Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons' postgame interview at Texas Southern.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Can you give us your opening statement, please?
00:02 >> It's great to be here this evening, glad to see everyone.
00:05 Miss Houston.
00:07 >> [LAUGH] >> Thank you.
00:08 >> Spent a lot of time out here and great to be back.
00:11 Robert Mason was here and supported and I know they're excited about coming to
00:14 Houston and watching this game.
00:16 So glad to come out with the win.
00:18 Obviously, first half, we're gonna play our best football and
00:21 really challenge the guys to have time to just play team football.
00:24 We're gonna play individual football and guys kinda doing their own thing.
00:27 And we said we'll give what we deserve.
00:30 We play together, we deserve to have the second quarter that we had.
00:34 We played as individuals, we deserve to kinda sleep well through the first half.
00:38 So we're proud of the guys for coming together.
00:40 We still controlled our destiny.
00:43 That's the number one goal we wanted to know coming out of Houston.
00:46 We were able to do that and I didn't let them win.
00:48 So defense got going, we got the rough start.
00:52 Still they were too many rushing yards, but all in all, I thought we put it
00:56 together and then same thing offensively,
00:58 I was able to start moving the ball consistently in the second half.
01:01 So proud of the guys.
01:02 We'll watch the film tomorrow and make corrections cuz here in Texas today,
01:07 but got another Texas team coming to us on coming next week.
01:10 And I know they'll be jumping at the bits to try to in our home industry and
01:14 also put one on the old ball coach.
01:17 So we'll be excited about that game.
01:18 But all in all, great to get out of here with the win.
01:21 Great to see so many guys, good relationships with back in the day as well.
01:25 >> So to answer this question, Charles Bishop, Dr.
01:29 Fields inside HBC Sports Lab.
01:31 What was the key to unlock the running game tonight?
01:34 You guys had 50 yards at halftime, but you finished with over 250 yards left.
01:38 >> Well, one's just being committed to it.
01:41 The first half, like I said, we weren't playing together.
01:44 Guys weren't communicating.
01:46 We weren't shining on block.
01:48 We were coming off double team too soon.
01:50 And really, we just challenged them in the second half to really just stay on those
01:53 double teams and we decided to attack the perimeter a little bit more second half.
01:58 And we were able to get some big runs that way.
02:01 And of course, it helped to break a couple of big runs on third down as well.
02:04 But just being committed to it, sticking to it.
02:07 We challenged the guys to have that same intensity that we had.
02:10 We won against Jackson when we came out of the ramp for 200 yards.
02:13 We hadn't eclipsed that since then.
02:15 And we were able to do it tonight.
02:17 >> Coach Simmons, Wilson Chaney from UFM TV.
02:20 You guys started off down 14-0 in the first half of this game,
02:24 the first quarter of this game.
02:26 And before Southern, you guys kind of were subject of slow start as well.
02:30 What do you think you guys need to do in order to mend that as sweat winds down?
02:35 >> Well, like I said, just play as a team.
02:36 We came out first half and it was like 11 individuals running around the field,
02:41 as opposed to one cohesive unit.
02:42 And when we do that, we're hard to beat.
02:45 And saying that we kind of all going back 10 years ago,
02:50 forever that 11 brothers are hard to beat.
02:52 I grew up in a small town and so we all knew that family that,
02:57 if you catch one of them by themselves, you might get them.
02:59 But when you see them all together, you might wanna keep walking,
03:02 cuz they're gonna be hard to get with if they're all together.
03:06 And that's what we believe as a football team.
03:08 We play together.
03:09 I don't know if there's a team that can play with us, but we play as individuals.
03:12 We make ourselves very vulnerable.
03:14 And first half of this game, we were very vulnerable,
03:16 because we were playing as individuals.
03:17 >> Coach Darian Gray, Lackland HBCU.
03:21 In your opening statement, you mentioned controlling your own destiny.
03:24 And next week, with the wind and a little bit of help from Alabama State,
03:27 you do have the ability to quench the sweat.
03:30 Obviously, you're trying to make sure you take care of your own business.
03:32 But is this something that you as a coach is kind of looking towards and
03:36 thinking about in the back of your mind?
03:38 >> Our goal is to be one and know.
03:40 Homecoming's next week.
03:42 We gotta win homecoming.
03:43 And of course, chips will fall where they may.
03:46 But the good thing about the position that we're in,
03:47 we don't have to worry about anybody's help.
03:50 We can help ourselves.
03:51 And that's always the best position to be in.
03:52 So we just take care of business and do what we are capable of doing.
03:56 The chips will fall where they're supposed to fall.
03:58 So not worried about anybody else helping us.
04:00 We go out and take care of business.
04:02 We'll be fine.
04:02 >> Coach, late, Jerry Woodard with the Utah Sports Report.
04:07 Late in the second half, when he was not looking to hold on, but
04:12 was looking to continue to put pressure on Texas so that they work the ball.
04:18 They went down two possessions and attempted to score,
04:22 but things being what they were, the defense held.
04:26 Let's talk about finishing the game, the last four minutes of the game.
04:30 >> Well, obviously, finishing is one of our seven Fs.
04:32 And we pride ourselves on being able to put teams away.
04:36 We hadn't started fast.
04:38 Fast is another one of my words.
04:39 But we've been able to finish the right way.
04:43 So that's an important component.
04:46 And our defense really takes pride in being able to hold the line.
04:50 And they came up with a big interception there late.
04:53 Busted the coverage there at the end and gave up a late touchdown.
04:55 But if you look at the total yards from the first half to the second half,
05:01 defense really, really stood up like they're capable of doing.
05:04 So when you have a defense like we have, it makes it a little more easy and
05:09 a little more comfortable going into that second half.
05:11 Once we tied the game up, we kinda felt good that we'd be able to hold them.
05:15 I think we figured them out.
05:16 They hit us on some things early, but we made some corrections and
05:19 adjustments at halftime.
05:20 And the guys came out and played defense like we've been playing all year.
05:23 >> [INAUDIBLE]
05:30 >> Congratulations, coach.
05:31 >> Appreciate you.
05:32 >> Welcome back to Texas.
05:33 >> [LAUGH] >> Thank you, captain.
05:34 >> It's not.
05:35 >> [LAUGH] >> But with that being said,
05:37 I know you've had some incidents with going forward.
05:39 Can you explain a little more elaborate when you're talking about individuals
05:43 playing as individuals versus playing as a team?
05:46 What creates that environment?
05:47 Is that socially in terms of this generation or
05:50 have you seen that among teams before?
05:52 Where does that come from and then what techniques or
05:55 things you try to do to have them understand the need to play,
05:59 as you said, effective brothers or foes?
06:02 >> Yeah, you hit the nail on the head.
06:03 I think it's generational.
06:06 Today's generation really, I don't wanna say preaches individualism, but
06:11 it's kind of at the forefront of everything we see.
06:14 All the success stories are about overnight successes.
06:16 It's about one person doing it.
06:19 And all you see about is that one person.
06:21 They don't talk about the behind the scenes, all the people that helped them,
06:24 all the hard work they had to put in.
06:26 The assistance along the way just talks about that individual.
06:29 And everyone now is trying to, quote unquote, secure the bag.
06:33 That's the term everyone uses, secure the bag.
06:35 Well, when you have that mindset,
06:37 sometimes you forget that it takes other people to help you do that.
06:40 And this football team is a microcosm of that at times.
06:44 At times we're more concerned about how we look, our stats,
06:49 our touchdown dances, our social media influence, and what scouts are at practice.
06:55 It's all about me, me, me.
06:57 And that's something that as a coach, we really, really try hard to weed out.
07:01 And I can't do it alone.
07:03 I need the help of my assistant coaches.
07:05 I need the help of my leadership council, our support staff.
07:08 I mean, everyone involved has to really continue to pour into these young men and
07:11 make them understand that success in this life never comes by itself.
07:15 You never become successful by doing things on your own.
07:18 Even golfers have a caddy, somebody they gotta listen to and trust.
07:22 Tennis players have a tennis coach.
07:24 Even the individual sports have people that coach them.
07:28 Nobody, no successful person goes about this thing alone.
07:30 And that's something that, again, this generation is being kind of just fed daily.
07:35 And it's a tall task.
07:37 I tell you, I talk to coaches around the country, and it's the same thing.
07:42 And if you hear coaches post-game speeches or
07:44 their Sunday team talks, you hear it centered around that very point a lot.
07:49 And I've talked to a couple of them.
07:51 I told them when they find a magic formula, let me know,
07:53 cuz I'm still looking for it.
07:55 But it is a challenge to try to get this generation to understand what playing
07:59 as a team feels like.
08:02 And it was amazing.
08:03 I was watching the WNBA finals the other day, and just to see how those women came
08:07 together and just played together and how they celebrated together.
08:10 I mean, that's what it's all about at the end of the day.
08:12 But it's increasingly more difficult with this generation than maybe when I first
08:19 came into coaching to get guys to play together as a team.
08:23 >> One quick follow-up question.
08:25 Obviously, this is third year, so it's become a iteration.
08:28 But because of the scheduling, this is the first time Texas Southern and
08:33 then next week, forever, what fits on the schedule?
08:35 We always have these arguments about Florida athletes, Texas athletes.
08:40 How is your team in regards to any level of excitement about having a chance to
08:45 come to Texas, in this case, great Texas Southern University, to match up with a lot
08:50 of them talk about this state to state rivalry up in there?
08:55 >> Yeah, no, they talk about it a lot.
08:57 I mean, listen to Jordan Moore, man.
08:59 I mean, we call him Mr. Texas.
09:02 Since the moment he stepped foot on campus, man, it's Texas this.
09:05 I mean, Texas got beat a few weeks ago, University of Texas.
09:08 And I just had to console him.
09:10 I mean, you good, you okay?
09:12 It was a bad day for the state of Texas about three weeks ago.
09:16 I can't remember if you guys may remember, but Texas lost, Texas A&M lost.
09:20 I mean, the only team that won was the two teams in the state played each other, so
09:24 one of them had to win.
09:25 But every team in the state lost, and he had a bad day, man.
09:28 It was just, but it's all in fun.
09:30 Of course, I spent three years out here, so I heard it.
09:33 I'm from Florida.
09:34 I've said it, there's great football in the state of Florida.
09:37 There's phenomenal football in the state of Texas, California.
09:40 I mean, if you're in the South, you're gonna more than likely play good football.
09:43 But just the sheer numbers of the people in these states allow us to have
09:46 a lot of really good players.
09:48 But I think the top 20 players in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia,
09:53 Mississippi, if you just throw them out there, they're all about the same.
09:58 We got so many more people that once you get to about numbers 40, 50, 70, 100,
10:02 you're still looking at three, four stars when you get into the hundreds.
10:05 Whereas in Mississippi, once you get outside 20, you may be looking at two stars.
10:08 But it's a blessing to be in two really, really great states for football.
10:13 I spent three years out here in Texas and
10:14 was able to recruit some really good players.
10:16 And now I'm in Florida for six years and
10:18 been able to recruit some really good players from there.
10:19 But in Texas, I had Florida kids.
10:22 Now in Florida, I got Texas kids here.
10:24 So, I mean, we're gonna try to find the best players in the country.
10:27 And it's great to be able to dip into Texas and grab a few.
10:31 We're gonna try to take a few more before we leave.
10:33 >> Don't get too comfortable.
10:34 Don't get too comfortable.
10:36 Hey, speaking of Texas kids, what does Sharif look like to you?
10:40 >> Sharif C?
10:41 >> Yes.
10:41 >> Just tenacity.
10:43 He's an older guy, graduate, played a lot of football.
10:47 Was at Southeast Louisiana and came to us and
10:50 has really given us a force at defensive end.
10:52 He's more of a run stopper.
10:54 So gives us that physicality to the field.
10:56 And he does kind of the edge rush to the boundary.
10:59 And so it's good to have a one two punch of a stout guy and
11:03 more of a speedy guy, Dunn.
11:04 But he's a tenacious football player, plays hard.
11:07 And now that he's healthy, he's really showing his potential.
11:10 >> How was I talking about the receiver, Sharif?
11:13 >> Sharif, Jamari Sharif.
11:15 Okay, I thought you said Sharif still, sorry.
11:17 Okay, what did he give us?
11:18 >> Yeah.
11:19 Man, electricity.
11:21 I mean, he's lightning in a bottle.
11:23 He's leading the nation in punt return yards.
11:26 I mean, every time he touches the ball on offense,
11:28 he's got a chance to go the distance.
11:29 He's been a dynamic player for
11:31 us since he stepped foot on campus three years ago.
11:33 And when Xavier Smith had graduated, he kind of became our go-to guy.
11:37 And he embraces that role.
11:39 He's been fighting through some little nagging injuries.
11:41 He's not the biggest guy, but he's mentally exciting.
11:44 It's great to have him and we're gonna use him up.
11:47 We got about, hopefully we got five or six more games with him, hopefully.
11:52 We're gonna try to use him up all we can cuz when he leaves,
11:54 we're gonna really miss him cuz he's a really, really great football player, but
11:58 also a great individual.
11:59 He's already graduated.
12:01 He was crying tonight when he walked in the locker room.
12:04 Just crying tears of joy and just being back at home,
12:06 his family getting to see him play.
12:08 And that's what it's all about.
12:10 >> It seemed like you guys tried to get into ball in a lot of different ways.
12:13 I mean, is that something that's by design, obviously?
12:16 >> Yeah, it's by design.
12:17 Just get him in the backfield, throw it to him in the return game.
12:21 The more he touches it, the better chance we have for success.
12:23 So we're gonna try to feed our team as much as we can.
12:26 >> Last question.
12:27 >> Coach, let me ask just one last question.
12:29 I've been talking to a lot of defensive coaches around the league, but
12:32 as an offensive coach, your perspective on this.
12:34 And they talk about the phenomenon of dropping eight and
12:37 covering, how much pressure that puts on quarterbacks to try to be accurate,
12:40 to try to come off first rings, things like that.
12:43 From your perspective, is it more of a phenomenon that you're starting to see
12:47 more and more, especially, they talk about with athletic quarterbacks,
12:52 especially, to try to force them to do that?
12:54 >> Well, it's a defense that's starting to pick up a lot of steam.
12:58 It's not a new defense.
13:00 People have been dropping eight on third downs for ages.
13:03 But now, with the advent of spread offenses and
13:08 getting athletes all over the field, defensive coaches have kind of taken that
13:12 same philosophy, let's get the most athletes on the field as we can.
13:16 So in this case, Texas Southerns playing with six defensive backs.
13:19 And you gotta have some guys that are physical in the run game,
13:23 because you're asking defensive backs, 175,
13:26 80-pound guys to get in there and mix it up in the run game.
13:29 And the teams that excel at that type of defense, and it's kind of a Midwestern,
13:35 most teams in the Big 12, you'll see some Pac-12 teams run it.
13:40 But I think it kind of started when they were facing a lot of spread offenses.
13:43 But it's one that you gotta prepare for.
13:45 It's unorthodox, you don't see it every day.
13:47 And so the week of preparation that we had to try to scheme it up,
13:52 it's very difficult because, one, the scout team,
13:55 it's a task trying to get those guys to understand how to play the coverage.
13:59 And it took us about two days before we got them to understand how
14:02 Texas Southern played it.
14:04 And then it took us a little while to adjust to it once the game started.
14:08 But it's just not a defense that you see every day.
14:11 But every defense has its strengths, and
14:14 every defense schematically has strengths, and everyone has weaknesses.
14:18 And you gotta make sure that you're personneling it to where you kinda hide or
14:23 limit the weaknesses.
14:24 Because obviously, when you're dropping eight, that means you're only rushing three.
14:27 And if you got a quarterback that can buy time and throw balls in tight windows and
14:32 receivers that can make tough catches in close windows,
14:35 you may get yourself in trouble.
14:38 But I think there's no right defense or wrong defense,
14:41 just like there's no right offense or wrong offense.
14:44 If you have a full understanding of your scheme and what you're trying to do, and
14:48 you recruit to that scheme and get your players to believe in it, you'll do well.
14:52 And these guys have played really well at times in this game.
14:54 And fortunately for us, we were able to take advantage of some things in that
14:58 second half.
14:59 But I think you're gonna see more and more of it as you see more and
15:02 more spread offenses.
15:03 But you gotta just coach it, right?
15:06 You gotta adjust to it.
15:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]