UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE
November 16, 2024
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Press Conference
UTSA 48, North Texas 27
Q. Owen, what were the vibes like in the locker room after this one?
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, they're awesome. A lot of compliments by Coach Traylor. A ton of energy, as you can imagine, but grate to get a win.
Q. You set a school record for offense. Did you think that could happen the way the season has gone?
OWEN McCOWN: For sure, for sure. I think an emphasis really this whole year and especially this week was running the ball. The way they play defense and how they presented their defense was a little change-up what they came out in, little three safety type looks. We knew we could run the ball. When we did that, it opens up everything, so...
Q. You were pretty sharp In the first half. Maybe as good as we've seen you percentage-wise completion. What was going on with you tonight?
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, just trying to execute the plays best I can. Like I said, when we were able to run the ball, it opens up the pass game. So we got to doing that, and I just try to execute the plays.
Q. What did you see on the run plays today? It looked like you had some lanes, and you took advantage here?
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, yeah. So, like I said, with their defense, the three safety, there was a lot of drop eight. So they were only rushing three so our O-line would hold up. Like I said, when they're dropping eight, those routes are kind of hard to execute, so it opens up a lot of rushing lanes for me. When I got outside the pocket, I just try to make a play.
Q. What did it take for this team to go from some of the lows you've had this season to the position you are in now with back-to-back wins?
OWEN McCOWN: I think not blinking at all. I've said it a lot, but just responding to the good and bad. It's led by a lot of great group of seniors, and they haven't blinked even with our lows this year. So you saw that today. We executed really well.
Q. How did you feel about your performance in the passing game? What stood out to you today?
OWEN McCOWN: I thought we executed. As an offense when we get the run game going and the pass game, I feel like we're unstoppable, and that really showed tonight.
Q. How gratifying was it to see Robert Henry break that long one at the end with some of the struggles you've had up there this year?
OWEN McCOWN: It was awesome. It was awesome. Like I said, the run game this year hasn't been what we wanted it to be, but for that to happen tonight was the cherry on top.
Q. Can you take us through the trick play where you lined up at running back and took the handoff and made a throw downfield?
OWEN McCOWN: It was a great call by Coach Burke. The ball I threw to Willie, we were actually trying to throw it to Patrick, and that one just popped open.
Like I said, it was a great call by Coach Burke and Willie made a great catch.
Q. How much does it open up your offense when you can mix in things like that?
OWEN McCOWN: Once again, a credit to Coach Burke. Those things happen when you execute run plays and pass plays really well. You can kind of sprinkle those things in and get the defense like that.
Q. What can you say about Coach Burke? He took a lot of criticism early in the season when the offense was struggling.
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, yeah. I think we all did for the most part. It was not the start we wanted. I think I've progressed really well.
Early in the season I wasn't playing too good, but you know, that's part of the game. We don't really worry about the outside stuff. We know the guys in the building. We show up each day and try to execute.
Q. What can you say about the play of your offensive line? I think you had your two starting tackles out, and you guys were still able to kind of --
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, yeah, they played awesome. There was many pass plays where I sat there all day, had all day. Like I said, the run game was a big one. We were on those guys a lot this week, and for them to step up even with two injuries says a lot about those guys.
Q. What does it mean to the players to be able to potentially reach bowl eligibility here at home next week?
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, it's awesome especially for the amount of seniors we have and what they've done for this program. So I think the challenge will be to respond.
Really high right now. Have to have a great day tomorrow at film and, yeah, we'll try to execute.
Q. With nine in a row at home now and I think six of the last 17, what makes this seem so good at the Alamodome?
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, there's something about it. I don't know exactly what that might be, but the record is what it is.
I think it's led by this senior group and what they've done in this building. So I think their leadership just kind of trickles down to the whole team.
Like I said, I don't really know what it is, but it's something those guys have done for a while and just trickles down throughout the team.
Q. How has the return of David Amador impacted your offense?
OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, he's awesome. He's a really special player. Any time we can get him the ball, we want to. That showed a little in the bowl game. He had a touchdown.
This year he's been a little hurt, but I had an opportunity to get him the ball this game and get him the ball in space and really show what he could do.
Q. Hearing Coach Traylor talk about it, it sounds like there were a lot of things you worked on leading up to the year that you weren't able to do without him. Has it sort of opened up a lot of new avenues for him? Are there things different we haven't seen before?
OWEN McCOWN: For sure. Once again, you saw him lined up at quarterback for one play. He's a guy's guy. You can put it him anywhere, and he will execute. My job is to get him the ball. Any time we can get him the ball, great things will happen.
Q. You had a lot of success in the screen game today in general, especially going to the middle, which we don't always see. Was there something that led to that being open or something you saw on the defense that you wanted to attack?
OWEN McCOWN: When they drop eight, they really dropped out of there, so it's essentially just another run.
It really starts at front with those O-linemen. Screens are tough on those big guys because they have to get out in space and move fast. They did that. I think it's a credit to Coach Burke for those screen calls.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
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