Aug. 9, 2012
Head coach Mack Brown
On WR Marquise Goodwin returning from the Olympics where he competed in the long jump: We're so excited to have Marquise back. Here's a guy who won the last two USA titles and two NCAA Championships in the long jump. He's a guy who competed in the Olympics and had a chance to win a gold, he was our most valuable player in the bowl game last year and he's always on the honor roll. There can't be a better two-sport athlete in football and track & field in America than Marquise Goodwin.
He had it worked out where they were going to bring him back on the 10th (of August), but he wanted to get back on the 9th and rejoin this football team. When we finished practice today, it was about 1:30 a.m. where he was in London, and he's still out there with a positive attitude jumping up and down. We'll work him back in slowly, he's got to have his four days of orientation (per NCAA rules). Obviously he didn't get in this heat all summer, so we're going to take care of him, work him in slowly and make sure he's ready for the first game because he's a valuable leader and player on this football team.
WR Marquise Goodwin
On the transition from competing for an Olympic medal to coming back to training camp: It is a different transition every time. It is a different experience every year. I got something different going on every year with World Championships last year and the Olympics this year. It is different, but it is great to be back at football, great to see my teammates and coaches. I am just glad to be back out there.
On the experience of representing your country: There is is nothing like it. Words can’t even explain how it is to represent your country, having the words USA written across your chest. It is more than just yourself; you are representing your country, representing what you stand for, representing your church, your family, your friends, your school. Just everything. All the people that didn’t have the same opportunity that you had. To me it meant a lot to represent [with] USA across my chest.
On feelings about his performance: I feel like I could have executed it better. Obviously if I hadn’t had a scratch I would’ve done a lot better. But it happens in the sport. It is not perfect all the time. Even some of the greatest have lost on that same stage or level. You just have to face those circumstances. They are cruel, but you have to move forward.
On being back on the football field: Football is a huge stress reliever. The transition, it is just great to be able to come back and not have to worry about if I would’ve did this or that. My mind is totally on football now. I have other things to do.
On the reception coming back to your teammates: it was great. It was a real humbling experience out there in London, and then I come back here where they applaud when they see me. They all think it is so cool that I am an Olympian and they say “I’m so cool. I got to stand next to an Olympian today.” [There is] nothing like it ,and your teammates always have your back.
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OG Mason WaltersOn what has stood out from practice so far: Once we put the pads on – playing physically. That really has been something the coaches have emphasized, and the players have really taken upon themselves.
On if the coaches have been testing their retentiveness since last year: Definitely. We’re expected to retain the offense that we’ve learned and then grow on that. Different looks that we’re going to get from different defenses at times. [Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach] Coach [Manny] Diaz does a really good job of presenting us with a defense that shows multiple looks. They’re already starting to get some confusion going for us right now. And we have been in the system for a while now. So we just have to keep learning.
On what he means by the defense confusing the offense: I think Coach Diaz has a similar philosophy to [offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach] Coach [Bryan] Harsin. What he does isn’t really that complex, but he makes it look that way. He can bring blitzes in ways you don’t think he can just because guys play really disciplined.
On if it’s been easier this year since last year they were all adjusting to the new coaches and offense: I think so, especially with the older guys. It’s been fun to watch the younger guys as well start to pick up the offense. I think they’re doing well. But, from an older guy’s standpoint, the guys that are going out there, that have been practicing in the a.m. group, I’m encouraged by how much they have been able to retain. And how hard they have been practicing.
DE Jackson JeffcoatOn how good the defensive ends can be this season: We’re very talented. We’ll be as good as we practice. We’ve got to come out and practice well every day. Get better every day. We spent a lot of time in the offseason training hard, trying to improve ourselves. It comes down to how we work as a team out here, with the whole d-line and the secondary out here.
On if it’s exciting knowing how much havoc they can cause as a defense: Oh it’s always exciting. It’s always exciting. But we have to do it. We have to get out there and actually do it.
On if they are working to get more sacks earlier on in the season: Well, Coach Diaz always says it’s more important to disrupt the quarterback and throw the ball to our defense, and our defensive backs. To get the ball back. So the sacks will come. We’re not too focused on that. We’re working on getting the ball back to our offense and disrupting the quarterback.
On any change in defensive philosophy in Coach Diaz’s second year: There isn’t much change. It’s more that we’re so comfortable in it. It’s our second year, so a lot of us it is our second time being in the defense. So it feels more like second nature now.
On the level of intensity at practice so far: We’ve been very intense. Our motto is “R.I.S.E.” and “intensity” is in that. So we’ve been focusing on being an intense football team. Getting after it every play.
CB Carrington Byndom
On WR Marquise Goodwin: It was great to have him back. We all saw his performance, but it is good to have him back out here. We are going to need him.
On how much he enjoyed covering the best wide receivers in the Big 12 last year: Playing corner you know you are going to come up against some of the top receivers in the nation and the Big 12 is a strong conference with great receivers. I pride myself on getting out there playing the best.
On WR Mike Davis: Mike is a great receiver. He is like all the other receivers. They all come out each day and work as hard as they can to improve. They know they are going to need to step up this year and Mike has been doing that.
On some of the best things that happened in practice today: We were out there making plays as a defense. Offense was looking good, moving the ball. A lot of motions going on out there and today was a good day for us. Just trying to get ready for the first game.
