Tulane Green Wave College Football Pregame Quote, 12/29/2022

What has Kurt Hester meant to this program this year and what was your first reaction when he got there? It seems like you bought into it real fast.

RB TYJAE SPEARS: He meant a lot. He came from and made the bond and everything that we did. As you can see, it paid off. All around from a mental standpoint more than anything, he brought a different mental approach to the game.

What kind of way? What was the difference?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: More attacking, more like living the moment, making the most of the opportunity we have.

Considering this era of college football and the future you have, there are some people surprised to see a guy like you play in these games. Was that ever a question for you to be here?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: No. You see all those great guys you’re interviewing, but what about all the other guys? I never questioned it. They’re my brothers, my brothers forever.

Is this how you want to finish it off?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Yeah, especially with us going. That’s definitely how I want to finish it off.

What point in the season did you feel really come together for you? You had the slow spring because of the injuries and I know it was a little rusty leading in.

RB TYJAE SPEARS: I don’t know. I’m kind of hard on myself; so I still feel like I’ve got a lot to prove. I just take it week by week. I think everything started opening up for me, like you said, by Game 8.

How much have you enjoyed getting a bigger role and not having as much rotation and how much does that help?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Sometimes it would be hard, but I’m up for the challenge. It is fun, though. It’s fun. I’m having more fun than I’ve had before.

Have you given yourself a chance to kind of reflect on all you’ve been through? You’ve been through a couple of big injuries that would have sidetracked other people, but you’ve kind of followed through and kept going. Have you reflected back to getting from there to here?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: It would be hard for me to reflect because, where I come from, sir, if I reflect, I’m going to be at a standstill and go back to where I come from.

No, I need to do it. I’m going to do that. I’m glad you asked that question.

You can tell us tomorrow.

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Tomorrow, I’ll tell you.

You guys have been really good at protecting the ball, and USC has been really good at taking it away. You’ve been really good at taking care of the ball, but those guys seem to try to strip it. How big a deal is it?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: You know, it’s a big piece. We work it every day. But we work it every day. We’ve got to take care of the ball, flat out. It’s just like any other game. Don’t go plus one, plus two, plus three. So we’re going to take care of the ball.

You’re always hard on yourself. Was it easy to get over it?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Yeah, it was easy because you’ve got to understand. I told myself, I touched the ball two other plus times this year. One mistake don’t make me. I’ve been kind of relaxing, not relaxing as accepting it but relaxed as take a little step off. And after that, it was ‚Äì after that, I was good.

How important is it for you guys to finish this off right?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Very important. Man, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Opportunity come once in a while, man. You never know when you’ll get this type of opportunity again. It means a lot for us to go 1-0, and I’ve got full confidence that we will.

What does it say about this team? After last year, it could have sidetracked the progress that was made. What does it say about this team to kind of let that get by and not let that slow you down?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: When you see Tulane football on the schedule, we’re going to fight until the clock says zero. We’re a fighting team, and that’s the way it’s going to be.

So for you guys 1-0 has been the mantra, and with the game just so big as this, what have you guys been doing to really ground yourself and keep yourself in that 1-0 mantra?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Sometimes you just ‚Äì sometimes you drift out, but you’ve got to live in the moment with everything you’re doing. Understanding the significance of the game is the importance. Understanding it’s just another game, fight with your brothers. We did it 13 times a year; so just ‚Äì it’s living in the moment, just taking everything in.

How tough was that stretch between finding out you were going to be in this game and getting to this point?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: It was tough, man. You see all those games we had. It was tough. All those games came down to the wire. Some plays extended the lead in some games. But it was tough, tough game. That Cincinnati game, fast-forward, it was some tough games to see. We accomplished it. It was a lot. We still aren’t done yet.

As far as the break in between, was it tough, these three, four weeks you had?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Yeah, because you’re used to playing week after week after week. So that’s where it kind of weighs in on you mentally, used to playing week after week.

You mentioned how sore you were after the Cincinnati game. Coach [Willie] Fritz said if you have to play every day, you’re willing to do it.

RB TYJAE SPEARS: You know, it’s the last one. Why not? Let’s go out with a bang. It’s the most fun we had all year. Whatever it takes.

Refreshed, you’ve had a break?

RB TYJAE SPEARS: Fresh, really fresh.