Q. Can you just give us your thoughts?SETH LITTRELL: Yeah, first off, you have to give UtahState a lot of credit. They're a very good football team.They're definitely the best team we've played so far,very deservedly in the top 25 spot, and at the end ofthe day, they played great today. We didn't haveenough in us today to make enough plays to have thatsuccess. You never want to go out that way. You neverwant to send your seniors out that way. But I amextremely proud of this group. I'm proud of our seniors.They've accomplished a lot, opening up the seasonagainst your crosstown rival, and they did a great job ofbeating them, go on the road in the SEC and win afootball game in somebody else's stadium, back toback nine-win seasons, first time since '76-' 77, Ibelieve. I'm proud of them.
The reason it hurts so bad is because this group'sexpectations have changed at North Texas, and weexpect to be in and compete and win championships.We finish that way, it's supposed to hurt. But I can'tsay enough about this group. I love them, and I'mproud of these seniors, and they'll be a part of myfamily for the rest of their lives.
Q. Can you talk about what happened with Mason?It looked like he pulled a hamstring.SETH LITTRELL: Yeah, he pulled a hamstring, and it'spretty significant. Couldn't get back, couldn't doenough to even take a drop, to be effective. When youhave a guy go down, another man has to step up, sowe had three other quarterbacks get some reps. Ithought Kason and Bean stepped in and did somegood things. It'll be a great learning experience forthem.
Q. Did Mason want to keep going out there?SETH LITTRELL: That's Mason. Eventually you've justgot to say -- I don't ever want to put him in harm's way,and I know he's so tough. He wants to do everythinghe can for his teammates. As the head coach,
sometimes you've just -- enough is enough, and hewas going to be in harm's way if he went back outthere.
Q. Just too many mistakes against a qualityopponent?SETH LITTRELL: Yeah, way too many mistakes. Youknow, on all three phases we had too many mistakes.You know, we've got to make sure we come backstronger in the off-season and get better.
Q. Which hamstring was that on Mason that wasinjured?SETH LITTRELL: I believe it was his right, the rightone.
Q. Kemon, you guys talked a lot about finishing themission. Is it tough just to come up short?KEMON HALL: Yeah, it's tough. We came out andwere hoping to execute how we were supposed to, butman, it was just -- the tempo, they out-executed us.We should have made more plays.
Q. Coach, were you just looking for an answer atquarterback there, going through some of thedifferent options there, Jason and then Kason?SETH LITTRELL: Yeah. Trying to find the best option.
Q. Did you feel like you got any traction there withany of those guys at any point?SETH LITTRELL: Again, I think a lot of them did somegood things. I was really happy to see Kason come inthere, especially opening up the second half. He wasreally excited. You know, felt like we had some shotplays we could have hit earlier in the first half, buteither we didn't get the ball off or pressure or a lot ofdifferent things. But he came out the second half andthrew a great ball to J.G. and kind of got us -- got themomentum rolling a little bit. Again, we just overall --give them a lot of credit for not making mistakes.
Q. Kason, you came in and gave the team a littlespark there. Can you talk about what your frame ofmind was going into the game?KASON MARTIN: You've always got to stay ready. Youhate to see guys do bad or people get hurt. Of coursethe idea (indiscernible) but I don't know, God nevermakes mistakes, so it's just something I didn't thinkwas going to happen.
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Q. Just couldn't get anything going offensivelyagainst Utah State?KASON MARTIN: Yes, sir. Coach always says be most(indiscernible) team play, and we were trying to keepthe energy up a little bit. That's why I had that successcoming out of halftime, and after that it just -- I don'tknow, just a lot of mistakes.
Q. You guys were in it early, 7-7, and it got awayreal quick for you guys. What happened in thatstretch when Utah State ran I think it was like 31straight plays?KEMON HALL: It was just misalignment andmiscommunication. They were just ahead of us.
Q. Did they have some talent out there? Seemedlike you guys had a lot of trouble with some of theirreceivers.KEMON HALL: We should have been on top and doingwhat we do, but they just made plays.
Q. You had some injuries come up during thegame. Did that just play a huge role in the way thisgame played --SETH LITTRELL: We don't make excuses. We don'tallow others to make excuses for us. We've got to winthe game.
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New Mexico Bowl: North Texas vs Utah State Saturday, December 15, 2018
Frank MaileD.J. WilliamsJordan LovePress Conference
Utah State - 52, North Texas - 13
Q. Coach, can you just tell us a little bit about howit felt to win the way you guys did?FRANK MAILE: Man, just winning felt great. You knowwhat I mean? An amazing win, and it was all due tothese kids right here. Their preparation and focus, Ithought the changes that went down is really a credit tothem of how we won and continued to do what we hadbeen doing all year long. We struck to the blueprint,and that was the outcome of the game. So great jobby them.
Q. Just talk about the job that Coach Maile and hisstaff did preparing you guys for this game.JORDAN LOVE: Yeah, they did a great job. I mean,they came in. All the coaches that stayed here, they'vegot us ready for this game, and they came in. Wedidn't skip a beat really. It's just a credit to the wholeteam and to them just for the job they did, and justthankful for that, and Coach Maile, he's a great coach,and I'm just glad we got that win.
Q. Jordan, what's it like to look back on the seasonand realize how special it was?JORDAN LOVE: Yeah, I think it's going to be a seasonthat everybody on this team will be able to look back ontheir whole life and just be able to think we did a greatjob the whole season. We wish we could have gottenthat Mountain West Championship, stuff like that, butfinishing with 11 wins and a bowl game, it's a greatfeeling.
Q. Jordan, North Texas came in with some of thebest defense in the area and you guys were able totake it to them. How were you able to roll throughthem? What went into that?JORDAN LOVE: Really I'd say just explosiveplaymakers everywhere. It's hard to stop, and then it'salso hard to stop our (indiscernible), and we've beendoing it all year. Our offense is just able to reallydemolish some defenses, and it's just fun to be a partof.
Q. DJ, talk about why you think your defense wasso strong, and in terms of interceptions, how wereyou able to (indiscernible)?D.J. WILLIAMS: Well, it was definitely a team thing. Ifeel like the whole year we've all been really preachingthe brotherhood and doing our job, everybody doingour job and (indiscernible).
Q. Coach, how big a role do you think them losingtheir quarterback played in this game?FRANK MAILE: He's the No. 1 guy on the field. Anytime you lose your trigger man, it makes it a little bithard for you to move forward and continue to execute,and he'd been doing it all season. For those guys, it'shard when you don't have your QB. But like the gameof football, it's next man up, and that's what they'retrained to do, and he's got to step up and fill thoseshoes, and same thing happened to us, for whateverreason Jordan went down, next guy has got to go. Butthat guy is the most important guy on the field in myopinion and plays a big role in the success of the team.
Q. Coach and DJ, there are a lot of special playerson the defensive side of the ball. Have you everseen a defensive balance like you've had this year?D.J. WILLIAMS: Well, personally this is the best teamthat I've ever played for. I came from JuCo, so it'sobvious, but we definitely have some talent on theteam. But I think people really stand out just becauseof certain people like (indiscernible) who never getscredit but he does his job, and it's really a team thing.That's really what I think it is.
FRANK MAILE: Defensively the defensive stuff(indiscernible), so as long as everybody does their job,everyone gets a piece of the pie, and that's the waywe've done it. It starts up front, it works its way to theback. DJ mentioned that. It's a defensive thing. It's abrotherhood, and these guys have put in a lot of work,a lot of emphasis into doing their job and doing it fast,and that's the outcome you see today.
Q. Coach, Jalen and Aaron had big games andGerold had a big rushing game. What did you seefrom them, and why do you think they were soeffective in their roles?FRANK MAILE: Do you know what, I think it starts withCoach Yost and the offense that he's implemented here
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at Utah State. A huge credit to him for putting theplayers in a position to be successful, and so it'sallowed them to showcase their talents and abilities,and that's what's happened week in and week out.Coach Yost has done a great job with that, but at theend of the day, players make plays and players wingames. We put these guys in the best situations thatwe can to play ball and show case what they have.
Q. DJ, clearly missing (indiscernible) put a damperon your offense, but still, these guys were inposition to break several program records. Youlimited them to one trip to the red zone today. Talkabout how big a confidence boost that is?D.J. WILLIAMS: It definitely feels good. It's a blessingto be able to be on the team, and with the defense, wecall ourselves DSD, and we just came to play today.We had a goal, and we got that goal, and that was toleave with a win.
Q. What does DSD stand for?D.J. WILLIAMS: I'll let Coach Maile tell you.
FRANK MAILE: For us, we believe in having anidentity. We believe it gives a purpose to what we'redoing. These guys are the dark side defense, so theytake pride in that, so DSD has been happening all yearlong, and we'll continue to move in that direction, andthat's who they are and that's (indiscernible).
Q. Jordan, what was going so well for you guys inthe second quarter?JORDAN LOVE: I mean, really we were just makingplays, I guess, in the second quarter. We had a coupleexplosive plays in the passing game and stuff. I mean,in the first quarter we weren't really moving it as well, Iguess, but I don't know, it's just nothing really changesor anything, players just make plays at certain times.
Q. Jordan, you guys were both (indiscernible)what's the goal for next season?JORDAN LOVE: The goal for next season is the sameas the goal was for this season: Win the MountainWest championship. That's the main goal for this team,and we'll come back in the spring and get right tobusiness.
D.J. WILLIAMS: The Mountain West Championship.
Q. Coach Maile, can you tell us about the future?What's next for you?FRANK MAILE: You know, I haven't had time to thinkabout that. The number one concern has always beenthese guys, so we'll see what tomorrow brings whentomorrow shows up, but right now these guys willcelebrate and enjoy this win because that's what it's allabout. All the hard work since January has come to
this very moment, all the decisions they've made haveallowed them to have success, and that's what we'regoing to do today. We're going to spend this daycelebrating this win and the season, and tomorrow, I'llapproach that when it shows up.
Q. Guys, just what does it mean to you that thisman has stepped up to believe in you and hispriority is getting you guys ready for this? Whatdoes that mean to you guys?JORDAN LOVE: It definitely says a lot. He's one of thefew coaches that's here to coach this game today, and Imean, I don't know, I have nothing to say about itbecause it just shows what type of person he is andwhat type of coach he is. He cares about us and thisteam. I mean, it really just means a lot. We got to getthis win for him.
D.J. WILLIAMS: I've been very thankful for Coach Maileas well as my teammates. He knows how I feel abouthim. He's a great coach and everybody knows that,but I wish people could see how great of a person heis. That's something that you really can't see unlessyou're with the team. Whatever he does, I'm happy forhim. I know he's going to be great at whatever he's at.
Q. Jordan, why were you so effective, especiallytoday?JORDAN LOVE: Yeah, I mean, the connection with allthe receivers, I mean, it's not just them, but they justmade plays today. They got open in windows, foundsome space, and then had a lot of yards after catch.But we've been doing this all year, so that's thatconnection right there.
Q. Coach Maile, you've been around this program along time. You're very well aware of the history ofthe state of Utah. How special is it to be part of ateam that broke the Mountain West single seasonscoring record and that record was held by BYU?FRANK MAILE: Well, I didn't know the last part thatyou just said, but that just makes it even more special.Any time success here where I played ball andgraduated from and being an alum here at Utah Stateand having put a lot of time and effort into assisting inthis process of getting us to where we're at, but anytime there's success here, from the bottom of my heart,I'm excited about any success that we have. I know ifwe stick to getting the same type of players as thesetwo that you see up here, we're going to continue tohave the same success and continue to (indiscernible).
Q. Jordan and DJ, how did you guys make surethat you kind of kept out of the distractions of thelast couple weeks? Did you do anything special?How did you make sure that that had to happen?D.J. WILLIAMS: Defense-wise, I don't feel like we did
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anything different. I feel like our captains helped us(indiscernible) all season. We've got real good leaders,and our seniors stayed engaged (indiscernible)stepped up and just helped Coach, and they've beenaround the program, and they know the accolades, andit just shows (indiscernible), so I really don't feel like wedid anything different. I feel like they stepped up evenmore.
JORDAN LOVE: Yeah, captains just leading us, leadingfrom the front, and then also these coaches just beingable to keep us just focused on what we've got to do toget that win.
Q. Coach, I just want to get your thoughts: How isthe locker room right now with the seniors playingthe last game, and being able to send them outwith a win, what are their emotions like in thelocker room?FRANK MAILE: Well, right now they're going crazy inthe locker room, so hopefully the celebration hascalmed down so we can leave. But these done a greatjob leaving a legacy behind. It's something for ouryounger guys to move forward on and continue theircalling and their journey and lead (indiscernible) atUtah State, but those guys are more excited thananybody else. It's a team effort, sending them out theright way, and ending the season the way we did. Iappreciate our seniors and their leadership and theircommitment level to excellence and assisting us togetting us to where we are today.
Q. Jordan, North Texas are 15th nationally inrushing defense. Just talk about the job youroffensive line did today.JORDAN LOVE: Yeah, the O-line, not just today butthis whole season, they've been terrific. I mean, we'vebeen in and around the ball easy. It makes it easy for(indiscernible) back there to have the holes they've gotand then also in the passing game. I mean, I gotplenty of time in the pocket all the time. The numberI've been hit this season is super low. It's just a creditto them. They do a good job every week just beingable to protect, and can't give them enough credit.
Q. Coach, you guys were 12 of 20 on 3rd downs.Why were you guys so good on 3rd downs?FRANK MAILE: You know, it's a huge emphasis for ourdefense weekly is limiting the amount of possessionsthe offense has and one of our goals is three-and-outs,so for us getting the 3rd down is huge and getting thefootball back to our offense is a big part of what we do.So I think that's why we've had so much success onboth sides of the ball is us getting the ball back to themand them feeding off of that and moving the ball to theend zone. Part of our emphasis defensively is three-and-outs and getting off the field on 3rd down.
Q. I meant offense, 3rd down conversions.FRANK MAILE: I think it's Coach Yost putting them in aposition, understanding what they're looking atdefensively and putting them in a situation to besuccessful. It starts up front. Jordan just talked aboutthe O-line. It starts up front with protections and themcommunicating and picking up blitzes because they'rea very aggressive football team. We knew that, andthose guys did a great job up front of picking thoseguys up. I know Jordan had the time to get the ball tohis reads, so it was a team effort with everybody, but italways starts up front.
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