University of Connecticut Athletics
Friday Football Update From The Fiesta Bowl
12/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 31, 2010
The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl held a press conference for both Randy Edsall and Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops Friday morning in preparation for Saturday's game. Below are quotes from coach Edsall's portion of the press conference.
The UConn marching band participated in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Parade on Friday while the Huskies held a walk-thru practice at University of Phoenix Stadium. Check out the photo gallery below for pictures from the parade, Coach Edsall's press conference and the walk-thru practice.
Opening Statement:
"This week has just been really, really good. The hospitality has been unbelievable and we thank Tostitos for their sponsorship for this game and for college football. I think things have gone as well as can be expected for us this week. Practice wise we got to practice in the rain which is something unusual out here in Phoenix. It was really our first wet ball day that we have had all year although we aren't going to need that for the game tomorrow. We are healthy, the kids are in a good frame of mind and they are just waiting to go play the game now."
Have you talked to your team about celebrating after touchdowns in light of what happened in the Pin Stripe Bowl?
"My son got on me when he saw that and said that it was a crazy rule. We try to tell our kids all the time that you just can't bring attention to yourself. If we see that they are doing it we try to correct it during practice. It is unfortunate, but that is the rule. I think it is one of those things that if you hand the ball to the official and go chest bump or jump in the air with your teammates, those are the things that are okay."
What are your thoughts on the celebration rule?
"Like I said, it was something that was spontaneous and I think the official made the right call based on the rule that we have. I think it is always tough because we aren't saying that you can't celebrate and have fun. There is a way to have fun though and that was a way that it was more individualistic rather than the whole team celebrating. We want them to have fun and celebrate, but what he did was more of an individual act which isn't what football is about and that is why the penalty came out."
How did practice go yesterday?
"I thought our kids were focused and we had a good practice. We were fortunate that the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has that relationship with Arizona State so that we could go practice in their bubble which is a really nice facility. We got all of the things done that we needed to, the focus and the execution was good. At the end of the last practice every year we have everybody congratulate our seniors, and I was pleased with yesterday's practice. Now we will do more mental work today and we have a walk through, so all of the physical stuff is done and now it is time to focus on the mental side of things."
Could you talk about how you have been able to get the program to this point?
"Perseverance. It has been coming in with a philosophy and being all about teamwork. Everything that I wanted to do when I came was build a program that could stand the test of time. We weren't going to just be a football team, we were going to be program. I think when you do that the team is the most important part of our program, its not about individuals, it's about trust, accountability and mental toughness. And really just sticking to those values and those morals that I think are so important, and developing young people. If you can surround yourself with good people and get them to believe in what you are doing and instill in them that it is the right way to do things then you can accomplish anything. We weren't going to take shortcuts, we didn't go out and try to win in the first couple years and go the junior college route, we just went out and got high schools kids that we could develop and do something that each year you have a chance to be good. For the most part it has been a lot of hard work, determination, perseverance and the good old fashion work ethic."
Can you talk about the mentality of the team this week?
"We are focused, and it's not just this week, but it is what we have done all year. We have been consistent all year long of how we treat games. Yes a bowl game is a reward, but it's still a game that you go in trying to win because it goes in the record books as a win or a loss. The fortunate thing for us is that we have been to four other bowl games and we have a routine of how we go into the games and we have really stuck to the same type of plan. They know that there is a time to enjoy themselves, but they also know that there is a time to work. These kids are competitive and they know that the only thing that people remember is who won the game, not who lost the game and they try to maintain that focus. We have good leadership and they understand that every game counts."
How do you plan on stopping or slowing down the Oklahoma offense?
"That is a good question, they have so many talented athletes. Really what you have to do is try to play good, sound fundamental defense and execute your game plan. They have good wide receivers, they have a good quarterback and when you have multiple weapons out there it makes it difficult. We are going to put a plan in place that we think we can slow them down the most with and go out and execute our strengths against what they try to do."
How much value is there in having a common opponent in Cincinnati?
"There is a lot, because we know who Cincinnati is and how they play. Being familiar with them gives a reference point with Oklahoma, we studied all of their games though but Cincinnati did give us a good situation because we know them and their personnel. Anytime somebody plays a team in your conference it can be more of a reference point for you."
Can you talk about what you did between the USF game and this game?
"Again, what we did was take our normal schedule with bowl games and put that in place here. We always play the first weekend in December then the coaches go recruiting and this year the coordinators stayed in the office and started planning for Oklahoma. We practiced the end of that week then gave them a week off for finals and got five practices in after that before we let them go for Christmas and that was really are prep time for Oklahoma. We came out here on the 26th and we have had a normal prep week in preparation for the game Saturday. It is hard to simulate the up-tempo with the scout team, but we have always taken the premise that we work good against good throughout the whole season and that allowed us to go at a higher pace and that is all you can do. We need to make sure that we are on top of the tempo right from the beginning because we don't want to get ambushed. We know that they can go very fast and I think we practiced at that speed, but now we need to be able to go out and execute."
Could you talk about the match up with your running game against the Oklahoma defense?
"Going into the game we aren't sure what defense they are going to play and that is why you have to be able to make adjustments. When teams have a long time to prepare I don't think they are going to change everything that they do but there will be wrinkles and we prepare for everything. We have seen all different fronts during the year in terms of the running game. The biggest thing is that we need to make sure we get on people and cover people and give Jordan Todman enough room to make some cuts and do things. We are prepared to face just about anything, but like I said you need to be able to make adjustments during the game."
Has being an underdog been a motivating factor for the game?
"That is the story of our life, we have been the underdog ever since we started this journey. It isn't any different then what we are used to all the time. I always think that anytime there is somebody that doubts you it just makes you play a little harder and prepare a little harder. Ultimately we need to be able to go out when the ball is kicked off and play to the best of our abilities and execute the best way that we can. This situation really isn't any different than what we have been through the last 12 years."
What do you think it will take to get the underdog name away from the UConn program?
"We just need to keep winning, that is all you have to do and that is all we can do. To me you don't worry about it, you just go out and do the best you can and it seems like winning takes care of everything. When you look at this season it has been really incredible. We opened this season with Michigan and we are ending with Oklahoma and it is a lot different than opening with Maine and ending with Rhode Island like we did 12 years ago. I think that spells out where we have come from and what we have been able to accomplish. I know that people never thought that would be the case back in 1998 and 1999. That is what makes things fun though, the challenges and the opportunities that are presented to these young men that really makes college football what it is."
What are your thoughts personally getting here from where you have been?
"I am just a humble, small town guy and you just take it in stride. I am just glad that I could contribute enough to let these kids get to this point. This is really what it is all about, these kids and college football. They made it to the top of the mountain, only 10 teams participate in BCS games and they are one of 10 teams. You are just happy for the players because in your own mind as a coach or a parent it is validation for all of the things that you stand for and all of the things that you believe in. The repetitiveness of what you say has sunk in and they listen to what you have instructed them to do and by doing that they have gotten to the top of the mountain."
