CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: GEORGIA VS TCU

January 7, 2023

Steve Avila

SoFi Stadium

TCU Horned Frogs

Press Conference

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: It's an amazing experience. I wouldn't want to be with anybody else right now other than my teammates. We've been through a lot. It means a lot being here with them.

Hopefully we can take it all home.

Q. What is the mentality of the team?

STEVE AVILA: The mentality? It's been the same throughout the whole season: kick the person's ass whoever is in front of you. We don't really need to change anything. I feel like we carry that same mentality into this game.

Hopefully we can come out with the whole thing.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: They're really good. I feel like Michigan's D-line and their D-line are pretty much similar. Again, like I think I said, they all play together, they're really good. I know they have a stud up front in Jalen Carter.

You can't really contain good players like that. He's going to make his money. We got to do our best against him and the rest of the defensive line.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, yeah. I feel we've gotten that the whole season, though. It was nothing new to us. We're going to go out there and do what we do. I feel like that's what we did. I feel like we haven't really gotten the recognition. Like I said, we're used to it.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really, man. It still hasn't really kind of hit me about the last one either. That just goes to show you the end goal of mine. I feel like when we win this game, we'll be able to look back at everything. Hasn't really hit me yet, so...

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, it's amazing. I feel like we've proved a lot of people wrong. I think I said it after our first game, we were kind of a little rocky about what type of team we were going to be. But then when we looked back, all the stuff we've been through, all the workouts and stuff, now that I look back at it, it's paid off. It really has.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I feel like it gives us an opportunity to show how good the Big 12 is. I feel we've proved a lot in terms of that by being here.

At the same time I feel like us as a team, we look at things as beating the person in front of you. They're just the next opponent in line. That's what we've got to do.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, running the ball has been our focus every game. I feel like that's what you need to do to win a game at the end of the day. It's not really going to be done with passing. What we've been doing this whole year is trying to impose our will with running the ball, so that's what we're going to try to do.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, we haven't really pointed too much attention to him. We know he's a really, really good player. We're just going to treat him like another opponent. I know he's really, really good. But I feel like our guys are good, too. It will be definitely a good matchup for us.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really. Not really. I don't really pay too much attention to it. Again, I've gone against some really good players and I feel like he's another one of those.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not yet. I feel like I'll be able to do that if we come home with it all. So yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Just impose our will from the jump. Running the ball is going to be a huge thing for us. It was last game. I feel like when we're doing good up front in that aspect, I feel like that's when things start going for us.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, we have a bunch of confidence. It's always the next man up for us. We hold everybody to the same standard. If I go down, next person up. That's just how we carry ourselves, yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: They're going to have to game plan for that I feel like. He can throw the ball, but he can run the ball, too. I feel like he's tough running the ball, too. I feel like that will be a problem for them.

Again, we'll come out with a plan and I feel like it will be a good matchup.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: They play really hard. They're really good up front. They have a really good team. They haven't lost obviously. They have high numbers in terms of their defensive stats. So for us, we don't really like to look at stats that much, but I know it's going to be a good matchup for us. I feel like we're prepared.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, not really. Again, our real focus is just imposing our will, like I said, and running the ball as much as we can. I feel like that will open a lot for the offense if we can do that.

Q. You guys seemed to take it personally last week. Michigan is a physical team. How big is it to carry that into this game?

STEVE AVILA: I mean, we've been hearing it all year. Everybody doubted us. Everybody didn't think we could do it. Everybody didn't think we were physical enough, big enough.

I don't think we need too much motivation when it comes to that because we've been the underdogs every game. We're just coming out with that same mentality we've always had all year: if it's not broken, don't fix it. We're going to come out swinging.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: It's going to mean a lot to us. I mean, that's what our main focus has been this season, is coming out swinging. We got to start fast. I feel like that's what we need to do for this game.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: It's going to be a tough matchup for us. I mean, they're really good. But I feel like we have some good guys up front. In the last game I feel like it opened people's eyes with that.

They're going to get some. We're going to get some, too. They're going to win some. We're going to win some. It should be a good matchup.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, they have a really good team. Just call it what it is. But I feel like we have a good team, too. I try not to treat opponents differently. They're just the next one on the schedule.

I mean, we just got to come out swinging and do what we do. We got to stick to our standards and what we need to accomplish. One thing we had in our mind at the end of the season is winning championships. I feel like that's what we need to do.

Q. Using one word, how would you describe your team?

STEVE AVILA: The word 'tough'. We've been through a lot starting from January. Even years past, we've just been through a lot as a team. Being here just warms my heart, seeing all the guys happy.

But for everybody, it would mean a lot to us bringing one back to Fort Worth.

Q. If you had to go sightsee today, what is one place that would be at the top of your list?

STEVE AVILA: Probably Venice. I heard it's a really cool place. There's a lot of things there. But there's a lot of things in California. I would sure love to see Venice, Venice Beach.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, I try not to credit myself too much. I feel like it's just been us as a whole. There's guys that have been here just as long as me. When we look back at all that we've been through, I feel like that makes us want to be better, makes us want to be a better offensive line, makes us want to be better people.

When it comes to brotherhood, that's how we treat the offensive line. We want better for each other. I feel like that's what drives us.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Came in later in terms of?

Q. Transferring.

STEVE AVILA: Transferring?

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I got you.

I mean, I really didn't seek too much into it. I know Max was a tough person in high school. I feel like everything has shown now with him. He's always held his head so high. I've never seen him panic in situations. He's always the first one to take blame for something and the last one to blame someone. When you have someone like that, I feel like that's when you start to have a good team.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I just shows us how tough he is. When you have a quarterback that is willing to put his body on the line for that, you want to go hard for him. I have a lot of respect for him. A lot of people have respect for him. This is a whole brotherhood thing. We just want to go for each other.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, not much. I mean, they do have to prepare for him to run the ball. I feel like that causes the defensive line and defense to be more timid in terms of that with coverage and all that. So yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Probably the Texas front. They're really good up front. I'm not discrediting any opponent we faced, but I remember coming back after that game going, man, they're really good.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really. It was more just the front in general, people all together. I haven't really pinpointed one person. It was more of the defensive front, so...

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: For sure. I feel like we've been prepared every game that we've played. We've been watching a lot more film and studying these guys more. We know it's not going to be easy. They're a good team.

Yeah, we're going to play our asses off and hopefully we can come out with it all.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, I was kind of surprised. Man, he really lifted him. But I really don't look at that too much. I know he's a really good player. So I'm trying my best not to let that happen to me (smiling).

Yeah, I definitely see this as an opportunity to go up against someone as good as him, to see I guess where I'm at in terms of that. He's going to be one of the first taken in this draft. So it's definitely a good opportunity for me and the other people, too, the other offensive line.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, for sure. Tempo has always been a big thing of our TCU offense. We're not trying to change much about what we do. All of our coaches emphasize that a lot of people like to get weird when they get into big games, they start putting in a lot more things. We're trying not to change too much about what we do, so yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, it's been amazing. These guys, we all have the same mindset: just go out there and get it. We do it for each other. After practice every day we always stay and watch more film. We joke around with each other. We just have created such a brotherhood.

It actually means a lot that they're saying that because I have so much hope in these guys. I'm excited. I wouldn't want to do it with anybody else, so...

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: My mindset is just do my job. I know y'all have heard Coach Dykes say that a lot. Really comes down to that, just doing our job. If I can do all I can do, other people have to do what they do. We hold people to that same standard. It's always the next man up with us. We hold everybody to the same standard. If I go down, we're hoping that the next person could do their job.

In terms of the game, you got to come out swinging. That's what we've been trying to emphasize with every game, starting fast.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, I've seen a lot. All of our running backs I feel like can do a lot of the same work. I mean, again, we hold everybody to the same standard. I feel like that's why we've had a lot of success when people go down.

I wouldn't change too much about what he's doing. He's a tough guy. He loves to go get those yards. We're going to do our best to open up those yards for him.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I've learned that hard work pays off. It's hard to see at first with previous years of all that we've done. But I remember thinking in all the 5 a.m. workouts that we've had, is this going to pay off, is hard work a joke. I'm glad I was proven wrong about that.

I look back at all the ups and downs and, man, we really did it. I'm proud of everybody for that.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: It means a lot. I mean, I feel like the only thing that changed with us is just our mentality, how we carry ourselves, how we view ourselves as a team. I feel like that's the really big change for us.

One of the one things we said to ourselves, Coach Kaz, our strength coach was asking us, what do we do here. We looked at each other. He said we win championships. We have that championship mentality of doing everything right. I feel like that's the big difference.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: It means a lot. I mean, when you have a guy who focuses on nutrition, strength and your mentality, all those things is what makes a great player. I'm glad he brought along his guys and himself as well. He's really invested in us, he's invested in the program, so yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I feel like we don't really need to change much. Again, we just need to come out swinging. One of our big things is running the ball. Any time you can run the ball, it opens up a lot of things for the offense, so yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, it hasn't really much changed from any game that we've had. We've always been the underdogs. We're a small school in Fort Worth. We just need to come out, do what we always have done. I feel like we don't need to change much in terms of our mentality.

They're a really good front so it will be a really good challenge for us.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: We try not to pay too much attention to outside sources. We know what we're about, we know what we want to do, we know what the end goal is. Once you have that visualization in your head about winning a championship, I don't think anything can deter you from that.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I don't think it's changed much. I mean, we hold everybody to the same standard. If I go down, we're hoping that someone else can pick up where I left off. That's just the mentality we've had as a team, is just to do your job. That's what Coach Kaz has emphasized with that.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, a lot of coaches, I mean, when you hear the word 'strength coach', you think build muscle and run fast. But he also teaches us how to be a better man. That's one thing I respect about him.

He caused me to view the game different than it is, and he brings parallels to the game in life. I think that's what makes us better on the field and off the field. That's why I'm definitely glad we have him.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely a great thing to have. I remember first thing on the board, it's actually been around for a while. But I guess when we started winning, basically made that our second mascot. It's always awesome seeing that on TV or on someone's shirt. It's definitely something to be proud of for us. We're definitely happy about it.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, he kind of teaches us that things are going to go bad, and it's always about how we carry ourselves and how we bring ourselves out of that situation.

He always treats this as a job because that's what it is. He always says you have to show up to work, you have to make your money. That's just the mentality we've had. If you're not feeling too well, you got to show up to work. There's no exceptions with that.

He's definitely changed a lot of our mindset. He's definitely changed mine on how I guess I view myself and how I view the game of football. I'm definitely glad about that.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, one of the things we talk about is being emotionally flexible. Things are going to go bad. He always talks about if the flight is canceled, if you run out of gas, whatever, you always have to have that same mentality going in and not let that deter you from throwing yourself off from the game, so yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: So I remember I think I also got an interview question like two years ago similar to this. I've always had the mindset if coach wanted me to give water on the sidelines, I'd do it. It really didn't bother me much, change of position, because I want to put myself in a position to win.

If that was going to be me being on the bench, that was going to be me giving people water bottles on the sideline, I would do it.

I had a lot of faith in the coaches and I trust these coaches so much. I'm glad that everything turned out the way it did. I really didn't look at it as much as that as coaches putting us in a position to win. If he felt like I would have been good at left, guard, if he felt I would have been good at left tackle, right tackle, if he felt I would have been good on the bench, I would have done anything it took.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: They were good. I remember meeting him I think when coach came in a helicopter on the field. I got the vibe from him that he wants us to be better. I feel like Coach Dykes brought in, all the staff members, were for a good cause. They just wanted us to win. You could really feel the love they had for us when they got here. Definitely happy about that.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, don't change much. Can't view this game as bigger than it is. It is a very big game, but we just have to treat it like we have always treated other games. Big 12 championship we said that. We just have to carry ourselves the same way we've carried ourselves, not change too much about our mentality because there's going to be more viewers, more people watching. I feel like that's what keeps our head on our shoulders.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, we're trying not to be too much tense. Again, we're in L.A. Again, we have that championship mindset. We're trying to soak in a little bit of everything, get ready for Monday's game.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I don't know why I haven't viewed it as that yet. I'm just saying, I don't know why. I always think I'm in a dream for whatever reason. I'm going to wake up and not be here again. I don't know why it hasn't hit me yet.

After the game, hopefully when we win, I can look back at everything. It's probably going to be an emotional one, so...

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I knew I was going to come in and I was going to have to develop. I was willing to do everything I could with that. I knew we had really, really, really good players coming in. I wasn't really coming in and expecting to play immediately or anything.

I feel like what really made me a player was being on the scout team. I was going up against first round picks, second round picks in Ben Benogu and L.J. Collier. I was going up against a really good defense. I had that mindset of wanting to be better. I was going against a better person, against a better front in practice. I feel like that's what made me better.

And learning also from Lucas and those great TCU offensive linemen. I feel like that's what really developed me as a player. I learned a lot of things from him. I still hold a lot of things I learned from them now and implement into my game, so yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Well, my body composition I feel like has changed a lot. I really do have a lot of muscle. With that I feel like the program that we had allowed me he to create a lot more muscle for myself, it allowed me to become more faster and those things.

I feel like with Coach Kaz, I still develop. They have a heavy emphasis on nutrition and all those things. I'm definitely glad to say this is definitely a developmental staff when it comes to freshmen.

Definitely glad we have them.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: They definitely are fundamental. They use their hands very well. They play super hard. That's something that you see from them. That's what you see from a lot of great teams.

We have to do our job when it comes to that. We can't get lulled to sleep on pass-rush. We can't lack on anything when it comes to that. So I feel like we're definitely prepared for that battle and it's going to be a good one.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Definitely. I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge. They're a really good defensive front. I've seen a lot of great things from them. I've seen a lot of things, similarities, between them and a lot of Big 12 teams. I've seen a lot of similarities between them and Michigan.

They play well together and they play very hard. We've been preparing for a moment like this, going up against a great opponent. I'm definitely glad, I guess, I'm going to be able to be faced up with such a great group.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: So our main focus at the beginning of the season was just to win championships. I feel like we've had that mindset every week. We try not to treat opponents too differently. We don't try to treat them differently at all.

We also focus on keeping distractions away from us and focus on what the goal is. So I feel like that's what has been able to keep our heads on our shoulders.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I feel like all the defensive line have gotten better in practice. That's where it all comes down to. We've gotten better by going against them. I feel like it's an iron-sharpen-iron type of deal. He's a really good player. He's learned a lot from being here. I can definitely see the progress that he's made from when he first got here to now.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, when they call a pass play, where is he going to throw the ball. I try to hold my defender as much as I can. I know if he sees a hole, an opportunity to run the ball, that's what he's going to do. If he gets tackled when running the ball, that's out of my control because I'm told he's going to pass the ball.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I do not agree with that at all. If anything, it would be Wes Harris or Andrew Coker that would win that wing eating competition. I'm not a big wing guy, but I can throw down if I need to. I can probably throw down 20 if I'm really hungry, really hungry.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: The first question was the underdog mentality.

I mean, we've always been the underdogs. I feel like in everything we do, any sport really at TCU, just because we're such a small school, we've been the underdog in almost every game we've had.

I feel like carrying that mentality of we're going to prove you all wrong is something that we've done very well all year. I know a lot of people still view us as the underdog. We're going to try to do a real good job winning this whole thing.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Did not eat five cups of ice cream. I did have ice cream with a bunch of fudge on it. I feel like that would be a good way for me to carb up with all the sugar and stuff. They're definitely going to feel that ice cream when I'm going against them.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I'm not a big wing guy. I'm not (laughter).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: It means a lot. I know we're the first team to come in with a national championship. We have a really good fan base. It would mean a lot to me to bring something back to Fort Worth. Not even Fort Worth, just the DFW. I know a lot of people are rooting for us. It would mean a lot to us to bring one back for them.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really. I really noticed that with the last game. I wasn't really -- my nerves were calm. I feel like it was just one of those things of going up there and doing it. I was like, right, let's go.

They're a tough opponent. I'm willing to give everything I got to go against them. I'm carrying in that same mentality going into this game.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, I mean, we kind of definitely took that in, made us want to prove them wrong. At the same time when have we not been looked at in that aspect? Always been looked at as someone is going to roll over us.

It was nothing new to us but it made us want to beat them even more.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really. I mean, we've been doing the same thing every week, we've been going against a lot of great opponents. We haven't really changed much. Our big focus is being able to run the ball. I feel like with any team, you want to be able to run the ball, open up holes that can open up other aspects of the game.

We need to carry that tough, gritty mindset into this game, get the job done.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really too much. I'm not saying they're bad at all because they're not. They all play together. They're all really good. Carter is definitely a really good player. Try to do our best to contain him.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really. If anything that just shows who he is as a player. We always have his back with whatever he does. He's willing to put his body on the line for us. We're willing to do the same thing for him.

When we see him bleeding, man, just makes us want to go harder for him.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Oh, yeah. I mean, it definitely means a lot. The people who stayed here definitely had a lot of trust in the program, including myself. I really didn't have any plans on moving towards that, but a lot of guys, popped in their head, like he did. I'm definitely glad a lot has paid off, a lot of people can see this program as a really good program.

I do want to thank his dad personally with a handshake or getting him some coffee or something.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I feel like it represents how tough we are and how much we've overcame this whole season. It's definitely something that I wouldn't have ever thought about, going into fall camp. Looking back at what we have done, it definitely means a lot, seeing that 2023 on there.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I'm trying my best to soak everything in. At the same time this is a business trip. I can't really do too much with that. I feel like I'll be able to look back at everything when the game's over. I feel like a lot of our teammates have done a good job with that, keeping our head on our shoulders when it comes to that.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Coming from Fort Worth fans, yeah. They're definitely ride or die for us. I definitely want to bring this one back for them. It would mean a lot to me.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Heim definitely. Heim is one of the best in Fort Worth.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Oh, man, I haven't really gotten to pizza. When I do go get pizza or pasta, I go to Joe's Pizza and Pasta. Papicito. It's not a small, local place, but definitely that.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Just the city, the skyline. Downtown. A lot of it has a lot of cultural significance to it. I love Fort Worth. That's why I'm here.

Q. What is your favorite moment this season?

STEVE AVILA: I want to say just being here. I'm not going to lie. A lot of people would dream of being in a place like this. I'm glad that I'm being able to do it with people that I would die for. It's definitely nice seeing smiles on everybody's faces. We're trying to soak in the moment, but at the same time we're also trying to win a game.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Let me think. I mean, for me, I feel like after we beat Oklahoma, it really opened my eyes on what type of team we were. Even with games before that, we kind of questioned if hard work paid off. After that game, I really looked at this team like, man, we could really be a contender. At the beginning of the season it was hard for me to see. Now it's very, very bright.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: So I'm going to answer that. At the beginning of this year, even with the first game, when things went bad in the first game, I looked back at the year before and I'd see people panic and do all these different things.

That first game I really didn't see panic on everybody's face. We kept our head on our shoulders. I feel like that's what we did at halftime. Every game we were down. Nobody was panicking, complaining about anything.

I feel like that's what really gave us the opportunity to win. We didn't really have a change of mindset in terms of coming to the game thinking that we're getting beat or anything. We wanted to win that game. I'm definitely glad we have that mindset.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, so even in the off-season, I emphasized a lot about how Coach Kaz affected our mental game. That was just one thing that I noticed. We talked about emotional flexibility and being emotionally flexible when it comes to situations like that.

It's definitely helped us out a lot. I can say the same thing even now. Even when things go good, we score, do something good, everybody is like, all right, let's move on to the next play.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Oh, yeah, definitely. I mean, a lot of strength coaches, teams, always view strength coaches as being fast and being strong. It's a mental game, too. That's just what this whole game is. It's always a mental game. I feel like people need to understand that that needs to be worked on as well, as much as your muscles, as much as nutrition, all that different stuff.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really. I mean, we haven't really been focused on too much about after the season as much as myself. It wasn't really a surprise to any of us when he did do that. He's a really good player and he's a really good guy. I feel like that's what's going to help him at the next level.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I really try not to look too much into that at all.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: For me? Not really. No, not really. I don't really pay attention to that too much. I know they're a really good team and we're going to be underdogs to someone who hasn't lost a game, was the national champion last year.

But we try not to let that deter from our goal, and that's winning the championship. I feel like what we've done every game is just kick the person's ass, whoever is in front of us, and that's what we're going to try to do this time.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Not really. I feel like this break that we had from the Big 12 championship game to last game, I feel like allowed us to have our bodies back, so yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: No, I mean, we definitely view this game as we're trying to just beat the person in front of us. We haven't really paid too much attention to, like, outside sources or anything like that.

Again, yes, this is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. For the time being, I'm going to take pictures. People are going to smile. At the end of the day we have to lock in, and that's what this has all been about. I feel like that's what we've done a really good job with.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, not really. I mean, it's a new season. They're a really good team.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Oh, I mean, Michigan did last year, too, with the Orange Bowl. They didn't participate in a lot of the activities because they tried to lock in on the game.

It was our first time being there, but we still tried to have that mindset of act like you've been here.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I may have ordered it two times the past week. There we go. There we go. There we go.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: What is it called? He's from Germany. He is. It's 99 Balloons. There we go. There we go, yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: He knows the words. He's being nervous. He's nervous (laughter).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I did do that. Bro, I was ready to lay down, dude. I was tired (laughter).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: My biggest pet peeve? He keeps the AC on 70. I'm trying to have that thing down to 65. There we go. There we go (smiling).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Oh, my God.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: No, that's not true.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: A little more sentimental than that. He's definitely ride or die for a lot of people. That's one thing that I can applaud him for. Boom, boom (smiling).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, my thoughts about it being a football player is it could happen to any one of us. I feel like a lot of people opened their eyes on how dangerous this game really is, how much we're putting our bodies on the line. I try my best not to take the game for granted. I feel like that gave me an opportunity to do that. Prayers up to him. I feel like a lot of people rallied around him. I'm glad he's doing better.

Again, a lot of people take this game for granted. I'm trying not to do that, so...

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, I mean, I feel like I'm not a selfish guy. That's such a not selfish question. I feel like I'd ask that same question, too. I just shows how much he cares about his teammates. He felt like people were going to move on after that.

It just showed the brotherhood, how much people cared about him. I feel like people need to start taking, I guess, football seriously in terms of that we're putting our bodies on the line when it comes to that. Entertainment, that's really what it is.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: One thing I did notice, I'll give you a whole story, sorry. When he first got here, really kind of had a sour taste in my mouth. I feel like a lot of people did. TCU and SMU, they had a big rivalry. They flew him in in a helicopter. We're like, oh, man, what the heck.

It wasn't really until a few weeks after that you could really tell that he really cared about us. He really cared about our bodies, really cared about our mental state. You could tell that he loved all of us.

I feel like that's what allows us to put trust in him more. He expects us to do our job on the field. He wants to take care of us. We could really feel that. That just made us even want to go harder, so yeah.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah, for sure. It wasn't even just from him. It was the people that he brought along as well that had that same mission, that had that same feeling of love for us. It definitely put a lot of trust for us to him.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Risk it, 100%. I don't like getting my hands dirty. That's valid, right (smiling)?

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: The buy-in?

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Yeah. I guess maybe after a month when the coaches really settled in, that's really when we started working out with Coach Kaz, really started to get to know the coaches.

We had a pretty sour taste in our mouth when they first came here because they were from SMU. TCU and SMU, we have a rivalry. You could really feel the love they had for us and you could really tell that they wanted us to be better players as well as better men. I feel like that's when we started buying into that. We started carrying ourselves more as a team.

When I look back at that now, I feel like a lot of that has paid off for us, so...

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I mean, us carrying ourselves more as a team. We hold each other accountable for a lot of the things that we do. When it comes to the running we did in January, if one person messed up, everybody had to do it again. If one person was late, we all had to do up-downs. I feel like that's what created such a bond towards us.

Yeah, you're going to argue, you're going to fight. It's a brother, siblings. That's how we treat each other. I feel like that's one of the mindsets we had going on the field. We're going to ride for each other. We want the best for each other.

I feel like that's what's allowed us to move forward and have a better program.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: They all play together, and they all play very, very hard. I feel like there's a lot of similarities between them and Michigan. You can't really pinpoint one position group that just excels more than the other. They're all really good and they all play very well.

I feel like that's going to be a good matchup for us because I feel like as an offense, we all play very well together. I also feel like we're also really good. It's going to be a good challenge for us.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: He uses his technique very, very well. I feel like he's consistent with it, I will say. He's a big body. He can move. He's a twitchy guy. I feel like that's what separates him from the other defensive tackles.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Gosh, dude (smiling).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I can't dress, is that what they're saying?

You know what's funny, he goes into my closet and he steals my clothes (smiling).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: And you know what, I'm trying to be comfortable wherever I go. I put on shorts, T-shirt, it could be a hoodie and some slides. Who do I got to impress? I'm fine, bro (smiling).

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: No, huh-uh. I got earrings, though. I had my nose pierced but I had to take it out.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: I'm just trying to be generic.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: That's fine with me because, you know what, if I'm going to look like a bum, I'm going to play good. Oh, my God.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEVE AVILA: Man, question about outfit choices. No, Marcus. Oh, my gosh. Didn't he have a Cartoon Network? That's probably one of the things I looked at, what are you wearing. That's definitely one of the things, yeah.