Fresno State Athletics
Pat Hill Quotes From Monday's Press Conference
9/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 2003
On if the team is looking for revenge in this game
"Everybody talks about the revenge factor. Obviously, Oregon State was very primed for us last year. I don't see the same motivation for this game for us. Maybe we would have seen it if it was the opener. But after the Tennessee game, I think the only motivation for us is to get back on track and get a win."
"Our team has to improve. It's a team game. Every section of the game has chances to look good every week, and has chances to be exposed every week. From an offensive standpoint, we went into Tennessee stressing ball security, and we were good in that area. In penalties, we were great. It was one of our least penalized games ever."
On his assessment of the team's offense
"What we lacked against Tennessee was the ability to make big plays. We felt we had seven opportunities to make plays, and we didn't do it. Early on, there were a couple of plays that just took simple execution to make, and we would have picked up first downs. And that might have been what it took to get going."
"When you are in an environment like that with so many new players at critical positions on offense, you've got to do something to strike the match. I think we went our first four or five series without a first down. And we had opportunities. But we never got that strike. We were playing on our heels. If we would have picked up a first down or two, who knows what happens? But I give a lot of credit to Tennessee. They played well and forced us into situations that weren't good for us."
"We just never got it started on offense. We came out of halftime down just 14-0, but we went three-and-out, three-and-out."
"We had a 24-6 final. Basically, it was based on the defense playing hard and some good special teams play. On offense, we've got to improve this week."
 | "What we lacked against Tennessee was the ability to make big plays. We felt we had seven opportunities to make plays, and we didn't do it." - Head coach Pat Hill |
On Oregon State
"They are as big and as physical. They run very well. [Richard] Siegler is as good as any linebacker we'll play. They are similar to Tennessee in that they can really run on defense. Oregon State is going to challenge USC for the Pac-10 championship."
"We've got a big game Friday night against Oregon State. Hopefully our fans will be there. [Oregon State] had 36,000 for a Thursday night against Sacramento State. This is a chance for our community to show what it's all about. We've got to send a big message as a football team and as a community."
"They are not in school, so they've had a lot of time to focus on this game. I know this is a very big game for them. They've got tools ? a good offensive line, a good quarterback, good receivers and a big-time running back. And they can really run on defense. They've got all the ingredients to be successful. This is as good a team that we've seen come in here."
More on the Tennessee game
"I told our players after, I was not happy with the outcome of that game. I still am not going to change my views that Fresno State football is going to try ? even though we lack the facilities and lack the funding, and maybe there's a lot of things we lack ? to play with every team in the country. Tennessee is one of the blue-bloods of college football. We didn't go back there and lose 64-0 or 65-3, some of those scores you see every week."
"We all understand that we didn't go back there with a gun that was completely loaded. I believe because of that experience, we'll be a better football team. I hope we have a chance to go back to Knoxville. I know they aren't going to come here."
"I don't know if being close is what counts. I don't know if 24-6 sounds close if you didn't watch it. I don't believe in any of that. We weren't good enough to win that game, and that's the end of the conversation. Now we've got to pick up the pieces."
On the injury situation
"Shack practiced yesterday, and we're hoping to have him back. We're not sure where we are going to play him, if he can even play. He might move to left tackle. But there was no contact in last night's practice, so that's a big difference."
"As far as Kendall, he hopes to be back [Monday]. I told him to stay down with his wife [who just had the couple's first child]. I have no problem with that. There's more to life than football. I told Kendall to come back when he's ready."
"Paul [Pinegar] will be ready when he's ready. We aren't going to rush him. We need him back for Louisiana Tech. Winning the conference is what's important. We need a healthy Paul Pinegar to do that."
On the play of QB Jeff Grady
"I don't think he played well, and I think he'd agree with that. He didn't make good decisions with the ball. But early in the game, he got smacked around so much. It's easy to say, Stand in there and make a decision. But when you're on your heels, that's pretty tough. I've got a lot of confidence in Jeff. We just didn't get him any chances early on."
