Skip Holtz
Opening statements
"The goal coming into tonight was to be 1-0. That was the goal and the emphasis. Fifty percent of the country would trade recordswith us right now. To come in here and find a way to get a win, I'm really proud of the team, proud of the way that they worked, proud of everything that we've been through. I thought they went out there and there were a lot of positive things out there on the field tonight. I give Russ Huseman and UTC a load of credit. They've got a very well coached football team. They're disciplined, they play hard, they don't turn the ball over, they don't beat themselves. I though they really played hard tonight. So I give them an awful lot of credit. I was really pleased with the overall effort of our team. We came in and we said the special teams has got to make a difference this year. I talked extensively about that in our press conference on Monday. Really proud with how our special teams showed up today. Punt return really made some great things happen. I thought the way both punters punted the ball was excellent. The way Kloss kicked the ball off was excellent. I have the honor and privilege of coaching the all time leading scorer in South Florida history, Maikon Bonani. Right now his kickoffs are a little bit in question, but there's no doubt on his field goals. I thought special teams has really stepped up. That was the biggest thing that I was pleased with tonight. The other thing, second in order, would be the defense. I thought the defensive front seven played extremely well. I thought they played hard, they played physical, they controlled the line of scrimmage. They played a large part of tonight in UTC's backfield and I think that was the difference in the game. Offensively, some flashes, some really good things from the playmakers that we talked about, but at the same time it was sloppy. We had way too many lost yardage plays. I think we ended up with a number of turnovers in this game. Unfortunately it cost our defense 10 points in the statistical column, but I didn't think overall it was one of our better efforts. We seemed to be a lot of confusion, guys running on and off the field offensively. We've got to get some things polished up. Next week we play a very talented Nevada team that went to Cal and had a great win on the road. I'm sure they'll be playing with a lot of energy and we're going to have to have a much better effort than the one we put out there tonight if we expect to fly across the country and come home with a win. Mostly I'm just proud of this team. I told them the goal is to go 1-0. So I'm certainly not going to take it for granted, but there are some things that right now I'm certainly not pleased with - our discipline and just kind of our organization, and just the consistency on the offensive side of the ball. Fortunately we found a way to win today and we can get better."
On B.J. Daniels
"We talked about that consistently. At time flashes of brilliance and I thought the pass he made to Terrence Mitchell with two guys in his face. The right tackle got beat the fullback got beat. They ran an inside move, he turned around came off the read, and with two guys in his face made a great throw. I thought he threw the ball relatively accurately. I don't know exactly what his numbers were, 17-for-26, I thought he was fairly accurate standing on the sideline. Unfortunately the one INT was a poor read and I thought that there was one play I thought he could have thrown away we he scrambled rather than take a lost yardage play. You looking at him playing 50 plays tonight and three plays I'd love to have back, but I think he is still continuing to grow. A lot of good things out there, just some things that we got to continue to improve on.
On Terrence Mitchell back
"It makes a huge difference. He had a couple big punt returns tonight, as shifty as he is. They even started punting the ball away from him. Then as a wide receiver, being able to get the ball in his hands, I think he's got a chance to be an impact player. Those are the reasons that he is up there as a starting Z. We've got some receivers that are playing very well. I think Sterling and Andre had a great camp. Dunkley got his feet wet today. Dunkley played his first college game tonight, got some of the jitters off. I think that there is a lot of guys out there that played really well, but I think he is doing a really good things for us and he is an explosive player, and we're going to have to utilize him through the season as an offensive weapon."
On the young offensive line
"I thought we were OK. There were way too many breakdowns to say that BJ played 50 plays and had three minuses. I think up front as a group we had many more than that. I don't think we were near as consistent up front as we need to be, having Darrell Williams not play. We came out here hoping that the 2.5 days, we practiced on Thursday, a little bit hobbled, but we figured 2.5 days of treatment and he would be good to go Saturday. But he came out here tonight and just did not feel good about it. I did not play Lawrence Martin; I did not play Bradley Battles on purpose. A couple things that they were supposed to get done this week, they didn't get done and I found that out this morning, so I didn't put them in the game tonight. Everything from here will go forward and they will be out there Monday practicing hard. Even though we were playing with eight up front, we've talked about playing 10 and rolling two deep. I did not think it was one of our better efforts on the offensive line."
On the running game
"OK, not what I expected it to be. I thought that there were some good individual efforts, but overall again I talked about that word consistency. I thought there were some time the backs really lowered their shoulders and ran north and south. There was some time that we stopped and tried to find 40-yard runs instead of just trying to find consistency in the 4-yard run. We've got to run the ball a little more physically than we did and I think we got to do a better job on the offensive line. I don't think it was where we needed to be."
Lamar – I met with Lindsay Lamar about a week ago and just having four RB’s right now with Lindsay not in the mix, having Willie Davis and Bradley Battles and Marcus Shaw and Demetrius Murray and the camp that those guys have had. I think Lindsay is a weapon, he’s fast and he can run. A little bit rusty right now at RB. He hadn’t played there in two years. Putting him back there, I don’t think he’s ready to be an every down back back there yet. I think he can truly benefit from a redshirt year. I sat down and met with him, I asked him what he would rather do. Have the opportunity to put on more weight and get more comfortable at RB and come back for another year. He would rather do that, which I totally respect and right now I just don’t feel like I can give him the reps with only one football and some of the weapons that we have. I also told him it’s something we’re going to try to do, but an injury or two and that redshirt is coming off and he’s got to go and he understands that. We’re going to try to do everything we can to try to do it, but first it’s going to be we have an obligation to do what’s in the best interest of the team, but we also have an obligation to do what’s in the best interest of the young man.
Season goal – Next week is to go 1-0. That’s it. We go 1-0, and at the end of the year we find out how good we can be. We set lofty standards and goals that I don’t think we hid from or ran away from - the fact that we want to win a conference championship. That’s one of the goals that we have in the program. We don’t win it by talking about it. We don’t win it by thinking 12 games. Best thing about the future is, it comes to you one day at a time. We just have to find a way to win each day. We have 90 days to go 1-0, and let’s take it one game at a time. I think the maturity and leadership of this team, that’s where our focus has been. After 12 games , I say it all the time, I don’t know how good we can be. But just make sure at the end of this we are as good as we can be. Love the leadership, love the attitude, love the way they’re working, but there’s a lot of things that we have to get cleaned up as a staff. Like I said, it’s great to be 1-0. I’m appreciative of the way these players work and the attitude they have. It’s great to be in Tampa. I got in the car this morning and drove to the office, and it seemed like it was game day. The sky is a little bluer, the clouds were a little puffier, everything just seemed a little bit clearer. I drove through downtown Tampa and I said “you know what, I love this city.” It’s just great to be back in the season and have the opportunity to get out there and play.
USF Offensive Coordinator Todd Fitch
“I’m really impressed with their football team. We knew that coming in. I had made some comments, they have a good defensive football team, they do a nice job and we knew we had to earn everything we had to do tonight. I was really pleased with some of the big plays in the passing game down the field, stretching the ball the down there. I thought we threw the deep ball well and made some nice plays on the ball. Terrence had a great catch on the post obviously. We didn’t run B.J. We really limited our running game a little bit just to see where we’re at, we’re not where we need to be, we’re not consistent enough as a running team and just overall you know the gelling of everything. There were some flashes that were way far away.
The other thing was just as plain as the tempo - we did not run with the tempo that we wanted to in this game. We’ve got a lot of work to do - we’re going to play a really good team this week obviously, coming up in Reno and its good we have a win, it’s good to get back on the field. It is probably fun for some of the guys to make some plays, but I think we have their attention - we know where we have to go.”
Question: “Todd so much of the talk with B.J. in progress was limiting the mistakes, how much do those two turnovers stand out as opposed to the touchdowns?”
“The turnovers in general the first one, the pocket pressure just two hands on the ball, I think he did but he got hit from behind. I mean none of them are excusable but that one is a little tougher. The one right before half was a critical one, he went away from the side we wanted him to go to and tried to make a play, tried to force something out there and that’s a critical error you. I thought our defense played extremely well - those ten points came off of turnovers. They maybe gave up one field goal in the second half. But they’re teachable. We are going to be in a lot of tight games and we can’t do that to our team and we know that, so that is something that we need to continue to harp on.”
Question: “Besides the two turnovers, how do you think BJ did?”
“I thought he threw the deep ball extremely well - a couple of third down throws, the one he rushed, I thought Andre and he were on the wrong page on the out-cut. The last one he threw an in-cut and I thought he missed badly. But throwing the ball down the field he obviously made a nice scramble play for a touchdown and it was good to see him use his feet there. I thought there were some positives there, but obviously the mistakes with the ball security, that kind of dampens your mood on it a little bit. He knows that, we just need to take that out of his game.”
Question: “You have three offensive linemen making their first career start today. Does that put an asterisk on things a little bit?”
“Well really it did. We knew that going in, we knew it was a rough ride. I don’t care who we’re playing, it is somebody new out there and we had a change in the line-up. You know with Damian starting at left tackle, we got nicked a little bit and we thought he could go but he wasn’t able to go so there’s no excuse but that was part of the consistency and protection. We were trying to play-action early and get the ball down the field, and we just didn’t have the time for a couple of our shots down the field. That’s where it showed up the most probably, without watching the tape.”
Question: “Do you think you gave yourself a chance to establish the running game?”
"I think we gave it a chance. From what they were doing defensively I think we could have been a little bit more bull-headed with some of the formations and just tried to run at them a little bit, but we also wanted to make sure we were opened up enough offensively and really try to push the ball down the field. The reverse I thought was a good call - they made a nice play. I can’t wait to see it on tape. I think we gave it a chance, it just wasn’t as consistent as we would like to have it.”
Question: “Todd, Terrence Mitchell obviously had a big game. Talk about what you see with him in being comfortable as a receiver.”
“Back on the field and comfortable. Back in the spring with us just with his speed he judged the deep ball really well. That was probably the best throw of the night by B.J., they blitzed and had a couple guys in his face. I was really impressed with the route he ran and snapped it off pretty good. You know the role he is playing. It’s a big field with his speed, that’s something that it going to be a good match up for pretty much anybody because he can really go. He needs to continue to grow. I think he does a nice job with punt returns I really think he did a nice job there.
Question: “ We didn’t see Lindsey Lamar tonight, is he another guy they might be looking at to red-shirt?”
“Coach’s call right now. We will see how that unfolds. We are trying to make decisions here early in the season.”
Question: “Is Shaw okay with that ankle?”
“I think so, he got nicked but I saw Steve when I walked in and I do not think it’s bad. We will see how he feels when he wakes up tomorrow.
Question: “Darrell Williams, he should be okay to go next week?”
“Yeah I think so, I thought he would be ready today but he just wasn’t. Probably in the long run, it’s a good thing so he didn’t get reinjured out there because we are going to need him.”
Question: “Do you have enough to make any observations on Floyd?”
“He looked fairly comfortable and made good decisions, covered the route when he scrambled. He ran for like five or six, and he threw a nice ball to Dunkley on the money. He looked confident and looked like he knew what he was doing. I talked to him about one look on the side he threw to Dunkley he said “Yep I saw it, I was worried about something on the other side.” It looked and sounded like he knew what he was doing, he had his mind right. I wanted him to get a couple snaps, wanted him to throw a couple times so hopefully he will continue to grow and he needs game reps.”
Question: “You had some true freshman get some action?”
“Yeah D’vario got a catch we tried to get Sean the ball once or twice, they’re kind of like Andre was last year. We are going to need those guys, they’re going to get their feet wet with special teams and offense, and they’re going to continue to grow. But it was good to see them get out there.”
Chris Cosh, Defensive Coordinator
Question: Touch on defensive as a whole especially early on it seemed like they held on pretty well?
"They did. They had a lot of options in the game that required people to be sound and really pay attention to details and they did it. We looked really good. A couple times toward the end of the half, we kind of got a little sloppy in the details and missed some tackles, and I think really what you worry about in your first game is how you’re going to tackle, because you really have a lot of live plays and you’re out there without any coaches on the field for the first time. I think overall we tackled pretty well. We still have a ways to go with that, but I was happy from where we started. The key is for us to make great improvement between the first week and the second week. And this week we will really build from our mistakes and get prepared for Nevada.”
Question: “The defensive line had a lot of pressure, how about what you saw from Ryne Giddins tonight?"
“I thought they all had a lot of pressure - Mims, Giddins, JuJu(Julius Forte), Luke, a lot of times your pressure comes from your inside guy, when they push the pocket, they collapse the pocket, it squirts things outside. If you stay at home out there you get the residual effects of the sack. That was good discipline by our ends staying outside and getting the sacks.
Question: “Defensively you subbed a lot on the defensive line, but the linebackers, DB’s, really didn’t see much besides the starters in the first three quarters. Is there still a decent drop off between the ones and twos?”
“There’s not a drop off, it’s just that we didn’t have as many plays. I have nickel going in and out so I can get some subs in there, but up front when you’re running a lot and you’re pursuing the football you want to keep fresh bodies in there. When you’re 300 pounds and you’re running a 40-yard dash, you get tired. But I like the way our defensive line was conditioned.”
Question: “Grissom, you didn’t know if you had him, not only did you have him but he played well, especially in the first half with 7 tackles. Talk about how quickly he’s come back.”
“He’s come back really quickly, Pork Chop was working day in and day out, even when he was not full speed with the team, he was working on the side full speed in the manner he could That’s why he has came back so fast - he was so diligent in his rehab and so passionate about being back, he wanted to be back for this game. It was good as a coach and I know his teammates were happy to have him back.”\
Question: “Talk about the mix in linebackers”
“Really good. I think Cliett can get a few more reps, he has done a nice job in practice and he deserves it. As time goes on we will get him in there.”
Question: “Any thoughts on your secondary today?”
“I thought they did a nice job keeping everything in front and supporting the run, with all those option plays and fly sweeps and stuff like that, their run supporting keys were good. They got a lot of play-action off of those things, so they had to be detailed with their eyes and have them in the right place. A lot of times, motions take your eyes away and they kept their eyes focused on the key and consequently made a lot of plays and run support for us.”
Question: “Baker seemed to play well, just handling the start and being out there.”
“Baker did a nice job, very good first start. He played within the system and did a nice job being in the details.”
Quarterback B.J. Daniels
On first-game jitters…
“With a lot of the new guys up front, I think there might have been some. Other than that, I really don’t think so.”
On his game as a whole…
“It was okay, but there were a lot of things we can definitely work on. I hate that I missed a couple of throws that were easy and wide open. Also, protecting the football. Those are the things I hope to work on this week to try to change for our next game.”
On downfield passes…
“We worked all summer really just trying to get make sure we get our timing together. Even with pressure in my face, still trying to deliver the ball on time. You know the athletes we have and their speed it makes it a lot easier for me.”
On how long it felt like it took to play in the first game this season…
“During the summer, I could say forever. Now it’s actually here and it seems like time flies. I’m glad to get a W because it’s not easy to come out with wins no matter who you’re playing. We’re just thankful and appreciative of that right now.”
On timing of the running game…
“There are definitely things that we can all work on and just trying to stay consistent, positive and move the ball.”
On performance tonight…
“It was okay. I mean I can continue to get better. As a quarterback you always strive to be perfect, but most importantly you just want to end the day with a W.”
On Sterling Griffins’s play…
“It was big. It really uplifted our team. He’s one of the guys that works really hard in practice, and for him to get a reward today with the touchdown was a tribute to the hard work he does every day.”
On deep pass to Terrence Mitchell…
“I was just feeling the pressure and keeping my eyes downfield. I trust Terrence’s speed. He’s one of those guys who can shift into three or four different gears. With the guys we have, we just want to throw it up and give them an opportunity.”
Wide Receiver Sterling Griffin
On the teams overall play…
“I felt like we could’ve played a lot better. We just have to go in and watch the film, make corrections and come back out and prepare for Nevada next week.”
On what the team can improve on…
“Just stepping up and being more consistent on third down. It keeps the offense on the field if we convert the third down. We just have to convert more on third down. I just have to get open for B.J. (Daniels) so he can find me and covert on third downs.”
Defensive End Ryne Giddins
On the defense’s overall play…
“We have a couple things we need to work on. They got us out of containment a couple of times, but other than that I think we played pretty solid.”
On sacking the quarterback…
“It felt real good as a defense, going out there and not letting them score.”
Wide Receiver Terrence Mitchell
On what’s going through his mind when the ball is in the air…
“Go get it. I have to go get it.”
On scoring a touchdown…
“It felt great to score on my first game back.”
On punt returns…
“I felt like I need to score. I haven’t finished on any of my punt returns yet, so I’m really not that excited about any of my punt returns because I haven’t scored yet. So until I put one in the end zone, everything is just average.
On feeling comfortable…
“I feel a lot more comfortable back there catching the ball and getting underneath the ball.”
Head Coach UTC Russ Huesman
“They are very physical team, just like we thought. It’s a well-coached football team. They took away some things from us but that being said I think we could have played better. I was a little disappointed in our football team. Again, USF had a lot to do with that, no question. They’re good. I told our team they are going to win a lot of football games this year, but we can’t be satisfied with how we play. I mean, we played hard, but I don’t think we executed great. And again we’ll watch the film and maybe they had all to do with that, I don’t know. You know, I was just kind of disappointed with how we played.”
Question: “Were you surprised with how well they shut you down in the first quarter?”
“They are physical, man. They are good on defense. They have good players. They can run. We won’t face players like that the rest of the year, we just won’t. Hopefully we can block them a little bit better. We didn’t block them very well. And hopefully we block better as we get going during the season here, but they have good players. They were hard to block.”
Question: “For quarterbacks, you seemed to go with Jacob a little bit more tonight. Is there a reason for that?”
“He completed some balls and that’s what we needed. In one drive, we had the 80-yard drive where I think we got the hold and scored the touchdown and, you know, he had that drive. We threw it and caught it and he made some plays and I think once that occurred, then we said ‘alright, let’s stay with him,’ and that’s the way it will be, whether it’s Jacob or Terrell. You get the hot hand and you start making some plays, and that’s the direction you’ve got to go. I don’t think we were very good offensively. We dropped some passes, we get illegal chop blocks, we had about 20 holds, you know. We’ve got no shot to move the ball, doing those things.”
Question: “Anything positive, really? Maybe how hard they played?”
“Our defensive line, our front seven. This is one matchup I think we won. Our defensive line verses their offensive line and whether Skip agrees with me or not, we won that battle. We were on B.J. Daniels all day and it was our defensive line. They were phenomenal.”
Interview with D.J. Key
“Coach corrected me on a few mistakes I had made earlier, so I tried to overcome and bring myself together.”
“USF is a great team, we just tried to get in there and make plays and do the best we could in all spots. The defensive line did an excellent job and we just had to do a little bit better on coverage as DB’s, and we will get that together. “
Question: Was that the main takeaway?
“Basically we can’t get beat and we just had a couple of big plays that cost us the game.”
Question: In terms of Daniels as a quarterback, how tough is it, because obviously he is a guy that is going to stretch out a play a few extra seconds, because he can get around.
“Like I said before, he is similar to Terrell. You know he can get out of the pocket and he is very mobile. We just have to make plays on him.”
QB Jacob Huesman
“Obviously that was my first college game and it’s against USF, so I knew it was going to be really hard. I mean I guess it was pretty much what I expected, they were really big up front, they were really fast and you know I think we had a couple missed opportunities but it is USF, they’re a BCS school.”
Question: Was it a good learning experience though?
“It was a great learning experience, especially for that being the first game. I felt pretty comfortable out there, especially with this week. I was a little unsure because I hadn’t proven myself at all but I definitely felt comfortable out there.”
