Nov. 17, 1999

Opening remarks on Texas A&M and the season finale at Kansas State:

?What we?re trying to do right now is put the last ten games behind us and focus on one ? K-State. The A&M game, physically, was pretty good except for Barry Odom?s knee sprain.

?Kansas State has a very fine football team, both offense and defense, particularly their defense. They have a lot of big players on offense and in their kicking game. You have to really prepare well for them. All we?re trying to go out and do is work on fundamentals and have a good sharp game plan. We have to go in there and play our hearts out.

On Inside Linebacker Sean Doyle

?Any time a pure freshman goes into a game against a pretty good opponent like that and has the game that he had, both defensively and special teams, I expect him to do well. He did really well. He played a great game. I?m pleased for him. I think it is an indication of what we can expect over the next three years. He reads keys on ball flow better than anybody. He is very, very quick and has a great sense for what the play is.

On playing Doyle and Jamonte Robinson side-by-side next season

?You want to get your best 11 players on the field so you have to find a way to do it, even if that means both playing inside linebacker.

On Cornerback John McPherson

?He was a high school running back with great speed. This year we?re playing him as a defensive back, putting him on special teams. He has used his speed to make a mark there. He wants to be a starter at defensive back. We?re trying to look at him as a corner or a safety. We?ve gotten him in every game and he has made a mark. It is very similar to what Julian Jones did his redshirt freshman year.

On Rob Riti and Justin Smith?s numbers in relation to post-season honors

?I think it?s really hard for an offensive lineman to rack up numbers. We could throw blocking percentages out there. His blocking percentages have been at 80 percent or above every game and a couple games up around 90 percent. That has to be his numbers. The thing that hurts Rob?s numbers is our record and the way the offense has struggled the last half of the season. That sure hurts but shouldn?t take anything away from him because I still think he is one of, if not the best, centers in the country. Defensively, it is easier to pile up numbers, especially at (Justin Smith?s) position. He has already tied the school sack record. That?s the feather in his cap right there.

?I think (Riti) has played both as well or better because last year he had a tremendous supporting cast. He had four guys on each side of him that were three-year starters, whereas this year he has had guys on both sides that are first-year starters. He was asked to do a lot more and I think he did a pretty good job.

On how the seniors will be remembered

?They know that they have accomplished a lot. You take those five guys (Rob Riti, Jeff Marriott, Barry Odom, Steve Erickson, Carlos Posey)...they came in when we were really, really struggling. They saw (the program) grow and turn to the other side and they were directly a part of that. They were major contributors to it all, not only on the field, but off the field. The thing that hurts the most is to see the guys go out with a losing season. They are all quality, class people. I don?t think it will bitter them in any way toward their football experience. You always remember the good days when you are a player.

On the importance of the last game of the season

?I think this game is important in two ways, not just the guys coming back next year, but the guys who are playing their last game. If you can finish strong, it most definitely will give you a good jump start for next year and something that you can build on. We are not going to just play the young guys and try to give them a chance to jump up there. We are just going to play like we do every other game.

On whether Missouri?s record is just a bump in the road

?You most definitely have to consider it a small bump in the road. I still think that we?re on our way to having very good teams. It doesn?t guarantee anything for next year, either positive or negative. What we do here after the season in terms of preparing ourselves will go a long way. People think that just because you have experience or talent returning that you should be better the next year. That is not always true. The key is what you do with it. Everyone needs to do their part.

On the effect that a losing record has on recruiting

?Anytime you have a losing record, it is more difficult to recruit. Sometimes records don?t always indicate how you are going to recruit. It?s never a clear indication but it definitely doesn?t make it any easier.

On the quarterback situation in the spring

?Right now we are looking at four guys. Each guy?s situation is a little different. (Kirk) Farmer will be coming off of the injury. (Jim) Dougherty will come in with the most experience. The weight room is going to be a key factor for him. (Justin) Gage is a heck of an athlete. (Darius) Outlaw will be coming off the redshirt year.

On Quarterback Justin Gage

?Gage never was a safety here. He played at safety the first few years of high school. But with the quarterback situation we had to change him immediately. We have no thoughts right now of changing him to safety.

On the possibility of Gage playing football and basketball

?If he wanted to talk about that, obviously academics would be the first consideration. We would sit down with he and his parents and sit down and talk with (Missouri basketball coach) Quin (Snyder) to see how it fits and how it works. I?ve never been against players playing two sports if they can handle it. If they can contribute in the two sports, fine. If they can handle the pressure of two sports, fine.

On using the scout team to determine a player?s ability

?Guys will jump out at you on the scout team. (Quarterback Darius Outlaw) is a guy that has a great deal of leadership, charisma, and talent. He too, though has to get a little bigger and stronger. He has done a great job on our scout team.

On Jamonte Robinson?s status for the K-State game

?He is practicing but his full status won?t be known till the end of the week. It will be my decision.