Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Darius Outlaw

On possibly not playing next week

"If I don't play, I just don't play. It's just something that happens. I came in here and had a role and I excepted it. If Kirk starts or plays this week I cheer him on and hopefully we get a win.

On his progress this season

"I still made some timely mistakes but that's just part of it. I think I've grown a lot and learned from my mistakes and I feel like my confidence is really getting comfortable. I just have to go out and play football and not worry about anything else."

On what to play for the rest of the season

"We got a lot of pride here. We came here to be a part of the Missouri football program and we're not going to go out there and get embarrassed. We're going to go out there and fight and work hard. We're going to play together. There's not going to be any of this individual stuff that you would see from some teams who don't have a winning season. We go out there and do what we love to do. We're going to hopefully be the upsetter."

On Colorado defense

They got a pretty good defense that's pretty talented. We just got to scheme this week and let things go and try to earn more points and total offense.

Junior Linebacker Justin Smith

On defensive struggle against Iowa State

"We're a team out there and there's definitely no yelling. The defense will just get together and know we need a three-and-out and unfortunately we only got one in the game and that just can't happen. We played a bad defensive game. We had the right plays called the right defenses, we just need to go out and execute."

"The main thing is you got to play your responsibility first before you start going all over the field. And I thikn everyone was out there playing as hard as they could, just everything was going wrong."

On self-evaulation

"It's hard to evaluate yourself when you're losing because the whole point of going out there and playing is to win and that's not what we've been doing. But I feel like I've had a very successful season and I just need to keep that attitude and keep going.

Head Coach Larry Smith

On last week against Iowa State "The offense played well. The defense didn't give them a very good account of themselves. We had 28 missed tackles for the game. I think the second half the defense really settled down and played a lot better. It was the second quarter that really buried us. Through the span of 20 plays we gave up nine big plays, and had 20 missed tackles. Offensively we were moving the football. Our biggest stopper in the game were ourselves, the penalties, the two picks...it was a team loss and we all contributed to it."

On upcoming game against Colorado

"This week's game comes against a team who's in the same boat as we are at 2-6. I think the difference is they're getting a lot of people back from injuries. Their quarterback has really come on strong the last three weeks. They have outstanding receivers, and although they're two and six, they're the best two and six football team I've ever seen."

On what else there is to play for

"There's a lot to play for. These players aren't just hanging up their jock straps and cleaning out their helmets saying it's the end of the year. They're getting ready to play and that's the competitive spirit. There's a lot to play for, pride and respect and the opportunity to play college football."

On recruiting

"I think whenever you're going through a losing season it makes it difficult to recruit. Most kids want opportunities to play and they want to see a future and I think that in college you also have to deal with school, education and a bunch of other factors. So it's not just a complete brick wall. I think it make it difficult sometimes. I think it's hardest in your home state because of all the publicity of you losing games and that type of thing. But if you look back at Brock Olivo, Corby Jones, Devis West, guys that were great, great players for us were all recruited after a losing season."

"We're going to really scour the JUCO players because I think there is a big opportunity to come in here and play right away. If we can get guys in here mid-year that's the best scenario. But everyone is trying to do that."