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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Cotton Bowl Press Conference Transcript
12/18/2003 | Football
Dec. 18, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. -
COTTON BOWL PRESS CONFERENCE
HEAD COACH David Cutcliffe
OPENING COMMENTS:
We've had six days of practice to this point, and most of it has been focused on fundamentals and getting our legs back under us. We're preparing ourselves in general. We've gotten some good study of Oklahoma State from a coaching standpoint and with the players in meetings. Most of our time on the field has been spent on fundamentals. We're taking today off the field, it's just classroom work only. Tomorrow we'll be back on the field focusing on fundamentals and getting a game plan in for Oklahoma State. We'll have the whole game plan in before we leave for Christmas.
Q: Who would you say Oklahoma State reminds you of as a team?
A: Well the remind me a little bit of us. They are very similar defensively, scheme-wise. Offensively they believe in balance. They run the football for better numbers than we do, but they are very much a balanced offense with threats in the passing game. They have a great player at wide receiver. I'm being honest when I say they are more similar to us than probably anyone else in the Southeastern Conference.
Q: Can you talk about Rashaun Woods a little bit?
A: Rashaun Woods is big, fast and has great hands. There's no part of the game he doesn't have. He's a great runner with the ball after he catches it. He's a very tough receiver. He's as good as any receiver in the country.
Q: Can you talk about Oklahoma State running backs Tatum Bell and Vernand Morency?
A: Tatum Bell and Vernand Morency are outstanding backs. They are very similar to what we see week in and week out with the good teams in our league. They aren't easy to tackle. They've got great quickness. That doesn't mean we're used to it. It doesn't make it easy that we see good backs. They are going to be very difficult to defend. Their numbers are as good or better than anyone in our league.
Q: Can you talk more about Oklahoma State's receivers?
A: They've got good receivers other than Woods. If you play against a great defensive team like Oklahoma, who makes it hard to be successful and get time to throw the ball, that's not just coverage. It's the same problems we have week in and week out playing those phenomenal defensive teams.
Q: Can you talk about the Cowboy's special teams?
A: They are very solid in the special teams area. They are second in the country in punt returns. They do an outstanding job in coverage. They are very fundamentally sound and solid. I think it's big in bowl games. With teams who have been off for a while, it's about who can get back in a groove with their special teams and who takes care of the football. Special teams will play a big role in this game in my opinion..
Q: Is the attitude preparing for the Cotton Bowl any different from preparations for the Independence Bowl?
A: No, we're using the same principles and format we always use. We have a philosophy on how to prepare for bowl games. One of the pleasant things has been our surface in the stadium. We've had a lot of ran and cold nights where you get the freeze and thaw effect on the ground. That's really helped us compared to years past. You go back to the Music City Bowl and we had a hindrance finding a place to practice.
Q: Can you talk about Eli's mind and what makes him so special?
A: I think being able to formulate so much information period, but to be able to formulate it in three or four seconds. He can think more thoughts and make more decisions quicker than anyone I have been around. He's exceptional athletically, but he's very gifted when it comes to being a student of the game. His ability to be functional with that information is the difference.
Q: You've had several fourth-quarter comebacks, how heartbroken was he and the team not being able to get it against LSU?
A: It was really frustrating. We got down there close and I thought we were going to be able score a touchdown. We drove the ball the length of the field and got in the plus end of the field and stalled. It was a major disappointment. It was a great atmosphere here and the stage was set, we just weren't able to finish the job.
Q: Based on what you've seen on film, would you compare Rashaun Woods to Chris Collins?
A: They're similar players with similar size. Both can run with the football after they catch it. Both players make plays for you and find a way to get it in the endzone. Obviously he gets it in the endzone if you look at the statistics. They are similar players.
Q: Can you elaborate on Eli and how he has handled being at Ole Miss after his father and what his brother did at Tennessee?
A: The best indication of what was to come, was we had a day called Meet The Rebels which is a culmination of our fall practice and fans can come get autographs.. He hadn't played a down here, but I can remember looking at him and it was overwhelming. I think he handled it well. He's handled it well because of his poise and his character. He has a manner about himself and doesn't take himself too seriously. He enjoys the college life, his friends, and his teammates. I think he's kept all of it in perspective the entire time.
Q: Can you compare Eli and Peyton and do you think he'll be as successful in the NFL?
A: I think they are very similar players. They do a lot of things the same. There's no doubt he'll be a success in the NFL.
Q: Eli's demeanor is shaped by his parents. Can you talk about how he is a product of growing up in that atmosphere?
A: Certainly he's a product of his environment. It's helped having a father and a brother who have been through the same experiences he is going through. I am sure he leans on the heavily and gathers information. His personality is a combination of his dad and mother. He reminds me a lot of Olivia as well. He's had a great upbringing and they are an outstanding family.
Q: Did Eli let you down easy when he told you he wasn't coming to Tennessee?
A: He was good about it. He doesn't mind speaking his mind. He told me he wasn't coming and following Peyton at Tennessee. He was cordial and I told him I would be there to bounce things off and tell him anything about anyone else if he needed to.
Q: Can you talk about what impresses you about Chris Collins?
A: Chris' toughness has impressed me. he plays the game like it should be played whether he's at wide receiver, gunner on the punt team or returning or blocking on punts. He's had that toughness since he was a freshman. That allowed him to play early in our league. He's got skills, but that toughness was what impressed me.
Q: Can you talk about the boost to recruiting that playing in the Cotton Bowl could give you?
A: it may open some doors for us in Texas. You always look at the open doors in the recruiting process. Getting some attention in Texas we may not normally get is good. I think playing in a bowl with the stature of the Cotton Bowl may get more attention here or in Florida or Georgia or wherever else we're recruiting. We're thrilled to be a part of a bowl like the Cotton Bowl with a great tradition.
Q: Can you talk about your secondary and the challenge of facing Oklahoma State's receivers?
A: The secondary has gained confidence the last part of the season. We've had our moments both ways. They know they are going to be challenged. Oklahoma State has a propensity for making big plays with the passing game, and we have been known to give up the big passing plays. Something's going to give. It's preparation and getting ready mentally and physically. We've got a big challenge ahead of us, but hopefully we'll be ready.
Q: Can you talk about the running game of Oklahoma State and the challenges it presents? A: That'll be fun. They're a great running football team, but we've improved as a rushing defense. I think that part of the game is going to be physical. If you like real football, that's what you want to go see. I'm anxious to see what's going to happen.
Q: Can you talk about Von Hutchins?
A: Von Hutchins has had a good season. He's had moments too where it didn't go his way. I'm sure he's like all these seniors in their last opportunity. He's looking forward to taking that last opportunity and playing as well as he can play.
Q: Can you talk about the Cowboy running game?
A: They have some misdirection, but they can come right at you. They do a lot of things with motion and formation to try to gain an advantage. We're going to have to be on our toes. They have a nice mix with the running game.
Q: Were you surprised with Tremaine Turner and the way he stepped up this season?
A: Not really. Tremaine Turner been a consistent player since he's been here. He's had a solid season for the most part which benefited him. If you look around our league, not many backs stayed healthy period. It's difficult this day and time to stay healthy as a running back. He's a solid player and you know what you are going to get from him.
Q: Is a bowl game an opportunity to play some of your younger guys and get experience for the next season?
A: We're going to have to play with our best to play a team like Oklahoma State. In a bowl game you're playing a successful, outstanding opponent. you hope by this time of the year that w played some people who got themselves ready. Our philosophy is if you show on the practice field you are ready, then you will get some snaps. I hope through this bowl practice our depth improves and some people are in a position to play.
Q: Can you talk about Micheal Spurlock?
A: He's had a good season. Every practice is his game day. It has to be intense. He's not getting many game snaps, so instead of wasting this year, he has to take advantage. We're playing for the championship with every snap he takes out there, and he has that attitude. If he continues on this track, I think he has a chance to be an outstanding player. What he does in this bowl preparation and in spring practice will determine how comfortable we are with him next season.
Q: Talk about the recruiting process for JUCOs at Ole Miss.
A: We recruit the junior colleges hard in Mississippi. It's an outstanding league with outstanding talent. They are extremely well coached so you get a quality evaluation of the player. You can really know what you are getting. We are looking for immediate help in certain areas.
Q: Did it take coaching through a couple of bowl games to find the right mix of time off and practice?
A: Every team is a little different. We have a philosophy. I've been fortunate to have coached in 20 bowl games, so I have all of those practice schedules and all those things to refer back to. We have a system based on past experience, so that helps. We use that system and believe in it.
Q: I notice your numbers look like it was power football in the running game against Alabama. Can you be like that every game?
A: I don't know if that's the case. We've played against teams who are very effective in their run defense. We throw the ball because we can effectively throw it and a lot of our weapons are based in that area. One of the things different about this year was when we wanted to or needed to run the ball, we were more effective in doing so. That made us a much better offense.
Senior Quarterback Eli Manning
Q: At this point does it seem like your career has gone by fast or slow? Does it seem surreal?
A: It has gone by fast. It's hard to believe that my five years are just about over. I am done with school, which is a weird feeling. I am going into my last game. It's been a great run, and I've had a great college experience. It has flown by, but I guess it has to end sometime. We've had a great season, so it's been fun.
Q: Talk about your decision to come to Oxford and Ole Miss.
A: Coming to Oxford and Ole Miss has been a great experience for me. I think I've grown as a person and become a better football player because of coming here. It's given more to me than I could ever give back to Ole Miss.
Q: Do you or your teammates have any doubt that if the game comes down to a field goal that (Jonathan) Nichols can come through in light of the LSU game?
A: I have total faith in Jonathan. He's made so many big field goals for us this year and through the years. Obviously at LSU he just had a bad game, but that's happens. It happens to everybody. No one played great on offense that day. That's the way it goes sometimes. I have total trust in him. When we need him, he'll come through.
Q: Has his (Nichols) confidence wavered at all?
A: I haven't noticed any difference in him. I don't get to see the kickers practice much. To be a kicker you have to be strong and stay confident. I think he's going to stay confident, and he'll be a key factor for us in this game.
Q: Coach Cutcliffe said you guys are taking this as just another game even though it's a bigger bowl. Have you noticed a little more intensity for the Cotton Bowl?
A: We're just treating it like another game. We know it's going to be a challenge, because it's a big game. We've been practicing hard all year. Everyday we go out with the same intensity. We've had some good practices so far, and we just need to keep it up and maintain our focus during this long stretch of practices.
Q: You get all the attention, but can you talk about some of the other guys that make this team what it is?
A: First, I have to start with the seniors. Chris Collins, Justin Sawyer, Cliff Woodruff and Tremaine Turner have been key factors in us winning all these games. They've made big plays for us all year. Our defense is playing well. Everyone contributes to winning games, not just one player. Every game we've won, the entire team has played well. We've stuck together. The offense has played well, and the defense has made key stops. We are a team. We've won each game by staying together and trusting each other.
Q: Talk about your impressions of Michael Spurlock and what you've worked with him on.
A: Michael is going to be in good shape next year. He's very athletic, can run and can make every throw in the book. He's got a strong arm. This year he's become a whole lot better, because he's been able to get more reps in practice. There's no experience like going in there and making mistakes and learning from those mistakes. That's the best way for him to learn. Next year he's going to make some mistakes in games, but that's a learning experience you have to go through. He's also going to make some big plays with his arm and his ability to run.
Q: Coach Cutcliffe talked about the first "Meet the Rebels Day" and how overwhelming it was for you with all the attention you got. Looking back on that day was it definitely the right decision to come here or did you think to yourself "What have I got myself into"?
A: I knew had I made the right decision when I first stepped on the campus. When I decided to come here, I told myself I wasn't going to look back or second-guess myself. It was the right school for me. That first "Meet the Rebels Day" gave me an indication that everybody would be watching me and expecting good things from me. I tried to do the best that I could to give them want they wanted.
Q: Do you think a lot of people will underestimate how good this team can be next year without players like you and Chris Collins?
A: If they are underestimating this team for next year, I think they are wrong. There will be a lot of players coming back. The offensive line will be experienced. Receivers Mike Espy and Taye Biddle will be back, and the running game will have experience with guys like Vashon Pearson. Michael Spurlock can make plays. The offense will change a little and they'll do some different things. He'll be able to do some things that I wasn't able to do. Michael has the advantage where he doesn't have to make a throw. If no one is open, he can tuck the ball down and make a big play running the ball.
Q: Looking at Oklahoma State, is there anything defensively that jumps out at you that they do very well?
A: They do some different zone blitzes that we have not seen a whole lot of. We are trying to make adjustments for that and how we are going to attack it. We just have to stick with our game plan and try to establish our running game early. If we can get that done then that will open up some of our play action stuff.
Q: You've said all season that you wanted to come back to leave with your fellow seniors and for the opportunity to have a great season. It's been an amazing season with all the awards and the team's success. Can you talk about the season?
A: Coming back you never know what to expect, especially after the season we had last year, where we didn't perform as well as we wanted to. I felt that I needed to come back to become a better player. I also wanted to come back and leave with the guys I came in with as freshman. We all redshirted our first year. I think I became a better football player, and obviously we had a great season. Everybody stepped up and performed well. We came close to having one of the greatest seasons in Ole Miss history. We fell short a little bit, but it doesn't take away from what these guys put into everything and the way we performed out there. We hung with one of the best teams in the country. It's been a great season. I definitely made the right decision to come back for my senior year.
Q: I know you've been asked this a lot, but here in Tulsa, we haven't followed your story that closely. Talk about how your upbringing with a couple of All-Pro quarterbacks and how you were shaped not only as the quarterback that you are, but the person you've become.
A: Obviously I grew up watching a lot of football with my dad and Peyton. I learned a lot from them on how to act on the field and off the field in dealing with the fans and the media. They taught me how to handle myself with everybody watching what you do and to be nice to everybody. Those are the kinds of things I learned from them.
Q: I hear it was never really a temptation for you to go to Tennessee despite your relationship with Coach Cutcliffe.
A: I had known Coach Cutcliffe awhile through Peyton and going to games up at Tennessee. I liked Coach Cutcliffe and the offense he ran. I saw what he did with Peyton, but it was too hard to go to Tennessee. It would have been too much pressure for me to go there with it being so soon after Peyton had been there. I had to call him and Coach Fulmer and tell them I wasn't coming to Tennessee. Two weeks later Coach Cutcliffe got the job here and he called me again to try to get me to come to Ole Miss.
Q: You've had some fourth quarter comebacks. The LSU game was set up to be another. With all that was riding on that game and the way it ended, how tough was it to live with. You had a game the next week. Were you able to let it go immediately?
A: I thought about that game for little while. We had opportunities, and we didn't take advantage of them. But, you have to forget about it. That's the way football goes. You are going to win some big games and lose some big games. You just have to forget about it and move on. It doesn't help to dwell on it. You have to move on to the next game and try to get better.
Q: I know you haven't sweated the Heisman and all the other awards this season, but is that a burden lifted off your shoulders as you try to get ready for this game?
A: It definitely is. I received so much attention regarding the Heisman. I gave the same answer every time about not being worried with the Heisman, but people didn't believe me. They kept asking the same questions thinking they might get a different answer. It is nice to have all that done with. Now, all I have to worry about is playing football and getting ready for Oklahoma State. I was ready to get back to Oxford and leave all the travel and awards behind and get back to doing what I like to do.
Q: Switching gears, it looks like Arizona has the inside track on the No. 1 pick. What do you think of Phoenix?
A: I'll start to worry about the NFL after the Oklahoma State game. But, whoever wants to pick me and whoever wants me to be a part of their team, I'll be happy to go and play for them.
Q: You talked a little bit earlier about the pressure of following Peyton at Tennessee. Talk about the history with your dad and Peyton and what advice he gave you on how to handle it.
A: I knew wherever I went to school there would be comparisons to Peyton. Having the last name Manning, people are going to know the name and expect certain things from you. I can't help what my last name is. All I can do is work hard to become the best player I can be. I have a laidback personality. I am going to try my best, but if I am not as good as Peyton or my dad, then that's just the way it goes. I've worked hard to get where I am, and that's all anybody can expect from me.
Q: Talk about redshirting and how you felt about it at the time.
A: I had a pretty good idea coming in that I would redshirt, and I was fine with that. I needed to mature as a person, get bigger physically and smarter mentally. I knew I had a lot of work to do to come in and learn the offense. I worked a lot with the second team and learned the offense. I had an opportunity to go in late in a game that we were winning big. I told coach that I wanted to redshirt and keep my eligibility for the next four years.