UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 8, 2022

Rashad Wisdom

Press Conference

UTSA 31

Western Kentucky 28

Q. How you doing?

RASHAD WISDOM: Great. We got a win, so nothing better than that.

Q. How important was it to beat this team?

RASHAD WISDOM: I think it's pretty big. This is the third time we've played them. It's been no dropoff in the last two for sure. They lost a lot of key players, but they still got a lot of big dudes in there. Pretty much the same offense. It's always big to go in and beat those guys regardless if it's here or at their place.

I couldn't be more proud of the way we played tonight. I feel like we played one of our more complete games this season. We still got a couple things to work on.

Like I said, I'm proud of the way we played and excited we were able to come out with the dub.

Q. They kept hanging around. What was it like on the sidelines?

RASHAD WISDOM: We were just staying locked in, just knowing we had to play until the clock said zero, regardless of how we're going to have to do it.

Just kind of that mentality that we go into every game with, just we got to fight all the way till the end. I feel like we did that.

There were some big plays made in this game, from Cephus reaching out on that fourth and two, Kyle Wakefield getting that on-side kick. Those are the type of plays we got to capitalize on. I feel like we did that today.

Like I say, I couldn't be more proud of us.

Q. You held Western Kentucky well under their scoring average. How did you do that?

RASHAD WISDOM: Man, the coaches gave us a great game plan this week. We were able to go in there and capitalize off of that. We played with a lot of confidence.

Like I said, ultimately it ends up falling on the coaches. They set us up for success. We were able to go out there and execute. That's pretty much all it is, man.

Like I said, I feel like we played one of our more complete games. A lot of different communication, a lot of different packaging going in and out.

It's a team effort. I feel like we played as one unit tonight. It just goes to show what we can do going down the stretch. We got to just keep on rolling.

Q. How are you feeling after this game? You didn't play last week.

RASHAD WISDOM: After what happened in the Texas Southern game, we kind of go back and forth throughout the whole week. Ultimately I just didn't feel like I was ready yet. The training staff and coach, they respected that. I appreciate that they did.

Like I say, I just didn't feel like I was ready. But I had total faith in my team to go out there and handle business. They ultimately ended up doing that.

After that week, I just felt much better. I just felt like I was ready to go ahead and get back on the field. I'm glad I was able to.

One of the more scarier thing that's happened in my career. I just wanted at the end of the day to make sure I was good. The training staff was able to take care of me, make sure they get me back to a hundred. I appreciate them for sure with that.

Q. Did that experience add at all to your energy and intensity today?

RASHAD WISDOM: I just missed being on the field with my guys. That was really it. I had the same energy last week when I was on the sideline trying to get into them.

It's just a different feeling being able to strap up those pads, put on my helmet, go out there, go to war with my guys, man. You never know when it's going to be your last game so you got to go out there and play like it's your last every game.

That's kind of the mentality I had this game. Going forward, that's pretty much going to be my mentality. Like I say, you never know when it's going to be your last, so you have to go out there and play with your heart every single play.

Q. Having seen this team before, how did you adjust your approach defensively?

RASHAD WISDOM: I just feel like we tried to be more aggressive with them. Just watching film, kind of feel like a lot of people just set back, try to be more passive with them. We got a lot of dudes up front that can get after the pass, a lot of guys in the back end that can cover. Why not let our play-makers try to go make some plays?

Hats off to the coaches for allowing us to play our brand of football, man, giving us a great game plan, allowing us to go out there and execute.

Q. Three very critical turnovers. What did it mean to be able to come through in those moments?

RASHAD WISDOM: It was big, for sure. Those are big plays we got to be able to make. I'm glad we were able to make 'em. Those are the opportunities we got to be able to go in each week and capitalize on because those are big things in the game that can flip momentum, set us up for where we want to be.

I'm glad we was able to make those plays, man. I feel like it kind of goes to show why the outcome was the way it was?

Q. You're 2-0 in conference play. How big a win was this in trying to repeat as champions?

RASHAD WISDOM: Any win in conference is big. It's not an easy conference to play in. A lot of great teams, great opponents. Western Kentucky is one of them. As you can see from the last few times we played them, always been close.

Middle Tennessee was a great team, as well.

We have got another good team in FIU coming up, man. Excited for the challenge. It's going to be a short week. A lot of adjusting to be had. We're just looking forward to the challenge.

Q. You're 4-2 at the halfway point of the season. What is your assessment of your team overall?

RASHAD WISDOM: I feel like our best ball is still ahead of us. Like I said, tonight was one of our more complete games that we've had. We still got a couple things we need to work on.

I feel like everything is starting to click at the right point. We're not peaking too early, we're not peaking too late. Like I say, I feel like everything is coming together when it needs to be.

I'm excited for what's to come. We keep playing how we should be, the sky's the limit. I'm looking forward to where we can be.