Todd Graham Press Conference

[CalallenStang]

http://riceowls.cstv.com/sports/m-footb ... 06aac.html

Todd Graham SMU Press Conference Transcript
Remarks for 11/20/06



Nov. 20, 2006

(On whether he's surprised at the team's current position)

"We set our goals when I came here. Am I surprised where we're at now? No. There's a couple games that I think we should have won that we lost. The thing that I've learned is I've been able to work underneath some really good people. The one that I probably patterned myself the most after is Coach Rodriguez. I talked to Coach Rodriguez when we were 1-5. The thing that I learned from him that I talked to him about is don't question anything you're doing, keep believing just like we've always done. We know that we tried to do a lot schematically early, we just had a lot of mental mistakes early in the year. Then down the line, being able to do a lot more schematically helps you. I'm not surprised with where we're at, that was our goal when we came in here.

Any place I've ever been it's what you get done, what you're willing to accept. I'm never going to come in here and say, 'Tell me it's ok to lose.' We can win here. To be honest we're disappointed we didn't get a chance to play in the championship game. If we could have held a 16 point lead, if we could have handled the road a little bit better and not played our worst game of the year against Tulane. Shoulda, woulda, couldas don't count.

I can tell you that I'm not surprised because of the investment they've made and the people I have working here, we've got a good program, we've got a good football team. I never doubted myself. I'm not going to do that. I want to be in a place that has high expectations, and that's what we've worked hard to do is to drive those expectations up."



(On the quarterback situation)

"Chase got banged around there a little bit. They took him to the hospital as a precautionary measure. I haven't got any report back. He'll be going to the doctor today, and we'll see how it goes. I think it will just be a day to day deal and be a game time deal."







(On preparing for a game this important to the program)

"We'll approach it the same way we did the week before. Every week the kids kind of get to snicker at me now because I always go out there and say, 'Guys, guess what? This is the biggest game of the year.' Our kids work extremely hard, we have a great belief in each other, a great belief in that we're going to win. We constantly tell ourselves that. You constantly see it written everywhere, so we visually see that we will win and we will figure out a way to do it. This program is about taking a group of guys getting them all to surrender to the team and to each other and to do what they're coached to do. Even though we've got some great players, there are no superstars on this team. They know that they are 1/11, and that's the key. We've got a great focus right now. We've got to focus. We're playing a very good football team in SMU. Our kids know what's on the line. We want to leave no doubt. We know we're bowl eligible now. It's a great story. An opportunity to go to a bowl game in a place that hasn't been to a bowl in 45 years is a tremendous story. The story is our kids and what they've been able to overcome and to accomplish this year. Our stance is that we're going to leave no doubt. To do that we have to go win, we have to go beat SMU.



(On the team's confidence)

"I say this all the time: tough people come out of tough times. To build confidence you have to have success. That's why it's important that you actually have a plan to succeed. This has been a monumental challenge because there wasn't a plan in place to be successful with scheduling and things like that. We've been able to overcome that and I think it makes us stronger. We've faced great adversity and have come through it with kids with great character. We're building a lot of confidence, and not just confidence in one or two areas.

The last game was really indicative of these kids character. Our offense had been playing so well and scoring so many points then we get in a game where now our defense has to answer and respond. I really thought we had some exceptional play throughout the year as far as how hard we played defensively but we'd given up a lot of big plays. Then we get in a game where we've got to play defense. I believe after the interception in the second half after that one drive they only had one yard the rest of the half. Then you go out there with 2:37 left and drive them backwards. I'm really proud of how if the defense needs to respond, they respond, if the offense needs to respond, they respond, if the kicking game needs to respond, they respond. We need a big kick, we get it. I had no doubt in my mind with three seconds on the clock that Fangmeier was going to make that field goal because I believe that we're meant to be here, I believe that these kids were capable of this all along, and I believe that we're seizing what I believe is our destiny."



(On how excited he is to be playing for a bowl game)

"I'm extremely proud of our players. The kids will tell you I'm pretty one dimensional as far as my focus. I focus on one thing at a time. I'm focused on one thing: these seniors and these kids who were here when I came and how they've bought in and it has not been easy. There's been a price to pay, they've worked extremely hard, they've been strained mentally and physically. I want them to experience not only going to a bowl but to be a bowl champion. That will accomplish one of the goals that are down there on our wall. We have three goals. One, we want to go to a bowl and win it. Two, we want to go to the conference championship game and win it. Three, we want to be the best in the conference and the best in the nation academically. We've already accomplished year in and year out one of those goals from an academic standpoint and we will continue to do that, it will continue to be a focus in our program. To have an opportunity to accomplish two of those goals in the first year of the program, I want that for these seniors. I want that for the guys that have been here and have been down in the valley. I get great joy from seeing them. I can remember walking in and seeing their faces when I first talked to them. I still have that picture in my mind, and I can see those faces after they win and after they're successful, see them starting to believe and see them starting to grow in confidence. That, to me, is what's truly rewarding about coaching. Not only that but I know I'm making a difference in their lives. Not only on the field but personally in teaching them the things that will help them be successful. I'm very focused right now. I just got out of a staff meeting that probably didn't make a lot of people happy, but I continue to push and drive and strive to get better. The key for us is to get better today, tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, and be better Saturday than we were last Saturday."



(On decision making in clutch situations)

"I like being in those games. When I played, I wanted them to throw the ball to my area. I spent a lot of time visualizing being the guy that made the play to win the game. I think what's important is you can be intense, you can be passionate, but you also have to be smart and you have to make sure you understand you're adjusting as the game goes on. I can tell you, we ran several plays down the stretch that were not practiced in practice, but we're going to have the courage to adjust to what the opponent is doing and we're going to take advantage of that. We took up a true freshmen wide receiver that they were basically, we were running the speed option, and they were just not covering to stop the option. We came back in a play that we had not practiced all year long and we executed it on 4th and 6, 4th and 8 down the sideline and threw the ball to a true freshmen who made a great catch. You've got to be able to make those decisions down the line. A lot of people will go, 'Well we didn't practice that,' and figure out every reason not to do those things. The quick kick that we did, the safety was probably the difference in the game.

People asked me in church yesterday, 'Coach, why'd you go for it on 4th and 15?' I have a pulse for where we're at and how we need to play and what style of play it is and we come to win. Period. These kids like that, they respond to that. We take calculated chances and we have to do that to have an opportunity to win. It takes a lot of preparation so you're not just guessing during games. It's really important that you're poised, that you have confidence. When you can take your kids and tell them what we're going to do in 15 seconds in a timeout and then go on the field and do it that is because they're smart, they've been trained, and they trust you. People say we've been really lucky or really fortunate. I don't believe that. I've been in a lot of games. Duke has seen a lot of games that I've coached and played in over the last 20-something years. I love winning like that. I love the way it makes you feel.

I'm a Vince Lombardi guy. If it's easy I don't think it's nearly as gratifying. To work hard, to mentally and physically strain, to work your tail off, to be beaten and battered and bloodied up elbows and knees and lay on that field victorious there ain't nothing in the world to make you feel like that. I love it. It's tremendous when you get kids to play with that kind of passion. That's what it's all about. It's about the passion. My biggest asset is my passion and my enthusiasm. My biggest deficit is my passion and my enthusiasm. You have to balance that. I'm a difficult person to work for, but I try to maintain a balance. Our kids right now are mentally tough. They have a hard edge and they've got confidence. I'm going to do everything I can night and day to get them some how some way we are going to go and be successful this week. I really believe that."

[PhirePhilBennett]

If not for Rutgers, is there any doubt that Todd Graham should be coach of the year??

[Hoofbeat83]

dude's got a lot to say.

[ponyboy]

To work hard, to mentally and physically strain, to work your tail off, to be beaten and battered and bloodied up elbows and knees and lay on that field victorious there ain't nothing in the world to make you feel like that.

That's a beautiful quote.

[BRStang]

There are just some coaches that give you that feeling that they know and have what it takes to accomplish their goals...that everything is going to be ok...that the program is headed in the right direction. Graham seems like one of those coaches. Nick Saban was one (when he was at LSU, that is).

[perunapower]

There are just some coaches that give you that feeling that they know and have what it takes to accomplish their goals...that everything is going to be ok...that the program is headed in the right direction. Dodge seems like one of those coaches. Nick Saban was one (when he was at LSU, that is).

Dodge? SLC hasn't even been mentioned, did you mean Graham?

[BRStang]

There are just some coaches that give you that feeling that they know and have what it takes to accomplish their goals...that everything is going to be ok...that the program is headed in the right direction. Dodge seems like one of those coaches. Nick Saban was one (when he was at LSU, that is).

Dodge? SLC hasn't even been mentioned, did you mean Graham?

Hahaha. Freudian slip. It's been corrected. Thanks.

[Corso]

I thought the QB was done (injured). Now he could be back?

[Big10Ponyfan]

I thought the QB was done (injured). Now he could be back?

For now, I think you've got a little gamesmanship coming out of Graham's mouth just to try and make people think twice and throw a curve our way.

No worries. Our coaching staff will probably prepare the team as if Clement is going to play. They have to.

And what Graham said is great -- and I thought he would turn them around but not this fast -- but all this talk is hot air. It will come down which team is mentally ready to go and will execute.

Sorry, Rice. Maybe next year.

[westexSMU]

Coach Graham is impressive and is doing an unbelievable job at Rice but this SMU team I believe wants this game, wants to go to a Bowl, and expects to WIN.

[Stallion]

I was most impressed by Coach Graham quoting Stallion's Woulda, Coulda Shoulda Doctrine.