Oct. 6, 2008

LOGAN, Utah -

USU head coach Brent Guy and senior cornerback Roy Hurst recap the loss to No. 8 BYU and preview this Saturday's showdown with San Jose State.

Head coach Brent Guy

ON BYU:

"When you spot a team 21 points like we did with the three turnovers and then self-destruct a couple of times ourselves when we had opportunities, it hurts you. We have to play better in the first half. We did similar type things in the Idaho game and that is probably the thing we are emphasizing the most this week."

"We were encouraged that we did fight back. In the fourth quarter we looked like a totally different football team. The energy level that we had, we moved the football, and we had as many explosive plays as BYU did."

"Just disappointed that we didn't give BYU four quarters and play like we did in the fourth quarter. I think we could have turned it into a rivalry game that would have been fun to watch."

"I've never had a game where a team scores 24 points in a quarter and didn't get a first down. That was something statistically that I had never seen happen. When you turn it over as fast as we did and let them score as fast as we did, those are things that are hard to overcome."

"I felt like in the second half defensively we did a lot better job of stopping them. We made them kick field goals and intercepted the football. We also blocked a field goal. So there were some individual things we did well, but we needed to make something happen fast and we didn't do that."

"There was no victory at all. The locker room was probably the most somber and quiet it has been in any of the losses. I think it was because the kids knew they had given away an opportunity to play against a very good BYU team. I think that by finishing the game the way they did and realizing how easily we had given away the first half had a very big effect on them."

"BYU is a very good football team, but when we play well we are a good football team. That is what I keep trying to tell these guys and when we get going into the WAC we just have to play them one at a team and not let opportunities like we had Friday night pass so easily."

ON SAN JOSE STATE

"We scored on a very good defense that hadn't been scored on in two weeks so that was encouraging. We are going up against a team against San Jose that is leading the league in defense so it will be a challenge for our offense to not turn it over. They are also leading the league in turnover margin. So those will be critical factors going into the WAC schedule."

"We can't start so slow on the road this week. We have to start fast and get into the football game against San Jose State and not make critical errors early that can give them momentum."

"They don't miss opportunities. If the ball is on the ground, they get it. If they get their hands on a ball, they don't drop it. They just don't give up any opportunities and they don't turn it over themselves. They also do a very good job of sacking the quarterback."

"They are not scoring a lot of points. They have won some in dramatic fashion. They played well against San Diego State and Hawai'i and have come from behind in two or three wins and I think that says a lot about their team."

"San Jose State is a little more spread and looks a little bit like Oregon. They have shown some completely different game plans and imagination. For us we just have to be balanced offensively and that is how we can be most effective. We can't be one dimensional against them."

"We have to score touchdowns in the red zone. Last year, we had trouble in the red zone and it came down to a three-point game last year. This team is much like the game two years ago, and we were able to create some turnovers and beat them at their own game. We just couldn't run the ball effectively and convert third and shorts"

"This game has come down to the last play of the game almost every game. We expect it to be that kind of game again. I think to me the critical thing is starting fast in all facets of the game. We were sluggish against Idaho and terrible with the football against BYU and those are the things we just can't do in this game"

Roy Hurst

ON BYU

"I felt we came out flat to start the game. That is something we cannot do. Sometimes when we get turnovers we have to hold them to field goals and not touchdowns. That is something we need to do better."

"The second half we came out very strong and played hard against the No. 8 team in the country. I felt we should have played like that from the beginning, given more effort. We basically gave the game to them in the first quarter and that is something we cannot do against any team."

"We have to come out on fire. We don't need to test the water we just need to know we can jump in and play with any team in the country. The only good that came out of that game is to know we can play with anybody."

"It shouldn't have been a 20 point loss. We should have been in the game or even won the game in my opinion if we would have played like we did in the second half. There is no one on the team that feels good that we didn't get blown out or hung in with BYU. We knew we could play with them."

ON SAN JOSE STATE

"I feel that they have some good athletes on their team. Their quarterback, Kyle Reed, makes good decisions with the ball and doesn't turn the ball over much. Their running backs run hard and have some nice speed. They have good receivers and do a good job managing the game offensively.

"We have to beat them at their own game. That is making them turn the ball over and making their offense make some bad decisions."

"The WAC is our main focus. We need to come out and play one game at a time. We feel we have a shot at it and every game if we come out and play to our ability. If we don't cause critical mistakes and play focused we have a shot at each game."

"It's a must that we have to go in and finish the game. Last year we didn't finish a lot of games. Fourth quarters were our weakness. This year, I feel we are performing a lot better in the fourth quarter we just have to come out in the first half and put a complete game together."