Trent Bray Previews Saturday's Game At App State

Oregon State head coach Trent Bray previewed Saturday's matchup at App State.

Moderator: All right, coach, whenever you're ready, please go ahead.
Coach Trent Bray:
Yeah, another good challenge on the road. Atmosphere – there'll be a lot of emotion at this game, and a good team. So, we've got to get back to it and prepare and prepare to win.

Reporter: Coach, you're not happy with the record. Everybody knows that. However, the strength of schedule's been crazy. You guys have played well enough in some of those games to get that W, but as you said after the game finishing, talk about the desire to a) keep everybody together and b) getting that finish you're looking for against a good team.
Coach:
Yeah. Uh, you know, that was a big discussion yesterday with the players – about what it felt like in that moment. We have six minutes left in the game, and we're completely in control of the game, and I think there was a little bit of trying to survive instead of continuing to attack and keep your foot on them. So that's a mindset and a mentality of where we may have not been as aggressive. The way we played – you can just watch some of the plays where we're all of a sudden off now instead of up and putting our hands on them like we were all game. Things like that, where we've got to stay on the attack to finish out good teams, which Houston is a very good team.

Reporter:
Talk about Aiden Sullivan. I thought he had a tremendous game. What makes him a good player and his performance against Houston?
Coach:
Yeah, he just plays extremely hard, plays the way you want that position to play. He's a junior college guy that took some time – like junior college guys do – and he's kind of coming into being that player we saw on his junior college film.

Reporter:
Can you talk about Appalachian State and their reputation? What do you expect, and what are they like?
Coach:
Yeah, they're fast, they're physical, and that is their reputation. They've always been a tough team to play and tough team to beat, and that's what they are again this year, so it's going to be a great challenge.

Reporter:
Since we spoke to you last on Friday, coach, have you made any changes to the staff?
Coach:
No.

Reporter:
Why not?
Coach:
Everything I look at is benefit of the player, and to do something right now in the week of trying to prepare – if it would benefit the players to do that and make them better, then I would absolutely do it. At this moment, that wouldn't be the case.

Reporter:
There's obviously been a lot of backlash on social media, in recent days. A lot of these people buy tickets to fill the stadium. What's your message to those guys that maybe have lost faith?
Coach:
Yeah, I mean I understand from where we're at. We're 0-5, so I totally understand it. What people do and what their opinions are all valid and have those opinions, but it just does not move me either way.

Reporter:
Have you guys considered making any changes to your offensive play calling regime, whether it be Danny Langdorf or maybe Pat McCann in place of Gundy?
Coach:
No. I – you watch the offense play, and they moved the ball. We were able to get points on the board, and we were in control and we were running the ball. The run game improved greatly, and there were plays that weren't made that need to be made. When I watch it, it's not a scheme or the play not being called or issues like that. So that's kind of what you look at: when is it a systematic thing or is it just that we didn't make the play when we should have?

Reporter:
After review of the tape, do you think Cornell's earned the right to be the lead back moving forward? What did he do that gave you guys so much benefit against Houston?
Coach:
Yeah, he ran really hard and downhill. He got an opportunity and performed well. He's definitely a guy that's going to continue to get more carries and more reps and continue to push for more playing time. There's no doubt.

Reporter:
Defensively, one of the things that went well Friday night was your quarterback contained on Houston's quarterback. Scheme-wise, was that an improvement or just executing what the scheme has been all along?
Coach:
Well, execution for sure was a big factor. Understanding – and that's what we've been working on a lot this season and getting them to understand – is where are the escape lanes and who has to fill those escape lanes. I thought they did a great job of understanding that against Houston and then executing it. I think that was the biggest thing – their execution. We did some different stuff pressure-wise to make him get off time and throw the ball earlier than he wanted, which helped. But their execution was the crucial part.

Reporter:
Your thoughts on the challenge of the App State run game and how it fuels their offense.
Coach:
Yeah, I think it's a good challenge. A lot like the team we just played – they want to run the ball first and then go from there. So we've got to do a great job against their run game, which I think is much improved this year for us and needs to continue to be that way.

Reporter:
Returning to staffing: three out of your guys' five losses this season, special teams played a big role. Issues were about execution, discipline, those sorts of things. When discussing player benefit, what is your justification for having Coach Christian lead that group given the level of mistakes?
Coach:
Number one, there's a consistency that players need in coaching, especially in season. If you make that move, who's the next guy – is he on staff? All those things are factors to that. The ultimate thing is I believe that Coach Christian can do this job and finish the year. It's the best thing for those players at this time.

Reporter:
Your previous five opponents are 21-2 on the season, and your next – I believe – are 13-14, 12-15, something along those lines. What gives you confidence going into the backstretch for a late season push?
Coach:
Number one is we're getting better. As frustrating as it is, it's easy to see how we've improved and were competitive and right there with Oregon at halftime, and the way we played 54 minutes of the Houston game against big-time, Big 12, Big 10, Power Four opponents. We've played well and have gotten better. Last week, we had a ton of improvement and controlled that game for 54 minutes. So that's what gives me motivation and hope that we'll continue to get better, which will lead to the result we're all after.

Reporter:
Tyler Morano was wearing that number 86 jersey as a sixth offensive lineman. How much did that give you an extra edge, and do you plan to continue?
Coach:
It was something, due to lack of depth at tight end, that we needed to get a body in there. We wanted to get into those formations, so we put Tyler in there and it worked, and I thought he did a good job. So we're going to continue to look at doing it.

Reporter:
We saw Voltin on Friday night. Do you anticipate him continuing to play a bigger role with this offensive line? What difference can his experience make?
Coach:
Absolutely. He's just getting back. It was great to have him Friday night, and I think it helped us up front, especially. He's a big, strong, physical guy that has experience, and a year ago was our top O-lineman. To get him back should help bolster that offensive line.

Reporter:
How important is this next stretch from a recruiting and program culture standpoint heading into next season when you'll be playing a conference schedule?
Coach:
Again, that's just not something I think about. You've got to live in the moment of a week, good or bad, whatever happened the week before. That part isn't the thought process – just getting the win against App State and playing the best we can and continuing to improve.

Reporter:
Even though you are 0-5, the players still have belief. What makes you believe the players still have faith and believe they can get a win this season?
Coach:
The play, number one. The way we came out and played, controlled that game for so long. When you talk to them and look in their eye and watch them work every week in practice – that gives me hope and trust in them. They show up and work. Even yesterday, day after a disappointing loss, everyone's disappointed, but they reviewed the film, were eager to learn, and got better. That's the biggest thing – they've showed it over and over.

Reporter:
Do players get over it quicker than coaches?
Coach:
Probably. They're young. They get a little time, and then we've got to move right into the next deal. For me, I hope every coach considers their failures our failures. That's how we look at it. Why are we not being successful? We don't look at the players; we look at ourselves and how do we get better. That makes us wear it a little longer than a player.

Reporter:
The length of this trip – having to go early and go the distance – does that mess with any of your ritual or flow?
Coach:
It is. We're going to leave a day earlier, so we'll get all the work in from Monday to Thursday as we normally would, then travel Thursday, and have our Friday practice and meetings out there. The only big disruption is the long flight and all that.

Reporter:
Having one more day this week to travel early and stay on schedule – what is the benefit, and how are you planning on helping players' recovery through travel, knowing they've played five weeks in a row already?
Coach:
Kind of like last week, we'll take some load off them in practice – things that are short, quick, still get the work we need on Appalachian State but not be out there as long as maybe we were the first three or four weeks. That's one way. The other stuff – we've got to travel. We had a short week, we have a short week. Just got to get yourself ready getting in the training room, hydrating, eating right – making sure you're doing everything you can to get your body ready to be at its best.

Reporter:
One of the age-old issues – if the kicker has to make a tackle. Can you talk about Ojeda's tackle? Was it a good tackle? Looks like he got hurt.
Coach:
Well, the guy went to the ground, so yeah, that's a good tackle – that's kind of how you look at tackling. They go down. You don't want it to be that way, though, for sure. He had to make it and did. Unfortunately, we lost him for the rest of the game.

Reporter:
Do you anticipate having him back this week?
Coach:
I hope so. I don't know how severe it was. I'll find out this afternoon after he's done all his check-ins and all that, but I hope to have him back.

Reporter:
You mentioned Maalik's hand was injured. Is he good to go this week, and do you expect to have to make adjustments to the playbook?
Coach:
We'll see. He wasn't able to go yesterday, but we're hoping he'll be good to go tomorrow, if not by Wednesday.

Reporter:
Who serves as your backup quarterback, then?
Coach:
It'll either be Tristan or kallen. It'll kind of be competition this week.

Reporter:
Happy belated birthday! Did you do anything fun to celebrate yesterday?
Coach:
No, I didn't. Came to work. Appreciate it, though.

Reporter:
Have you hit 40 yet?
Coach:
43.

Reporter:
Congratulations.
Coach:
Thank you.

Moderator:
Thanks, coach. Thanks for your time.

Players Mentioned

Tyler Morano

Aiden Sullivan

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