Today at UTSA practice the media got to speak with Coach Wilson and Dalton Sturm. Here is what they had to say about football and the effects of Harvey.
Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson
- It was a very productive day today. A lot of fierce competition. First and foremost from within. As the guys went out there we challenged them to channel their energy to compete with the man within. It was a cool day, a windy day. The environment was productive. We got better as a team today.
- Overall energy throughout the preseason has been good. You can smell it in the water. You can sense it. You are days away now. You can grab on to it and that goal or that focus of the next opponent is before you. It becomes more tangible at this time. It's game week. Throughout fall camp it's about us, getting ourselves better, focusing on our schemes, what we need to do to be successful. Now the reality of game planning and scheming against someone rears up. There's a reason and a method and a purpose about this technique against that opponent.
- Have feelings of empathy toward the Cougars but also toward our players as well. We have several players from the Houston area and neighboring area. About 15 to 20 of our players had home damage as well. We share in that pain and the unfortunate situation of this natural disaster. We continue to hold them in our prayers. I've had conversations with Major (Applewhite) and sent my condolences to him. He did the same to us as well and we wished each other the very best. From a coaching standpoint we're still preparing for the game because we haven't been told anything differently.
- My prayers go out to everybody in Houston and everywhere else that were effected by this storm. There are a lot of coastal cites that were effected. Our prayers go out but we just have to stay focused and preparing to play the game. Nothing else is changing. We got to go out there and play.
- Goliad got it pretty bad. Luckily mine wasn't damaged but we lost electricity. Victoria got it pretty bad where my dad lives. Luckily nothing bad happened to them. We were pretty blessed on that part.
- I don't know how to put it into words. You just have to keep working. They're in our hearts and in our prayers.
- You think about (the storm) but God's going to handle it however he wants to handle it, you just believe in his plan and know everything is going to workout. Then you have to focus on what he wants you to focus on and thats the game on Saturday to glorify him through football.
- Houston has a strong defense. They have a good guy up front in Ed Oliver. They have some experience in the back end. We have to be mentally prepared and go in and watch film, study them and be as prepared as we can be. That was one thing I learned at the Peyton Manning Academy. He talked about being mentally prepared. That is one of the biggest things we have to do, not just as quarterbacks but as a football team.
- I'm playing this game for Goliad. A bunch of my buddies and their family members are up here right now. A lot of Goliad still doesn't have power. We're going to play for us and they'll be in our thoughts but I know a bunch of people from back home that are looking forward to get away from everything and come up to enjoy the football game. It will be a good thing for them to get their mind off.
