Fresno State Athletics
Pat Hill Quotes From Monday's Press Conference
9/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2001
General comments on the Tulsa game
"After watching the film, I thought our team played well. There's always things to work on, but to go in an methodically win the way we did, to win decisively like we did, I think that's a good step for our program. Those are the types of things that show maturity. We went into an environment where everybody was talking upset, and we didn't allow it to happen."
"We played good in all three phases. We played physical. Everybody on our team got to play, and I think that's really important for us. We're not a team that has great, great depth. We are going to have to develop our depth with our young players. And every chance we have to get young corners, young defensive linemen, young linebackers and young offensive players in the game, that's what we are going to do. We still have nine games left, and we are going to have to depend on them to do it. And they just don't have that much game experience."
"I think Tulsa is going to be a good team. They are doing all the right things. They are young and playing a lot of young players. I thought they played very hard. They never quit in that game, and it was physical. They didn't back down an inch. I think maybe, as the game wore on, physically started to control the game."
On not running up the score against Tulsa
"I feel that when we play on the road, it's very important for us, if we have a chance, to play our players. I don't think it has any affect on rankings. We didn't run up the score, and we went up one spot in one poll and two spots in the other. People who are voting understand what is going on. I want our players to play. We've got a lot of players that deserve to get on the field. And I'm going to stick to that idea."
"That last drive was 3 minutes 57 seconds. It was seven straight runs against nine guys in the box, pounding out three first downs. That's darn impressive. At least to me, that's impressive. But you need to get first downs and pound it out. If USC could've done it against Oregon, they would have won. We need to be able to do that."
On the play of the younger players
"Our young defensive players, when they get into the game, we don't expect them to give up touchdowns. We aren't satisfied with that. When those freshmen are out there, they have to learn how to stop people. We've got to get better with our second-line players in situations like that. We aren't going out there just trying to let everybody have a good time. We're trying to develop football players."
On electing to run the ball the majority of the fourth quarter
"[David Carr] might have gotten more yards. We might have been able to throw for more yards in the game. But we need to improve our running game. We needed to see Therrian Fontenot. We needed to get Paris Gaines and Josh Levi good, hard reps. It's important for the development of our team. For us to keep winning, we have to still develop parts of our game."
On the upcoming game against Louisiana Tech
"Louisiana Tech, over the past two years, they've played Alabama at Alabama and won. They've played at Miami, at Florida State, Texas A&M, at Penn State and Kansas State. All in the last two years. So this team has played against big-time opponents on the road in hostile environments. Coming into Bulldog Stadium, they aren't going to be intimidated in the least. They've played in big arenas. They've played against very good teams. We are playing against a team with a mindset that they've played in places like this before."
"I've got a lot of respect for Louisiana Tech. They are trying to do it the right way. They are trying to play as tough an opponent as they can. For them, it's a little easier to get those games because they've got so many big-time schools around them. But I think they are doing it the right way. They are playing all comers. But when they walk down that ramp at Bulldog Stadium, it will be nothing from an intimidation standpoint."
"I think it's a real challenge to our fans. Our fans are going to be compared to the Miamis, the Florida States, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Penn State. They are going to be compared to those people and those environments."
"They are a lot like Tulsa. They go more no-backs, or empty as we call it. They've got a lot of screens. Their ground game is draws and running the ball when they get you all spread out. [Louisiana Tech quarterback Luke McCown] will get it down the field. But they are going to try to screen you and throw the ball quickly and keep you off-balance. They are going to have answers for pressure because they are a well-coached team. It's going to be important for us to pressure the quarterback and re-route receivers."
On the offensive line
"The offensive line is starting to become the offensive line we've always wanted to have. They're very tough. Kind of a mean group of guys. They really like to push people around. There's a lot of second-effort blocks. Guys are finishing blocks, knocking people over, looking for more guys to knock over, clearing out a pile. That's the way you want to play."
On the top 10 ranking
"We've just got to keep winning. If we keep winning, good things are going to happen. We're No. 10 in the nation because people believe we are a good football program. This week, you're going to see some teams we've played play in some big games. UCLA is playing Oregon State. Wisconsin went into Penn State and won. Colorado keeps winning. Fresno State, in the eyes of the people who vote, is a legitimate football team. We've just got to keep playing and get better each week."
