COACH BARNETT'S PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
BOULDER ? The University of Colorado held its weekly press conference Tuesday at the Dal Ward Athletic Center, as head coach Gary Barnett addressed the media about last week's overtime victory over Kansas and this week's matchup with Kansas State (12:10 p.m. MDT). The following contains quotes from the afternoon press session.
ON LAST WEEK'S VICTORY OVER KANSAS?'There were a lot of big plays " almost two different games between the first half and second half, especially with our defense. We didn't make the stupid play that we made in the first half. When that kid caught the ball lying on the ground in the end zone on the Hail Mary I said, ?I've seen it all.' We had four of those plays it seemed like in the first half. The second half we came out and our defense tightened down. The last time they were on the field before the overtime, we had three true freshmen, a senior, a redshirt freshman and a sophomore in the secondary with six DBs. That's not a real confidence booster, but that's the way it was. In overtime they made a play to allow us to win the game. I felt like our defense came out and played better and tackled better in the second half. Hopefully that will provide them with a little spark, a little incentive and a little confidence to come play this game at Kansas State. Offensively and on special teams, it was just a game of critical plays. Right now our offense is playing with a lot of confidence. Joel Klatt obviously is the catalyst there and he's incredible to watch. He's fun to watch and its fun to think about the fact that he'll hopefully be around for a couple more years. He's got a great set of receivers to throw the ball to and right now we're playing as well as any set of receivers that I've been around. We were able to find a run game a little bit. I really liked the way that our offense attacked the defense and the way we were able to run the ball to win the game. We really did some good things on special teams, especially in the PAT and field goal area with Mason Crosby kicking the ball as well as he did. John Torp hit a big punt out of the back of the end zone ? that was a big play. I feel like we're getting closer and closer on our special teams to where it's an asset for us and not a liability.'
ON KANSAS STATE?'This is a little different scenario than we've both been in the last two years, but not really. The way the (Big 12) North is right now, who knows? Your guess is as good as mine how it's going to end up, so everybody sort of in control of their own destiny at this point even though Kansas State and ourselves both have three losses. We have to expect to see a team that is much like a wounded animal that is going to come out fighting. I know that feeling after we lost last week to Baylor " you tend to question things. Kansas State's offense is as powerful as it's ever been, especially now that Ell Roberson is back. We struggled with them last year in the shootout that we had here at Folsom " he and Darren Sproles ran for a ton of yards. Their whole backfield between the quarterback, tailback and the fullback, is an all-Big 12 backfield. You add to that the wide receiver, James Terry, who is playing great. They are every bit as powerful and potent as everybody thought going into the season. Where they haven't been a typical Kansas State team has been in their defense. They've given up some points ? more than they're used to giving up. If there is any change, that's where it is. For us, hopefully the second half of the Kansas game gives our defense a little bit of confidence going there to play the option and various things that Roberson throws out to us. He's a really good player; he's tough to tackle and he's the key. You've got to somehow find a way to corral him; if you can do that then you've got a chance. Sproles is a really fast, good running back and they are finding different ways to use him. They are throwing the ball to him now, putting him on punt returns and putting him on kickoff returns. They're going to put the big play guy in there as much as they can. Our offense has got to keep clicking. We just have to keep moving the ball, be able to rush the ball a little bit and get the ball to our wide receivers, which is our strength right now. They haven't changed their defensive scheme; they are still going to cover the wide outs with bump-and-run, man-to-man coverage. They are going to always try to have an extra hat in the box and that's who they've been through the years. This is a big game for both teams.'
ON ELL ROBERSON?'He's going to get his yards, you just have to, if you can, reduce the number of big plays that you give him. He's going to have some either running or throwing it, but you have to restrict or reduce them. If we can just contain him a little bit and not give him the great big play, we might be all right. You have to hope for some breaks and chase the ball and maybe something good will happen.'
ON THE HUNT FOR THE BIG 12 NORTH TITLE?'You look at what you've got ahead of you, not what's behind you. A week ago I asked the team to practice and prepare like they were 5-0, because when you're 5-0 you are in the hunt. Now we are in the hunt so we don't have to pretend anymore. We're not 5-0 or 6-0, but we're in the hunt now. Hopefully that would provide some incentive.'
ON CU's TURNOVER MARGIN?'We've gotten very few turnovers and we turned it over three or four times on Saturday. Had we not done that, that score would've been even better for us. It's amazing how much we stress turnovers in practice, both preventing them and creating them, but we haven't had much to show for it on either side. We've been turning it over a lot.'