl placement:
“I don’t know how it could. If it does, then so be it. All we can be is us. We were the best versions of us we could be in the situations we were in today. We’ll see what happens. My job is to coach our football team and our job is to go out and give our kids the best chance to win games and our kids the best opportunity to play as hard as they can. I think they continue to do that for us. Whatever happens, happens. I know we’ll be excited to go and compete.”
On the status of Greg Eisworth and if they’ll have him back for bowl:
“I hope so. Greg was dinged up the second half of that Kansas State game. I would have to imagine that with a couple weeks here we could get him back to where he needs to be. The Eisworths, the (D’Andre) Paynes, we held out Enyi (Uwazurike) because of the surface today. I think we just have to be smart and hopefully can get some of those guys back to full strength. No matter who we’ll play, we’ll need them.”
On what he saw in Drake that allowed it to hang around the entire game:
“Well, I said on Tuesday that I thought that was a thing that jumped out to me, that they’re a very disciplined football team that’s very well coached. Their kids play with great detail and it’s what’s allowed them to have success and sustain success. It’s really what kept them in the game. My hat’s off to Coach (Fox) and his program.”
On if he’s disappointed about not getting more guys work lower on the depth chart:
“I don’t think for me it was even a thought. You guys asked me that question on Tuesday. I saw the weather report. I knew what was coming. When you get those situations, especially the way our field has been, and we’ve got great people who work really hard at it, but man that’s a tough situation. We prepared for this and I’m glad we did. It’s ‘we before me’ and I just told our kids that there are probably some that are disappointed. But they’re not too disappointed being on an 8-and-4 football team with a chance to go get their ninth win. It’s a great learning experience even for some of those young guys.”
On if he’d rather Cyclone fans walk out of game being upset at final score or happy beating Drake:
“I don’t know how to answer that one. The reality of it is…what I really worry about is our kids. Fans realize this was a unique situation today. I thought our kids hung in there and did what they needed to do. We’ll let our fans be the judge. We’ve got great fans and I know they support. Winning by margins is never what I’ve been about, but doing it the right way is certainly what we’ve been about.”
On winning in margins being a concern since that’s been an issue the last couple games:
“We’ve won seven of our last eight games.”
On the play of David Montgomery against the Bulldogs:
“At some point, this place is really going to miss David Montgomery because he’s really special. What he’s done really at a time where you look at yardage and how he’s gotten his yardage over the last two years…those have been tough yards. It’s not been an easy road. It’s not been a veteran offensive line paving the way. So much of that yardage, he’s done by himself. He’s had help this year with tight ends and an evolving offensive line. He’s really special. He’s a guy that when you need him the most he’s been there. He certainly was there today when we needed him the most.”
On how much the loss of Meeker upset the flow of a line that had played together much of season:
“It will be fun to watch the film. It will be fun to watch the film. It was great for Sean (Foster) to get some really good reps. Bryce has had a great year. I don’t know if anybody’s grown in our program, especially at the spot at Bryce has, as much as Bryce Meeker. He had a phenomenal winter, put together a great spring, put together a great fall camp and all of a sudden put together a stretch of really good football. I think that was a huge loss losing him. But Sean Foster got to go into the football game and it will be really fun to watch that video and see where he grew from week one to where he ended up playing today.”
On what went into the move from Corey Dunn to Joe Rivera as punter:
“The biggest thing is catching the ball. Joe is a really good athlete and our holder. We have a lot of trust in him. In Corey’s situation, he didn’t catch the ball flush. I thought that it was critical for us in a day like this to catch the football. Priority number two is protection. Joe did a great job. Because of the weather situation, we knew he could handle it.”
