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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Transcript from Coach Cutcliffe's Monday Press Conference
6/21/1999 | Football
December 21, 1998
DAVID CUTCLIFFE PRESS CONFERENCE
December 21, 1998
Opening Remarks
"I just want to say how pleased we are with the squad's attitude and the way they have approached what has been a tough situation getting to know a new staff and the staff getting to know them. I can't say enough about what our staff has done and how those men have worked doing all that they have had to do to get prepared. I think it was a little bigger task than we thought it would be, getting all the logistics and all the terminology, and the language in place. It's been just an outstanding effort by all involved. We've had good work here on campus. We'll close out Tuesday with somewhat of a review. When we get back together in Shreveport, I think we'll be able to pick up where we left off. We're looking forward to game-week down there."
Q: What is Romaro Miller's situation?
A: I think he's still day to day at this time. He's very tender, but he has practiced well the last few days. You can see him getting better and better. I don't think there's any question that we will go in planning, at best, both of them (Romaro Miller and David Morris) playing. How Romaro is going to manage a game situation is still a mystery. I don't know how much he will be able to play. I've really been pleased with his approach. He's really worked hard. He's being mentally and physically tough about this.
Q: Have you held him back as to what he's been able to do?
A: Yes, quiet a bit, particularly early. We were letting him go a period or two early in practice and then just shut it down for him. He's done more each day. I thought today (Monday) was his best day. He's eager and has a lot of pride. He's trying to get himself comfortable with the coaching staff. I just can't measure in my mind how much he's going to be able to play football while getting hit or what the situation will be when he has to throw it hard. There's no way to measure it right now, that's why I say it's day to day.
Q: What about the progress of David Morris?
A: He's making a lot of progress. He hasn't had a lot of work. He played a game. He had not had a lot of work before that game. He's feeling his way. He's a true freshman. He's not a freshman who has played all year and practiced all year. He's challenged, but he's a tough youngster, a mentally tough youngster. He's very eager. He's spent a lot of extra time off the practice field. We've had a lot of meeting time and that's a big plus for bowl preparation. The quarterbacks have utilized that, but we need more of it. Our biggest concern this morning was that we would get some bad weather, but we knew we could use the time to meet this afternoon. We're trying to make sure of every bit of time we have.
Q: How have things come together in such a short time? Are they ready to play a game or do they need that practice time in Shreveport?
A: We better get a few practices in Shreveport. We're going to need them. As a coach, you have a picture in your mind what you expect it to look like. This transition, using a different terminology and different language and trying to mix and match a few things, is probably more difficult than I ever imagined. Also, we have new coaches learning to talk to each other. Just the terminology being used is a tough thing to overcome. We do need the practice time, but we're getting better. We're watching the practice tapes and seeing marked improvement every day. The players are getting more comfortable, but we still need to make a good evaluation as to what we can do. We're still looking at a few things and we'll make a good evaluation of what we'll do in Shreveport. We're trying to figure out what we'll do best in the ball game. We're not ready to play a game, but we're getting closer. These guys are eager and they'll be fine.
Q: What has surprised you about this team?
A: They are really a very attentive group. They are good listeners. That hasn't really been a surprise, but a great plus. You go into a team meeting and you have all the eye contact you want. We've been getting things we need to do on time. It's been a great start from that standpoint. It's been pleasing that we haven't had to use someone to make an example out of. They are doing what we're asking them to do. I think that they like contact. That's been pleasing that this team likes contact. That may sound like a silly thing, but I don't think that every football team I've been around, as a team, loved contact. We'll use that to our advantage.
Q: What are some of the things you have discussed with your staff?
A: We talk about a lot of things before we go on the field. We've talked about the things we have in mind and the formula we wanted to use to get ourselves ready to be competitive. This is a game we all want this team to be proud of. We challenge the football team in meetings and when we get to the field. They have responded. As a coaching staff, we've already learned a lot about this team. A lot of these team members will be back during spring practice. This gives us an opportunity to evaluate a lot of people at one time. It's a short period of time to do that. It also gives us a great opportunity to work with a small, but great senior class. It's a great opportunity as a coaching staff to evaluate where your people are.
Q: What has Art Kaufman meant to you during this time of transition?
A: A great deal. Art is an outstanding football coach and he's been great for the whole staff. Our players have great respect for him, and that's obvious. I've watched him work on the field now. I love to watch his drills. He's a teacher, a coach, and a competitor. He's been a great bridge for this staff. We're really proud that he's a part of this staff.
Q: Are you doing anything different than this team used during the regular season?
A: We're going to use the Ole Miss terminology. We felt like that we would have paralysis by analysis if we made them think too much. We're really in the Ole Miss system, but we're trying to make some adjustments, trying to put a wrinkle or two in, but we're pretty much doing what they know how to do. That's why we need a spring practice. Most importantly, we want to maintain our aggressiveness. We've put a couple of new things in for the bowl game.
Q: Have you made any adjustments to the personnel?
A: We've made some adjustments to some of the special teams players. That's been a challenge. We've spent a lot of time working on special teams. Those guys have responded well. Defensively, they will be very similar. We're actually working some people both ways. It could be a player or two who will play, a little bit, both ways.
Q: What have you seen in Eddie Strong?
A: He likes to hit you. I watched him work in the weight room the other day. I liked the way he went about his business in the weight room. This was before we got on the practice field. I watched Eddie pretty closely. I watched him as a drill player, and he was intense as a drill player. When we got to the scrimmage period, I saw the same intensity. That consistency is what you're looking for. As a young football player, that's unusual. That's a great tribute to Eddie. If he continues to improve physically, Eddie can be just a really outstanding football player.
Q: What's the story about some of the players helping the coaches learn the system?
A: Matt Luke, Romaro Miller, David Morris, Deuce McAllister, and Rufus French came over late Sunday night last week. We had to question them about a lot of things. It was a fun night, but it was challenging. It's just a different language. A lot of things are the same thing, but you have to hear what they have to say and then formulate a picture in your mind, plus we had the opportunity to look at the tape. Scott McDuffie, a graduate assistant on offense, has been fantastic. Without Scott, the rest of my hair would have turned gray or turned loose. He's been outstanding. We've had a lot of late nights and we've managed to overcome that and, at least, we can all understand each other right now.
Q: How long after you got here following the SEC Championship Game did you meet with them?
A: Well, that was basically a week afterwards. When we came back the next day we really put more emphasis on the recruiting aspects of it first. Then getting the staff hired, and doing some of the clerical things that had to be done. Then when we got to that next weekend. We started preparing to start practicing football. That seems like a month and a half, two months ago, but I realize that was only a week and a half, two weeks ago.
Q: How long did that meeting take?
A: Those guys stayed for about three or four hours Sunday night. After that we had to stay and hash it out as a staff. Like I said, you can't say enough about what these men have done. This staff has been very dedicated. You couldn't ask for a group of people to do anymore than what they've done over the last couple of weeks.
Q: You've been head coach for three weeks and a lot has happened, talk about how many hours a week you guys are putting in, and when can you see it slowing down? If at all?
A: I know there will be no chance of things slowing down until after the signing date in February. These guys have worked well past midnight and they're back before 6:30 a.m. It's just been that way. It's been just a matter of having to do it. We're not doing anything above and beyond. That's what it's taking to be functional. There's a lot of tired guys that might sleep a little later on Christmas morning than they normally would when Santa Claus is coming.
Q: Talk a little bit about Texas Tech and what you're expecting from them?
A: I think Texas Tech is an outstanding football team. I've had the misfortune, I guess of having to play against them before. Coach Spike Dykes does an outstanding job, he and his staff. You know they're going to be a well-rounded football team. They're going to play extremely well in the kicking game. They play good hard nose defense. They're going to stop the run. They're going to challenge you. They're not afraid to play man coverage. They're a very aggressive defensive football team. Offensively, great balance. Great tempo offensively. They establish a tempo that bothers a lot of defensive teams. They're throwing for 200 yards per game, running for 200 yards per game. They have an outstanding tailback, a huge offensive line. I thought they were really misfortunate in not being a 9-2 or even a 10-1 team. They had a tough schedule and some close games. If things would have fallen a little differently, they could have had just a phenomenal year and they had an outstanding year as it was.
Q: Can you talk about what you've seen from Rufus French since you've been there. Does he give you a different kind of weapon and versatility at that position?
A: Rufus is certainly the most versatile player at tight end that I've been around in my career. He's worked hard. He's got a great attitude. He's getting better everyday. He's trying to become a complete player, and he really wants to become a complete player. He's eager and hungry. He's been coached hard, he's working hard, and he's made numerous plays out there. He's been tired. He's gotten tired. He's gotten a lot of reps on the practice field. He's not going to run away from work. I was pleased with that. It's been a lot of fun. Rufus is a guy that can make a lot of plays. It's great to have that kind of player on your team.
Q: Have you talked with him about the draft at all?
A: Rufus and I have talked at different times at length. I told him this, and I'm not qualified to counsel him, I haven't been here long enough, that it's something Rufus and his family will have to address when the time comes. He's been great, because he's been focused on what he's been doing. He hasn't been distracted. He hasn't been a distraction to his friends or to his teammates. I don't think Rufus wants to talk about it very much right now to be honest with you. We'll address that obviously after the bowl game. You couldn't be more pleased about how he's gone about his business. We talked, and we kind of know where we stand, and we're going to leave it at that until after the bowl game.
Q: How much have you studied Texas Tech?
A: We've looked at them a lot. Every chance we get, we're looking at them with the players, and we've had a lot of meeting time on Texas Tech. Like I said, I was fortunate enough to open up with them at Tennessee last year, so I spent a summer looking at their defensive scheme. They do a really good job. They put a lot of pressure on you to execute. We're going to have to do a really good job offensively, and know what we are doing. We can't be confused and be successful, because they challenge you in many ways mentally.
Q: Do they remind you of anybody in the SEC?
A: Arkansas defensively. They are very aggressive. They put a lot of people on the line of scrimmage. Offensively, there might be a similar comparison to us. Big, can run the ball. Outstanding tailback, great balance. They're not one dimensional defensively, and they're certainly not one dimensional offensively. That's why they're a tough opponent.
Q: There's been some speculation that you would have been better off not having a bowl game to start you coaching career. What's your take on that?
A: I disagree with that. I think, first of all, I'm glad our seniors are getting this opportunity. They deserve it. Number two, I'm glad this team has this opportunity. They deserve to be in a bowl game. To go back just merely looking at it from our perspective, to have this period of time to get acquainted, this period of time to evaluate what we have here before we actually get into the month of January where we're hot and heavy in our recruiting, I think it helps a great deal for a new staff to know your personnel. It's been great. Otherwise, we would have been looking at the first day of spring practice to say what we're going to do as a practice format. This is what this coach's personality and what he expects. To overcome that in this period of time is invaluable. I wouldn't trade this for anything, again number one for the players, but number two, for us.
Q: How much are you evaluating personnel for the bowl game, and how much are you evaluating for the future?
A: We're certainly doing both. I think probably on any competitor's mind is first to evaluate what we have to do to play the ball game. That's what our staff's focus is on when we get back from practice and watch practice tape. Our focus is entirely on getting this team ready to play. We've had recruiting meetings in the process, and in those meetings we focus on what our needs may be and what the future holds here. So, I think we're evaluating for both, but most prominent on our minds is getting this football team ready to play a game because your a competitor and you want to make sure that the players here now have the best opportunity to be the best they can be in this situation for this game.
Q: How much difference have you found from being an offensive coordinator and a head coach?
A: I'm so busy out there on the practice field offensively right now that I don't feel much difference. Although, I've taken the time to look at our defensive players and I've enjoyed watching our defensive staff work. I really haven't had time to think about it much. It just feels natural and normal in what I'm doing. I've always been busy, now I'm just busier. I don't know how else to say it. It just seems natural. I'm having a great time. I'm smiling, every time I turn around we're all busy. During this whole thing, this task has been more challenging than I thought. I'm going to be totally honest about that. To sit here and say I was ready for this , I don't know anybody that would be ready for this, as fast as it has gone. It's really been a bigger challenge than I anticipated. It's just been fun. If this is hard as it gets, than we'll be all right. It may get harder down the road and we'll be all right then too. It's been a lot of fun. Again the staff has been so responsive, and so willing to go to work and carry their load and then some. They've certainly taken the burden off me.
