Voices from around College Football

"It’s going to be fun hearing ‘Rocky Top’ after we beat Florida next year."

Lane Kiffin- Tennessee coach. In his first press conference.

“I think obviously it does (play a factor). I have been sour that it hasn’t been as strong as an influence as it used to. I guess in situations where all things being equal, what do you go to? In the end, I can’t equate to what transpired and how much of an influence it had, but it had an influence. Again, I think people that continue to want to play out-of-conference games, and people want to watch and go to and be excited about it, there has to be an incentive to do it. Otherwise, heck, just schedule four wins and move on down the road and you could almost schedule a bowl game by then.”

-Bob Stoops, Oklahoma coach. On strength of schedule being an important factor

"It’s a great conference and when you have this many great teams in one conference, things like this happens. It’s a tough conference to play in. There are too many great teams, and you can’t really control that. We would like to have won last week and be undefeated, but we didn’t. We want the best to turn out and whatever happens, happens. It’s been an exciting year and this is the best conference."

-Graham Harrell, Texas Tech coach. On the future conference outcome.

"I think they are a spread offense. Obviously the quarterback is a unique player, in terms of his ability to throw the ball and be a very good runner, and that always creates one more blocker and one more thing that you have to defend. We have seen some parts of what they do throughout the year, so we have some frame of reference of what they do. I think the biggest thing they do is utilize a lot of different formations, a lot of different personnel groups and utilize their players in different ways.  They have a lot of good players and that makes it very challenging to try and stay in the right leverage positions and make the adjustments you need to make so that you’re not unsound, in terms of something that they do. Their offensive line, in the meantime, has done a pretty good job of blocking the up front people. So it’s really important to control your gaps up front and play on the line of scrimmage, be aggressive, get off your blocks and make plays.  They are reading a lot of the things that they do so as defensive player you have to read and react to what they are doing as well."

-Nick Saban, Alabama coach. On coaching against an offensive like Florida.

- “This was one of the best games on both sides of the ball of guys finishing plays. The downfield blocking and overall effort — it’s really good stuff.”

- “You had an opportunity, realized what was in front of you and matched it with great effort and excitement, and it was awesome to see.”

- “Last two years against those guys, it’s 76-3. That’s what I’m talking about.”

-  “The playoff run ain’t done yet. We have one last shot to finish this right. It’s the conference championship game — that’s what it is.”

-Pete Carroll, USC coach. After the Trojans afternoon’s meeting.

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