Mark Stoops Transcript on JUCO signings, Drew Barker and more
By Jason Marcum
On the wide receiver position …
“Yeah, you’ve heard me talk about that since we arrived, that we need to improve at that position. I think the guys that we have returning will improve the newcomers will help us.”
On his former team (Florida State) facing an SEC school (Auburn in the title game) …
“Very proud of them. Very happy for Florida State. Very proud of those guys. I have an awful lot of good friends down there and just love the way they played. One more. I’m sorry I gotta go against the SEC on this one. I’ve got too many close relationships with the people there and some of the players there so I wish them the best of luck.”
On whether he feels he’s missing out not being at FSU …
“No. No, no, not at all. I think just happy and excited for them.”
On whether he knew FSU quarterback Jameis Winston …
“Yeah, what do you mean? He was my scout team quarterback.”
On Winston winning the Heisman Trophy …
“I coached him up pretty good last year. What the heck are you doing? (laughs) No, he’s a wonderful young man. He was fun to work with. He always—I think the biggest thing about him is just the way he carries himself. He just had a presence about him that was special. I couldn’t tell that from watching him on scout team that he’d be that good, but you knew he had that charisma about him. He had that great trait that you’re always looking for in a quarterback, so he was fun.”
On whether he has given Vince Marrow a new title …
“I’m working on some things that I haven’t been able to announce yet. I’m going to recommend some changes in certain spots and certain things. I’d like to handle that all at once and make sure I go through my bosses on that stuff and everything. But yeah, I’m planning on recommending Vince for a promotion in that area.”
On whether the staff will remain the same …
“I hope so. You never know. There’s always change, there’s always attrition and things like that, but I’d like to keep everybody intact and plan on keeping everybody intact.”
On whether recruiting is different having a season under his belt …
“Well, I don’t think it changes much in that area. We always go about it the way we have our plan set up in how we go about recruiting. Really we don’t stray from that much. So we try to stay within the parameters we have set with recruiting and I’m excited about the way that’s going.”
On Christmas …
“That’s good, I’m glad you reminded me right there. Happy holidays to all of you and I’ll see you after Christmas, alright? I won’t see you for a while. I just hope everybody enjoys the holiday season and I wish all of you the best and all your families. Thank you.”