Postgame Quotes: UT 24, North Texas 0

Nov. 14, 2015

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Tennessee head coach Butch Jones

(Opening Statement)
"First of all, it's good to be bowl eligible. These kids have worked so hard, and knowing that we're going to a bowl game, we're proud of them. We have two very, very big games coming up. The more you win, the more that's at stake.

" I thought defensively, we really played well - held them to under 200 yards. I was really proud of our defense. I thought it was a great defensive effort. I thought they had a very, very good gameplan going into it. We had five possessions the entire second half, really three. That's very, very unusual. I thought they had a great gameplan.

"Mike Canales is a great, great football coach. I think he deserves to be in consideration to be the head football coach there. That's a well coached football team in some trying situations and what he's done is remarkable. The way they play, how hard they play, game planning, all that. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and everything that he's done, especially in some trying situations.

"There isn't a `U' behind the `W' that stands for `Ugly Win.' They're all wins, but we have to go back and we have to get better. We're going to be challenged the next couple weeks, but I thought our kids were gritty and grinded it out, and we got bowl eligible. We have a long ways to go, but we're proud of them.

(On the offensive efficiency in the second half)
"I think sometimes, when you go into a game like this, this is a game of patience. I think sometimes from a psychological standpoint, you're trying to get up in a hurry. I thought we looked up instead of just putting our heads down and playing at times. We started to press, and [saying] `Oh my gosh, it should be more than that.' That's a tribute to North Texas, but when you're possessions are limited like they were, you have to just focus on every single play.

"We had a good week of preparation, but it was just one of those games. When you look at the third downs, we were 7-of-16. But really, with first down efficiency, we didn't get in a rhythm all day. We have to be in a great rhythm offensively, and I just didn't think we really established a rhythm all day."

(On the offensive efficiency and Joshua Dobbs' limited mobility)
"It takes an element out of your offense, make no mistake about it. We have to able to execute in the other phases. I'll go back, I'll watch the video tonight. I'll try to pinpoint it. I thought we had a good week of preparation.

"I could sit here and tell you [it was] the first noon game, all that, but I'm not making excuses. It is what it is. Both teams had to play at this time.

"We have to play better, but again, we won the football game. I don't ever want to diminish that. Winning is fragile, as we know. We will look through everything, and I won't know a little bit more until I watch the video. It's hard to really tell from the sideline on a lot of things.

"I also thought we had some individuals step up and perform well. I thought Alvin Kamara really provided a spark for us. Defensively, I already spoke about that as well. There were a lot of positive things."

(On Alvin Kamara's performance)
"We needed him. He did a great job of really making the second level defender miss and getting the ball north and south. He provided a spark for us. That was great to see because we needed that. We needed some momentum plays.

"When you talk about rhythm and all that, we really didn't have a lot of big splash plays. When you need to get going, you need to get the fans involved, you need to get momentum, especially playing at home, you need more big plays. We weren't able to generate as many big plays as we would've liked to."

(On Joshua Dobb's passing in the pocket)
"He does a great job of throwing on the run. They did a good job of bringing the nickel blitzes and keeping him in the pocket. They did a good job in terms of making him stay in the pocket and do some things. I'll know a little bit more when I watch the video."

(On the defensive performance)
"We were always concerned about the quarterback run. They've done such a good job with the quarterback run, and then the attachment plays off of the run game. We knew that we were going to have to have great eye discipline, really read our keys. I thought for the most part we were able to do that today."

(On the reaction to North Texas' punting game)
"They were running the rugby-style kick, and they were overloading it to one side. They had shown it one time all year, and we were prepared for it. We made the adjustment.

"On the fake, everyone's assigned an individual and Chris Weatherd did a great job of eye discipline and being on his individual. That was a key play in the game. That was great to see that we had the discipline, and we take pride in that discipline. Chris did a very, very good job with that."

(On the field conditions affecting the aggressiveness of players)
"The thing that you have to stress is everything is about body position. You can't let your feet get outside the position of your body. So it's really being in a good football position which, we stress all the time. It's really just being in a football position and not letting your feet get outside the body."

(On frustration over field conditions)
"I've got to get our team ready. I know we'll take every possible adjustment. We will do everything we can on the field, but I've got to worry about getting this team ready to go for the next two weeks and playing our best football and getting our health back."

(On continuation of Darrin Kirkland Jr.'s improvement)
"Yeah. He has great instincts for the football. We knew that this would be a game that would challenge his discipline and how far he's come and his maturation as a linebacker just because of all of the attachment plays and reading the pulling guards and all that. Like we say every week, every rep he gets in a game situation is a great learning experience for him and then you accumulate an amount of reps over time and that's how you greatly improve. It was great to get Quinten Dormady in there today. We wanted to throw the football. We have great confidence in him and he did some good things for us and that's a tribute to him to being ready to go as well."

(On planning to get Quinten Dormady in the game earlier)
"Yeah, you just never take anything for granted and I was going to put him in at the end of the first half on the one minute drive. I wanted to try to get that rhythm going on offense and I didn't want to disrupt that one and get some momentum. We feel comfortable at any stage of the game with Quinten playing." (On Malik Foreman's increased speed and performance)
"He is. The game has really slowed down for Malik. I think Malik's playing with a lot of confidence right now. He's being much more aggressive. He's trusting what he sees. He's one of the fastest players on our football team and it's great to see him now--the game slowing down and him making more and more plays for us."

(On importance of Quinten Dormady getting game reps)
"Very important. That was very important to get those live game repetitions and that's why we still wanted to throw the football to prepare him. We have a lot of confidence in him, but I thought those reps were great moving forward. Now we can go on video tomorrow and we can correct and learn from them as well. That was great to be able to play all the way until the end."

Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara

(On his production)
"Give credit to the [offensive] line. They did great all week. Those receivers out on the perimeter, they did great all week blocking. Our scheme really came through and I was able to get a lot of those big runs."

Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs

(On Alvin Kamara's performance)
"He had big plays all throughout the entire game. Second play of the game, he had that 20-yard reception and then tacked in a touchdown after that. He kept growing from there. It was great to have that production. That's what we expect out of Alvin. We know the type of player he is and the playmaker he is when he gets the ball in his hands. It's great to have that weapon."

(On what he thought Quinten Dormady did well)
"He managed the game. When he came in, he was able to put some drives together and move the ball down the field. That was good to see."

Tennessee defensive lineman Derek Barnett

(On Malik Foreman's improvement)
"Malik is just balling, he's just not backing down from adversity. He keeps grinding everyday, comes out with a good attitude, comes to the complex everyday with a workman-like mindset."

(On how this game was compared to SEC games)
"I don't think it is. I mean it's just another day to play football. A bunch of people come and to watch us play, so, I feel like it's just an opportunity to play football and the other guys lining up against you. I like competition. The good ones love to play ball and don't care who it's against."

(On hitting his stride later on in the season)
"I just think I'm just mentally tough, you know. At the end of the year everybody is getting tired and everybody is beat up, including myself, but I just know I have to keep grinding through it. If I keep grinding, good things are going to come."

Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.

(On how he would evaluate the performance of the defense)
"Really, we just took our opportunities when they presented themselves. I think we did a good job as a whole containing what they gave us."

(On what the defense did to contain quarterback runs)
"It was really just our defensive line, containing, staying on their points, and making sure we rallied to the ball. They had some effective runs, but I feel like we handled them."

(On the defense getting the shutout)
"It feels great. Anytime you get a defense that pitches a shutout, it just shows the hard work that we put in all year."

(On why the defense played so well)
"Really just our preparation through the week. We've been getting better and better as time goes on, and we're just grateful for the opportunity this week."

(On if he is surprised how quickly his game has developed)
"Definitely. Especially from day one starting off as a freshman coming in, it was a big learning curve that I had to jump into and I'm grateful for everything that I've arrived at now and I've just been playing my game and making my plays, and I've been thankful for every opportunity while I'm in there."

Tennessee offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson

(On clinching bowl eligibility with two games to spare)
"It's pretty awesome. I'm really happy with it, and I just feel like I left this place better than when I got here, and that's really what I was trying to do the whole time. I think I can speak for every senior that is still here that, that is what we wanted to do. We wanted to bring Tennessee back to where it is supposed to be."

"That is why we've had those big recruiting classes these past few years. Those guys want to do the exact same thing. They want Tennessee to get back to the tradition of winning. We are working very hard toward that, and I'm very happy with this whole team. To be able to get to six wins before a last game nail biter. It feels good to have that clinched."

(On the next two games, and looking forward)
"It's huge. Vanderbilt is our rival so, we always want to win that game no matter what. And Missouri has had our number for the past few years. We want to be able to get that monkey off our back. We aren't trying to play these games to get in a better bowl. We are trying to play these games to win. We don't want to lose. We aren't concentrated on what bowl we go to. We're concentrated on Missouri now, and that's it. One day at a time, one week at a time. Once we figure this out, we can move on to the next week."

(On staying positive)
"As an older guy or someone that some other guys will look to, if I'm getting frustrated or yelling at somebody, or just getting down, they will feed off of me, and they will want to do the same thing. I can't have that happen. If we all are like that we're not going to be a good football team. I just have to stay positive as much as possible and I think everybody else does too. We trust in everyone on the offense, we trust in the play calling, and we just have to go out there and get it done. It's not just Xs and Os; it's the blood, flesh, and bones of the people that are out there doing it. We have to take that on ourselves, and be able to work on it."

(On how Alvin did today)
"He did a great job. He just made the right cuts. He made us right when we were wrong and [was] able to read our blocks. A lot of it is being able to set us up and be on the outside of one guy, and then cutting inside so he sets up the block. Alvin was really capable of doing that today, and it really helped. It got us two touchdowns. I'm sure he's really happy with it."

North Texas interim head coach Mike Canales

(Opening statement)
"I appreciate everyone being here. First off let me say how much respect I have for Butch Jones, this football team and his staff. That's a very good football team out there, and what we were able to do to keep the ball away from their offense and get them out of rhythm obviously played into our favor. I wish we could have put some points on the field, but that's a top notch defense in the SEC, they did a great job of bending, bending but not breaking and taking away some big plays that we may have had. We missed some throws and what not; our plan was to slow the game down as much as possible. We thought if we got 10 series or possessions we would be extremely happy. That meant playing into our favor that we could move the ball a little bit and keep them off the field. They are a team that plays with rhythm and tempo and we were able to keep them off balance enough that it obviously helped us. We weren't able to put the ball in the end zone, that's what I am frustrated with."

"I saw some really good things from our players. Our players fought, I knew that would happen. I knew they would reach down. We played Georgia when they were in the top 10, Alabama when they were number one, LSU when they were in the top 10. We've played Clemson when they are in the top 20. So our kids understand the history of our program going into places like this and giving great effort with great attitude and that was the mindset all through the week that I kept preaching to our players. Be the example, not the distraction. Play with great effort and come with a champion attitude. We talked about focus, I saw that in the comment that Butch preached to his players all week about playing us how they had to be Neyland focused. They had to limit the distractions, they put the ball down in the end zone and I was just hoping this wouldn't get away from us. The way our kids continued to fight, to get them off the field on third down. I brought as much energy and enthusiasm and passion for our players on the sidelines. I wanted them to know how proud of them I was. To start the fourth quarter and look up and it's 17-0. That's a big win for us. That's a win for us mentally, that we can take these into the next two weeks in preparation for Middle (Tennessee State) and UTEP. Maybe we can get us a win. If we play with that type of attitude, passion and effort good things are coming."

"I told the players before the game started, good things are coming if we do what are game plan was, but I have great respect for Butch. He's one of the best coaches in the business. He's got great players; they got bowl eligible today and I tip my visor to them. I know good things are coming for Tennessee. This is a really good football team. I know everyone says they may be a year away, I tell you what; they are going to be dynamite. They got some players; I looked out there and went 'oh my god, how are we going to hold up to these kids. How are we going to hold up to these players.' I'm just so proud of our team's effort, and I'm proud of the way they played and the effort they gave. But definitely much respect for what Butch has done for that program. I even talked to the defensive coordinator and said `your game plan worked.' Keep us on the field, milk clock, milk clock. Butch said the same thing, 'your game plan was right, it was exactly what you needed to do.' Try to slow the game down and get them out of their rhythm. We just weren't able to score some points, and that's where it's at."

(On 1975 game between UT and North Texas)
"I did, 40 years ago, this year. It's 40 years ago that North Texas came in here and beat Tennessee. There was seven turnovers and I said, 'Listen to the echoes. Draw back on the history of our program. Where we've gone into some very tough environments in the SEC, ACC or the Big 10 and had to draw from the previous players that have showed what North Texas is about; the grit, the toughness that we show as a team. I want you to draw from the history and the past of going to places like this, where people don't give you much of a chance.' You go and play hard, you give great effort, you draw from the former players, and that's what we did today. It's unfortunate the score didn't show it, but we saw great things."

(On team's 'go for it' style of play)
"We had to, we had nothing to lose. I told our players that. We are going to play to win, you do the trick play on the punt. The fourth and one, if he follows the guard we probably the first down and who knows what happens, maybe you have a chance to go score. How many trick plays do you have. On offense we didn't have one, because they're too fast, they react too fast. We figured maybe we can get it on special teams, I talked to Tommy (Perry) about it and he said 'I think it's there.' I watched him work it all week, and if they commit to it, it'll be there. It just unfortunately a pretty superior athlete was able to rebound and recover."

(On confidence gained by defense)
"It will definitely give us some confidence going into the next two games. We've had a tough year both offensively and defensively. A lot of people were on us, but that didn't matter. I told our guys it's all about playing this game, that's all that matters. To show the grit, the toughness, the resolve to go out there and play a SEC team and to hold them to 24 points, I'm proud of our players, I'm proud of our staff."

(On rugby style punts)
"I don't want to give it to Berry, I don't want to give it to Sutton. Are you kidding me, those guys are unbelievable. Those guys can take a play and in a blink you are down seven. That was the thought process. We worked on the rugby punt all week long, and we worked on the sky kick just trying to keep it away from their hands. They are number one in the country, let's be honest. It was the right thing to do and it paid dividends. They got one clean one and I thought he was gone. I was just squeezing, thinking 'please don't let this guy break it,' but we were able to tackle him. But, yeah that was the thought."

(On injured junior offensive lineman Kaydon Kirby)
"I haven't heard the reports yet. He lifted his arms and said 'Coach, I want to go, I want to go. I was running, I got caught and I may have landed wrong.' We won't know probably tomorrow or later tonight. Kaydon wanted to come back in, we just thought for the next two games we needed to have him healthy, so we said let's just keep him out."

(On freshman offensive lineman Creighton Barr stepping in)
"I'm so proud of all of them, our backup offensive linemen had a chance to play in a SEC stadium, in an environment like this. They played toe-to-toe with some of these guys. I didn't see their two's in there. They wanted a shutout, I get it. I'm extremely proud of the effort they gave."

North Texas defensive back Zac Whitfield

(On advice he gave to team)
"Just telling the younger guys like Brooks and Preston to just go out and have fun man. It's just another game, that's all it is. It's just another stage that you're playing on."

(On competing against Tennessee)
"We knew that they were going to put points on the board. They're a great team, they're a really good team. I mean we knew coming in that they were going to score regardless, you know any team is going to score regardless. We knew that we just had to continue to fight and keep playing our game."

(On the team's objective)
"We came here looking to win and have fun and make plays. We have nothing to lose anymore, so we're going to let it all out."

(On making big stops)
"On defense our coach always harps on reading our keys and just knowing exactly where to be at and just trusting the defense and trusting your teammates. That's what we did all night long, just having faith in our team that if I'm in my spot then he's in his spot."

North Texas tight end Marcus Smith

(On pulling out all of the stops)
"We're going against a great team, a great opponent, so you know we tried to do a lot of things that's going to try and catch them off guard. If not catch them off guard just something that you know we haven't shown before on film. So we used that punt fake and it was successful, but just knowing that we completed it and if it was a shorter distance we would've got it, for sure going for fourth downs you know towards the end of the season, we kind of just got to go all out really. The ones that we didn't execute well on we're unfortunately the fourth and ones, but to know that we had that fire and that drive against this team was really impressive to me."

(On playing against Tennessee)
"A lot of people don't come in this game and think that North Texas is going to put up a strong fight, but you know I'm proud of my team and what we did. Unfortunately, we just didn't come up with the win."

(On getting key stops)
"I got to give a shout out to my defense because they played exceptionally well against a good, down-hill running team. If a lot of people didn't tune in throughout the full game you would think that Tennessee was just trying to man handle us. I guess you could say that wasn't the game at all. We stuck with it the full way. They had some bigger plays than us, which led to our demise, but you know I also think that we can improve as well too."

North Texas quarterback DeMarcus Smith

(On playing against the pressure of Tennessee)
"Still not satisfied, still some growing pains we're going through. We moved the ball well. That's pretty much the story of our offense these past couple of weeks. Just moving the ball pretty well, just got to continue to fight and try to figure out how we're going to put the ball in the end zone. I think that's what we had to do today, we just weren't able to get it done."

(On making improvements)
"I think just the biggest curve we have to really get over is just getting over that hump of not only just moving the ball and having good drives, having good timing possessions, [but} really just putting the ball in the end zone. That starts with me, so I take full responsibility for that and try to figure out however I'm going to do it in these last two weeks. We have to put something together [and] finish out strong, and for the offense, just get it done."

(On the impact of Tennessee vs. North Texas history)
"There's actually a sign that we always see walking to the locker room. It actually mentions a fun fact about the last time we played an SEC team, and we played Tennessee and that was the last time we beat them. We see that and of course everybody noticed it this week going in, and we came in with good focus."

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