Oct. 8, 2001
KENTUCKY VS. LSU
FOOTBALL PRESS CONFERENCE
WILDCAT DEN COMMWEALTH STADIUM
MONDAY, OCT. 8, 2001
Head Coach Guy Morriss
On injuries
“I think Keith Chatelain is questionable, I also think Antonio Hall is questionable. We’ve seen Nolan DeVaughn and he’s definitely out – probably three weeks – they want to have him ready for backup status after the Georgia game. Dewayne Robertson is out for about three to four weeks and Derek Smith and Chris Gayton are probable. I don’t know about David Johnson, but everyone else should be back at practice tomorrow.”
On keeping focused
“We try to point out the positive things in the game and the kids see it. They are in a good frame of mind – it goes back to the relationship that the players have with us coaches. They believe in their coaches and believe in what we’re doing. They see the positive stuff and understand the things we need to get better at. They’re ready to back to work and play as hard as they can to beat LSU.”
On positives vs. South Carolina
“Defensively we had five or six guys play pretty well – probably their best ball games. I thought that Dennis Johnson played well, Chris Demaree played pretty good. Ellery Moore made some freshmen mistakes but he is really coming on and he’s understanding how to play football at this level. I think Quentus Cumby had a really good game – he may be the best corner we have right now.”
On offense vs. USC
“On offense, we ran the football OK but we had some opportunities to break some other runs that our running backs did not find the seams. We’ll coach them this week that they have to get in those cracks and make some things happen. The opportunities were there for them. We gave up one sack but that was because the quarterback missed a hot read and that was on him – our offensive line played pretty well and we spread the ball around a little.”
On passing
“We were going deeper and throwing the longer ball as well – that’s something that we need to keep working on. We need to make ourselves throw it and challenge some cornerbacks but the problem with those routes you have to have the speed enough to go by those corners and that’s a challenge, too.”
On QB’s
“Shane is the guy for our future for the type of offense that we want to have here. I still think when we can and the right opportunity presents itself that we play Jared (Lorenzen). Like last week against Ole Miss, he came in and gave us a spark. If we we’re not down so far we might have used him Saturday but at this point in Shane’s development he needs all the reps he can get.”
On playing younger players
“We’re going to be forced to play our younger players because of our depth situation. We’ll try to work them in as much as we can- the offensive line we have no choice. We have two redshirt freshmen and a defensive lineman that was converted to be an offensive lineman back in April. It’s the situation we inherited and we’re limited on the number of scholarships to offer to get help. We’ll do the best we can before we can get it corrected through recruiting.”
On Louisiana State
“Initial thoughts – very athletic. I watched them play Florida and Tennessee and they have athletes everywhere. They’re one of the handful of teams that can match up with those teams from an athletic standpoint. I don’t think their record is indicative to how good of a football them they are. They’re a good football team and they will take advantage of their big, powerful offensive line as we’re lining up with undersized linebackers.”
CB Leonard Burress
On the team’s spirits
“The coaches are trying to keep our heads up. We are making some mental mistakes that are keeping us down, but we are working hard to stay positive. It’s a process we go through every week. We just keep focused on overcoming the mental mistakes so we can win some ball games.”
On LSU
“They are tough. We are looking for a real challenge this weekend. Defensively it will be tough because of our injuries. But we just have to battle through and play the best we can.”
FS Quentus Cumby
On injuries
“Injuries are an adversity we have to face every week. If someone gets hurt or sick, someone else has to step up and go. I think Jeremy Bowie and Derrick Tatum are both coming back this week, so I think we will be OK.”
On ability of team
“I know the character of our team. I think we can bounce back. We have six games left, so we have to win out because we want to send our seniors off with a bowl game and with a good feeling. We are going to go and have good practices this week and be ready to play LSU.”
On LSU
“We are real excited about playing LSU. It’s a night game and Homecoming so we are going to be really excited.”
DT Derrick Johnson
On attitude
“We’re still up. It just takes time to get things going. We have new coaches, a new system and we just have to get used to it. As I see it, we have a brand new six-game season left. We’ll just come out and start over.”
“I’m looked to as a leader on this team so I have to keep my head up for the younger guys. They’ll keep their heads up and come out and give it all they can.”
On mistakes in games
“When we each make one or two mistakes, they can really start to add up. We need to get everyone on the same page.”
RB Artose Pinner
On performing well the last two games
“It’s a real confidence builder for me. I’ve been able to come out and make some big runs. The offensive line has done a great job blocking for me.”
On attitude
“We came into the team meeting yesterday and made sure everyone had their head up. We’re a family, no matter what.”
On LSU game this Saturday
“We will be really ready to play on Saturday. It’s homecoming, the crowd will be into it and we want to make the fans happy. A win will really boost our confidence a lot.”
G/C Nick Seitze
On the team’s spirits
“Our heads are high. We just have to come out and keep working hard. Things will work out for us sooner or later.”
On playing more than one position
“I’m a team player. I want to come out and do what I can to help the team. The coaches have helped with the switch and I am just doing what I can.”
