Below is everything Matt Campbell said during his weekly press conference this week before his team’s game against Oklahoma this Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
Morning or whatever it is afternoon, Matt, what’s the what’s the injury update after after a week off specifically with the running back situation?
MC: Yeah, yeah. Well, the one thing Randy I would tell you is we’re we’re maybe as close to healthy as we’ve been since probably the start of the season, to be honest. You know, I think the, you know, obviously, at the running back spot, both (Brock and Norton) was huge to get, you know, to get the week off from them physically. Both those guys looked really good in practice on Sunday. Cartevious has really looked good in practice last week, so felt really feel really good about where those guys are at. You know, I think reader is, you know, practiced on Sunday, which was great. You know, I still think he’s, uh, you know, we’ll see how he progresses through this week for his guarantee availability through the week. But, you know, we certainly feel like there’s a legit chance that he’ll play in the game on Saturday.
Hey, Matt, you guys have you have talked, I think, at length over the years about your guys’ self evaluation process, and I’m imagining that was probably a little deeper with the bye week. So just curious on what you guys were able to do over the week to kind of take stock of where you’re at, and how you want to get to where you’re going?
MC: Yeah, you know, I think it was it was huge for us. Obviously, we had, you know, seven really good games to evaluate. And, you know, what are we doing? Well, you know, where are those margins for us that we need to continue to fill in? And, you know, what, what are, you know, what’s the process for us to get there. And, you know, I, again, I, we really spent the first half of of last week, you know, really in in that process, which I think helped us, we did it on offense, defense and special teams. And, you know, I think anytime you get a chance to do that, it gives you a little bit more clarity. And, you know, a lot, obviously, a lot of that will keep in house as we continue to prepare for these last couple opponents. But, you know, I think the biggest thing for us is evaluation of, you know, who, number one, do we have the right players on the field? Number two, man, are we putting those guys in the right position to be successful? And, you know, and then if we’re not, you know, how do we make sure whether it’s schematically or personnel wise, do we make the changes we need to make moving forward?
Was there anything that surprised you that maybe wasn’t clear without having that time to sit down and evaluate that you don’t see in the moment?
MC: Yeah, you know, I think the biggest surprise, honestly, Travis is like, you know, I think the things that the things that are hard is the things that you really want to work on, you know, in the offseason, you know, third down conversions, third down, getting off the field, fourth down conversions, getting off the field, some of the things that are hard, you know, maybe this team has done better than some of the other teams that we’ve been able, we’ve had, you know, and then you look at some of the things that the simple, you know, maybe when, when we’ve had some, you know, you really look at this season so far, and it’s come down that really some moments, you know, we we’ve, you know, we’ve had the ability or the inability to win the moment. And you know, it, I think it’s been really interesting, so far this season to take a deep dive on that. And, you know, I guess the, the most surprising thing is some of the some of the harder things that there are to do in football, this team has done a really good job of, you know, some of the things where, you know, we’ve maybe been in our best at times, we maybe have lacked that right now. And I think that’s part of a little bit of that’s part of the growth process of a young team. You know, we’re your man, you have that moment. Maybe it’s man, it’s the fourth in three play at Texas, you know, where it’s the man the opportunity to make that play or take care of the ball in that moment. I think those were the biggest things that that really stood out to me in I think it was probably more of a positive and exciting that we can grow from this and grow towards this in my opinion.
Hey, coach. I’m just curious what you see from Oklahoma on film, then I know you guys have connected with Coach Venables before in the past, what’s your relationship like with him?
MC: Yeah, you know, I think the biggest thing Jared you see with this team is you know, I think you’ll see a team that obviously when their quarterbacks been healthy, they’ve been as explosive as anybody in the conference. You know, obviously a young man that knows the system really well. has played in head handle has had a lot of success in the system, they still have dynamic playmakers at their skill positions and really have a running back on the offensive side that’s playing really good football. You know, you flip over to the defensive side and you see a team that’s, that’s extremely multiple, I mean, you know, they’re playing maybe three or four different structure defenses throughout the season so far. And so you know, I think that what you what you saw is especially after the Texas Game, they got their quarterback back. You know, I think that they they’ve really tried to hone in on who they want to be across the board. And, you know, you saw maybe their best game of the season against Kansas. So I think you see a team that’s very similar that’s trying to find its way but it’s got some dynamic playmakers there and, you know, on coach Venables, you know, I think one of the things that sticks out to me about him as much as anything, is really what he stands for, you know, I think, again, there’s, there’s there are some coaches in this profession that are in it for the right reason that care about kids that want to see things done the right way. And, you know, I think that’s, that’s really what has impressed me about him getting to know Coach Venables, and, you know, a guy that cares about kids, it’s really working hard to put them in the best position to be successful, but at the root of it, you know, really wants young people to have success and cares about them as young people. So I think he’s great for our profession for sure.
Matt, wanted to touch on the some of the special teams stuff that has been gone on over the course of this season. Just I know, you hired coach John, I don’t want to say his last name, because I I’m guessing I’ll pronounce it wrong. But can you offer a little insight as to what his kind of role is, as an analyst, just given that, you know, special teams can cover such a wide range of duties and, and the mistakes that we’ve maybe seen have been? Maybe things that don’t necessarily have to do with one another over the course of the season? You know, what I’m, you know what I mean, if that makes sense, I was wondering if you could offer a little insight as to how he kind of analyzes and what he is kind of doing for you guys?
MC: Sure, yeah, you know, we hired coach (John) Bonamego this offseason. And really, you know, Coach Bono has done a great job. I mean, he really came in here. And I think the greatest, greatest presence that he brought was, you know, just in terms of fundamentals, and the ability for us to, you know, make sure that whatever we do or decide to do schematically, that the foundational fundamentals, you know, are a match. And, you know, obviously, as an analyst role is he’s always kind of grading both who we are, and then also taking a look at, you know, some of the some of the opponents and what maybe they can do, to try to, you know, challenge your scheme. And, you know, I would say, you know, for us on special teams, man, you’re talking about as young of a team, as we’ve had from special teams, a freshman kicker, a freshman Connor, a new kicker on our kickoff team, to, you know, obviously, Jalen know, you know, being in his second year as the punt returner slash kick returner. So, you know, I think that, again, probably a lot like offense, and maybe it tightens on defense, a little bit of it has been, you know, inconsistent, I think there’s been a lot of real positive, you know, the inconsistencies have more so come from, I really believe, you know, the youth have, you know, guys being in a position for the first time. And so, you know, I think we feel very confident about where we are, and certainly where we’ve got the ability to go, because I think you see the growth of man, the punt team, the kickoff Coverage team. You know, our punt return team has been fantastic this year. You know, I think those things are things that we’re excited about and feel like it’s grown. But again, I think Coach Bono’s greatest gift that He’s given us, is really just the baseline fundamental growth that we could take and really organize ourselves moving forward.
Is there a difference between having somebody that you can kind of analyze versus having somebody right there on the field is not just a comfort thing for you? And how you’ve done things in the past?
MC: Yeah. You know, I really think like, in my opinion, special teams is still one of those things where you want all your coaches involved. You know, I think when you’re asking just one person to do it, I still don’t believe that’s the right way to approach it. And, you know, I think we’ve been able to find great success with that in our past.
Hi, coach, I’m just kind of curious what you saw in the spring and summer and then what you’ve seen this season from Kendell Jackson that’s kind of allowed him to take on a larger role this year.
MC: Yeah, that’s a great, great question. You know, probably one of the one of the elite seniors right now on our football team that’s playing phenomenal. You know, I would just say This about Kendell you know Kendell has, as a football player probably grown as much as anybody on our football team, you know, his I can remember two years ago, you know when Kendall got his first couple opportunities on special teams and it didn’t go great. And you just saw this kid just continuing to battle to help his team and they get on the field and help our team. And you know, you’re really you go you fast forward then to last season and you go to the you go to the Clemson game, and Kendall is shoved into duty and really played a terrific football game. And so I really think Kendell’s momentum has started, you know, in that game in the bowl game against Clemson. And it really went to the offseason, you know, Kendall is is consistent of a performer and player on our program is anybody. And, you know, I think what he’s given this team is a team that has had inconsistencies this year. He’s given great consistency and obviously, man, we’ve we’ve had some tough luck with injuries and linebacker and Kendell’s consistency in the consistency of play has been phenomenal. And really the same thing on special teams, his consistency of play, on our kickoff Coverage team on our punt team. He’s really steadied the ship for this program and this team, and we’re really proud of them.
What does what (Kendell’s) been able to do, what does that model for, you know, the younger walk on guys on this team?
Yeah, I think I think Alyssa, he’s, he’s kind of, he’s kind of continued to set the trend of guys that whether it’s walk on or whether it’s scholarship where man, things maybe didn’t start out real, real positive right away, that if you’re willing to just continue to work on yourself and continue to work on your craft, that sooner or later, you’re going to have the opportunity to have great success. And you know, Kendell’s really found that right now for this team. And, you know, we’ve always said this, if your seniors can play their best football, your teams always get a chance to have great success, and our seniors in general are doing that. But most importantly, for a guy like Kendall, he’s such a great, he’s such a great demonstration of what we want our program to be about, you know, even though it didn’t go great early. Man, I always have the ability to write the ship. And he’s certainly done that for this team. Thank you.
Hi, Matt, hope you get well. Wanted to kind of piggyback on that, because you talked about the physical health getting a lot better in the bye week and working on a lot of things. How is the team just in terms of emotional health, because four losses by 14 points can be tough, no matter how mentally strong you are, and how we kind of navigated that with the guys, because I know how much you want to be processed, driven rather than results driven?
MC: Yeah, you know, I think that’s, that’s always a challenge. Rob, you know, I think that’ll be something that man until we can get back on the field and play. We’ll really know where that’s at. But again, I think one of the things that I’m, I take great pride in this group, and this team is, man, even, even as as gut wrenching as it was to get into that locker room after the game against Texas. I think the spirit and the soul of this team is been one of resiliency and the ability to create great momentum. And you know, I think one of the things that we talked about, you know, in the, in the in the bye week was, man, we’re gonna self reflect, we’re gonna do everything in our power to fundamentally and physically get ourselves healthy. And then let’s do a great job of creating great momentum for ourselves for the second half of the season. And, you know, I think what I watched from our kids, they were fantastic through through the bye week, I thought did a great job. I thought we had a great practice on Sunday. And really excited to get back on the practice field today with our kids to kind of see where we’re at. But I do think a little part of the mental health has to do with the physical health of this team to because I would say it was probably as watered down and physically beaten as we’d been, you know, at the end of that game at Texas. So I think it came at a great time and I think both of those have an opportunity to really rebound as we kind of get into this week.
If you guys feel any more urgency I know everybody always is getting ready for every game but especially cuz he got Oklahoma at home for close last season kind of second half of the season and any more pressure urgency that you guys are feeling. I thought by week really to make this kind of a must win game?
No, I think the urgency is man, you’ve been so close. And you know, you literally have been right there pretty much every step of the way this season. And I think the urgency is the ability to get this thing to get to get over the hump and to make those plays in the moment. And I think that the only way to do it is continue to pound away at your craft, to continue to do everything in your power to, you know, have a sense of urgency about about being the best version of yourself in the moment. But I think those are those are part of those are growth patterns. And I think part of that is getting back to work. And I think that’s one nice thing about the bye week that it really allowed us to, to both as coaches and players self reflect a little bit and really kind of give ourselves the opportunity with some excitement and energy to get back on the football field and start to prepare for a game this week.
What are your thoughts on just on the big 12? In general, and what your team has to do to reach it’s sixth bowl game in a row?
MC: Yeah, geez, you know, I the big 12 In general, man, I think Randy, man, we probably have talked about this a lot is top to bottom as good as it’s been, and, you know, really competitive. And, you know, I think if we want to have be a team that that, again, gets back to winning football games with consistency. You know, the biggest thing for us is is as I’ve said is the consistency of doing the things it takes to win football games, you know, obviously, man, it’s taking care of the football on offense, it’s getting off the field on on third down or critical down situations on defense. And obviously, it’s playing with consistency on special teams and Mandia. The thing that’s hard as you looked at it, when you look at it, we’ve done a lot of really good things. The hard part about it is the consistency of doing that within the game to win the game is is where we have to be better. And what a great challenge for our group and what a great challenge for our team and, you know, one that we certainly have the ability to overcome. And, you know, that’ll be you know, getting on display against a really good Oklahoma team this week.
