UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 11, 2023

Rocko Griffin

Press Conference

UTSA 34, Rice 14

Q. Rocko, what's the atmosphere like in the locker room right now? You guys are on a six-game winning streak.

ROCKO GRIFFIN: It's pretty ecstatic. Any time you win in college football it's pretty big, but six in a row is major. Very ecstatic right now.

Q. How do you feel about the performance of the running game today? What did you think of the performance on the ground?

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I think just staying to it, staying consistent with it. First half got a lot of yards, but not very many points from it, so just staying true to it and in the second half we came out on top with it.

Q. Rocky, no Barnes today. You led the team with rushing. Speak on the mentality of the running back room and how there is no selfishness. Anybody is willing to step up and make a play.

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I think it comes down to the true brotherhood of the team. There is not a lot of places where you can have three good running backs and somebody is not looking for more carries and looking to not be selfish.

So I just think that comes down to the team chemistry we have. When somebody is down it's next-man-up, but he's doing well. He'll be back. He's just a little banged up. This late in the season, it's great to have other backs as well.

Q. You guys came out in the second half really explosive as a team. Was there something different compared to the first half?

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I don't think there really was. I think it was, like I said, staying true to it, keep our foot on the pedal. It's hard for teams to maintain that for four quarters like Rice did, so great team. It's a great team. They had some good schemes, but got to maintain it, so we just stayed with our foot on the gas pedal.

Q. What did it mean to have the opportunity to start and be an central player with Kevorian out?

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I feel like it's a blessing. I feel like any other backs could have started honestly, but I just think it's a blessing. Definitely honored that the coaches and team, that they can put me out there and we're in good hands. Definitely just grateful for it.

On to the next game after this.

Q. Rocko, you guys have won six games in a row. What's that feeling like?

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I think it's a blessing. This team definitely has some big goals, so being able to bounce back from where we started now, six games in a row, I think that's major. Just really new for me too from where I transferred from, so it's a blessing.

Q. What did you think about the running production tonight?

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I think it was great. I think we finished with just short of 3, just like 200 yards (indiscernible), and then take away the sacks from it, but I just feel like it's good. Got to maintain and keep going. Definitely part of the team.

Q. How did you feel about the offense in the first half. You guys 250 yards and only turned it into 10 points.

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I just think just got to stay true to it. A lot times you put in work for it and that's with anything in life, you put work towards it you always don't get results you want, but just got to stay true to it and it'll eventually come to you.

Q. Rocko, as the season comes to a close the team is going to continue to depend on the strong running game of you three guys. How do you handle that? Anything you do differently at practice or just keep running?

ROCKO GRIFFIN: I think it's just keep getting more in the film. This late in the season, you know, might be wear and tear on your body, but just understanding schematically what a team will allow. This team specifically tonight allowed 4.1 average, so let's the challenge, okay, let's get more than that. It's little things, details like that. That's how you get better each week.