Nov. 30, 2006

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HOUSTON, Texas - Houston head coach Art Briles addressed the media on Friday afternoon at the Athletics Alumni Center on the UH campus. Houston will host Southern Miss at 7 p.m. Friday in the league's second football championship game.

Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower
On Houston: "They're good, really good. Since we beat them, they've won five in a row. We all know how good Kevin Kolb quarterback is. He's outstanding. He doesn't throw many interceptions; he's only thrown four picks out of 373 throws. That's something else. They have two good backs in Jackie Battle and Anthony Aldridge. Aldridge can fly. He's averaging 11.3 yards per carry. They're using him a lot more than they were entering our first game against each other. He was primarily a wide-out, but now he'll be in the back field. They're going to get him the football. He's really fast; he's a 10.5, 100-meter guy. That's amazing. Battle is a big, strong back, and this guy is a quick guy. If you let him hit a seam, he's fast. Defensively, they're playing well. They're really solid on defense. They're a team that has maintained their health throughout the season. They're in good shape, and they had an open week this past week. They've had some extra time to heal up and get ready. I think they're a very good football team. They can score points, and they're playing well on defense."

"I'm really proud of our guys for winning the last four and how they have prepared and battled back to get themselves in the position to play for a conference championship and win a ring."

On maintaining the running game similar to the last game against Houston: "Obviously, you'd like to win the time of possession and try to keep their offense off the field. At the same time, you have to do what's best for you offensively. You have to score on these guys; they can score points."

On the running game picking up recently: "We've done a good job running the ball, and it helps when you can do that. The thing that pleased me was that we were much more effective throwing the ball. That's something that we've got to continue to work on."

On playing a team twice in one season: "I don't think I have in a while. To my knowledge, we never have while I've been coaching. It's going to be two teams that know a lot about each other, having played already."

On how the defense has stepped up: "We haven't given up as many big plays. That's something you can't do on these guys; they've got so much big play ability. I think we're playing better. I give credit to our defensive staff, and I think we've got some pretty good leaders on that side of the ball. We had a game or so where I think we gained some confidence and that really helped us."

Head Coach Art Briles Opening Statement: "The thing about this game is that it is not a scheduled game. It's earned. Our players have played to earn it and Southern Miss has played to earn it. On the other side of it, as coach of this football team, being able to be around our players, it's very humbling, and it's very gratifying for them to be able to see our fans and our students turn out like they have. If you haven't been here over the last four years, then you wouldn't know what I was talking about, but our players have stepped up to the plate. They've (the fans) come in, and they're supporting us, and we need to use that to our advantage tomorrow because it's something we don't take lightly. We don't feel like it's not a big issue because it's huge to us. We've got great guys who have earned this opportunity to play in this atmosphere. I have said it from day one, our players deserve to be in big-time games. They've earned the right, and we have a big time game tomorrow night. We are ready to represent the University of Houston, represent our football program and represent the city."

On the first meeting with Southern Miss: "The first time we played we were a different ball team, and so are they. The keys to the game haven't changed regardless of whether this is a conference game or the championship game. You have to win the turnover battle and get good field position. If we win those two things, then we should win the football game. I know our guys will play extremely fast, and they will be determined and very disciplined. We are a fast, determined, hungry football team. We are ready to get out there on the football field, and turn it loose."

On having home field advantage: "It's huge. That was our driving force a couple weeks ago (against Memphis) when we figured out that we had a chance to host the game. We played on the road, and we've played at home and to be able to let our fans, friends and our student body enjoy this ride with us is what makes it so meaningful. When you go on the road you don't have what you have at home and everyone pulls together to help have a chance to win the ball game. That's what's important."

On Robertson Stadium: "When you fill our stadium up, it's as an exciting atmosphere are there is that we've been involved in. We've been to the Big House, Oklahoma and some other places that take a lot of pride in their atmosphere. You take our people and you throw them in there, get the them excited and bring the energy they will bring to the stadium it will be a different look than what a regular-season game will look like."

Senior Quarterback Kevin Kolb On playing in the Conference Championship game: "The most important and gratifying thing is that we planned on doing this from the very beginning. We obviously say it every year, but we really believed it this year. Even when we went through that tough time we still believed it the entire time. That's why we made the run we did after Southern Miss. We've all reached personal goals and team goals, and we've got a few more to go. We are in the position we said we were going to be in a few months ago. That's the focus of our team, the strength of our team."

On getting ahead of Southern Miss early in the game: "It would be huge. One thing I think we will do well this week is that if we jump up, we've learned our lesson about jumping up on opponents and just letting go. This is such a big game that I don't think that will happen and we play well with emotion, and its going to be a very emotional football game. It's been like that in the past. We've played Oklahoma State and Tulsa here, and we played well against those teams. It shouldn't be anything different tomorrow night."

On the game: "I think it first starts out with a very physical football team. We're a physical football team, and they (Southern Miss) are too. The game starts out like that, and I think we have a lot of expectations for both teams and when you clash those heads together, you have a mix for a pretty good game. Tomorrow will hopefully be a different story (then the last meeting), and hopefully we will jump out on them but, if not, we will be right there for a dog fight. I don't think anything will surprise us that will happen in the game tomorrow. The best part about the team is that we have had to overcome adversity. We had key injuries early in the year that really hurt us and we overcame all that through the last winning streak."

On the key to winning the game: "The things we have to be careful of first of all is it's a big football game and, secondly, we are a unique offense so they are going to bring a lot more things to the table then they do against other offenses. We can't get set in our ways. What I see is that they play good as a team, they control the ball and they don't have a lot of standout guys but they play well as a unit. They kind of resemble the Tulsa team of last year in the way that they don't have a lot of superstars. They just got it done. Hopefully, we will be able to exploit that tomorrow, but they've done well to this point."

Junior Utility Back Anthony Alridge On the running game: "We've all practiced hard. It's not just about me; it's about everyone. I'm just ready to play my part in it (the game)."

Senior Defensive Tackle Marquay Love On Southern Miss running back Damion Fletcher: "He's really quick, powerful, explosive, and he can turn it up a notch at anytime. That's his game. He's just a very dominant player."

Senior Running Back Jackie Battle On Houston's running game: "It just opens up things for the passing game if you narrow down the running game. With me and Anthony (Alridge), together, we are two different styles of backs. They (Southern Miss) might find ways to stop me but not Anthony and vice versa."