UTSA Football Media Roundtable
Head Coach Jeff Traylor
Oct. 11, 2021
On the importance on adjusting on offense …
"It was a conscious decision we had made during the week. It was a tip of the hat to their offense and quarterback (Bailey Zappe). Their quarterback and receivers have been playing together for so long and so well that we made the decision that we were going to be in four-down territory no matter where we were. We were going to take our shots no matter where we were. That is what that was. I let our kids go play. Frank (Harris) has continued to get better. He understands the offense more and more each week. We have been together for 22 months. Bailey (Zappe) has been running his offense for four years. It just takes time. It is the old Malcolm Gladwell 10,000-Hour Rule. It just takes time. Frank has all of the run-pass options now. He makes all of the decisions. He has got run, hand it to Sincere (McCormick), pitch it options. He checks in and out of plays now. We have got great players now too. We have got to let our players go play. We try to play team football. Our defense has been so good since we have been here that we have been able to run the ball and be more conservative at times to complement the defense and our great punter and kicker. We felt, as a staff, that was not the right decision this week and that we were going to play a different way this week."
On De'Corian Clark becoming the first player in program history to record three receiving touchdowns in a game …
"He is such a humble spirit and has a beautiful smile. He is all about the team at all times. He does a great job recovering kicks and a great job on our punt return team. Anything you ask him to do, he is going to get it done. I didn't even know that John Thomas was his middle name. I have more nicknames for these kids that I never even knew. That is what happens when you bring kids to the radio show. He did a great job at the radio show. I learned a little bit more about my man."
On the fan base surging in San Antonio …
"Everybody is so kind. Wherever I go, I have my little spots that I hit. Everybody is great. Last week, I was getting a salad at a little spot that I always go to. Two ladies were in front of me, they were talking about the Roadrunners. They did not know who I was from Adam, but they were chatting up. They said, 'I hear they have a really good team.' They guy waiting on us had on his Roadrunner mask. They asked him if he went to school there. He said, 'Yes, I went to school there.' The ladies said that they had heard we have a good team this year. He said, 'They are great! You should go watch them.' He knows me because I always go there, but he did not know that I was right behind them. When they left, he looked up at me and looked like he had seen a ghost. He goes, 'Coach Traylor, I didn't even see you there.' I said, 'I know. I am glad you were saying nice things just then or I was going to have to get you.' It is starting to be more of a talk and more of a buzz. It is always one person at a time. I think about my mom giving me a poem many years ago about a man on the beach. He found a starfish and reached down to throw it out into the water. Someone griped at him and said, 'You can't save all of those starfish.' The gentleman said back, 'I know, but I just saved that one.' It really is what it is. We have to do it one fan at a time."
On what he expects from Rice …
"We just dove into them last night. Our analysts and graduate assistants are always one week ahead of us and just gave us the scouting report. We worked on quite a bit. I know from last year, they got a lot of those guys back. They are very complex on offense and defense. They do a lot of stuff. Everybody knows how smart their kids are. They are smart players and high-character players. They are scrappy and tough. It is a Conference USA ballgame. It will be a one-possession ballgame. All of our games are. It will go down to the very end. A champion has the ability to play one play longer than his opponent. We just have to play one play longer than them again this Saturday."
On his message to fans …
"I loved what we did in our marketing department. Last week we were 5-0, so they gave half off (price) for the tickets. I thought that was pretty cool. Kevin Brown, my Director of Operations, has done a great job reaching out to alumni trying to get them to come. I think once they come, they will really enjoy it and be shocked at how selfless our team is with how they cheer for each other and are into the game with each other. It is refreshing. They are a breath of fresh air. They are kids. Give them a chance. I think if you come once, you will be hooked. I know I love coaching them. I know everybody thinks it is because we are winning, but I am going to love them the same no matter what. We don't talk about winning and losing. We just don't. There is a time to talk about it. Our players don't need to think about that stuff. Pressure is a privilege. Go play and have fun. That is what I want my kids to always do.'"
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