John Mateer Postgame — UTEP
Mateer met with the media after defeating the UTEP Miners 51-0 on Sept. 4.
Video Transcript
I mean.
There's a couple of plays you went back.
Obviously, I threw a little stopper as a trail into the ground.
I forced RPO there, but I mean, overall, it was clean and I thought the guys played really well.
you guys utilized a lot of 12 personnel and you went under center.
How much more comfortable do you think you were in this, you know, new look offense, I guess?
Uh, I mean, I feel good.
I think being a year older, I would have been comfortable, you know, no matter what we did.
Um, but I felt good.
It's a good, it's a good plan, you know, 12P, you got a lot of good players, uh, can get on the ball.
They can block really well.
So just having weapons on the field is good.
Do you feel like you can open up things for guys like Isaiah and Trell and, and those type of big plays that you guys made tonight?
You said, do you think like doing more 12 personnel?
Oh yeah, now they also, their blitz percentage in the plus field is, is outrageous , and that's just what they did.
That was on film.
And so those two things combined, yeah, the safeties were playing really low and you just beat them over the top.
Um, so those two things, yeah, makes it happen.
cooperation.
I know you told us about how you guys really that you working up towards this game this season over here.
How are you guys feeling working together first game?
How did it all sort of what's it work out, you know, during the It's a lot of fun.
Like they're really good.
Obviously, it makes my life a lot easier.
It makes the running backs.
Life, um, uh, the, the O-lines life a lot easier, you know, having those guys that are so versatile.
And then Rocky, you know, hurtling somebody, that's, that's a real weapon.
You know, he can do both .
He had a great game and, uh, but they're all really smart.
Being on the field with them, they helped me out.
You know, there's a lot of experience on the field.
Bean, both Brendan and Ben talked about your calm and your confidence today.
Kind of take us inside your mentality.
Just how did you feel, uh, game one this year?
I feel good.
I mean, I remember game one last year, you know, the Walk of Champions and the, you know, boomer sooner before the game.
It's kind of, there's a lot of stimulation on the brain, you know, and, but I was, I was a lot calmer, you know, I've, I've been here before, and it's, um, so, you know, I'm just used to it.
Not, not that it's not special, it's very special, and.
Um, but I was really excited before the game, and I, and I knew I would be excited because I, you know, I get to play football again, and it's been a long time, and, um, but I felt good.
I'm glad they said I was calm, you know, probably wasn't as calm in my head.
There's a lot of things I'm thinking about out there, but, uh, but I'm glad I looked calm.
Do you feel like, did, did you, did you notice a difference even from, say, like late in last season?
I know it's first game, so you're kind of getting back into it, but do you feel like you've maybe taken some mental steps to just feel more at ease out there?
Yeah, for sure, I think.
You know, watching the film is, is huge and knowing what you're going to see out there is, is, um, super important, and they did exactly what we thought they were going to do.
And so it was good.
It was a good week of work, week of preparation, and, uh, and that made it happen.
But yeah, I feel good.
I mean, my body feels good and, um, but we're in a good spot.
Do you see yourself as more of a distributor this year.
I mean, uh, you're gonna play better teams.
We all know that, but the running game, more receivers, are you more a distributor this year, you think?
Yeah, I mean, it very well could be, you know, I mean, you do what it takes to win.
Um, so whatever it takes, I'll, I'll do, but it's definitely could be because I got so many weapons around me and we can run the ball, just give it to the, give it to the playmakers.
You feel like it went with Noah and what does it say about somebody that young being able to play.
Yeah, he's super impressive, and, and we all told him this morning, we were like, yeah, we have your back, but I don't even think we needed to tell him that, you know, he's super confident and convicted in what he does, and, uh, he does a great job.
Like, I'm, he's a great kid and Um, he's, I guess, I don't know, I grew up today.
Maybe I shouldn't call him a kid, you know, um, he, he did a great job.
I'm proud of him.
You talk about weapons, Isaiah, just being able to set the tone for the passing game early and then the punt return touchdown.
Just what does he bring on a night like tonight to give the offense some juice?
Yeah, super explosive.
I mean, you just put the ball in his hands and he's gonna go.
He's a, he's a year better, and he was plenty good enough last year, you know.
So, um, and then being with him like it's a real, Uh, brotherhood, you know, we go on and I, and I love seeing him succeed.
He loves seeing me succeed.
And so it's true joy when, when they get in the end zone.
Let me just, I'd say you're spread around a lot.
How important is it to in a game one, be able to get everyone involved and build that confidence knowing what you've got ahead?
Yeah, it's pretty important.
I say for any game, you know, you don't want to be too selective.
Spread the ball out.
They got to defend anything, um, but we got a lot of guys that can go make plays, so it's my job to find an open one.
Sean, how was it to see Terry Bradshaw there today after you studied him in the offseason, and what did you specifically translate into a game today that you studied from him?
I actually didn't get to see him today, um.
It was, it, it, it just didn't work out.
Like, apparently he was on the sideline pregame.
I didn't even see him.
I, I don't, uh, whatever.
It sucks.
I mean, I wish I did, you know, I'll, I'll probably text him.
No, I don't want to sound big time, but I'll probably text him after that.
Um, but no, he's great.
I think, uh, we got to spend some time together at that card show and, um, he just, he, he, He texted me earlier and he put a lot of belief in me.
He believes in me and not even because, you know, he knows everything, but just, I guess, I don't know.
Um, I don't know why he believes in me the way he does, but him, you know, having my back means a lot to me.
Is that the most you've gone under center since you were younger?
Yes, that's my whole life, whole life, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's awesome though.
Yeah.
What, what, what is it?
What do you like it so much?
Oh, I mean, it's just, it's harder on a defense, and, um, you can do a lot out of it, and you can do a lot with your feet, um, and your eyes, you know, to get clues and stuff, and they got, they have to play honest, you know, so you can get the linebackers coming down, and I, I don't know, I don't think my play effects were that good today.
I really don't.
I.
But also again back to the cover zero, like they were just cover 0, so they're, you know, aborting a fake, but you know, we'll see.
John, you're now in Michigan week obviously you go to the big house.
Have you thought about just what this is gonna be like?
I mean, obviously step up powerful opponent, but going to play them after such a great game a year ago for the team, but obviously that was kind of a.
A pivot moment for you with your health.
I mean, just what, what this game week means for you.
I mean, I'm excited.
We're all excited to have an opportunity to go play at a, at a great historic stadium, you know, it's, um, we're excited for the opportunity.
We, we didn't, you know, think too much ahead or, you know, um, but tomorrow and, uh, we'll watch them tomorrow night and then, uh, get ready to go Sunday.
You mentioned Rocky's hurdle.
How would, how would you score that?
Uh, he didn't really get that high.
He kind of just, did he?
Did he really?
Oh, never mind.
Oh, never mind.
Maybe I'm just hating.
Uh, I couldn't do it, so maybe I shouldn't say anything.
It was super cool because I couldn't see him, so I look on a Jumbotron and I'm like , 00 my, you know, seeing that live, I think.
Brandon Crosley shout out my true freshman year of high school is the only other one I've seen live and yeah, it's really cool when you factor in his age to that.
So that's strength.
How, how tiring do you think Mr. Brightside's gonna get by the end of the week?
Uh, yeah, um, it's a good song, um, for now, um, no, it's good, it'll, it'll be OK.
It'll be OK .
Turn a good song into a bad song, yeah, well, like South Carolina, like Tennessee last week, you just play it over and over and so it become, but then.
We beat those teams, so it becomes a really good song, you know, so we'll see.
