University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Mike Norvell Weekly Press Conference Highlights - November 18
Nov 18, 2019 | Football
Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell quotes // Week 11 - Nov. 18 // at USF
Opening Statement…
"To wrap up Saturday, I was pleased with our guys. In watching the film, I thought we played at a high level. We didn't get off to the start that we wanted on the road. We missed a couple tackles and gave up a couple explosive plays. Offensively, we had the early turnover, but the thing I was most proud of throughout Saturday's contest was our response. We never really wavered to the responsibility and job we had in front of us. Other than the two early drives, defensively, we played outstanding. Even after the interception, to hold them to a field goal and shut down a potent Houston offense that has some explosive players. Offensively, I thought we showed great balance in the run game and passing game. I thought Brady White was outstanding. I was proud he was the conference player of the week. He's playing at such a high level. The guys around him are doing their part. We're getting separation at receiver, doing a great job up front protecting him with the offensive line, running back and tight ends – everybody plays a part in that. Brady is really in command of this offense. He's helping carry this football team. I'm excited about the growth from him. In special teams, I thought it was a solid day. The late blocked punt is something we have to get corrected. But all in all we were able to contain their returner, and I thought our coverage units did a great job. We really didn't get many opportunities, but any time you can start past the 35-yard line in majority of possessions, that's going to set up well for our offense. I think our guys understand the importance special teams are going to play. Going into this week, we're playing another talented opponent. The last two weeks have been in unbelievable battles. Cincinnati is 17th in the country, and it came down to a last-second field goal. South Florida missed out on a lot of opportunities in the game. Their filed goal kicker was 1-of-5. They had some chances to win that game, and I really thought they dominated in most phases throughout the contest. The week prior they played Temple, which we know is a quality opponent. That was a 10-point game to the very end. This is a team that has talent. Defensively, it's one of the best defenses in our conference. They have great length, size and athleticism. These guys can run at every position. They are playing with a young quarterback that has all the talent in the world. He can extend plays. He's got a great arm. They have explosive playmakers and are working to put it all together. We know they are capable. This is their Senior Day. We're going back on the road. It's going to be an emotional day for a lot of their team. At the end of the day, we still have to stay focused on ourselves and control the things we can control in this matchup. Our guys are excited. I like where we are. The push is to continue to improve."
On USF being in a must-win game to reach bowl eligibility…
"I think everyone is in a must-win situation. So are we. As a college football player, that's how you approach the game. Their sense of urgency to win this game will be no different than ours. We're going into it knowing we want to play to the best of their ability. They've got to win the next two to get to a bowl game, and we've got to win the next one. That's our approach. We know we'll need a great week of prep. You turn on the film and see a team that presents a lot of different challenges. I liked our guys' mindset yesterday. Even with some success, the expectation of improvement and self-reflection in areas of improvement necessary and working toward that application has been as good as it has been since I've been here. They are working hard and we're seeing the growth within this team. Even in the first quarter (at Houston) and we got behind, there was no panic. Guys know we prepare for all situations. We just have to continue to play the next play. We've got to have the best week of practice."
On quarterback Brady White's improvement throughout the season…
"He's doing a good job. We're doing a good job protecting him. We're doing a good job finishing plays. There hasn't been a night-and-day change in him. He's been playing at a high level. He's completing the ball. We're moving the ball down the field and maximizing those opportunities. I think he's played at a high level throughout this season. He had the first half against Navy where he's made mistakes and the first couple plays at Temple where we had some turnovers. But we're fortunate we have one of the best quarterbacks in the country playing for the Memphis Tigers. He's playing up to the level I think he is capable of. He is working hard and preparing hard, and he's putting us in a great position on game day."
On Brady White gaining confidence in second season…
"Playing quarterback in this system puts a lot on you. You look at Riley Ferguson in his first year, there were a lot of people who were displeased with his performance at a variety of times throughout that season, and he just continued to get better. Experience is something you can't gain until you're out there going through it. You look at Riley's first season, I was pleased with what he did and I was pleased with what Brady did last year. You see that second-year confidence and understanding. That's something we take a great deal of pride in – how we develop our quarterbacks. We take pride in the work they put in and how they prepare. A lot of it goes into the mindset and willingness to go above and beyond to play at that level, and Brady has shown that."
On Calvin Austin being awarded a scholarship…
"Calvin has been playing at a high level. That's going to start next semester. It was part of the timing of it, but I wanted to the announcement in front of the team. I was a former walk-on. When you see the work he has done off the field and see the work he has put in to impact this team, it's incredible. He has been a very reliable receiver for us. About week four or five, you saw the confidence turn on in practice and it's shown up in games. I thought it was fitting. That drive before the end of the half, that's one of the best performances you'll see from an individual receiver in any sequence of a game. You felt the reaction from our team because they know what has been put into it. We've had a lot of walk-ons on our team. There have been a lot of guys put on scholarship that didn't have that moment. I think it's worth celebrating. But there are walk-ons right now who are impacting our team and need to continue to show that. It was special for Calvin, and I'm glad we had that experience."
On USF progressively improving…
"I don't have to point it out or tell them how talented this team is. You see it on film. We know the depth, athleticism and talent in this league from top to bottom is as good as it has been. You see a team playing a Top 20 opponent and, in pretty much every phase, should have won that game. Our guys know. It's going to take a great week of prep. This team in no different than any other team in our league. If we don't play at a high level, we will get beat Saturday. We have to prepare, we have to improve and we have to do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position to be successful."
Opening Statement…
"To wrap up Saturday, I was pleased with our guys. In watching the film, I thought we played at a high level. We didn't get off to the start that we wanted on the road. We missed a couple tackles and gave up a couple explosive plays. Offensively, we had the early turnover, but the thing I was most proud of throughout Saturday's contest was our response. We never really wavered to the responsibility and job we had in front of us. Other than the two early drives, defensively, we played outstanding. Even after the interception, to hold them to a field goal and shut down a potent Houston offense that has some explosive players. Offensively, I thought we showed great balance in the run game and passing game. I thought Brady White was outstanding. I was proud he was the conference player of the week. He's playing at such a high level. The guys around him are doing their part. We're getting separation at receiver, doing a great job up front protecting him with the offensive line, running back and tight ends – everybody plays a part in that. Brady is really in command of this offense. He's helping carry this football team. I'm excited about the growth from him. In special teams, I thought it was a solid day. The late blocked punt is something we have to get corrected. But all in all we were able to contain their returner, and I thought our coverage units did a great job. We really didn't get many opportunities, but any time you can start past the 35-yard line in majority of possessions, that's going to set up well for our offense. I think our guys understand the importance special teams are going to play. Going into this week, we're playing another talented opponent. The last two weeks have been in unbelievable battles. Cincinnati is 17th in the country, and it came down to a last-second field goal. South Florida missed out on a lot of opportunities in the game. Their filed goal kicker was 1-of-5. They had some chances to win that game, and I really thought they dominated in most phases throughout the contest. The week prior they played Temple, which we know is a quality opponent. That was a 10-point game to the very end. This is a team that has talent. Defensively, it's one of the best defenses in our conference. They have great length, size and athleticism. These guys can run at every position. They are playing with a young quarterback that has all the talent in the world. He can extend plays. He's got a great arm. They have explosive playmakers and are working to put it all together. We know they are capable. This is their Senior Day. We're going back on the road. It's going to be an emotional day for a lot of their team. At the end of the day, we still have to stay focused on ourselves and control the things we can control in this matchup. Our guys are excited. I like where we are. The push is to continue to improve."
On USF being in a must-win game to reach bowl eligibility…
"I think everyone is in a must-win situation. So are we. As a college football player, that's how you approach the game. Their sense of urgency to win this game will be no different than ours. We're going into it knowing we want to play to the best of their ability. They've got to win the next two to get to a bowl game, and we've got to win the next one. That's our approach. We know we'll need a great week of prep. You turn on the film and see a team that presents a lot of different challenges. I liked our guys' mindset yesterday. Even with some success, the expectation of improvement and self-reflection in areas of improvement necessary and working toward that application has been as good as it has been since I've been here. They are working hard and we're seeing the growth within this team. Even in the first quarter (at Houston) and we got behind, there was no panic. Guys know we prepare for all situations. We just have to continue to play the next play. We've got to have the best week of practice."
On quarterback Brady White's improvement throughout the season…
"He's doing a good job. We're doing a good job protecting him. We're doing a good job finishing plays. There hasn't been a night-and-day change in him. He's been playing at a high level. He's completing the ball. We're moving the ball down the field and maximizing those opportunities. I think he's played at a high level throughout this season. He had the first half against Navy where he's made mistakes and the first couple plays at Temple where we had some turnovers. But we're fortunate we have one of the best quarterbacks in the country playing for the Memphis Tigers. He's playing up to the level I think he is capable of. He is working hard and preparing hard, and he's putting us in a great position on game day."
On Brady White gaining confidence in second season…
"Playing quarterback in this system puts a lot on you. You look at Riley Ferguson in his first year, there were a lot of people who were displeased with his performance at a variety of times throughout that season, and he just continued to get better. Experience is something you can't gain until you're out there going through it. You look at Riley's first season, I was pleased with what he did and I was pleased with what Brady did last year. You see that second-year confidence and understanding. That's something we take a great deal of pride in – how we develop our quarterbacks. We take pride in the work they put in and how they prepare. A lot of it goes into the mindset and willingness to go above and beyond to play at that level, and Brady has shown that."
On Calvin Austin being awarded a scholarship…
"Calvin has been playing at a high level. That's going to start next semester. It was part of the timing of it, but I wanted to the announcement in front of the team. I was a former walk-on. When you see the work he has done off the field and see the work he has put in to impact this team, it's incredible. He has been a very reliable receiver for us. About week four or five, you saw the confidence turn on in practice and it's shown up in games. I thought it was fitting. That drive before the end of the half, that's one of the best performances you'll see from an individual receiver in any sequence of a game. You felt the reaction from our team because they know what has been put into it. We've had a lot of walk-ons on our team. There have been a lot of guys put on scholarship that didn't have that moment. I think it's worth celebrating. But there are walk-ons right now who are impacting our team and need to continue to show that. It was special for Calvin, and I'm glad we had that experience."
On USF progressively improving…
"I don't have to point it out or tell them how talented this team is. You see it on film. We know the depth, athleticism and talent in this league from top to bottom is as good as it has been. You see a team playing a Top 20 opponent and, in pretty much every phase, should have won that game. Our guys know. It's going to take a great week of prep. This team in no different than any other team in our league. If we don't play at a high level, we will get beat Saturday. We have to prepare, we have to improve and we have to do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position to be successful."
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