Head Coach Mike MacIntyre, junior safety Afolabi Laguda, sophomore linebacker Rick Gamboa speaking after Colorado practice.
Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
On practice…
“We had good intensity, we flew around to the ball. I was excited the way the guys came to practice today, the weather was nice, the sun peaked out today, so I think that helped get the guys going also.”
On the change in weather…
“You know, a lot of people haven’t been to Boulder when it’s 45 degrees and the sun is on top of you, you’re sweating. It doesn’t feel like it does here because there is no humidity in the air. We practiced inside a couple days when there was snow and it was 72 degrees in there like it will be in the dome, so they had a good time today with it.”
On progression of the team…
“Yeah I am. They have been focused in meetings, focused and ready to go at practice. I hadn’t had to take out the Louisville Slugger and try to get them going, you know type thing. They really had a good practice.”
On Coach MacIntyre’s role with the safeties…
“Just having extra eyes in practice, Charles [Clark] handled all the meetings and everything. They did all the meetings together all season long anyway, and they split up a little bit. It’s gone well, I have just had my eyes out there a little bit more.”
On transition with Joe Tumpkin taking over the linebackers…
“Looks good! It looks good and it’s a relatively smooth situation. The linebackers know what they’re doing, we’ve been doing the same thing all year, and just trying to get used to what Oklahoma State would do, and just trying to hone in on that. It’s been good.”
On the amount of seniors on the roster and easy transition…
“I think so, but you know we have an experienced defense and they’ll do fine.”
On feeling healthy during the season and going into the game…
“We do feel fairly healthy, but you feel that way then you’re 10 plays into the game and someone can tweak an ankle or something happens. I feel good about the guys we have going out there to play and I feel good about the back-ups. Just like we have all year, people stepped up just like they thought they weren’t going to play much and they stepped up and played well. We will definitely need that this bowl game. That’s going to happen.”
On the number one thing that worries you about Oklahoma State…
“Well, there is a bunch of things that worry me about Oklahoma State. I would say first of all their defense causes a lot of turnovers. They are very aggressive, they tackle real well, they are physical, so we have got to come with a physical state of mind on offense. We didn’t protect the ball very well in the Pac-12 Championship game. We have got to make sure that we protect the ball, but we still have got to throw it, compete, and make plays. We can’t run quarterbacks sneak every snap. Offensively they are extremely explosive. To me they are the most explosive offense, like Washington and USC with their skill guys. I think they are that good. They are very talented also.”
On significance of playing in a bowl game…
“Number one for CU it has been a long time. The last time CU won a bowl game was 2004. We are kind of starving so to speak. We need to go out there and play well and hopefully take the “W” just like Oklahoma State wants to. They have been to nine bowl games in a row, so our guys are extremely hungry about playing, and so is our fan base.”
Afolabi Laguda, Junior, Safety
On bowl practices…
“They have been cool. It is definitely different to get out to a new state and practice in a new facility, so it has been a good experience”
On Coach MacIntyre’s more hands on approach with the safeties…
“Coach Mac has a background in coaching DB’s, so he has definitely given us his words of wisdom. He has definitely given us some knowledge. Just how to practice like a pro, to be consistent every day. He is a good example of that. Coach Mac has definitely been on us about being consistent and not having a performance slump in a new state.”
On having an enjoyable bowl experience while remaining focused on the game…
“We are just here to win a game. The festivities that come with the bowl game are great, but our focus is to win the game and send the seniors out on a good note. I know what my priorities are, and I know the older guys on this team do as well.”
On reflection of the Pac-12 Championship game…
“It wasn’t a good way to go out on the regular season. It was bad because we had a long gap between the regular season and getting on the field again, but it keeps that fire in our belly, so, I think we will be ready to come out this Thursday. ”
On challenges the team will face due to Oklahoma State’s defense…
“They are definitely a great group of tight ends. Both of them are all conference performers, so, it just shows you what they can do. We just have to read our keys and trust what we have been doing all season.”
On significance of playing at the Valero Alamo Bowl…
“It’s huge. It is definitely making CU great again. That was our mission at the beginning of the season, so just to get that next bowl win is a big deal.”
On opinion of humidity, and the game being indoors…
“I am from the South myself, so, the humidity doesn’t bother me too much, but it is very humid. Takes us back to Hawaii last season.”
Rick Gamboa, Sopohomore, Linebacker
On the intensity of the team…
“There was a lot of intensity, and focus throughout practice. That is one of the main keys for us. There are a lot of things going on for us outside of practice. We come out here, want to stay focused and make sure we pay attention to what is going on.”
On balance of being in a different atmosphere and being able to stay focused…
“No, it hasn’t been too difficult. Off the field we are going to have fun and enjoy ourselves while we are out here, but once we get back onto the field, then we know its back to business. We have one goal for why we are here.”
On working with Joe Tumpkin…
“It has been fun. It is a little different from how Coach Leavitt was. Coach Tumpkin has been helping us a lot, especially this past couple of weeks with the couple of changes that we have been having. Overall, it has been good.”
On Tumpkin’s coaching style vs. Leavitt…
“Coach Leavitt was a little more hyper and more abrupt about things. Tumpkin would rather talk to you and make sure you understand what is going on. It’s just the little things that he has been helping us out with as a group.”
On if Coach Leavitt reached out to the team…
“He texted and called a few of us just to make sure we set a goal and the seniors go out the right way. That is still the same goal for us. He knows we will play hard and we just want to make sure that the seniors go out on a good note.”
On significance of playing at the Valero Alamo Bowl…
“I think it’s big. It is the first time any of us have really been at a bowl game. We all want to make sure the seniors go out on a right note and we want to make sure we give them the win. We want to restore the legacy as one of the best teams in Colorado history, and its just going to be a lot of fun for us to finally play in a bowl game. ”