Oct. 11, 2004
Missouri Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel October 11, 2004
Opening comments... "As always on Mondays, the staff is preparing for Texas. It's going to be a great challenge, they're a great football team with tremendous talent, and it's also a great opportunity. We're in those stages now, and we'll get going with practice tomorrow."
On a rise in the level of competition the Tigers will face in the coming weeks... "When you get in the Big 12, you understand that you're going to play a high level of football teams. Texas is certainly a good football team."
On the Tigers' approach to this week's game at Texas... "We're approaching this game like we approach every game. It's another game on our schedule. We have respect for our opponent. We're playing a great football team, and we recognize that."
On preparing for Texas quarterback Vincent Young and running back Cedric Benson... "They have one of the best tailbacks in the country, and a sophomore quarterback that's really playing well. They're great athletes and they just get better and better as time goes on. When you play great athletes, it's a great challenge for a defense."
On what he saw in Oklahoma's 12-0 win over Texas last week... "I saw two great football teams play. It went down to the fourth quarter, the end of the game, and that's the way those games are played a lot of the time. One team made a few more plays than the other team, but they're two of the best football teams in the country."
On Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson... "He's got remarkable speed, quickness and athleticism. He's a phenomenal athlete. Generally, when you define anyone as a great player, you look at speed. He utilizes his speed, and he's a very impressive athlete to watch."
On junior safety Jason Simpson... "He's improving. He's got a lot of experience. He played as a redshirt freshman and a redshirt sophomore, and I think his experience is showing up. He's a good athlete, he can run and he makes plays. We're very pleased with his progress in the program."
On the play of the defense to this point in the season... "We're improving, and I think that's important. Everybody looks at numbers, and I certainly look at them to see who's playing well, but you also have to look into things other than numbers. We're very pleased that our defense is making progress, but we have to continue to work hard and get better."
On sophomore defensive end Brian Smith... "He's picking it up a little bit. For whatever reason, he wasn't playing quite as well at the beginning of the season. He's making plays and playing better, and he's going to help us be a better defense."
On forcing Young to try to beat the Tigers through the air on Saturday... "Every defense likes to stop the run. The general rule is that you want to try to make a team one-dimensional if you can. They run the football best, so we want to contain that the best we can. Saying and doing it are two different things, though."
On similarities between the Tigers and Texas... "There are some similarities. We do some of the same things. We have different offenses, but it's safe to say that there are some similarities there."
On the keys to success against Texas... "You have to do all the things you have to do to win a game. You have to play good defense, you have to play good offense and you have to make plays. You have to keep mistakes to a minimum, and if you get them to make some mistakes, you have to take advantage of them. You don't go down there and play your `B' football game and have a chance." Brad Ekwerekwu
On the importance of the upcoming game vs. Texas... "It's definitely going to be important. Every game from here on out is going to be a big game. Texas is doing really well. We're just going to prepare really hard like we've been doing all season. Hopefully it will turn out for the best."
this game meaning more with so many players on the team being from Texas... "Just like last week, most of us know some players down there or have old ties with some of the players. It's always good to go back home and visit with your family and stuff like that."
On his place on the football team... "I've just got to keep doing what I've been doing. With the opportunities that I get, I need to make the best out of them. I don't call the plays by any means. I feel, like last year, that I just kind of fit. I'm trying to find my role and know my role on offense and I continue to do that."
On Mizzou's high rankings this week... "I think when we start to look at the rankings and stuff, it is just distractions. I think if we just go out there and play every week, we'll keep our spot and the spots will sort themselves out in the rankings."
On being able to beat Texas this week... "I think we compete with anybody in the Big 12 right now. If we go out there with the right focus and the right attitude then we'll compete with them. I know we will. It's going to be a good, tough, hard, physical game. This is going to determine how bad we want it, how good we want to be, and how good we are. It's going to determine a lot. We've just got to get ready."
On the Mizzou football team making a statement for themselves... "We have to go in there and make a statement. They say we can't win on the road, we can't do this, we can't do that; now we've got to go out there and show them. Individually, and I know the team feels the same way, but I'm tired of hearing that we can't do it. We've got to go out there and show it now. It's all about actions. We can talk about it, but we're in the state of Missouri, the Show-Me state so we've got to show it."
On being comfortable with other teams forcing Mizzou to throw... "I'm very comfortable with it because we've got big play receivers. They showed you last week and the previous weeks. We've got big play receivers who can do some big things. As long as they go out there and keep working hard and keep they're focus then I know they can make plays."
Brad Smith artin Rucker as a receiver... "He did a good job. He caught a few balls, and made some key conversions, scored some points. He stretches the defense, gets some good match-ups, and uses his size and his speed well."
On his similarities with Vince Young... "We're in similar situations as quarterbacks. Since we were little, we've grown up playing against certain guys and teams. Just growing up as a quarterback puts us in the same positions."
On the effects that trick plays have during a game... "I think it depends on the situation. If you're having a slow game and you do one, it can turn the whole game around. But if you're in a regular game situation, it can just turn into a regular play."
Nino Williams II On playing against Vince Young being any tougher than any other game... "It doesn't even matter. It all comes down to football. It's just playing that football game to me. We've just got to go out there and do the same thing we've been doing that past couple of weeks, and everything will just take care of itself."
On Jason Simpson's performance so far this season: "It speaks for itself. He stepped up big time. That's what we need. We need the both of us to keep the defense playing well like that."
Jason Simpson On what kind of statement it would make for Mizzou to beat Texas... "It would show people what we can do. We can bounce back, we can win on the road, we can do a lot of things, winning streaks, whatever."
On his own performance so far this season... "I just try to help my team as much as possible."