Quotes from KU head football coach Mark Mangino
Oct. 19, 2004
Opening statement: “We are preparing this week to play the second-ranked team in America. We have had two very good practices this week. We continue to have good spirit on the practice field. We are looking forward to this challenge. I have told our players that the majority of them will only get one opportunity to play in Norman. So we have told them to make it a game that they can tell their kids and grandkids about.”
On Oklahoma’s offense: On the offensive side of the ball, they have great schemes in the pass game. They force you to defend the entire field. They feature a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback. He comes as advertised. He’s a talented young man, a great person, a real story of perseverance. Their offensive line is made up of veterans. They are very good football players. It is a good matchup for our defense, which has been playing very well. Our defense is looking forward to the challenge.
On Oklahoma’s defense: “They are extremely talented and well coached. Their defensive ends are phenomenal. The linebackers are solid and stout. Their secondary is a who’s, who of defensive backs. They have great schemes, they can play zones or pressure you. They have a very multi-faceted defense. Our offense is up for the challenge, it has been getting better every week.”
On OU running back Adrian Peterson: “He gets out on the edges so quickly and he accelerates very fast. Once he gets rolling, he is so powerful that you have to wrap him up or you are not going to bring him down. If you try to throw a shoulder at him or dive at his ankles, there is no chance.”
On going back to OU: “I think that when I first get there, there will be some mixed emotions. I really enjoyed my time there and my family did as well. I loved coaching there and being around those players. I have always said that the three years I spent in Norman, were probably the least complicated years of my coaching career. All I had to do was coach the offense and take care of recruiting. I am on the other side of the field now. When I left Oklahoma I experienced something I had never experienced in coaching. When I left the University of Oklahoma, OU fans would write, call or stop me on the street and thank me for my contribution.”
On his relationship with Bob Stoops: “This is a long relationship that we have. It goes back to when were assistant coaches at Kansas State. We share a lot of similarities in our thinking. It has been a good friendships that I value, but it has no bearing on the game at all.”
On the KU quarterback situation: “I would say we will know late in the week. There is a good chance that we will play both of them. They are both practicing very well. I am confident in both kids. It may be a major decision viewed outside our program but for me I think it’s not that difficult. Adam (Barmann) is getting better and Jason (Swanson) is showing that he can do some things. We will talk as a coaching staff and look at the game plan and go from there. When you have quality players at any position and they are competing, it elevates their play.”
Selected Quotes From Kansas Players
Junior linebacker Banks Floodman
On Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson: “He is a heck of a runner. We are going to have to swarm, because he does not go down with one tackle. He will run you over like he showed in the Kansas State game a few times. We are going to have to keep our feet and run through tackles, because if you don’t move you feet he can run right through you. He is very impressive.”
On comparing Peterson to Kansas State running back Darren Sproles: “He is a lot bigger back. He Sproles is short and elusive, but Peterson is elusive plus he is big and fast. It’s a package deal with him. He is going to be tough to tackle, but we are excited about the opportunity.”
Senior center Joe Vaughn
On preparing to face No. 2 Oklahoma: “In the Big 12, there are great athletes everywhere. So we just need to prepare to the best of our ability and come out and play. If we do that, everything else will take care of itself.”
On what he expects from Oklahoma: “They are solid up front. They play hard all the way to the whistle. They are going to get after it, so we are just going to have to step our game up and play to their level.”
On playing in his home state of Oklahoma: “It is always good to go back home and play in front of your family. But basically, this is just another game and I’m just happy to play in a big stadium with a great atmosphere.”
Junior linebacker Gabriel Toomey
On Oklahoma quarterback Jason White: “I think a lot of people do forget a little bit about Jason White, but he is a great player. They don’t just hand out the Heisman Trophy to anybody. He runs that offense and is a great player. He really knows how to stay in the pocket and stay poised. Adrian Peterson really helps out in balancing their attack. Jason White definitely hasn’t lost his touch.
On the bye week: “The bye week came at a great time for us. We practiced hard when we were out there, but during the time we had off, we just relaxed. People had time to heal up their nicks and bruises.”
