BIG 12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: BAYLOR VS OKLAHOMA STATE

December 4, 2021

Jim Knowles

AT&T Stadium

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Postgame Press Conference

Baylor 21, Oklahoma State 16

Q. After the two first half interceptions by Spencer, did the defense have a sense that it had a burden to hold up?

JIM KNOWLES: No, we always expect a hold-up. We talk about controlling what we can control, and if they give us an inch, defend it. I thought they made some good plays in the first half against us when we thought we would stop them. If the ball goes out there no matter where it goes, we expect to stop them.

Q. Jim, your defense played solid in the first half, but you did give up three short field touchdowns. Didn't give up anything in the second half. How did you become even more dominant in the second half?

JIM KNOWLES: We got more aggressive in the second half. We talked at halftime, and we knew we had to step up. You could sense the flow of the game, that our team didn't have any momentum, and we were determined to get it back on defense. I thought we did that.

I'm heartsick for the guys. Love those guys. Played their tails off. We went after it in the second half. I don't know what they had, but maybe one was on a quarterback scramble. Maybe they had 40 some yards in the second half, so I'm just grateful for the players, the defense that I get to coach, and the fact that they're always willing to listen to adjustments, make adjustments, trust the play calls, and when I tell them we got to amp it up, they do it.

Q. I know you were probably making your way back to the locker room, but a lot of guys just didn't want to leave. I saw Brock sitting down basically looking like he just didn't want to go. You talked about being heartsick for the guys. What's your sense about just where they are right now after such a close call?

JIM KNOWLES: I'm sure they're hurting, you know, a deep hurt, but they'll realize what a great year it was. They'll be able to look back and know that they operated without fear in changing our defensive mindset around here. They'll know that they kept our team in every game, and we never gave up more than 24 points all year. That's hats off to our guys. That doesn't happen in today's college football.

They're heartsick. They're heartbroken because they did everything I asked them to do, and I wish I had one more better call in the first half, but I wish I could do something for them, but all I can do is tell them I love them.

Q. You held them to only 180 yards passing. I guess in the first half what kind of challenges did Shapen present you guys on defense?

JIM KNOWLES: He is pretty cool in the pocket. He is accurate. He is a good quarterback. That's why I thought we needed to step up the pressure in the second half and made some calls that added some pressure, and we were able to come away with, I don't know, probably six sacks and start knocking him back at the line of scrimmage. He is a good player.

Q. Jim, Korie Black had big plays today, and a couple of them were special teams, but you had him in big moments, and he was making plays at corner. How much has he grown and improved throughout the year?

JIM KNOWLES: Korie has come so far. He has the skills to be an NFL corner. He has the mindset. He has that next play mindset. He has no fear. Doesn't show any frustration. Never shows fatigue. Those are Coach Gundy's mottos, and Korie is going to be an exceptional player here.

Q. Coach, Shapen to begin this game had something like 17 straight completions. Did his level of play and poise surprise you for such a young player?

JIM KNOWLES: No, we had seen him on film. I knew he was accurate, he was cool in the pocket. Thought they had a good game plan to get him completions. Most of them short, but they had a good plan early with him, and he is a guy that we needed to bring pressure on, and that's kind of how we changed things in the second half.