Nov. 14, 2005
Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel Press Conference Quotes
Opening Statement... "We are looking at Kansas State. I see a football team that could very easily have three more wins. They lost three games, one by three (points) and two by two points against some good football teams. So certainly, we're playing a good football team that's playing hard. I think they've got a lot of talent, and unfortunately for them, they've lost some very close games. This game, for us, is more important than any game this year. We want to end the season the right way. It's been since 1992 that Missouri has beaten K-State, and that's in respect to them. They're a very, very good program and we're going to work real hard to play our best game."
On what concerns Kansas State presents offensively... "Well, they have a very good scheme; they run the option. They do the things necessary to move the football. They do the things on offense that drive defensive coaches up a wall in terms of throwing the football and in terms of running the ball; option football. I think their young quarterback is a very talented player. He's a lefty, you can see that he runs well, he's got good quickness, and I just think he's going to be a really good player. You might as well think of Mark Brunnell years ago when I coached Mark. They've always had a very good game plan against us and have executed it well. In terms of running the ball, they run about 140 yards per-game and throw it for a little bit more, but they average about 25 points a game."
On getting to the quarterback early and often... "You can look at all the quarterbacks and receivers and all the skilled people you want to. You look at the teams with offensive and defensive lines that are very significant and win you football games. It's all said and done after the game is over, and certainly how our offensive line and defensive line play will dictate a lot, in terms of our success."
On the improving play of Stryker Sulak and the rest of the defensive line... "Stryker, you just don't know. He just has such a great motor, like Brian Smith, that really helps him. A good athlete should be big and have all that stuff going for him. We're certainly not there yet, but as you all well know, we lost three players that are on NFL rosters a year ago. When you lose those caliber of players, it's significant and the coaches have done a wonderful job working with those kids. Without naming some of the other guys, there's been a lot of progress."
On any satisfaction that Missouri recruited Tony Temple and Chase Coffman away from Kansas State... "I'm certainly glad we got them. Obviously, they're in-state players from Kansas City. You know how we want to do well recruiting in all of the state of Missouri. Those were all plusses. We didn't beat a particular team on it, but we're certainly glad that they're here, and I expect both of them to be impact players, which I think they'll get better and better as they play."
Player Quotes David Overstreet
On the last time visiting Manhattan, Kansas... "When I went there, a couple years ago, I went out there and struggled. We were coming back late, but it was too late."
On if he believes that one team can have another team's number... "No, I don't believe in that stuff. That's not me, I think you can go out there and compete against anybody and beat anybody you play against."
On Brian Smith's influence... "He's a big influence, he's one of the best defensive ends, I think, in the Big 12, and he just plays non-stop. That's what I look for. That's what I want to be. Someone who can just be out there and go full speed every play."
On why Missouri became his choice to play football... "It was the only Big 12 school that offered, and I wasn't a high recruit right out of high school. This was the best chance of coming out and playing for a major school, and that was what I was really looking for."
On choosing Missouri over Kansas State, even though his father played football for the Wildcats... "I think he was just a little worried, he just wanted me in the right place. I mean, he's just a dad looking out for his son. I think he might have wanted me to go to K-State a little bit, but ultimately it was my decision. He told me from the beginning that it was my choice. After my sophomore year, I just started getting letters, and he started talking to me about it, since he really didn't get recruited he didn't know too much about it. He just wanted me to make the right decision and he let me know he would be behind me wherever I decided (to go).
On stepping up as a receiver core without Sean Coffey... "It changes a lot, as a receiving core, it challenges us. When Sean went down the first time, other receivers had to step up and make plays. This is a big challenge going into the last game, a real important game for us, and we have to go out there and play hard. We have to go out there and play hard as a receiving group. We have to make up for that offensive lost."
On who can step up as the deep ball threat... "You really never know who's going to step up into that role. I may step up into that role, Brad Ekwerekwu might do it, Martin Rucker might step into that role, you never know who's going to go out there and execute the play. You never know what's going to happen in the game when you have a quarterback like Brad Smith."