MacIntyre, Lindsay & Jackson III Preview Texas State

Head Coach Mike MacIntyre

Opening Statement
"We're excited about having our home opener in Folsom. It's always an awesome place to play. I was looking out my office before I came out here and they're painting on the field the 50's out there for Ralphie's 50^th year. That was exciting to see that, it's always a blast. It's going to be a fun Saturday here. We kick off at noon, so we need all the students to get up before noon and that's hard for a student to do on a Saturday. That makes a big difference for our team for them to be there. They need to get there before noon, so wake up at 11:45 and come on over."

On Offense's Performance Against CSU
"We were clicking on all cylinders. We were rolling for 18 minutes and then there was that great interception by their guy. Steven [Montez] made a great throw and Devin [Ross] got down and kind of had it, but just bobbled out a little bit. He was trying to grab it, but their guy made a great play by pulling it out After that, that kind of stymied us. That would have been a first down and I think momentum to go up 24-0. After that, we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot here or there. They're a lot better on defense than they were last year. We knew that going in. We saw a lot of little things that ended up being big things for us if we would have done a few things better. We definitely could have gotten into the end zone a couple more times. I still think Marty [English] does an excellent job with their defense; they mix it up a bit better and they're much improved on defense. Going into the first game, those types of things pop up a bit more. When the other team's had their feet wet a bit, that always helps them. Hopefully we can correct some of those little things and we'll have a big week this week."

On How Kicker Freshman James Stefanou Fits Into The Team And The Kicking Situation As A Whole
"James is a great fit. He comes from a program over there (in Australia) that have sent 70 kids to Division 1, Division 2 and Division 1AA programs. They have multiple guys kicking and punting in the NFL. We felt really good about his talent and the coaching he was getting. We really liked who he is as a person. He's doing really well. He was nicked up a little bit before our game, that's why we were deciding if he could play or not. He didn't kick all week until the day of the game. He was able to kick pretty well in the game. Davis Price kicked off really well, we were glad to see that. He had been doing that all camp. He had been doing that last year, but he hurt his knee a little bit and that set him back. Then, he had mono, so I told him he couldn't go out with girls anymore or date anybody. Chris Graham came in and kicked the extra point. He backs up every position we have. He's very valuable to us. He'll have to kick sometimes this year and come through just like he did last year. James is our kicker right now and hopefully he stays healthy. As you can tell, he can really get the ball up quick."

On Play Of The Offensive Line And Junior Offensive Lineman Josh Kaiser Against CSU
"I thought Josh played well enough for us to win. They had a couple stunts that we miscommunicated on and they beat us a couple times. Their defensive line is good and have played a lot of football. We definitely have to keep getting better. We'll keep getting better from that game to this game. Overall, they gave us enough opportunities to make plays to win the football game. As a coach, you always see things that they need to keep improving on. I though Josh, in his first start, definitely played well enough for us to win the football game. He had a winning grade. I was excited about seeing that and how he competed. I told him after the game how proud I was of him to go out there and compete like he did. I thought he did a good job."

On Whether He's Coached A 30-year Old Like Freshman Kicker James Stefanou Before
"When I coached for the Cowboys and the Jets, but not in college. I haven't had any 30-year olds in college before. I've had 26 or 25-year olds before; guys that have gone on mission or were in the service and came back. He can keep kicking. I guess the Raiders are having that problem (with 39-year old Sebastian Janikowski) right now. I think I was 10 years old when he started kicking for the Raiders. They can kick forever as long as they stay flexible. Stefanou's in great shape. He played professional soccer for a long time."

On Matchup With Texas State's Front Seven
"Bryan London, #9, he's a big athletic linebacker for them. Frankie Griffin is another one, and Gabe Loyd, they're big. They're all close to 230. They're big and athletic and make a lot of plays for their defense. Last year, they made plays and this first game they made a lot of plays. They held Houston Baptist to 59 yards rushing. We can't be held to 59 yards rushing and expect to win the game. I think they're very stout in the linebacking area. We're going to have to get to the second level. Our offensive line has done a good job at getting to the second level. If they can get to the second level and at least get a piece of the guy, then he'll be off balance and Phillip [Lindsay] and Michael [Adkins] and those guys will make them miss when that happens or run through an arm tackle. That's what we'll have to be able to do."

On The First Weekend Of College Football
"I don't know if UCLA is typically an underdog in that game. To me, they are extremely talented. The thing you have to do once you get up is you've got to put a team away. That's something we didn't do last week. We had our chances to and we let them keep hanging around. Give credit to CSU to keep fighting. Sometimes you've got to out-will the opponent and if their will breaks, you'll blow them away. We didn't get that done last week. CSU kept fighting and we kept letting them stay in the game and they kept making plays to do that. This week, if we get up, we've got to be able to put them away. That's hard to do. As you saw in the UCLA, Texas A&M probably thought it was over, but UCLA kept believing and kept fighting. One of the great plays in that game was the blocked field goal when it was 44-31. If they don't block that field goal, UCLA probably doesn't win it. I thought that was a big play in the game. The energy they had, it showed a lot. I was extremely happy for Jim Mora and UCLA for what they did and for the Pac-12. My [Georgia Tech Yellow] Jackets got beat last night late. I was very disappointed. I was working late and somebody said the game was going to overtime. They were up 28-14 at one time, so I watched the last couple overtimes while I was still working. I always like to watch those situations. In the UCLA game, when I found out what the score was with six minutes to go, we took the offensive staff and sat down and took out our time management cards and figured out how we would have managed the game. We talked through the game as we were watching it; how would we manage it if we were A&M and how would we manage it if we were UCLA. We took it as a teaching experience for us and we learned a couple things in it. In overtime (in the Georgia Tech game), I was looking at what they were doing there. It was a heart-breaking loss for Tech, but a good win for Tennessee."

On Chance Of Getting Upset
"They know all of that, but we'll definitely mention different things. I thought the practice today was excellent, I didn't have to get on anybody or get them going, they were ready to roll. That's always a tell tale sign to me. They know you only get so many times to play, too. That's what I always preach, you're blessed to have the opportunity to play and you never know when your last play is going to be. Our game is such a physical game, so you better go give all you've got every time you have the chance."

On Tim Lynott's Development
"Timmy is very talented, works extremely hard, just a solid, solid young man. He has a great personality but he does kind of keep quiet and goes about his own business. Last year after making the Freshman All-American team, I kept telling him 'you're not going to be a one-hit wonder', so he's just kept working and working. He's doing an excellent job for us at guard and I think he'll be one of the top linemen in the conference as he keeps growing."

On His Most Memorable Ralphie Moment
"My first time I ran out on Folsom Field, Ralphie almost ran over me. We were playing Central Arkansas. When we came out of the old locker room they had a black plastic tunnel we'd go under, so when you're underneath there you can't see anything. There was a person standing by Ralphie [giving countdown with hand] so Parker Orms and I start going out. We get out there and Ralphie's gate is open but Ralphie won't move, so I'm literally looking Ralphie eye-to-eye, thinking to myself 'I'm going to get run over, I'm dead, this is the last time… it's over.' Luckily they've trained Ralphie not to run behind people, so she wouldn't go. This is all happening in a split second, here comes the team behind me so I said, 'Parker, run! We're going to get trampled!' We ran and got back to the sidelines, they shut the gate and Ralphie didn't run so we're out there for the first time in Folsom, the whole crowd starts booing. Sure enough, it rattled our team. We went out on the field without 11 players, jumped offsides on the first snap, went three-and-out. We kind of regained our composure and won the game, and she ran out at halftime. I asked Dave Plati after the game if that's ever happened before, and he said [it has happened] one other time, when CU beat Nebraska 62-36. I said, 'we ought to do that every game.' That's my Ralphie experience, all the rest of them have been phenomenal."

On Play Of Freshman Outside Linebacker Jacob Callier
"We really thought on high school film that he could rush the passer. He had that knack, that quick twitch, he can spin, get underneath and bend. That's what we saw. He has shown that all camp and he showed that in the game the other night. He had a sack. He could have had three sacks in his first game. He had one and he harassed the quarterback a lot. I know he'll be a really good pass rusher for us for the next four years. I'm excited about it. We've seen that in him. He played in such a tough league at St. John Bosco and played against a lot of really good offensive tackles. Coming here, he's done the same thing, so hopefully he'll keep doing that the rest of this year."

On Play Of Junior Inside Linebacker Drew Lewis
"Drew played really well. We knew Drew was really talented. Drew played a little bit at linebacker last year, but Kenneth [Olugbode] and Rick [Gamboa] and Addison [Gillam] were the guys that did the main playing in that spot, then Drew played on special teams and made a lot of plays on our special teams for us. In the spring and fall camp, he's done really well. We blitz him a lot up the middle in our defense. We did that quite a bit with Addison. He reminds me a lot of that. He was able to do that. He did a great job of playing his coverage correctly and playing on the punt team. He played really, really well. I was anxious to see how he played, with the lights coming on and the physicality of CSU's offensive line and running backs. I thought he played really well."

On How Junior Nose Tackle Javier Edwards Has Fit Into The Team
"Javier played really well in the game the other night. He's just got to keep pushing and keep getting better. He does a great job in the middle at nose tackle for us. His personality is incredible. He's so quick-witted. Every time I see him I'm going to start laughing. He's brought a great joy to our team with his expertise and how hard he plays. I'm excited about this year and next year with him. He's one of those guys that lights the room up. He always has that big smile. That's Javier. He won't be playing wildcat quarterback I don't think."

Tailback Phillip Lindsay

On The Offense's Performance Against CSU
"We were happy we won the game. It wasn't what we wanted it to be, we're an offense that likes to score a lot of points, we're a fast paced offense. After taking the game, we went back and looked at it. It's just little things that we need to correct, little places that we need to be more disciplined. When we get to the red zone we have to execute. This next game we're going to go at it hard and get back to playing Colorado football, being the offense that we know we can be."

On Adjustment Of Javier Edwards
"When he was on his visit here, he came and watch due play Washington State. HE was already with the team and getting comfortable. When he game, he got comfortable really fast. Javier is a big loving teddy bear really. But he also handles his business and he goes on about his business. He doesn't make a big scene about anything and I'm proud of him. He's a load to handle."

On Offensive Goals For Each Game
"I wouldn't say it's benchmarks but we know we need to score points, point blank period. We go in there and we have to move the ball. We have to get that first down. Once we get that first, first down we get to gelling and scoring points. It's all about that first, first down and it's all about receivers being on the same page and the offensive line being on the same page and the running backs being on the same page. With Montez it's giving him more time back there so he can find his receivers. For Montez that was pretty much his first game being the man and he learned a lot and he's ready for this next game."

On Offensive Struggles After Last Season
"It's a build up from last year because we know that we didn't play well at the end of the season last year. You have to understand though that this was our first game and we we're also playing against our rivals. CSU got a lot better. The year before we caught them off guard and they adapted to our tempo. For us we need to get back to playing our ball and not worrying about who's out there or worrying about what happens if we don't score at the beginning of the game. We have to play harder, longer, not just in the first half. It's that third quarter where we need to get over the hump. Once we get over the hump in the third quarter we'll be fine."

On His Relationship With Michael Adkins
"Mike has been through a lot. He hasn't had the years that he's wanted and he's capable of having. He always keeps a positive mindset though and it feels good to see him out there again doing what he loves to do. It's only going to make us better the more he gets into it. He's been out for some time so its going to take some time for him to get his feet wet but once he gets going its going to be awesome to have both of us rolling."

On Mindset Going Into This Weekend's Game
"Just playing ball, not worrying about who we're playing. We learned that a lot time ago. You don't look at who the decal on the helmet because everyone at the end of the day is capable of making plays. They have some talented players on their team, they have a talented quarterback. We just have to play football and we have to do what we do best. Coach Mac has prepared us all fall camp for this year and we have a goal. Our goal is to get back to a Pac-12 Championship and win it. That's what we're striving for. We're going to get there. We just have to continue to tune up."

On This Year Being Ralphie's 50th Anniversary
"Ralphie is the best mascot in college, period. It's exciting that I get to be around her and it's a feeling that you get every time she runs before the games that I don't think anyone else will ever experience. It's a great thing and the fans love it. We all love it. It gets us going."

On Montez's New Role Leading The Offense
"You always get frustrated when you have to send your defense in there and rely on them to hold it up. You don't want to have to do that. For us, in the Pac-12, you score a lot of points. It's frustrating because we know what were capable of doing. We have a talented receiving corps, we have a mature offensive line, a great quarterback in Montez. It's about all of us meshing together and that's what it comes down to. Like I said, this is his [Montez's] first time he's not behind Sefo [Liufau]. It's the first time he's the man from the start. People are going to prepare for that. But for Montez, he's going to do his thing. I'm excited to see that man work. He's going to make a lot of great plays for us this year."

On The Feeling Of Winning Consistently
"It feels good. I tell you I've been here for almost five years and I've seen it all. Once you start winning, you don't want to start losing again. For us its about knowing we have a great fan base that's going to be there and we have to show out in front of them. That helps our defense too because it's a motivator. When the crowd is loud and starts getting excited, it gives us that extra energy. And you don't want to lose in Folsom. Last year, that was our thing. We just weren't going to lose, period. This year we have the same mindset. We don't want to lose any games. When you start to win, that feeling is a great feeling and you don't want to lose that feeling. For us we just need to get back to it. It started on Monday and it started today. You don't win the game on Saturday, you win it right now. You win it on how you practice. Today was a hard day. We were in full pads but its about getting after it and getting on your team mates when they're slacking and telling them 'good job' when they're up. At the end of the day it's a team thing and we all need each other to win these games."

On Challenges Texas State Presents
"They're a team that's physical. They fly around. Any time you play a team that has athletes you never know [what's going to happen] because athletes make big plays, period. We have to stay disciplined. We have to have the same mindset that we want to be Pac-12 champs. So, you have to go in there and handle business no matter who you play."

Defensive End Leo Jackson III

On The Recipe Is For A Heavy Favorite Not To Stumble
"Just to take it one day at a time and not to overlook anyone. I think that's the biggest thing that allows teams to get surprised by teams. The biggest thing is not worry about anything else, and go into each week with the same ideal, to get better that week and worry about your own team and not the other team. It comes back to the senior class not allowing the young guys to get big heads and overlook teams, because young guys tend to not pay attention to what's at hand."

On Protecting Home Field At Folsom
"My first year we had four wins and we got a taste of it that year, getting the stadium rocking, getting the fans there. Last year was very surreal, it was one of the best things I've felt in my athletic career as far as just having that pride when you step onto the field that you have your fans and your community backing you up. It's a big deal for us to keep that going this year."

On Whether He Was Surprised By The Defense's Performance Against CSU
"Not necessarily because I've been in spring and fall camp with all the guys and the biggest thing was our captains Afolabi [Laguda] and Rick [Gamboa] and everyone were basically telling us that it's all about us. It's about the guys in this room, the guys that we play with on the field. We can't get caught up in the blogs or anything the media was saying."

On Being A Starter This Season
"I have more of a leadership role, and that came from being a senior but also from just being a veteran on the defensive line and in this system."

On Whether He's Been Surprised By The Progress Of Freshman Jacob Callier
"A little bit. We give him crap because he's still a youngin' but he's making some big plays and we love him for it. We pretty much saw that coming from spring, all the way through fall camp, seeing him grow we knew he was going to be a big asset."

On Whether The Defense Has A Chip On Its Shoulder After Being Predicted To Take A Step Back
"It definitely put a chip on our shoulder and gave us a sense of urgency to just quiet everyone down for at least a week or so. Each game and each week is different, but that was our biggest thing was to silence people and get them talking about something else. That was the biggest thing on everyone's plate of questions to ask."

On What He's Seen On Film From Texas State
"We have to be very disciplined because they play option football and they have a mobile quarterback, that's the biggest thing. When you're working with athletes, anything can happen because they can make things happen out of nothing. That's what it comes down, fundamentals and discipline."

On What He's Seen From The Offense In Practice Following A Disappointing Performance On Friday
"They have a chip on their shoulder. Despite what anyone else has said, they're their own biggest critics and they know that they didn't do what they wanted to do and what they expected to do. They have a big chip on their shoulder to come and just let it loose. I do (expect big things from them on Saturday)."

On Differences Between This Season And Last Season's Defensive Line
"I would say we're smaller but we're more agile. We don't really have any big bodies other than Javier [Edwards] who takes up two guys. Compared to last year we're smaller and we have to learn to stay disciplined, know our fundamentals more, and play to our strengths because we're not those same big bruisers that we had last year."

Head Coach Mike MacIntyre

Tailback Phillip Lindsay

Defensive End Leo Jackson III

Players Mentioned

Jacob Callier

Javier Edwards

Chris Graham

Leo Jackson III

Josh Kaiser

Drew Lewis

Phillip Lindsay

Tim Lynott

Davis Price

James Stefanou

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