UTSA
Head Coach Jeff Traylor
Opening Statement …
“First, I wanted to mention on the back of our helmets … I heard a great story about Barry [McKinney]. One of the funniest ones was I remember when me, Frank, Sincere and Rashad were having to do some kind of float deal. He said we were only supposed to be gone for a couple hours. We went down the river three hours and Frank realized we hadn’t even gone back up the river the other way. I was like, ‘Barry … we’re gonna kill you!’ He got us food afterwards … we actually went to Whataburger. We had a good time. Someone told me last week at the UTEP game that Barry is smiling up a storm as we came back. So that’s why we were wearing his initials on the back of our helmets
Next, huge shout out to the city of San Antonio. They were incredible tonight. It was a blast … it was fun. It felt like a championship game. The walk coming into the stadium was just different.
Last, but certainly not least, our players. I told them all week that their best football was coming. I felt it. They’re unbelievable kids. I know we’re out kids, but the ones we got standing played their best game of the entire season tonight. We were unbelievable throwing the ball, running the ball, tackling the ball, defending the pass, kicking, punting. Almost a perfect game by some really, really great players. This season will be special to me for many, many reasons, but the adversity overcome, their belief in the triangle, I’ll never forget it and I’m grateful.”
On how it feels to be back-to-back conference champions …
“It’s been a dream. Since the first time I saw these guys, these two (Harris and Harmanson) were in the meeting and [Kevorian Barnes] wasn’t, he was still in San Augustine … these guys have accepted me and it’s just been a dream. It really has been. Each one has their own story of what they’ve overcome and they’ve all overcome a lot. I’ve said it since Day 1 that I’m the luckiest guy in the world. And grateful. These guys beside me and all the ones back in the locker room … we can’t wait to get back in there and celebrate with them.”
On jumping out the quick lead and UNT coming back to take the lead early …
“We’ve taken way more body-blows than that this year. We’ve taken some hits. They don’t blink. They really just don’t. They just keep playing the next play. It’s just the way they are wired. We’ve been down 21 in Memphis, we’ve been down 17 to Louisiana Tech our first year, we were down 24 to UTEP this year. They just won’t go away. It’s their DNA. It’s what they’re made of. They believe in the triangle. It’s not some words on a wall…it’s stuff we live in our hearts. They’ll take it with them the rest of their lives. I can see their children walking around their house one day doing the triangle of toughness.”
On if this celebration is different from last year’s …
“It was different for me. We were talented last year. We were so deep. We just had players everywhere and we were healthy. This team…we lost a lot of our great players from last year. We got a lot injured. This team is built to last, they just know how to win. Not to say that last year’s team didn’t. The experience we all shared last year helped us tremendously this year. We know how to win. It’s just different.”
On the support they received tonight from the city of San Antonio …
“A lot of things have moved me since I’ve been here. All I did was buy 25 tickets for some kids. And then what Harvey [Nahim] did…he texted me and said, ‘I’m going to get 1,000 for you, Coach.’ And I was like, ‘Harvey, you’re an absolute blessing, man. Then he told me they were at 2,000. I don’t even know the number we were at last. Those kind of things…it’s what it’s going to take for us to make it. We’re an up and coming program. It’s going to take people like Harvey…some guys that really, really care about San Antonio and UTSA for us to get where we need to get to. We’re a Top 25 program in the country and we’re still practicing outdoors when it’s cold and windy. We need to be indoors. We’re really good. It’s going to take some unbelievable people giving to get us to where we want to get to. And I don’t know if y’all noticed, our players want to go quick. We’re not in a 10yr plan. We want to get there now. I’m grateful to Harvey and the city of San Antonio, but we’re just getting started. We’ve got a lot more to go and it’s going to take some people to really invest in UTSA like they have, but continue to get us here we need to get to.”
Kevorian Barnes, R-Fr., RB
On being from a small town and now being a conference champion …
“It’s amazing. I’ve never been a part of something so amazing like this. My teammates here … the coaches here … everybody that’s a part of the staff. It’s just amazing. And to be able to do this is unbelievable to me.”
Frank Harris, R-Sr., QB
On being from San Antonio and what this means to bring home back-to-back championships …
“This means a lot for the city of San Antonio. Like I always say, when I committed here it’s something I wanted to do for the city and the university. We got it done last season and getting it done again this season definitely means a lot.”
On playing at such a high level in what could be his last game in the Alamodome …
“I tried to leave it all out there. Like I said, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s not about me right now, it’s about my teammates. We’re champions…I just want to get back to the locker room and celebrate with my teammates.”
On his ability to adapt during the game tonight …
“We just try and take what the defense gives us. Last game they ran Cover Zero a couple of times and I wasn’t ready for the checks and stuff like that. I think this time I was very prepared for those. Whether it was a protection check or changing the routes, I think Coach Stein did a great job of putting the keys in my hand and allowing me to go out and execute.”
Trevor Harmanson, R-Sr., ILB
On what the defense was able to accomplish tonight …
“We knew the game plan coming in. We worked hard at practice and we were laser-focused at practice. That came into play when we got into the game.”
NORTH TEXAS
Head Coach Seth Littrell opening statement
“First off you have to give a lot of credit to Coach Traylor and UTSA. They had a great season and are a really good football team. That doesn’t take away from how proud I am of our guys and how hard they’ve worked and the culture they emote. There’s a lot of hurt guys in that locker room obviously, it crushes me but they’re family and I’ll ride with these guys any day of the week. Only 20 teams played this weekend and they gave themselves an opportunity to achieve something. We didn’t play as good as we needed to win that football game. But we have one more opportunity to play together and we’re excited about that.
Head Coach Seth Littrell on UTSA QB Frank Harris
“Obviously he’s a tremendous football player and has a lot of experience. He understands their system very well and does a great job of using his legs and getting outside of the pocket and making plays to move the chains. It’s frustrating. He’s a heck of a player. He’s a huge reason they’ve had the success they’ve had over the last couple of years. Can’t give him enough compliments.”
Head Coach Seth Littrell on third-down difficulties
“We put ourselves in some long yardage situations and it makes things a little bit more difficult. A lot of those were four down situations. We started pressing there at the end of the game. But we couldn’t move the chains, and we needed to score more points, that’s for sure and we couldn’t make that happen.”
Head Coach Seth Littrell on if UTSA changed anything schematically
“No, but offensively I think we did some good things early. We had a punt there and then that last possession there at the end of the half we got backed up on a penalty. We just didn’t give ourselves a chance. I think out of the four possessions we had in the first half we moved the ball well on the first two. Then we had a punt and then that one at the end of the half. It was a dogfight and there was a lot of back and forth. I thought offensively we did some good things. You get in a game like that and start pressing it gets challenging. But it’s a team effort. It’s all of us and we have to play ball together in order to win a championship. We got to feed off each other and rise above them and when it’s not going your way I thought our guys did a good job of battling back. The momentum just never stuck with us. It was just back and forth there for a while.
Quarterback Austin Aune on UTSA’s momentum going into halftime
“Yeah that score gave them a lot of momentum but offensively we need to come up with touchdowns and not field goals against a good team like that. They’ve got a great offense and we needed to take advantage of scoring and making more plays.”
Quarterback Austin Aune on finding open receivers.
“You know I was just trying to make plays downfield and then one ball got tipped. You know you can’t really control some of those things so you just gotta keep fighting and go on to the next play. Unfortunately, sometimes things happen.”
Head Coach Seth Littrell on fourth-quarter interception
“We were running out of time and tried to take a shot on fourth down. It was just a 50/50 ball and he made a play. First turnover we threw a seam ball and it deflected off a defender and they got a bounce. You got to take care of the football and some of that you can control. We didn’t make the plays we needed to, and that happens.”
Linebacker KD Davis on achieving program tackles record
“To be honest the main thing was bringing that trophy home and it didn’t happen. So, it is what it is. We have one more game and we’re excited to go through one more battle together. That’s our main focus, but the record is a great thing for me.”
Tight End Jake Roberts on offensive struggles
“They’re just a good team and a good defense. We had some opportunities and made some plays, but like coach said, we would get momentum and they’d answer back. It’s tough to beat a good team when you aren’t firing on all cylinders. It’s a championship ballgame and you have to play clean. We just didn’t do that offensively.”
Quarterback Austin Aune on personal accolades
“The accolades come when your team is playing great and I have great receivers and a great offensive line that give me opportunities. But the goal coming back for another year wasn’t to break any records, it was to get a conference championship and a bowl championship. We still have one more opportunity to do that and we’re looking forward to that.
Quarterback Austin Aune on what it’s like coming so close to a championship
“You don’t get those opportunities very much so when you get here you want to take advantage of those opportunities. It hurts not to get it, we work really hard in the offseason, in the summer, you grind with the guys and you get a chance to come here and you fall short so it hurts. 20 teams were playing this week so we are proud of that and proud of how we got here. But falling short hurts.”
Head Coach Seth Littrell on team injuries
“We’re not going to make excuses. It’s our job to go out and put our guys in situations to make plays, and it’s our players’ jobs to go out there and execute. Throughout the year you are going to have games where you’re clicking on all cylinders and there’s also going to be dogfights. Every team is going to have good players and you have to win in all three phases to win championships. Guys have to pick up the slack when momentum isn’t going your way on one side of the ball or the other. We have to do a better job and I have to do a better job. This is on me I’m the head football coach and these guys work extremely hard and made a lot of plays for us. We just came up short tonight.
