Everything South Florida HC Alex Golesh Said After 17-3 Defeat Against Alabama

New South Florida head coach Alex Golesh was candid in his thoughts after facing Alabama.

TAMPA, Fla.— Rookie South Florida Bulls head coach Alex Golesh articulated his candid thoughts after his team gave the Alabama Crimson Tide all it could handle on Saturday.

Opening Statement:

"Thank you for being here. I’m going to say the same thing i said last week in terms of 10,000 students, 65,000 fans. Man, that’s what college football should be. I get, a handful of Alabama fans, which is really cool for them, come down and enjoy our beautiful city. But beyond, beyond grateful for our fans. If they can keep showing up and keep making a college football environment like that in Tampa, we’ve got something special we’re building. In terms of how we played tonight. I’ll start defensively, certainly played well enough to win. The sacks, the ability to get off the field, really phenomenal in a lot of ways. The storyline can be whatever you want it to be. You can write whatever you want, man, quarterback shuffle, whatever, I don't care. And there are no moral victories, you asked me on the radio. Man, valiant effort. Valiant efforts are for losers. Moral victories are for losers. That’s what losers say. Winners win. There are no moral victories, there are no valiant efforts, there are no anything. We played winning football on defense. We played well enough to win that football game. We got off the field when we had to get off the field. We effectively affected the quarterback, created sacks, played really, really, really well on defense. Offensively, at times we were able to keep drives alive. Those situations didn’t turn into points. I think very similar to a week ago, from an execution standpoint, we gotta continue to grow. You’re always going to be a little bit behind offensively. I feel like we’re behind right now where we have the ability to be with the quarterback play the way it is. With the O-line having the ability to protect. We’ve got to go execute quite a bit better. Both on the perimeter. Both in how we’re calling it. The situations we’re putting the quarterback in. I’ve got to be better in a lot of ways there, certainly from an offensive side. And then special teams I thought we played well enough to win. We created, we continued to be really sound there. I thought we played a lot more penalty free. So, in a positive we cut our penalties down, we certainly played well enough to go win and offensively we didn’t create enough. The storyline can be whatever you want it to be, you could say that’s a really good defense, you could say that’s an SEC team, you could say that’s the No. 10 team in the country, you can say whatever you want. They’re on our schedule. We’re playing them at home. We’ve got to go win football games. I’ll own it. We weren’t as good as we had to be to go win. What I told the guys in the locker room after is, ‘In truth, there’s certain times in life that opportunity meets your preparation, and you have an opportunity to go play a really good football team in front of 65,000 fans in Tampa, Florida and your preparation has to go meet that opportunity’. I felt like for a really long part of that game, our preparation did meet that opportunity. In the fourth when we had a chance to go win the football game, our preparation did not. I said it in the beginning that you’ve got to be process driven. Somewhere along the line our process wasn’t right, somewhere. Whether it’s individually as players or collectively as a team, somewhere it wasn’t right. I’ve got to fix it. I get paid to fix it, that’s what I’ve got to do. I am beyond proud of our effort. Our effort in a lot of ways continues to be elite. That gives you a chance to go win football games. The other part I told these guys, if we continue to play from an effort standpoint to play like we’re playing and fix the execution part of it. Execution being third down. Execution being pitching and catching of the football. Execution being systematically how we approach every single day in our program we’ll have a chance to win football games as we go. I know perceptually, big time underdog. Perceptually, you can write whatever you want about it. To me, it’s time we start winning those football games. Whatever our preparation meets the opportunity, we’re going to continue to grow so that we can win those football games. The last part I told these guys is we start a new season, we start conference play next week. Now we’ve got a chance to get everything we’ve wanted, which is to hold a trophy up at the end of the year. Are we ready for that? We’ll find out. But the one thing I’m really proud of is our kids will keep fighting, keep swinging, they believe in our coaching staff, they believe in the process, they believe in each other. Which, god dang, it’s been a complete dog-fight to get there. So I’m proud to stand here wearing this Bull U and continue to fight like crazy to get this program right. Because the city of Tampa deserves it, our fan base deserves it, the 10,000 students that came deserve it, gosh darn it, we deserve it as a program for every single person who’s put the green and gold on. They deserve it, for us to get back to winning football games. I’m going to continue to fight like crazy to do so. I’m going to continue to work extremely hard at it. Our staff will as well, we’ve got the right pieces in place to go do that. I’ll open it up to questions."

On the impact of the 54-minute weather delay?

"I don't think it was consequential in any way. The delay was for them [Alabama] as well."

On the growing pains of a young quarterback?

"Yeah, he rushed for almost 100 yards. He created first downs with his feet. I'm sure there's some throws he'd like to have back. He's going to continue to grow, certainly as a quarterback. He's an elite leader. His process is elite. He's just gonna keep growing, and growing, and growing. There's a there's got to be a trust factor for him, especially when you're young at that position, that what it looks like during the week for him is what it looks like on Saturday, and that's the execution part I'm talking about. It's not just him when a pass is in completed. It's the running back. It's the O-Linemen, the receivers, tight ends. It's everybody. And it takes time. We've got to continue to present pictures to him and continue to allow him to gain confidence in the system and certainly the pieces around him. The kid is 18 years old, and that was his fourth college start or fifth college start, so absolutely, but I don't know if they are growing pains. It's part of growing up. It's part of laying a foundation for a program like he's going to continue to get better because he cares. He's about the right things. He's tough as they come. He's exactly what you want this program to be."

On DeQuan Evans?

 “Yeah, he's just around the ball more. So for him being around the ball is exactly what you want. He's instinctive. He can run, he can hit, he can cover. He’s another young man that shows up to work every day. He is as tough as they come. He has a million reasons why his process shouldn't be right, and all he does is just come to work and smile, get his body the right way and attacks the weight room. His process is awesome. Hence his process results to what his play is. Another young man, you could build the program around him. Chips are stacked against him. All he does is come to work and make it everybody around him better. He's incredible. Another tough-ass dude." 

On late-game interception?

"When I say execution, just as much me. If I could have a call back, that one would be it. I'm trying to force something vertical, something to let Byrum kinda set his feet and let it go. That one I wish I could have back, to be honest with you, because we were moving it, we were really chunking it there on that drive. That was a critical drive in the game for us, to be able to go and make it 10-10. And I don't know that I got impatient as much as I saw an opportunity to go attack a guy, and I thought Michael Brown-Stephens on their safety was a good matchup to just let Byrum set his feet and put the ball vertical. Safety played out of it, safety played high, Michael bent it a little bit to get away from the safety. Byrum didn't see him bend it. He let it go before he did, hence the turnover. To be honest with you, in every imaginable way, that's my fault, and I told Byrum that, told Michael that, told the offense that. My fault."

How do you take today's effort to build towards the future?

"Ya abosloutely. I don't mean to sound negative. I think as you guys get to know me I'm going to be really, really honest and really, really real. It's what I am with this team. It's what I've been my whole life. I'm going to be honest and if somebody don't like it, I'm totally good. Young people seem to like honesty. Old people seem to like honesty. My wife appreciates honesty too. She didn't say valiant effort. She said I'm proud of you. I love you, when are you coming home? So, I know you weren't asking about my wife... Please don't either. They're all building blocks, like, Week 1, Western Kentucky, we're up 17-7 in the second quarter, we've got a chance to go close it out, we don't. Week 2, we're in a dog fight with FAMU, we've got a chance to go make a play at the very end to go seal the win, we do. What did we learn from Week 1? When it's time to go snatch somebody's neck, you go snatch somebody's neck. We're going to be aggressive calling plays on both sides of the ball, plus special teams, hence the fake punt. We're going to be aggressive. I'm going to be aggressive because these guys work their tails off. We ask them to be aggressive, well we've got to be aggressive. So, we've gotta go close a game out. Week 1, Week 2, they're both building blocks. The end result is what it is, but they're all building blocks. Then today, you fight for three-and-a-half quarters to give yourself a chance to go win, you've gotta be able to go end it. Coaching, us too, we've got to be able to go call it to go win and obviously what I said is what I said to those guys. If we can get the 90% that are 100% invested in it are willing to fight, claw and do anything they can to go win a football game throughout the week, if we can get the other 10% in with them we'll go execute and go win. That's all part of building a program. Again, I said it last week, but I'm evaluated on wins and losses, which is awesome. Our players are evaluated on their effort, their technique, their process throughout the week, how they handle their business, then the end result will be a result of all of that. So, I'm going back to that again. Like, somewhere along the lines we jacked it up. We'll go back if our process is consistent, we'll go back, we'll adjust it, we'll clean it up and we'll go get it. There's not a single head hanging low. They're disappointed. They're disappointed because I think, for them, it's we're getting to a point as a program, three weeks in, where they expect to go win that game, as they should. As they should. And then you don't. Alright, man, let's go back. Let's peal it back. Let's figure out where we went wrong, that way you don't do it again. I think when you're process based and process driven, like, that's what it's about. The end result is a result of that. I don't care who you play, like, it doesn't matter. So, I don't know. You certainly have a lot to build on. It's all building, it's all learning experiences, it's all part of growing up and laying a foundation for our program. The storyline is going to be valiant effort. The storyline in our meeting is going to be, here's the 10 plays that we jacked up. Let's fix that, let's understand where we were wrong and then we'll have a chance to go win the next one, regardless of who you play.

Do you second guess any of the aggressive play calling?

"Ya, I've got to go back and evaluate, 'man was that right?'. The fake punt, I'd do it again. Going it for it on 4th&2 there, I'd do that again. Zero blitzing when you've got to go zero blitz, I'd do that again. I don't regret anything. I'm going to go back and make sure 'was our fourth down plan right?'. 'how did we execute that fake punt?'. These guys appreciate being aggressive. We ask them to be aggressive, we've got to be aggressive. Now we've got to be smart, but we've got to be aggressive. I don't regret those. Obviously I wish we executed both of those but...

So that's this program, you're going for things?

"When it's smart. We were on the 32-yard line, 33-yard line. Just out of field goal range for us. I don't want to punt it and we've got to go score. Like, we've gotta go get a spark there. I don't regret that at all. I've got to look back and see, do you run it there? You put it in Byrum Brown's hands. I'm going to keep putting it Byrum Brown's hands. I don't regret that.

Do you think the team is reflecting what you've been trying to teach them?

"Ya, again. They number one thing and I said it after Week 1, we're going to play really hard. They're going to continue to play really hard because of the way that they've put time into this thing. Their effort and how they've attacked, I'm super proud of. Like, beyond proud of, but they practice like that. They come to work like that, our strength program is like that. Yes, super proud of it. That's the foundation of the program. Effort, attitude, how you carry yourself, that is, blue-collar. That's what it is. That's what we are. That's what I am. That's what our coaches are. I feel like I hired a bunch of guys like me. I don't know if we're the most polished cats in the world. I made a joke like, I look across the field, we're all in dry-fit tees ready to go work. Some guys are in polos, like it is what it is. Everybody's got a different demeanor about them, but we are who we are. I've always said I'm not into mottos but be who you say you are. I came from nothing, earned everything I've gotten. I feel like we've got a locker room full of guys. That's what we are. We're blue-collar. We're going to go attack people and eventually that'll lead to wins. At least I hope, if it don't I'll eat my words right? It's the only way I know.

Any defensive gameplay changes after the Alabama QB change?

"No. Obviously you knew that Jalen wasn't going to play, allegedly. We had a plan to be really aggressive with him as well. Then you've got a young guy that came in that certainly has played a bunch of football in Tyler. Then Ty came in. I thought Tyler told TO make sure what he is, which is a mobile quarterback too that's got a bunch of experience playing. When they put Ty in, I know Ty hadn't played a bunch of ball. I just said keep being aggressive and keep going and getting it. I don't know that the plan changed a ton. We were going to be aggressive and force them to beat us deep all night and I felt like we certainly did that.

Inaudible Question...

"Would I have rather they put another quarterback in? I have no idea"

Where we stand against their starter, would you have rather seen that?

"Wasn't Tyler their starter? I'm not sure the question. 

Injury Update

"RJ - ankle. He's been fighting every week with that thing. I just saw him. He said 'coach I'll be ready to roll'. But he's been fighting that thing since camp. I'm proud of the way he's just continued to keep treating it and keep coming back. He's a tough dude. I'm really proud of RJ. AB - there Aamaris Brown got banged up with an upper body deal. We'll look at it tomorrow but I think he'll be ok. I think RJ'll be ok. Side note Cole Best came in there, played guard for RJ, god bless him. I thought he played his tail off. There was no drop off. I was really proud of Cole and he's really been a center for us and came in at guard. His eyes were lit up. He was into it. I was really proud of him for a young guy. l thought he did a phenomenal job. I'm trying to think, injury wise. Byrum got knocked around a little bit and then came over with a smile said 'man I got the wind knocked out of me'. I said 'man at some point you'll learn how to slide', but until then we'll enjoy the show... Ya Littlejohn had a lower body deal. He actually went back in and we've got some depth there so we kind of just stayed with Wes and Gunnar there as we finished it up.

Surprised at Wes's Hurdle?

"Uh no."

Plan to get to the passer?

"Ya I thought our plan was going to be really aggressive. I was really excited about the way that we stayed after it. There's Dayday just walking in. We were going to stay on it. We were going to stay aggressive. Those sacks happen in a lot of ways because of what the back end is doing. I thought the secondary played extremely well. I think that's our DNA. That's what we are. We're going to get after the quarterback. We're going to affect him. We're going to force them to beat us deep. That's what we are. I think when you flip the film on, and I'm excited to flip the film on, but when you flip it on and our opponents moving forward. They're going to see three weeks of aggressive, get after your butt stuff on defense. That's intimidating on offense as an offensive guy. You're like these dudes are going to keep coming after us. That's what we are. That's what TO's been his entire career. That's why he's here. It's what we are on offense. I'm really proud of the defense. I'm really proud of the way that they finished down the stretch. I'm really proud of the pressure. They affected the game. They affected the quarterback. They affected the game in every imaginable way. I'm really proud of them.

What message did it send when running back ran over Alabama's safety early?

"I think every single play sends a message. I think Nay'Quan has been running like that all year. That's what he is. That's why you have big running backs. That's why you play like you play. But certainly, he did the same thing last week.

Talk about continuing to get better.

"I said it on Tuesday at the press conference these are all measuring sticks for us. These are all tests on Saturdays of where we are as a program. I know you guys are sick of me saying it but these are all -- all these Saturdays are a result of what our process looks like. These are all just measuring sticks and they're really just measuring sticks individually for what our week was. I think we've got a ton to build on. I think we've got a confident football team. But like I tell them every week, you've got to earn the right to be confident through what you do throughout the week. Through what your process looks like throughout the week. You've got to earn the right to be confident. We've talked about it since the beginning that there's teams that hope that can win and those teams and those teams don't play like we played. There's teams that believe they can win and at times we are that, in terms of guys hoping somebody else will go make a play and ya I kind of believe it I kind of don't. And there's teams that expect to win and we're growing into that. But you've got to earn the right to do that on Saturday by what you do during the week by how you live your life and how you treat your teammates and how you sleep and how you eat and how you train and how much film you watch and how you carry yourself. I think we're learning that. I think we're continuing to learn that. I love the foundation that we're laying here. You guys see the foundation. It's visible on Saturday. We're going to play really hard, we're going to get after your ass, we're going to be really aggressive and we ain't backing down from nobody. And I told them again, same thing I tell them every week and I mean it, there's not 120 guys in the country that I'd rather go to war with because as imperfect as we are and as imperfect as we play sometimes and the stupid mistakes that we make at times, I'm not perfect either. I'm just as messed up as some of these guys, but I'm going to work extremely hard to make sure that we are heading in the right direction and that's all I ask from them. Get your process right. What you see on Saturdays is a direct reflection of how they work. We've got to continue to clean it up but I'm really proud of what we say we are and what we put out there is reflective of each other. Now we've got to go execute at a high clip to have a chance to win next week.

See Also :

Uncertainty Still Lingers at QB for Alabama Heading into SEC Play