COACH ARANDA
This is a tough place to play. A lot of respect for Coach Campbell and the staff and the team that he has. I remember our 2020 game when we were up until we weren’t, and we lost that game. It’s just a difficult place, and they don’t beat themselves. They make you have to win it. And a lot of that was shown today. I’m excited to be able to see the team take a step. I think the ability to try to get the guys to reveal themselves and not try to be something they’re not and really have a trust to where they’re playing green and being authentic with everything. And I think there was some of that today.
(could this be a big breakthrough win for the team) I don’t know. I think it’s just another step in our process. Our team, I feel, is just colored by so much youth. They’re all over, man, they’re all over, everywhere you look. So, what happens is, so many of them will hear what you say, but really, they have to make a mistake doing the opposite of what you say, and hopefully they learn from it. And then it becomes how you handle that mistake. So they don’t make it me versus you, us versus them, and you’re a part of them. I don’t know if that makes sense. When you have a bunch of youth, to be able to try to get stuff right, but be inclusive with it, is a way big trick. So, we’re in the middle of that right now.
(Blake being more patient for guys to get open) I think that’s who Blake is, up until probably two games ago. And then, I think he was that in the second half of the last game. So much of it is focusing on what you can control, not putting your focus on the outside things. It’s crazy how a whisper can turn into almost like a roaring chorus. I think when you look into it, there’s not a whole lot there, but it’s your mind playing tricks on you. And I feel like we’ve been all through that with Blake and a couple of other guys on offense, particularly. So, it was good to see them trust themselves, trust the coaches and kind of play as a collective unit.
(how cool was that to see Dillon score a touchdown here) Pretty cool. He had to get about 50 people here, so way excited for him, just his story. And he’s been great throughout this week, just making himself available to a lot of the younger players and making himself to where he’s way approachable. I think he’s really made an emphasis of that, and I think that’s connected him and made us a stronger team.
(on the butt slap video that was tweeted out, he started laughing before the reporter finished the question. Bring a little extra energy) No, man, it’s always been like that. I guess the cameras, they got me. That’s all part of it.
(seen that clip, your thoughts) I have. It’s always kind of been that, at least until now. Now, it probably won’t be.
(on the defense getting more pressure in the second half and two takeaways) It was a 0-0 game. And I think this just goes to the youth of the team. We were up 10 in the second quarter (17-7), and you could feel the huddles more looking at the scoreboard. You could feel the sidelines, guys talking about, ‘Look at what we’re doing.’ And you could just feel it, guys were happy. And it’s not to say that you can’t be happy in football, but we were almost too happy. I think that was directly reflected, offensively going three-and-out and then defensively giving up a score there at the end. Everyone’s trying and everybody’s doing what they’re coached to do and what’s the right call and all that. I just think underneath all the play calls and underneath and all the play designs and the techniques, underneath it is the motivations and the heart sets and the integrity of, what are we really doing when we’re doing what we’re doing? That needed a lot of work today, and I thought the third and fourth quarter were a lot better. Guys are going, zero-zero game. Guys are going, there is no scoreboard and all that. I think they kind of fought through it, and I’m proud of them for that. We’re going to need more of that.
(how does a game like this counteract BYU for guys like Blake Shapen) Yeah, I think it builds. It would be great if you didn’t need some form of external foundation for things. But, I think that call or that force is so strong that I think you need it. We talk about being inside out at times. But, if we can get the things like this that we can build off of it, for sure we’ll do it And then try to take the next step, because there’s a whole lot to it. It’s crazy, just this game, and all the different waves. Hands team being on there two separate times, possibly, and the whole thing. It gets crazy quick. So, for us to not get in the way of it is really the challenge we’re trying to accomplish.
(on the hustle play by Lorando to force the fumble) The maturity in him. I think the care for his team. I think Snaxx will admit it, there were times last year’s practice tape and even game tape where that was not the case. So, pretty cool thing, and we’re still getting better with that, too.
(on the run game) I think starting the game throwing it and then loosening stuff up, and then using angles, I thought Grimey (Jeff Grimes) and Shawn (Bell) and Juice (Johnson) and Eric (Mateos) and Dallas (Baker) and all of them, this was one of the tighter, simpler and more innovative game plans; I thought they did a great job. They deserve a lot of credit. We were able to manipulate that U player, that safety, that makes a lot of plays for them. And then, we were able to clear guys out. Underneath-wise, they get so much depth in their three-man rush, eight-man drop. I think Drake (Dabney) had one of the shallows where you just catch it and run it and try to matriculate that thing. And they were able to do that and execute, and guys had confidence, and they believed in it. It’s one of those weeks where you felt it kind of grow. And I think a lot of it had to do with their playing, so it was good to see.
(the defense finally getting a couple interceptions) Yeah, that has been something that has been focused on, and I’m happy to see them have some reward for all their efforts. I think that’s something that we still have to get better at, but you could see they were trying. And that’s really half the battle. So, I’m proud of them for that.
(on OSU matchup, when do you turn your attention to that) I don’t know, right now I’m thinking about sleeping (laughing) and making sure that we leave this place looking good and getting back. But, we start up around midday on Sundays with the routine that we’re in now with the team. The effort by everybody and the family environment we’ve got is pretty cool. So, to have a home game ahead of us, I know that will get everybody that much more energy. And I’m excited for that.
This is a tough place to play. A lot of respect for Coach Campbell and the staff and the team that he has. I remember our 2020 game when we were up until we weren’t, and we lost that game. It’s just a difficult place, and they don’t beat themselves. They make you have to win it. And a lot of that was shown today. I’m excited to be able to see the team take a step. I think the ability to try to get the guys to reveal themselves and not try to be something they’re not and really have a trust to where they’re playing green and being authentic with everything. And I think there was some of that today.
(could this be a big breakthrough win for the team) I don’t know. I think it’s just another step in our process. Our team, I feel, is just colored by so much youth. They’re all over, man, they’re all over, everywhere you look. So, what happens is, so many of them will hear what you say, but really, they have to make a mistake doing the opposite of what you say, and hopefully they learn from it. And then it becomes how you handle that mistake. So they don’t make it me versus you, us versus them, and you’re a part of them. I don’t know if that makes sense. When you have a bunch of youth, to be able to try to get stuff right, but be inclusive with it, is a way big trick. So, we’re in the middle of that right now.
(Blake being more patient for guys to get open) I think that’s who Blake is, up until probably two games ago. And then, I think he was that in the second half of the last game. So much of it is focusing on what you can control, not putting your focus on the outside things. It’s crazy how a whisper can turn into almost like a roaring chorus. I think when you look into it, there’s not a whole lot there, but it’s your mind playing tricks on you. And I feel like we’ve been all through that with Blake and a couple of other guys on offense, particularly. So, it was good to see them trust themselves, trust the coaches and kind of play as a collective unit.
(how cool was that to see Dillon score a touchdown here) Pretty cool. He had to get about 50 people here, so way excited for him, just his story. And he’s been great throughout this week, just making himself available to a lot of the younger players and making himself to where he’s way approachable. I think he’s really made an emphasis of that, and I think that’s connected him and made us a stronger team.
(on the butt slap video that was tweeted out, he started laughing before the reporter finished the question. Bring a little extra energy) No, man, it’s always been like that. I guess the cameras, they got me. That’s all part of it.
(seen that clip, your thoughts) I have. It’s always kind of been that, at least until now. Now, it probably won’t be.
(on the defense getting more pressure in the second half and two takeaways) It was a 0-0 game. And I think this just goes to the youth of the team. We were up 10 in the second quarter (17-7), and you could feel the huddles more looking at the scoreboard. You could feel the sidelines, guys talking about, ‘Look at what we’re doing.’ And you could just feel it, guys were happy. And it’s not to say that you can’t be happy in football, but we were almost too happy. I think that was directly reflected, offensively going three-and-out and then defensively giving up a score there at the end. Everyone’s trying and everybody’s doing what they’re coached to do and what’s the right call and all that. I just think underneath all the play calls and underneath and all the play designs and the techniques, underneath it is the motivations and the heart sets and the integrity of, what are we really doing when we’re doing what we’re doing? That needed a lot of work today, and I thought the third and fourth quarter were a lot better. Guys are going, zero-zero game. Guys are going, there is no scoreboard and all that. I think they kind of fought through it, and I’m proud of them for that. We’re going to need more of that.
(how does a game like this counteract BYU for guys like Blake Shapen) Yeah, I think it builds. It would be great if you didn’t need some form of external foundation for things. But, I think that call or that force is so strong that I think you need it. We talk about being inside out at times. But, if we can get the things like this that we can build off of it, for sure we’ll do it And then try to take the next step, because there’s a whole lot to it. It’s crazy, just this game, and all the different waves. Hands team being on there two separate times, possibly, and the whole thing. It gets crazy quick. So, for us to not get in the way of it is really the challenge we’re trying to accomplish.
(on the hustle play by Lorando to force the fumble) The maturity in him. I think the care for his team. I think Snaxx will admit it, there were times last year’s practice tape and even game tape where that was not the case. So, pretty cool thing, and we’re still getting better with that, too.
(on the run game) I think starting the game throwing it and then loosening stuff up, and then using angles, I thought Grimey (Jeff Grimes) and Shawn (Bell) and Juice (Johnson) and Eric (Mateos) and Dallas (Baker) and all of them, this was one of the tighter, simpler and more innovative game plans; I thought they did a great job. They deserve a lot of credit. We were able to manipulate that U player, that safety, that makes a lot of plays for them. And then, we were able to clear guys out. Underneath-wise, they get so much depth in their three-man rush, eight-man drop. I think Drake (Dabney) had one of the shallows where you just catch it and run it and try to matriculate that thing. And they were able to do that and execute, and guys had confidence, and they believed in it. It’s one of those weeks where you felt it kind of grow. And I think a lot of it had to do with their playing, so it was good to see.
(the defense finally getting a couple interceptions) Yeah, that has been something that has been focused on, and I’m happy to see them have some reward for all their efforts. I think that’s something that we still have to get better at, but you could see they were trying. And that’s really half the battle. So, I’m proud of them for that.
(on OSU matchup, when do you turn your attention to that) I don’t know, right now I’m thinking about sleeping (laughing) and making sure that we leave this place looking good and getting back. But, we start up around midday on Sundays with the routine that we’re in now with the team. The effort by everybody and the family environment we’ve got is pretty cool. So, to have a home game ahead of us, I know that will get everybody that much more energy. And I’m excited for that.
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