UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 26, 2022

Frank Harris

Press Conference

UTSA - 34

UTEP - 31

Q. Frank, what were the keys to the comeback today?

FRANK HARRIS: I think we went out there second half a little bit more desperate than we did the first half. Went out there a little more prosperous. Those guys came out desperate, had a lot to play for.

I think at halftime being down 10 or 17, something like that, we really set in that they're up and we're about to go out there and lose this game for the seniors. I think that kind of changed it.

Coach came in there, he delivered a unique speech to us (smiling). I think we handled it well, came out there and executed the second half.

Q. What can you tell us about the halftime message?

FRANK HARRIS: I mean, he had every reason to be fired up. Like I said, we went out there prosperous. We weren't playing our style of football. It was really embarrassing at first, honestly.

But second half we answered the call, went out there and executed.

Q. It seemed like you got to the point where you were scoring pretty much every drive for the late second, early third quarter.

FRANK HARRIS: The first half, it was all self-inflicted wounds, whether that was up front, whether that was a pass by me, whether I was hitting the hole correctly, missing the ID with the receiver.

I think the second half, played a lot more clean, went out there and executed. I think the score reflected that as well.

Q. What does it say about the defense to come up with four straight stops to preserve the win for you?

FRANK HARRIS: Man, it means a lot. Give us a lot of opportunities. Even the first half we had some opportunities. We just got to capitalize on it offensively.

Yeah, defensively they've been playing their tails off. Credit to those guys over there on that end. Definitely appreciate them for getting us back in the ballgame. It means a lot for us.

Q. 10 wins for the second year in a row, and 8-0 in the conference for the first time in program history. What does getting those accomplishments mean to you?

FRANK HARRIS: It means a lot. First time in program history being 8-0. Who would have ever thought. First coming, having losing seasons, having last season as a very successful season to now. It just means a lot. Just a testament to Coach Traylor and his staff, changing the coach around, us going out there and executing.

Q. You've talked about your connection to Tykee. What does it mean to you to see him deliver?

FRANK HARRIS: He's always been able to do those things. It's about time that he showed up. I always trusted him. He's like a little brother to me. I hold him to a very high standard. I'm happy for them to go out there and make those big plays for us, built his confidence up. He's a special guy for us.

Q. You know now you'll be facing North Texas in the championship game in a week. What is your first thoughts?

FRANK HARRIS: We got a lot to clean up, at least on the offensive end from this game that we got to eliminate before we try to go out there and play against North Texas. They're a good team.

We got to just do what we did well against them the first time and learn from the mistakes that we didn't do the first meeting that we had. Just try to go out and execute, represent our end of the triangle, let everything else take care of itself.

Q. What were your emotions like today, Senior Day?

FRANK HARRIS: Just bittersweet. Coming in in 2017, the whole journey I've been through at UTSA, to now my sixth season. Nothing like playing in the Alamodome, playing in front of my city, my friends, family. It means a lot.

I have another season, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. If this is my last time, I just want to appreciate everybody. I love the university, the fans and everybody else.

Q. We'll probably ask you this a few times. Do you have a timetable for deciding?

FRANK HARRIS: Just trying to finish the season strong. Next week, play the conference championship. I tell coach I'll decide. Just got to keep praying, talking about it with my family, see wherever that goes.

Q. You have not trailed much this season. This was your biggest deficit of the year. How do you feel about how the guys responded?

FRANK HARRIS: Like I said, we came out there very prosperous, thinking they were going to roll over to us. Those guys were out there trying to play for a bowl, to get invited to a bowl game with six wins, but they only have five. They came out there very, very desperate.

I think we went out there, like I said, prosperous, thinking they were going to roll over, and they didn't. When we realized it wasn't going to be as easy as we thought, we had had to sit back, go back to our training, play football the way we know how to, represent the triangle. That's what we did the second half.