Nov. 10, 2008

LOGAN, Utah -

USU head coach Brent Guy and junior wide receiver Nnamdi Gwacham were on USU's weekly press conference on Monday, recapping the loss at No. 8 Boise State and previewing Saturday's final road game of the year at Louisiana Tech.

COACH GUY

ON BOISE STATE

"The film was difficult at times to watch and easy at times to watch. As we went over it with the kids, the biggest thing that jumps out at you is that it was 28-14 in the middle of the third quarter and we were driving. At that juncture had we been able to hang on to the ball and punt instead of the fumble things might have gone better."

"Defensively, under those situations, we played as well as we have all year, in any ball game. I felt like when that happened we felt like these guys are not immortal and we can play with them. Then one mistake, the fumble by Setzer, and they really turned it around on us."

"We did a good job stopping the run but did not stop the pass very well. We threw the ball better than we anticipated. I thought Sean Setzer did a great job coming in. Diondre (Borel) really got rattled and was not playing well. When that happened regardless of position, we have to get the next guy in."

"Whenever you turn the ball over six times against a top ten team on the road, then have the penalties we had, we just put ourselves in bad situations. They would just really set us back after some nice plays."

"Probably the most disappointing thing is we go a week ago in the Hawai'i game with two penalties and plus one in turnovers to a Boise State team in the top ten and go 13 penalties and minus three (turnovers). You have to address all that stuff and show the kids the positive and show them that this is what killed us."

ON QUARTERBACKS

"We are watching film on Louisiana Tech and will try to see what gives ourselves the best chance. Who knows right now, but I anticipate both of them could play."

"I was proud of how Sean came in and made some plays. He did make mistakes but I was proud of the way he came in and threw the ball around. The pass he made to Robert Turbin was a beautiful pass. So we made some nice plays, we just did not make near enough."

"I certainly think the environment affected Diondre. I think the environment affected a lot of them. Especially by the end zone. We haven't been in an environment like that since Oregon. They are there to intimidate the opponent. I think that affected us."

ON LOUISIANA TECH

"They have a defensive front that is pretty good. They have given up some yards in the passing game, but their defensive front is very solid against the run. They have changed a little bit. Last year they were bend but don't break, this year they show some more man and more pressure."

"They held San Jose State to 128 yards. Louisiana Tech just has a front that gives you some trouble. You have to give them credit. They will be ready for us. They have five wins. They want to be bowl eligible so they will be ready for us."

"It will be a challenge for our guys to go down and execute and play much better than we did this week. We cannot have turnovers and we cannot have penalties."

"They like to run the football. Jackson is a guy, when you watch him on film, makes big plays happen. They have changed quarterbacks a few times and gone back and forth."

"Defensively they are adding pressure now. They understand the basics of how to stop the running plays and then try to force turnovers and big plays defensively in the passing game."

Nnamdi Gwacham

ON BOISE STATE

"We did exactly those things that we couldn't do. We shot ourselves in the foot. We just didn't put ourselves in the position to be competitive. With the penalties and turnovers, stats like that don't put us in a position to be competitive."

"We had our chances. It was 28-14 in the third quarter. We were driving and Sean fumbled the football. Those are the types of things we did that we just cannot do to be competitive."

ON LOUISIANA TECH

"I do know they are a very aggressive defense. They are very much like San Jose State. Their defensive backs are very aggressive. I also know they are a good running team on offense. Our game plan will be just as it has been, we have to execute and not make any mistakes."

"This is going to be the most difficult road trip. We drove to Boise and it was a five hour drive, we fly to Louisiana and it is 45 minutes shorter. Guys just have to be focused and not let any extraneous things get us down. We just have to get mentally prepared and ready to play this game."

"We want to play the role of the spoiler. We could have been the team that brought down Boise State. We have to have the same mentality going to La Tech. They are one win from being bowl eligible and we want to try to take that from them."

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF DOUBLING LAST YEAR'S WIN TOTAL

"I think that is a huge moral booster because some of the guys that have been here since Coach Guy has been here haven't had the best record. If we do get out on top we will know we left this program in better shape and have helped build a better program."