UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 2, 2024

Jamal Ligon

Press Conference

UTSA 44, Memphis 36

Q. Jamal, what did you see in this matchup against good Memphis today that had that defense kind of keyed in?

JAMAL LIGON: Just the opportunity to stop a team that's good at running the ball and good at what they're trying to accomplish.

Q. I think there was a stretch where the defense stopped Memphis nine straight possessions.

JAMAL LIGON: Uh-huh.

Q. What does that mean to this unit after you guys have given up some big plays this season?

JAMAL LIGON: Man, that we're capable. When we are all doing our job, we're capable of being a great defense, capable of being a great team.

Q. Was there something you guys had to change or adjust to have that level of success after Memphis got some scores early?

JAMAL LIGON: Can you repeat that?

Q. They scored on the first couple drives and you guys shut them down. Anything that changed that led to that result?

JAMAL LIGON: I wouldn't say we changed anything necessarily. I would say for the penalties, we stressed that we need to chill on the penalties. We just kept saying it, reminding each other, let's be smart, let's be smart, let's smart.

I feel like that helped us win today.

Q. With the amount of adversity this team has faced this year, how does that add to the emotions of getting a win like this?

JAMAL LIGON: Oh, man, it feels great, especially going into a bye week next week. It feels good.

Q. What did it mean to you to become the program's all-time tackles leader?

JAMAL LIGON: Man, it's amazing. I told Rashad last year, I said, it won't be long. I'm coming. Man, it's a humbling feeling. It's a blessing.

Q. Did you know when it happened in the game? Were you keeping count in your head?

JAMAL LIGON: My mom, she had called me and said, you did it, you did it. I said, I did it? Yeah. All right.

Q. You guys have had a lot of success at home for as long as you've been here. What is it about this environment that brings the best out of this team?

JAMAL LIGON: Man, I wish I had the answer. I don't know. I wish we played like this all the time.

I would say the fans, man. Just being in the Dome. Even if it's not a lot of people here, like you're going to hear the fans, so...

Q. It's been a rough month for you guys before this game. What does this win mean to the players?

JAMAL LIGON: Man, it definitely helps with like our confidence because it's not that we're not capable of closing the games that we lost. It was just the little mistakes like the MAs, the penalties. It's just good that it's all coming together. Like we're kind of seeing it, that we can.

Q. What was your view of the offensive play today and specifically McCown. He looked pretty good?

JAMAL LIGON: That boy was balling today. He was balling today for sure. He had like three tuds in the first half. He was balling.