Watch the Alamo Bowl head coaches press conference from San Antonio on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.
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00:00 >> Thank you, Derek and Gary and Randy.
00:03 As well, I'd like to reiterate what Coach Fish said, what an amazing venue this is.
00:09 A fantastic bowl game experience, as good as there is in college football.
00:14 This is, I've been to San Antonio several times throughout the last 25 years.
00:20 And obviously was here back in 1998 with the Wildcats.
00:25 And so had firsthand experience as a young coach, the quality
00:30 of a bowl game experience that you all have put on.
00:33 The San Antonio community is a community that's passionate and connected.
00:39 Supportive in every way, been here to several events throughout the years.
00:44 Certainly we came and competed in a Big 12 championship here
00:48 against the University of Missouri back in 2007 as well.
00:52 And then two years ago, seemed like it was last week to watch Oklahoma and
00:57 Oregon compete.
00:59 The atmosphere, the intensity, the passion, the support was, again,
01:05 having been to several bowl games throughout the years, as good as that I've been around.
01:10 I'd like to congratulate again, Coach Fish and his staff, his football team.
01:14 There's nobody in college football right now that's playing better football
01:18 the last half of the season than University of Arizona.
01:20 Six game win streak, it's hard to do.
01:23 They've done it against really quality opponents.
01:25 A lot of people that we've got great respect for, whether it's UCLA or
01:30 it's your cross town rival or
01:32 it's certainly what they were able to do to Utah just a few weeks ago.
01:36 Led by Fafita, redshirt freshman quarterback,
01:40 that was the player of the year in the conference.
01:42 Receivers, you've got one over 700 yards and one 1300 yards.
01:47 The running backs average in seven yards a carry, defensively top 25 and
01:52 scoring defense.
01:53 And they've just done an amazing job efficiency wise and
01:57 building the team the right way.
01:59 And so our players recognize that.
02:01 They've got a good sneak peek at Arizona, again,
02:04 in one of the best conferences in college football of this season.
02:08 They placed third and had an opportunity, was really a miracle.
02:13 They didn't win another game or
02:15 two that came right down to the last play of the game.
02:17 And so we got great respect, admiration.
02:21 We're gonna have to be well prepared.
02:24 And this is a team that's gonna be hungry, gonna be focused.
02:29 And again, as coach said, they're looking forward to having an opportunity to match
02:33 up against us and vice versa.
02:35 This is again one that for us and building our program the right way,
02:39 everything matters.
02:40 And this is another opportunity for us to improve.
02:42 We'll have an opportunity to play several guys,
02:45 maybe making their first starts of the season in this game.
02:48 And to show our competitive depth, great opportunity for us not only to finish
02:53 the season the right way against another quality opponent, but also moving and
02:57 transitioning into the SEC, an opportunity for us to continue to prepare and
03:01 build our program.
03:02 >> Thank you, coaches.
03:04 For media on site today, please raise your hand and
03:06 we'll bring you a microphone to ask your question.
03:08 If you're on the Zoom call, please click the raise hand options.
03:11 And you'll be called on and unmuted to answer your questions.
03:14 For those on social media, use #ValeraAlamoBowl and
03:17 I will ask the coaches questions.
03:19 ASAP is transcribing this press conference.
03:22 So please help them on the Zoom if you give your name and affiliation.
03:25 Transcripts and video will be put to our Dropbox and
03:27 the YouTube after the press conference.
03:29 Any questions in the room?
03:31 Back, right.
03:36 >> Hey, how you doing coaches?
03:39 I'll start with you, Coach Fish.
03:41 So just how big of an advantage is it for
03:44 you all to be playing in front of a San Antonio audience?
03:46 And it was your recruiting base possibly being here.
03:49 >> Yeah, well, I would just say in our transition from the Pac-12 to the Big-12,
03:54 it's really important for us to start making more of a presence in Texas.
03:59 If you look at our team, we have five players on our roster from Texas.
04:03 We know that as the years progress, starting next year when we'll be playing
04:07 in the Big-12, we're gonna have to add more players from Texas into our program.
04:12 And we'll have more of a recruiting opportunity because of the fact that we'll
04:17 be playing in the state against TCU and Baylor and Houston and Texas Tech.
04:21 So it would probably be a kickoff for us into the Big-12 this game and
04:27 really be able to see and show our players and let the state of Texas see
04:32 the type of energy that our players play with and
04:34 hopefully the high school coaches in the state will be excited about sending their
04:38 players to us.
04:39 >> Very good, let's go to the Zoom.
04:44 We'll unmute John Hoover, you have a question for either of the coaches?
04:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:51 >> Yes, I do.
04:52 Thank you for taking my question, Brent.
04:54 Congratulations and appreciate you doing this.
04:57 First question is about Dylan Gabriel.
05:00 What can you tell us about his plans?
05:03 What can you tell us about your conversations with him?
05:05 And is he gonna be able to participate in the Alamo Bowl or
05:10 is that all strictly Jackson Arnold at this point?
05:11 >> That hasn't been finalized yet.
05:16 So I'll comment on that when it's the appropriate time.
05:20 And but Dylan's been amazing.
05:23 He's obviously played his best football this year.
05:25 We wouldn't have put ourselves in this position and
05:29 had the kind of success we did certainly the turnaround that we did from year one to
05:33 year two without Dylan and all of his hard work, his leadership, his commitment.
05:37 He made everybody around him better.
05:39 So really, really thankful and proud of Dylan and
05:43 he's gonna have whatever is next for him.
05:47 I promise you, he'll have his hands all over.
05:49 It's gonna be a really successful transition for him.
05:55 >> Okay, stay on the Zoom.
05:57 Justin Spears, you have a question for either coach?
06:00 >> Yeah, Justin Spears from the Arizona Daily Star.
06:02 This one's for Coach Venables.
06:05 Coach for Arizona,
06:06 one of their biggest turnarounds is on the defensive side of the ball.
06:09 As a defensive coach, what stands out to you about what they're able to do there?
06:13 >> Well, they play with incredible passion and energy.
06:16 I love, I think number five leads the Pac 12 in tackles.
06:21 He's just disruptive, always around the football.
06:24 They play with great confidence.
06:26 They know what they're doing.
06:27 They're very well coached, fundamentally sound.
06:29 You're gonna have to earn everything that you get.
06:33 >> All right, back to the Zoom, Garen Edming.
06:37 >> Hey, Brent, appreciate you taking time.
06:42 I wanted to ask about the challenge of player retention this time of year.
06:47 With all the guys who either enter the portal or
06:51 make decisions about their NFL future.
06:54 Does that make things difficult in terms of picking up where you left off
07:00 from the games you made defensively this year especially?
07:04 >> I don't know if it makes things difficult.
07:06 I think it gives guys opportunity.
07:09 This is college football, you can't keep guys forever.
07:13 And so sometimes the people on the outside look at change as a bad thing.
07:20 And I look at it just as opportunity.
07:22 And I think we've talked about since the big 12 media day back in August.
07:28 We've promoted the competitive depth that we have,
07:31 that we've improved from where we were again a year ago at this time.
07:35 So this is an opportunity for that to show and
07:38 for give guys an opportunity going into the 2024 season.
07:42 Experience and confidence and all of those things that they'll gain through
07:46 three weeks of practices and an opportunity to compete again and again.
07:51 >> All right, via Zoom again, George Stoia.
07:53 >> Hey Brent, kind of going off that,
07:58 what conversations have you maybe had with Danny?
08:01 I know that it's been kind of reported out there that he let you guys know he's
08:05 headed to the NFL.
08:06 Have you had those conversations and
08:08 what was that like having that with somebody like Danny who I know you're close
08:11 with?
08:12 >> Yeah, everything has its time.
08:14 And whenever Danny is prepared to let everybody know what his future
08:21 is gonna look like, out of respect for him,
08:25 I'll reserve comment for that moment in time.
08:29 But all that being said, Danny had an amazing year,
08:33 as good of a leader as we have on our team, as good of a leader as I've been
08:37 around, his passion, his love, his respect that he has for his teammates and
08:42 his teammates have for him.
08:44 Leadership is, I've never looked at it as a position.
08:47 I think it's about action, and
08:49 he's represented everything that you would want from a leader.
08:52 He's made everybody around him better.
08:55 And there's not a player in our locker room that loves the University of Oklahoma
08:59 and respects his opportunity and what this has meant for him and
09:03 his life more than Danny Stutzman.
09:04 So I got great thankfulness and appreciation for
09:08 everything that Danny represents and what he's done to help us the last two years.
09:12 >> Coach Fish, this one's for you.
09:16 In all your stops, have you ever coached in the Alamo Dome or
09:18 against Coach Venables?
09:19 >> [LAUGH] Well, I have coached in the Alamo Dome.
09:23 It was a preseason game of the Houston Texans versus Dallas Cowboys in 2003,
09:30 I think it was.
09:32 So that was the last time I've been in the Alamo Dome and
09:35 have not had an opportunity to coach against Coach Venables.
09:40 But I've certainly admired him from afar and
09:43 admired the defense that he's always put out there.
09:46 And you always know you're gonna get an opportunistic defense.
09:51 They lead the country in interceptions.
09:53 You're gonna get a defense that's gonna be very hard to figure out their blitz
09:56 patterns and their schemes.
09:58 And I have a ton of respect for him, for Oklahoma.
10:02 Oklahoma's won 10 games or more, 19 in the last 23 years.
10:06 We've won 10 games, three times in 100 years.
10:09 So Oklahoma football, something I look up to.
10:13 I do know Coach Stoops.
10:15 He did introduce me to my wife in 2000 at the AFCA Coaches Convention.
10:20 So that's about the extent of my real experiences with Oklahoma, but
10:24 I certainly have a ton of respect for him.
10:27 >> Thank you, Coach.
10:27 On the Zoom, Eli Lederman.
10:30 >> Yeah, Brent, as you're on the road this time of year, there's recruiting,
10:36 there's the portal, there's player retention.
10:38 How much more of a challenge is bowl season now in knowing who you're gonna be
10:42 bringing with you?
10:42 >> It's all hard.
10:45 I say this all the time, but it's all good.
10:50 And whatever challenges, and it does present many challenges, but
10:54 whatever challenges it presents Oklahoma,
10:58 it presents the same thing for everybody else in college football.
11:01 And so I love a challenge.
11:05 I'm a competitive person by nature.
11:08 And we're all, for the most part, some people would probably beg to differ, but
11:13 we play by the same rules.
11:15 And in some ways right now there are no rules.
11:19 And I say that tongue in cheek, but it's a very hectic time, but
11:25 I rely on our staff.
11:26 We've got a wonderful support staff, a really connected full time staff.
11:32 And again, there are several things that are going on right now with our
11:36 current roster, just like everybody else's rosters, many things that you planned on.
11:41 I think we've had a handful of players that are quote unquote in the portal, but
11:45 we looked at them as seniors, as graduates, and
11:48 as guys that weren't going to be a part of our program after this season.
11:52 So the only thing that you don't know is whether or
11:55 not they're gonna try to go to the NFL, or they're gonna decide to maybe use that
11:59 additional year of eligibility somewhere else.
12:02 And so you do have to plan, you'll make adjustments if you will,
12:06 when it comes to your depth, and so that's a real thing.
12:10 But other than that, I love putting puzzles, the pieces of the puzzle together.
12:16 I've always really enjoyed that and try to find great people.
12:20 That's exciting to me.
12:21 I've got amazing appreciation, thankfulness, and respect for
12:28 what it means to be the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma and
12:31 the excellence that it's represented for over 100 years.
12:35 And so every decision I make when it comes to a current roster,
12:40 and potentially a new player that we're gonna bring into our program,
12:45 I know everybody's counting on me to make a right decision.
12:48 And so I love that, I love relationships, I love finding great people that also
12:53 align in the values and the respect and appreciation for
12:56 all the great things that Oklahoma has to offer.
12:59 So for the next month, it's kinda like Christmas every day, it really is.
13:04 I say that, there's a lot of work that goes into it,
13:08 as Coach Fish can attest to as well.
13:10 And but it's a little less work than we had a year ago at this time, not much.
13:15 We'll probably end up signing, give or take, around 35 to 37 new scholarship
13:21 players a year ago, we signed 42 scholarship players we brought in January.
13:27 So close to another transformation, similar,
13:31 quite a bit less when it comes to the transfer portal.
13:36 We'll look to sign, give or take, around 27 high school players.
13:42 So I think 20 of them will be mid-year, so that's really exciting for me.
13:45 We'll have, give or take, around 28,
13:48 29 mid-year players when we start in January.
13:52 >> Thank you, we'll do a question in the room and then a couple more on Zoom.
13:56 >> Hi there, Mike Board, iHeartMedia.
13:58 This question is for Coach Fish.
14:00 You come in on a hot streak, wins over four ranked teams,
14:05 a win over that other school in Tempe.
14:08 How does it feel coming into this bowl game with everything clicking?
14:14 And also, how do you let the guys have a little fun while they're here in
14:17 San Antonio?
14:18 >> They can have fun on the 29th.
14:20 Now, I always tell them that was a Coach Belichick line,
14:25 that Thanksgiving, Christmas, that happens in the spring.
14:29 But we'll do our best to make it an incredible experience.
14:34 We only have eight players on our roster that's ever played in a bowl game,
14:38 and that's out of 110 players, and all eight of them are transfers.
14:43 So this is a brand new experience for a majority of our team,
14:46 it's a brand new experience for our players.
14:48 So we wanna make sure that our players understand it is a privilege to play in
14:52 a bowl game.
14:52 It is a celebration of a job well done.
14:57 And to be able to be at this bowl game, the Valero Alamo Bowl,
15:02 this is a wonderful opportunity for our guys to experience San Antonio,
15:05 to experience some of the great joys of being here, the history of the Alamo.
15:10 To be able to learn a little bit about a new area, and we're gonna try to do
15:16 our best to really show them the culture here, the best we can.
15:21 But in the end, we're here to play a football game.
15:25 We're here to play a football game against a team that's historically won
15:28 seven national championships.
15:30 So we understand and recognize this great challenge, and we're gonna try to balance
15:34 the challenge of competition with the balance of joy.
15:38 And during that time, hopefully we can get them both done.
15:41 >> All right, we'll go back to the Zoom, Barry Trammell.
15:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]
15:46 On the Zoom.
15:47 Yeah, Brent, can you help me sort of understand the Dillon departure?
15:53 This appears to be a decision that was made even before the season started.
15:58 A decision to move ahead with Jackson going forward.
16:02 It's just sort of a unique situation.
16:04 Can you shed some light on that?
16:06 >> Well, the only thing I would say, it didn't have anything to do with Jackson.
16:11 I think Dillon had every intention to go to the NFL.
16:14 In his mind, this was gonna be his last season.
16:16 He's gonna have a great year, put himself in position to go chase his dreams in
16:22 the NFL.
16:23 And so he's the best person to testify in regards to how he
16:29 came to the decision to play another year collegiately.
16:35 But quite frankly, we did plan to again go into the 24th season
16:40 without Dillon Gabriel.
16:43 And Dillon, I think one of the things that he'll comment about is
16:49 he went through something similar at UCF with a quarterback there.
16:56 And he knows the uniqueness of the situation.
17:00 So Dillon knows, certainly he was more than welcome to stay and
17:07 continue to compete and be the quarterback at the University of Oklahoma.
17:11 But that's just what decision that he came to.
17:14 And again, like I said, he would be the best person to really go in more
17:19 depth and detail about what all went into that.
17:23 >> All right, we'll go for the Zoom, Wildcats Radio.
17:26 [BLANK_AUDIO]
17:32 >> Gentlemen, for both of you, David Kelly, Wildcats Radio 1290.
17:36 What is your most vivid early memory from your childhood of a bowl game that
17:40 made you fall in love with this time of year in college football?
17:45 >> Coach Fish, you wanna go first?
17:47 >> Sure, I would say, it was actually funny,
17:51 we were talking about it last night at dinner.
17:54 That the Penn State Miami Bowl game of the Orange Bowl in 1987,
18:00 or Fiesta Bowl, excuse me, the Fiesta Bowl, the national championship game.
18:05 I remember being on my grandma's and grandpa's house in Florida,
18:09 I was 10 years old.
18:11 And I remember watching that game on TV and they lived in South Florida, so
18:15 there was a big Miami contingency.
18:18 And that was a bunch of interceptions by Vinny Testiverde, but
18:23 yet I think the final was 14-10 maybe or something to that effect.
18:26 And the fact that Miami still had a chance to win the game all the way at
18:29 the very end, but Penn State won the national championship that year.
18:34 But I think I fell in love with the game and with the idea of one day dreaming to
18:38 be able to coach in one of those games, I think it was that bowl game right there.
18:43 >> Coach Pannable?
18:44 >> I'm gonna fast forward to my first bowl game experience,
18:49 first time I was away from home for Christmas.
18:52 And 1993 was in the Aloha Bowl at Kansas State, and
18:57 I was a student assistant in Boston College,
19:02 coach Tom Coughlin, Mike Mimula, future first rounder for
19:08 Boston College and our team at Kansas State.
19:13 I just remember as the first bowl game being away from home for
19:17 the first time at Christmas and calling on a payphone, we didn't have cell phones.
19:23 Wanting to know what's going on back home, but
19:26 the enrichment that you get out of every bowl game.
19:30 I've been fortunate to be in a bowl game every year since and
19:35 all the memories that you have from a player standpoint.
19:41 Nothing means more or nothing last longer,
19:45 makes more of an imprint than winning the game.
19:50 That's probably what you value the most in all those bowl games.
19:55 But and then now you fast forward now, and we're coaches and we're dads.
20:00 It's funny to hear the fans have an interest in which bowl game we're gonna go
20:04 to, the players always have an incredibly vested interest in the bowl games.
20:09 But the coaches kids have the most vested interest in which play parks,
20:14 what the hotel's gonna, what the pool, what the weather, do we have a beach?
20:20 Is it Orlando?
20:21 Is it San Antonio?
20:22 Is it the River?
20:24 And so you get the thumbs up, the official approval from the coach's kids.