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The University of Utah Athletics
Kyle Whittingham Weekly Press Conference: Houston
10/21/2024 12:41 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham held his weekly press conference on Monday, meeting with members of the media inside the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center.
Selected quotes from Coach Whittingham can be seen below. The press conference video is available here.
Opening Statement
"As I'm sure you've probably heard, we have had a change on the coaching staff. Andy Ludwig, on his own volition, has decided to step down as the offensive coordinator. I can't say enough good things about Andy as far as our relationship, what he's meant to this program. We go way back, 30-plus years. I consider him a close friend and tremendous offensive coordinator. We won a bunch of games together, and championships together. He will be missed. He is the consummate professional, and again—a great person and outstanding football coach. He has had a very storied career. We wish him the best in whatever future endeavors he undertakes. That being said, Mike Bajakian will be the interim offensive coordinator through the rest of the season. After the season, we'll evaluate where we are and press forward beyond that depending on what the circumstances are.
"We did not play well Saturday night, obviously, as a team. Defensively, we did some really good things. I thought holding (TCU's) offense to 13 points was outstanding. We played well on third down. The red-zone defense was particularly tough. (The defense) were outstanding in the red-zone…we allowed one touchdown, blocked a field goal, couple field goals (made) and a turnover. That was what really kept us in the game, was the red-zone defense and their performance there. Couldn't get much going on offense. As bad as it was, at the end of the game we had a chance to win. We were right there at the end with a couple opportunities…to take the lead late in the fourth. Couldn't get it done so we came up short. Give TCU credit, they played well defensively, maybe their best game on defense of the year. That's where we're at, we got Houston coming up. Got to go on the road. It'll be a 6 o'clock (Central Time) kickoff on Saturday. Win or lose, you come in on Monday and you've got to go back to work and get back after it and get ready for the next opponent. That's where we're at."
Have you faced a midseason coordinator change before?
"I don't think we've, to my recollection, replaced a coordinator during the season. I think one year, we changed play-callers. Mike is very well-versed in our offensive scheme. Obviously, he's been with us for several months. He's got an excellent pedigree, great resume as far as coordinator experience—Tennessee, Cincinnati, Boston College…a stint in the NFL…So he comes with a strong resume and has been a play-caller for a lot of years. In the circumstances and the situation we're in, he was the obvious choice to finish the season. And again, we'll re-evaluate at the end (of the season) and decide what direction we're going to go."
On Mike Bajakian taking over as interim OC…
"He's a very dynamic personality. He's got a lot of energy and he's upbeat. I think the players will respond; that's the hope."
Will there be a co-offensive coordinator arrangement?
"Mike has complete autonomy as the play-caller as well as the offensive coordinator title. It will be his show."
On the relationship between Mike Bajakian and Isaac Wilson…
"Mike has been the quarterbacks coach all season long. When they changed the rule, it allowed for analysts and whoever else within a certain extent to be coaching and on the field, as well as in the meeting room. Andy had more of a NFL model, which a lot of teams are going to that, where the coordinators don't have a position of their own. They just oversee everything. That was the way we were structured this year. No change at all for the quarterbacks in who they've been hearing and the meeting structure, that type of thing."
On Isaac Wilson's ownership and leadership as a true freshman…
"Isaac is a tough kid. He's confident and a guy that has leadership qualities that you look for in a quarterback. It doesn't surprise me that he (apologized to the defense post-TCU) but I see that as a positive."
On Karene Reid returning from injury vs. TCU…
"That was big. Unfortunately, we didn't have Junior Tafuna, our other (defensive) captain. I don't know if we've had all our captains on the field at any time this season. But having Karene back, he's a team leader, he is right in the middle of that defense as the middle linebacker. Tremendous player. Even though he's not quite 100%, he was good enough that he wanted to go. He performed very well and graded out very well. It was a big plus having him out there."
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
Selected quotes from Coach Whittingham can be seen below. The press conference video is available here.
Opening Statement
"As I'm sure you've probably heard, we have had a change on the coaching staff. Andy Ludwig, on his own volition, has decided to step down as the offensive coordinator. I can't say enough good things about Andy as far as our relationship, what he's meant to this program. We go way back, 30-plus years. I consider him a close friend and tremendous offensive coordinator. We won a bunch of games together, and championships together. He will be missed. He is the consummate professional, and again—a great person and outstanding football coach. He has had a very storied career. We wish him the best in whatever future endeavors he undertakes. That being said, Mike Bajakian will be the interim offensive coordinator through the rest of the season. After the season, we'll evaluate where we are and press forward beyond that depending on what the circumstances are.
"We did not play well Saturday night, obviously, as a team. Defensively, we did some really good things. I thought holding (TCU's) offense to 13 points was outstanding. We played well on third down. The red-zone defense was particularly tough. (The defense) were outstanding in the red-zone…we allowed one touchdown, blocked a field goal, couple field goals (made) and a turnover. That was what really kept us in the game, was the red-zone defense and their performance there. Couldn't get much going on offense. As bad as it was, at the end of the game we had a chance to win. We were right there at the end with a couple opportunities…to take the lead late in the fourth. Couldn't get it done so we came up short. Give TCU credit, they played well defensively, maybe their best game on defense of the year. That's where we're at, we got Houston coming up. Got to go on the road. It'll be a 6 o'clock (Central Time) kickoff on Saturday. Win or lose, you come in on Monday and you've got to go back to work and get back after it and get ready for the next opponent. That's where we're at."
Have you faced a midseason coordinator change before?
"I don't think we've, to my recollection, replaced a coordinator during the season. I think one year, we changed play-callers. Mike is very well-versed in our offensive scheme. Obviously, he's been with us for several months. He's got an excellent pedigree, great resume as far as coordinator experience—Tennessee, Cincinnati, Boston College…a stint in the NFL…So he comes with a strong resume and has been a play-caller for a lot of years. In the circumstances and the situation we're in, he was the obvious choice to finish the season. And again, we'll re-evaluate at the end (of the season) and decide what direction we're going to go."
On Mike Bajakian taking over as interim OC…
"He's a very dynamic personality. He's got a lot of energy and he's upbeat. I think the players will respond; that's the hope."
Will there be a co-offensive coordinator arrangement?
"Mike has complete autonomy as the play-caller as well as the offensive coordinator title. It will be his show."
On the relationship between Mike Bajakian and Isaac Wilson…
"Mike has been the quarterbacks coach all season long. When they changed the rule, it allowed for analysts and whoever else within a certain extent to be coaching and on the field, as well as in the meeting room. Andy had more of a NFL model, which a lot of teams are going to that, where the coordinators don't have a position of their own. They just oversee everything. That was the way we were structured this year. No change at all for the quarterbacks in who they've been hearing and the meeting structure, that type of thing."
On Isaac Wilson's ownership and leadership as a true freshman…
"Isaac is a tough kid. He's confident and a guy that has leadership qualities that you look for in a quarterback. It doesn't surprise me that he (apologized to the defense post-TCU) but I see that as a positive."
On Karene Reid returning from injury vs. TCU…
"That was big. Unfortunately, we didn't have Junior Tafuna, our other (defensive) captain. I don't know if we've had all our captains on the field at any time this season. But having Karene back, he's a team leader, he is right in the middle of that defense as the middle linebacker. Tremendous player. Even though he's not quite 100%, he was good enough that he wanted to go. He performed very well and graded out very well. It was a big plus having him out there."
OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF UTAH ATHLETICS – UTAH 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today to unlock a refreshed game-day experience that offers access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos, and allows fans to buy and manage game tickets and order concessions straight from their mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
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