Oct. 26, 2010
SDSU Football Weekly Press Conference Quotes Aztec Athletics Center
Head Coach Brady Hoke
Opening Statement:
"We started the second half of the season last weekend and were able to win the game down in Albuquerque. We have a tough test with a Wyoming team that has played as good a schedule as anyone in the country. I think their opponents are 42-18 or something like that. (Wyoming head coach) Dave (Christensen) does a great job and his staff is a really good one. They always have a good plan, and it will be a good test for us. We need to have a great week of practice. I like how our team has traveled to this point, but any time you go on the road in conference, it's always tough. We have a lot to do this week to prepare ourselves for a 60-minute football game."
On Brandon Sullivan's move to fullback:
"I think it's been a great plus for us. When we approached Brandon about the move, he's been nothing but positive. And I think (offensive coordinator) Al (Borges) has done some good things with him in the offense by putting in some flat backs or split backs. He's taken advantage of what Brandon can do in terms of running the ball, catching it and blocking. And last week, we had to make the transition back to tailback in the second half. He did a really nice job of getting positive yards up the field. He's kind of an unsung hero from a standpoint of the multiple things he can do. He's our personnel protector on punts, he's on our kickoff return team and he does a really good job in all those areas. "
On Ronnie Hillman:
"He'll practice today and do all of that stuff. I'd be shocked if he didn't play on Saturday."
On facing their fifth spread offense of the season:
"Well, they're all different. They do a lot with different formations. They'll move the tackle over a lot and get into jumbo formation looks with multiple tight ends. They're a little different than some of those other teams have been. Some of the base plays are there, but their personnel groups are different."
On avoiding a letdown after defeating No. 23 Air Force:
"I think our seniors have done a really good job of keeping the steadiness and attitude of our team. The assistant coaches have done a great job in their units. They've done a good job of reinforcing the "here and now" and how important the current game is. I like our team and how they've reacted and gone to work every day. We have to continue to do that, and continue to pay attention to all of the details."
On securing bowl eligibility with more one win:
"Our goal, expectations and what we are working for is the Mountain West Conference championship. If we don't do that, we have not succeeded."
Junior Quarterback Ryan Lindley
"There were a lot of frustrating plays with me overthrowing some guys and needing to just bear down and put it on them. We have some great players on the outside and what we have with our tight ends and backs. So I just need to put the ball in their hands so that they can make a play on it. Most of the time, they will. I'm really confident in the guys and they'll continue to make good plays for us."
On last week's performance:
On Brandon Sullivan:
"It's been great. Coach Borges has kind of compared him to Ronnie Brown when he was at Auburn, and how they moved him and Cadillac Williams around. He's done a great job of adapting. He's always been a great pass protector and he's really become a good lead blocker also. When Ronnie (Hillman) went out for a bit, he came in to play some tailback. He's really versatile for us and can make a lot of plays."
Senior Running Back Brandon Sullivan
"It feels great to have success, but we want more. Like Coach Hoke has said, our main goal is to win the Mountain West Conference championship. Obviously, we're not finished with that goal and that's all we focus on, day in and day out. We just need to keep getting better every day to put ourselves in position to win that championship."
On having success on the field as a senior:
On how it feels to be running the football again:
"It just feels good to play football period."
Senior Defensive Back Andrew Preston
"They're a different spread team than what we've faced this season. They have some different packages that they use. It might help a little bit, but it's all about watching our film and executing. "
On facing another spread offense:
On Wyoming quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels:
"He's really elusive and pretty fast. He's a smart quarterback who can get out of the pocket, but he still makes plays in the passing game even when he's running around. It will be a tough test for our defensive line and linebackers, and even our DB's when we blitz off the edge and have to contain him."