Opening Statement:
"I apologize for not being in my polo, but this is a Tuesday in Football world, and Tuesdays are a big work day, especially on a game week, which we're at. We're excited; we have a really good football team. That's the thing that's got me excited. I'm anxious to let these guys on the field and let them do what they do, and that's play football. There's been a lot of hype, a lot of anticipation for our team this season and rightfully so. We're going to get a chance to go play SMU Friday night at SMU. This is only the second time we've opened up on the road since I've been here -- we opened up in '09 on the road against Wake Forest. They were a really good football team then; the thing about Wake Forest then was that we had a pretty good feel for them; Jim Grobe was coach up there and we played them the year before. The thing going into this week is that we're not really sure what SMU is going to do. I just got a two deep from them today and it wasn't anything like what we had been predicting since last January, quite honestly. That's a concern. So we're going to have to do a feeling out process early in the game. We know it's going to be a lively atmosphere. I'm expecting a full house. I think the fans over there should be very excited to see Coach Morris and what he's going to bring to the table. I know we're going to have a lot of people there, so it's a great atmosphere that we're anticipating. Our approach into the game, from a football standpoint, is that we're still in pain from the Cotton Bowl. We've lived for seven months with a really bad taste in our mouths. So this is an opportunity to let food taste good and music sound good again because it hasn't, for seven months in our football lives. It's important to us. We've got good guys, good team with a good intensity so we're excited for the challenge ahead."
On preparing for a team you know nothing about with a new coach:
"Of course he [Coach Chad Morris] was at Tulsa, he did a great job at Tulsa with Todd Graham and of course he went to Clemson with Dabo [Swinney]. He's done an outstanding job -- he's a really, really good football coach and he's done a great job everywhere he's been even back in High School. So from an offensive standpoint, to answer your question, we're looking at basically all the Clemson, a little bit of Tulsa from back in the day. Gus Malzahn is kinda where Chad and them got together, when Gus was in high school and Chad was at Stephenville -- that's where he first started out running the system they're running now and it's a very good system. They do a great job and they have a quarterback who can really make it happen in Matt Davis, a transfer from Texas A&M. He's a stud, he's good. They've got good people in the right spots which is a concern. We know basically what we think they're going to do conceptually. From a defensive standpoint, Van Malone is coming over from Oklahoma State, he's been around forever and done a great job forever. We're kinda basing our look, from an offensive standpoint (going against their defense) on what we feel like he might do, being at Oklahoma State awhile and being in that system. That's basically where we're starting. The thing that's funny about this game that I mentioned earlier to somebody, I don't remember where it was, but 20 years ago this is a Southwest Conference game. That just shows the way football has changed over the years. We're playing them, we're playing Rice, that's two Southwest Conference rivals. I think it's good for the state of Texas. Like I said, I think there will be a lot of excitement in Dallas this Friday."
On what to expect in this game, given the history of these two teams playing:
"I'll take a tie game as long as we got one more than they got. It's hard to expect, when there's so many unexpected things out there. Anytime you open a season with a new QB from our standpoint, with Seth, it's not an optimal situation to go on the road the first time he's ever gotten under center and taken the snap. The good thing that's going to help Seth is that he's got good people around him; a very good offensive lineman, we feel like our defensive line is very talented also. So that's something that you can lean on a little bit if needed. We'd like to think they could help keep us in predictable situations, as far as the chains are concerned. If I could talk a little history with you, about the Southwest Conference, these games are always tight. Anytime you play an in-state game, we've talked about this a lot over the years about scheduling; any time you play an in-state university there's always going to be added emphasis on the game. So we understand we need to be at our best to go over there and come out victorious on Friday."
On if it has been more difficult to get the team ready for the game with the distractions around the program:
"Honestly I haven't felt anything. The thing about youths that keeps me going and keeps other people going that have the opportunity to be around youth is that they're so resilient first and foremost, forgiving, non-judgmental and just have good spirits and high hopes. That part of it has been extremely encouraging. That part of it has allowed us to try to function as normally as possible."
On if he plans to utilize Chris Johnson's QB skills while he is a WR:
"Right now not really. The great thing about Chris is that he's a really good teammate. We've got a couple of kids right now that are freshman that are really great football players coming out, but they're not really sure how to be great teammates. A lot of times when you're the guy, you don't have to be a teammate. That's what I respect so much about Chris, is that he was the guy in high school, and now he's out and he's been here for three years and he's turned into a great teammate. When we discussed moving him tor receiver, which can sometimes be a kinda dicey situation, he was all in. He was up at 6:15 the next morning on his own over there catching tennis balls by himself; that tells you what kind of person that is. He's a great person, a great kid, and we think he brings a unique ability to us at the receiver position. He's just under six foot four, 242 pounds, and he can run, he can move, he's fluid, and he's got good hands -- quarterbacks handle the ball all the time. We feel like we can utilize him there while he still can help us at the quarterback position if needed. He's out guy if we get into an emergency situation."
On how to help Seth (Russell) keep calm in his first start:
"I wish you could tell me. The thing as a coach, that I think is so important with quarterbacks, is knowing how to treat them; how to get them to be responding to the proper situation in the proper fashion. You can't really do that until you've had some experience with them; we've had some with Seth but it's all been called on -- last year SMU game he was called on when Petty went down, second half of the Tech game he was called on when Petty went down, and then the Northwestern game he started, and played extremely well. Everybody's different. RG3 is different from Nick Florence, Nick is different from Bryce, Bryce is different than Seth -- they're all different. It takes a little time to nurture into them. The thing that Seth is facing is this; Petty opened up against Wofford in 2013 after won the Holiday Bowl -- not being back to back conference champions, we won the Holiday Bowl finished 8-5 and felt decent about ourselves. That's where he opened up, and at home. Now Seth is stepping into opening up on the road, in state against a new team that's got a lot of energy that we understand has good players and a good system with back to back champions on his chest. That's a whole different scenario. He's got some feelings around him that the rest of them hadn't had. We have to do a great job as a staff of letting him be himself, but at the same time protecting him early in the game because he's going to be excited. Someone mentioned he's from that area; we have a lot of guys from the Dallas area so there's going to be a lot of excitement in there. Hopefully our team, through the years has learned enough, won enough and done enough to respond in the right fashion at the right time.."
On if he had any reaction to Judge Starr's decision to bring in outside council:
"Not really -- I think it's good. I honestly haven't read the report or anything along those lines, I know Ian [McCaw] is here in the back and he certainly is a lot more involved in that than I am; I'm trying to get ready to beat SMU. That hasn't honestly crossed my mind."
On if the criticism surrounding the program is warranted:
"As you get older, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I've never tried to tell anyone how to think or what to think; I've tried to live in a certain fashion that makes them think a certain way. That's kinda been the same with our program. To ask if it's warranted or unwarranted, I haven't thought about that."
On how he feels about his team's health thus far:
"It's a great thing; last year, at the end of our first game, our top four receivers were out, plus our quarterback, so you never know. The great thing about having 85 scholarships is that you can have a lot of depth; you never know what's going to happen. You look at the NFL ticker and see the NCAAF and you cringe when you see these guys that put in so much time and effort and spirit into playing. Every second you have the opportunity to play, you need to be thankful because it's a sport to where you're not guaranteed the next one. But we've been fortunate up to this point and hopefully that will maintain because that certainly helps determine the outcome of football games."
On if they need a statement win coming out of the gate:
"The only statement we need to make is to win. I think you can go back through last season and look at the way the season went and the teams that got into the final four; I don't think it was so much statement games, particularly early in the season, as it was building your resume. When it gets later in the season and it gets down to five or six in that same category, that's when it might come into play. We never felt that way last year, some teams did, and maybe we should have. It's so hard to get wins in this business; I'll take 3-2 win right now and walk out of there happy."
On the distractions:
"It's none of our business. We're not focused on that. That's something that would bring down the team, so we don't focus on that. Everybody here is ready to play football. You can't control what goes on outside the team. People are going to fire at us and try to find things to bring us down, and we can't let that happen."
On being ready for the opportunity:
"We're excited. I'm excited. Everybody is ready to go and the type of players I have around me, you can't ask for anything better than that. All our returning linemen are tremendous, with Spencer and Kyle leading the way. I don't feel much pressure just because of the playmakers around me."
On getting a start last season:
"It definitely helps. Anytime you can get experience, it helps. Not many backups get that chance like I did, so being able to start that game was definitely a confidence booster. Being in this position builds confidence and relationships with the players that I didn't have before."
On what he needs to do:
"Just trusting the team and the offensive line. They have a whole new coaching staff this year, so we're not sure what they're going to throw at us."
On becoming the next QB at Baylor:
"The quarterback system has proven itself. I'm not going to bash it. I'm glad I'm here, and I'm blessed to be there. I'm glad the coaches gave me the opportunity to be here, and if you want to say it's a system then I'm with it. If you want to say it's the players, then I'm with it. The coaches here are going to put you in the situation to win and make the best out of it."
On preparation for this game opposed to offseason practice:
"It all plays from spring to fall. Every week you have to prepare as it's a game week, and that's what we've really tried to focus on each and every day. You watch a lot of film and see things you do wrong, so you have to go back and fix those mistakes."
On start versus Northwestern State in 2014 and how it panned out:
"I wasn't surprised. The guys around me make me look good. That's their job. They're going to make plays and I'm going to throw the ball up to them, and it's up to them to make the play."
On what the team needs to do Friday:
"Just going out there and giving it all we've got, being focused and playing hard."
On having more experience:
"Everybody is just a little bit smarter with a year in and having more knowledge."
On his expectations:
"It's going to be great. Everybody is up for the challenge. All these guys know what to do and what to expect, so we're passing that knowledge onto the younger guys and just getting everybody ready to go."
On starting on the road:
"It's going to be great. Everybody is up for the challenge. The older guys already know what to do and what to expect, and they're passing that down to the younger guys. Everybody has just been ready to go. Everybody is ready to show up and show out against SMU. That's been the vibe around here."
On this year's defense:
"Everybody is hungry and willing to fight for each other. That's just the vibe of the defense, just going out there and destroying the offense and everybody."
On if he and all the receivers are excited when they score touchdowns:
"Yeah you always have to be excited for a teammate when they go and score. I mean, it's a team sport, so why not be excited? They just bring the fire to the field, and I'll do the same, and especially when the crowd is into it, it's that much better."
On if receivers talk about matches between series:
"Yeah it's kinda mainly based off of the first series, knowing what they do and how they are approaching us, so we'll come off the field and obviously talk with the quarterback or Coach KB, our offensive coordinator, and from there we'll tell them 'Hey we got the edge over here, come call a play for me."
On whether or not there's a lot of pressure on QB Seth Russell:
"I think there's pressure, but he does a great job of handling it and a lot of that is up front on us (the offensive line). If he can sit back there and be calm and make him look good. It's our job. He just needs to throw it -- that's the easy part of his job. But there is pressure but he's done a great job of managing the pressure on the field and at practice. He's got a good head on his shoulders, and I expect big things out of him."
On weak non-conference schedule and whether or not they can still make the playoff:
"The first thing we have to do is win. If you go 12-0, then it takes care of itself. A lot of teams can't do that nowadays, and if you're one of the teams that can do that, then it puts you in a good spot for the future and getting into the playoffs. But right now we just want to do what we do best, and that's execute, do the little things up front. If we can run for 400 yards that would be great. If we can throw for 500 yards that would be better, but that can't happen if everyone isn't executing and following the plan that Coach Briles hands us."
On what to expect from SMU:
"I know the coach from high school, so I know they're going to have a good defense and a good offense with OSU's coordinator going over there. We've had some trouble with them in the past, but we have a good game plan going in."
On what Baylor needs to do to make a statement:
"First thing we have to do is win, obviously. If you go 12-0, the rest will take care of itself. Not many teams do that nowadays, so if you're one of the few who can, it puts you in a good spot for the future and getting in the playoffs. But for now, we just need to do what we do best and execute the little things up front."
On difference in SMU this year:
"Just their offense I'm pretty sure will be a lot different, and having (Matt Davidson) I'm pretty sure they'll have a fast, running quarterback who can also throw the ball, so I'm pretty sure the offense will be just a little bit different."
On how ready they are to get out there and play a game:
"We've been ready ever since the day after the Michigan State game. We've been working hard all summer and all camp just for this moment and we've been waiting on it. We've been tired of hitting each other and we're just ready to go out and hit SMU."
On taking pride in being so good against in-state teams:
"We do. We take a lot of pride. We want to be the best not only in Texas, but the best team in the country, that's how we all see it. We've just been working hard and we're starting to see all of the hard work paying off and we're just going to continue to work hard and do what we gotta do."
On getting more amped up for in-state teams:
"I mean really, we get amped up for anybody, regardless of where you come from we're ready for you and ready to give you everything we've got."
On where he saw Ryan Reid grow as the season went on:
"I would say couple games in. It was a deal where he just had to get comfortable with it, and stuff like that, and learn his position and that's what he did. I believe he's going to come out and be ready to go. He's somebody to look at and he'll be a player to watch this year."
On there being more belief in the corners as this is their second year to start:
"Yeah, I believe in your first year you're going to have some adversity to go through, but we all as a unit have been trying to get together, communicate more. We've put in some different coverages to help them out as well, so I believe this year will be a great year for the secondary."
On what's the perfect 22nd birthday for him:
"Probably about two pick-sixes, a couple forced fumbles, a couple touchdowns I'd say would be a great one."
On getting ready for the season:
"Coach Briles did a great job keeping me healthy so I can be ready for this season. I just need to teach the younger guys and stay mentally ready to go."
On the pressure and expecations for this season:
"We know we have a lot to prove and a lot of expectations. We just try to be really humble and work together as a team because that's the only way we're going to win."
On Seth Russell:
"Seth can do a little bit of everything. We're blessed to have him at quarterback and my job is to keep him on the right track so he can do great things."
On Ryan Reid:
"It's great competition. We're always trying to make each other better. At the end of the day, it's our job to make each other better."
On getting the starting role:
"It's been a blessing this year, so far, to get the starting role. It's been a learning experience for me, as far as knowing the defense more and knowing where to line everyone up and knowing the schemes. It was really helpful to corner for Bryce last year."
On help from Bryce:
"He's been more helpful than I can even put into words. He's helped me so much. Just rooming with him last year on trips and getting to pick his brain a little about our defense and gaining knowledge from him was really helpful for me."
On transitioning from California:
"The biggest part was making all the calls. With my defense at my JUCO, I didn't have the responsibility of getting everyone lined up and knowing what everyone was doing. That was the biggest step I had to take--getting to know Phil Bennett's defense. His defense can be complex, so you have to know what's going on in front of you."
On last year's bitter ending:
"We've been thinking about this since the last game. It's been on everybody's minds, so we're fired up and ready to go."
On last year's starting role and his injury:
"It was a battle. I never doubted myself and always kept my expectaitons high. My teammates believed in me and my coaches believed in me, so I knew I couldn't let anyone down. Instead, I just worried about the pain after the game. That was my mentality about it."
On having to adjust with the injury:
"I think it made me a better player. I didn't care about it. I just knew I needed to take care of my business, one snap at a time. I just tried my best not to worry about it."
