UNIVERSITY OF TULSA FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 17, 2022

Philip Montgomery

Press Conference

Tulsa 54, Jacksonville State 17

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: First of all I thought our football team had the right mindset all week. Took it as a week for us to continue to strive and get better. Thought we improved in some areas today. Really came out and attacked the field I thought early in the ball game, had some really good things going on. I thought it was a three-phase win for us, offensively, defensively, special teams. Everybody contributed to it.

That's a good football team in Jacksonville State. Very well coached. Do a lot of things that cause you problems. Got a lot of athletes on it. So we knew we had our hands full tonight. I was just proud of the way our guys came out and executed. It was good to be able to get a lot of guys in the ball game, get some first experiences in and let them play. So that's going to play dividends for us later.

This week with all the things going on, especially with it being our 8th annual Alzheimer's game. I want to thank the university for allowing us to continue to do that, all the people that came out to the walk this morning and being a part of that part. And, you know, this game is always very special to me and my family. And I just want to thank people for helping and contributing to that.

With that, I'll take questions.

Q. Can you just talk about Davis and the game he had once again?

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: Yeah. You know, I really thought -- coming into it, this defense, they're really tough to breakdown via video and a lot of blitz, a lot of movement, bringing it from a lot of different areas. I think we saw every defense you could see almost tonight. I mean, they're in four man front, they're in cub, they're in Oakey, and then they're stemming and shaking from that and blitzing from all of that.

We knew it was going to be difficult from that standpoint. You looked at some of their coverages on tape, and it was hard to decipher some of that. But I thought our receivers did a really nice job of finding some lanes, finding some areas. I thought Davis did a nice job hence with all the pressure, you know, finding ways to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Guys making really nice catches, turning those into bigger plays.

And then, you know, it was good to see us hit on a couple of deep balls tonight. We had some explosive plays in there. And, you know, those guys just continue to keep striving for more and raising the bar. And they did a nice job of that tonight collectively together.

Q. Yeah. I mean, did he -- he got sacked twice on that first drive and then not again. Looked like there were several times he was able to get the ball out faster after that. Talk about that adjustment.

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: Well, I just think -- you know, our offensive line, you know, the speed at which blitzes and things happen isn't always the same as it is in practice. And so caught us on a couple of things early there. But I thought our guys locked in, got their eyes in the right spot, really saw the field in a better way. And then just taking things that are open in the flats or taking things open over the middle, being able to work those things. I thought we just flipped into another mode right there and really started kind of operating at a really good level.

Q. And started off last week and this week both started off really well. But this week -- you know, last week, obviously, got real exciting but this week you just kept going and you just got it to where it was a pretty insurmountable lead. Can you talk about the difference between the two weeks?

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: Well, I think more importantly it started last Sunday and Monday and Tuesday and out there in practice. It's one of the things that we really preached on this week with our football team about coming out and being able to extend leads. And then when you have those leads coming out in the second half and really trying to capture that momentum again, keep control of that, and then be able to separate from teams when you have the opportunity to do that. And I thought those guys really handled that extremely well and really performed that well tonight.

Q. And then the last touchdown pass, I know it was one of the few where it wasn't one of Davis's best throws but -- (no microphone) -- defender -- that's kind of when things are going well.

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: Well, exactly. When momentum is on your side, you get some breaks like that. Really nice play there by Keylon. I've never seen something like that happen and just catch it in stride and roll right through it. So a little bit lucky on that play, but I'll take lucky any time I can get it

Q. Kind of going the other way with Jacksonville State's passing. You held them to 87 yards passing. I just want to break that down how you thought the defense played in covering the pass?

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: I thought our defense played extremely well. This is a tough offense to go against. And Rodriguez has been one of those really innovative minds offensively throughout his coaching career. Whether you go all the way back to West Virginia or even before that, he gives you a lot of different formations, a lot of motions, you know, a lot of misdirection to it.

I thought our guys did a really nice job of keeping their eyes in the right spot, playing really sound defensively, trusting the guy beside them, and just making it difficult for them to do some of the tempo things that they really wanted to do.

I thought our secondary played very well from the standpoint of keeping things in front of them. When they had opportunities to break on balls they did. Knocked down a few. Had an opportunity to pick a couple more. But winning the turnover battle was big for us tonight. And it was good to see our defense play at such a high level right there.

Q. And, obviously, Justin Wright has a big interception. And he's obviously just every week is a good player for you. Just comment on that.

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: Well, you know, just a guy with a ton of experience. He's been our mike linebacker for several seasons. I think he's really matured in the sense of his leadership and the way he's preparing for games. But I thought he has played exceptionally well as well as a lot of other guys.

It was good to see our defensive line coming off the football, getting pressure. Got a few sacks tonight. Got a lot of hurries and things like that. That always helps your secondary in that sense. But Justin has been flying around. And you know him. Any time he's got a chance to lay a hit, he's going to lay it.

Q. Talk about getting the backups in and how important that is for their confidence and experience as well as who stood out to you?

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: You know, it was good to get a lot of guys playing. Right? And getting that experience in games is so different than it is in practice. And so I think it allows you to continue to build your depth.

It's a long season. You never know what's going to happen. So to be able to have an opportunity to get guys in, give them the chance to get that experience so that when the next opportunity comes up they're more prepared, they're ready, and just emotionally, you know, that guy that has been practicing his tail off and doing everything right and now getting the opportunity to step in and then performing at a really high level, it's always good to see

Q. Were you tempted to let them go for that touchdown there at the end there?

PHILIP MONTGOMERY: It crosses your mind, but I think we made the right decision. That being said, you want to take care of your football team and you want to make sure that you get out of here with a good win. And we were able to accomplish that part of it. And, you know, I've been on the other side of that thing too. And those are tough ones.

Appreciate it, guys.