2019 UTSA Football
Media Availability Quotes
Oct. 14, 2019
Head Coach Frank Wilson
On if his approach with the team on Sunday was different …
"Much different, because here is what usually happens. We have one goal, and that is to win the game. Offensively to score one more point then our opponent and defensively to hold them to one less point and in special teams to win the field position game. To put us in position to advantage our team. Those are our goals in each one of those disciplines, or areas, of the game. We address each of them and then we go into the specifics, whether it was a turnover margin, third down, red zone, missed tackles. You highlight the things that were either really good or really bad, or a combination of both. Sunday was different in that the head coach presentation talked all about the good that we did. I wanted them to see the good in them, I wanted them to see the good that came out of the game. They have enough people telling them what they did not do right and what they should do. I just wanted to say to our team that they are worthy. That you are quality. That you continue to make strides. It didn't show up in the win/loss column in this week but understand that is the Conference USA champs. That is the team that rushed for nearly 500 yards and threw for nearly 300 on us a year ago. That you held under 200, rushing. That there are nine-plus tackles for losses in there, a couple of sacks tied in there with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one we recovered. We had some big plays there that we didn't have a year ago. We mustered three points and that was by way of field position. There were big throws and big runs throughout the duration of the game that gave us a chance. You have to be commended for making those strides. We are not in a celebratory manner right now because we didn't achieve our ultimate goal, which is to win. But to ignore the fact that we have improved against the best team in our conference, would be a mistake. I wanted to raise the awareness of the gap that was closed with us and that opponent as our conference champ, who basically had their way with everybody in our conference a year ago."
With a homecoming tilt with Rice set for Saturday, @CoachWilsonUTSA talked about preparation for the Owls during Monday's media roundtable. #BirdsUp 🤙
— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) October 14, 2019
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On if the team needed a change in approaches on Sunday …
"I don't know that they necessarily needed it. I felt that - human nature, when things don't go your way, when you are going through adversity you begin to wonder and question. I don't know if they began to wonder and question but I wanted to give them answers in case they did or did not. I wanted to have resolve in understanding that this is where we are at, this is how we are going to finish and this is where we are going to be at the end of it. I wanted to empower them. I wanted them to feel good about improvement but far from satisfied because achievement has still not been attained with the victory. I've been around it long enough. I know the pulse of a team and the different emotions of a roller-coaster year when you are trying to find a way. I tried to be proactive and address it."
On if the team had planned on taking more shots in the passing game down the field …
"Part of the game plan. We have to be able to do that. We have to take shots down the field. We had guys that were open. We didn't connect all the time. We will again. We will probably take even a couple of more in this game. We'll find our rhythm, we'll find that connection. It's something that we continue to work on in practice to improve ourselves. Not content with just the short game, the intermediate game. The ability to throw down the field is something we constantly seek and that is something we are going to continue to strive after."
On what an offense that takes deep shots does to a defense …
"It makes a team have to balance up. They cannot just play the run. They'll have to defend the pass. Especially when they know you have a willingness to throw it. However many completions and how productive you are will make it even more effective. The fact that you are willing to do it speaks, as well. We are willing to. We are willing to take those shots and throw the ball and spread the field. To complete them on the back end, complement our run game."
On if it takes an explosive offense to win in C-USA …
"The teams that have been most successful are teams that can score, play good defense and rush the ball, with the balance of being able to hit the shot plays down the field."
On Rice …
"They are a good football team that has played some really good football teams. They've played well against all of those teams. That is not coincidental. They are playing well against really good football teams. It is reason to be noteworthy to respect this opponent. They have the ability. They've been in all those games, maybe minus the Texas and Wake game, they've been right at opportunity. This game has always been a close one. Like the UTEP game, it always goes down to it. We recognize that. They certainly pose a challenge. They are really good at the defensive front position. They are strategic about what they do from an offensive perspective. They kind of got off their tendency against UAB two weeks ago and threw it 30 something times, which had not been their identity. But a willingness to do whatever it takes to win the game, it gave them a chance to win the game. True to form, they are a team that is built on what their identity as intellectual brutality. Mike (Bloomgren) does a great job, has always since his time at Stanford, and he has brought that same kind of persona there. That's how they speak of it and that is their style of play. I think they are at the point to be able to open it up and take some shots down the field as well. They have three capable receivers that are pretty good."
On the brother of freshman safety Rashad Wisdom, Bryce, who is battling cancer …
"Very close to the family, as you know. Bryce means the world to his family. We have the same sentiments. He is a part of the UTSA family. He has been since the recruitment of Rashad. He had a voice in Rashad coming to school here. He was very pro-UTSA when Rashad had offers all over the country. He is just a wonderful soul. Your heart goes out to what he and the family are going through. I generally text or talk with him and his parents and just draw strength from them. How courageous of a young man he is and what he is going through. He gets up every day, doesn't complain or wince. He just goes about living life to its fullest. It is a beautiful thing. It puts things in perspective of how blessed we are. Of good health. I truly believe that he is a guardian angel that God sent down here for his family and for the well-being of this community. He is constant in our prayer and our thoughts. It was a beautiful sight to see him as we came through the Spirit Walk. I got a big hug from him and had a few words with him. Now as he gets ready to combat that with his treatment, certainly our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
On Rashad Wisdom's mindset …
"Wise beyond his years. Very mature. Handles that situation as well as you can handle it for his younger brother, for his family. A 3.5-3.8 student academically. Extremely bright. Caring. Humble. Hard working. He just has the right outlook in life. What his family is going through, what Rashad deals with on a daily basis as far as just being a student-athlete, a big brother, a great teammate, I could not ever justly put into words. Just love he and his family for what they stand for, both Richard and Dianna, his parents and how they've raised their son is a beautiful thing."
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