North Texas Mean Green College Football Pregame Quote, 10/25/2022

On bouncing back from Saturday’s loss:

They bounce back quick. They have great character and very strong bond between each ther. They’re disappointed after a hard-fought game. Coming up short is never easy but you have to go back to drawing board and get on film and correct mistakes and figure out how to improve as a football team and move forward. You can’t let an opponent beat you twice.

You have to have maturity. That has to be part of your culture – guys sticking together. They’ve had their backs against the wall before. Thru those episodes and maturity and learning and growing thru those you get thru it.

All our goals are still right there in front of us. You have to stay focused and make sure we’re moving forward and understand the big picture and getting a week better and focus on the things we can control.

You never know how these things work out. I wish I could tell the future but it just doesn’t work like that. Just take it one game at a time and everything else will take care of itself. I’m not that smart to look ahead. I have to focus on one team and one game and that’s what’s allowed our players to overcome adversity.

On the run game:

They were committed to stopping the run. They added extra hats and did a good job. WE could’ve hit some plays early. We had some big plays that I thought we missed that could’ve opened it up a little bit I thought we pressed at times in the first half but because of how aggressive they were playing the run he had other things open and we had some explosives in the pass game. It’s give and take. You have to stretch people and pump air in the defense and we were able to execute in other things when they were that committed.

On WKU:

They’re good on all three phases. QB is playing really well. A lot of weapons on the perimeter and a dang good RB. Defensively, they’re very multiple and bring good pressures and they’re very talented. They’re big up front and they’re No. 1 in conference in run defense and no. 1 in the nation in turnovers. That’s allowed them to win games. They’re a good team.

On the team’s strength at tight end:

I think they are two really good players. That entire group is a solid group. They come out and compete each and every week. They love ball and they’re talented. They’re a big part of what were’ doing offensively. They’re a major factor in our success and we have to continue to build on it.

They’re multiple. That’s what makes them special. There’s a lot of guys out there that are really good run blockers and more guys that are more hybrid but how multiple they can be whether you’re flexing them in the core or moving them around you can get into a lot of different 12 and 11 personnel sets and even empty. You can be more multiple and they’re gonna have to defend it. It’s been good for us and it’s something we’ll continue to hopefully evolve with.

Gumms is extremely strong and physical but has great hands and can run and Jake as well. Big body big target and he comes down with the bal. They’re both really good run blockers too. They’ve been good for us.

I’ve always enjoyed coaching TEs and RBs. But that’s his group. If he ever needs my opinion or advice on something we’ll obviously talk about it but he does a dang good job. He doesn’t need much of my help.