UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 15, 2023

Rashad Wisdom

Press Conference

Army - 37, UTSA - 29

Q. Rashad, what were the biggest challenges of trying to slow down Army's offense today?

RASHAD WISDOM: They played as a whole unit. They played tough. They're very disciplined. They know exactly where they should be. They know their exact assignment.

You know what I mean, a team like that is going to be hard for anybody, just because how hard they play and the style that they do play ball, but they played a great game today. I can't knock them at all. They played a great game.

Q. Did you feel like you guys were in some challenges knowing where the ball was going to go on these option plays? Was that a big part for you?

RASHAD WISDOM: Sure, those times when everybody is bunched up in the middle, you don't know where the ball is. You don't know where it's going to spill out to. You're just sitting there waiting to react. Next thing you know, it slips by you or comes right in front of you.

Those type of teams can be hard. That's just the type of game that they play. They play it well. Hat's off to them. They played a great game, like I said.

Q. You guys are still looking for your first turnover of the year as a defense. What's been missing to keep that happening for you guys?

RASHAD WISDOM: I think for us, man, we just got to go make it happen. We play very sound defense, I feel like. We're usually where we're supposed to be. Man, we've just got to go make it happen, you know what I mean? We're still waiting on it, but I feel like, once we get that first one, man, they're going to start coming in waves.

I feel like eventually we'll be talking about how many we do have as opposed to how we started off the year going through a couple games without one.

The future is still bright. I'm looking forward to it. We're going to keep on working, man, and stay ready so you ain't got to get ready.

Q. How would you describe the overall mood of the team in the aftermath of this loss?

RASHAD WISDOM: We're definitely upset, for sure. Definitely being able to play here at home, we always want to try to go out there and get a win.

I just feel like we're kind of upset with ourselves really. We didn't really play our brand of ball, and I feel like this can be good for us. Just get back to it tomorrow, learn from it, and then keep on going forward with the season.

We've got a long season ahead of us, and this one loss won't define us for sure. Really looking forward to the season, but I still think we'll be fine. Like I said, we're going to use all these tests as learning lessons and keep on moving.

Q. Rashad, I think they were 6 for 6 on fourth down conversions. How physical was this team tonight, Army?

RASHAD WISDOM: They were definitely physical. They were very physical. I'm sure you all could see on my face, man, we were out there battling. They were a very physical team. Just hat's off to them. Like I said, they played a great game. It's just what it is.

Q. Eddie Lee got the start for Frank tonight. How do you think he played?

RASHAD WISDOM: He played great. I knew that coming into this week. Eddie's been waiting on his time, and like I said, stay ready so you ain't got to get ready.

Eddie puts in a lot of work. There's times I'll come up there during the summer, he's out with his dad, and they're hanging up tires on the goal posts. Literally Eddie's dad has three baskets full of footballs, and he's just out there throwing, throwing, throwing.

He was ready for this moment, and he made the most out of it, for sure. He had a great game.

Whether it's Frank, Eddie, or Owen, we're rolling with those guys, and each one of them is ready to step up when their time is called. We've got some depth in that QB room for sure, but Eddie played a great game.

Q. J.J. mentioned the 6 for 6 on fourth down. What are the emotions of that like when you're close to getting them off the field but they keep coming up with that play to need to extend drives?

RASHAD WISDOM: We've just got to get them off the field. There's no excuse to that. Our coaches put us in a great position to go make plays, and we've just got to go do it.

I feel like that's on us. I feel like that's on me. We've just got to go do it. I know there was a couple of plays that I failed to make that were pretty key, and I've got to be able to make those.

Like I said, we're going to take it as a learning lesson, man. At this point, it is what it is. All we can do is learn from it. Doing that will just make us better in the end.