Big 12 Conference Football Championship Game: Oklahoma vs Baylor Saturday, December 7, 2019 not to go for it. What was the reasoning behind deciding to punt there and be not go for it? Lincoln Riley LINCOLN RILEY: It was close. I went back and forth in my mind a few times. I felt like in the second half we Kenneth Murray started to open up and move the ball well, so I was confident if it got to an overtime period we would have CeeDee Lamb a chance to score and how could you not be confident with the way our defense was playing.

Neville Gallimore We did a great job, pinned them down in there, made it impossible for them to do anything but run clock off. Just confidence in our guys, both sides of the ball. Oklahoma Sooners Q. Lincoln, can you talk about how far your Oklahoma - 30, Baylor - 23 defense has come, the tenacious way they played, Tre Brown, , instead of giving up a THE MODERATOR: We're going to start with you give up a field goal and Redmond, Oklahoma Sooners. Coach, would you like to make an who didn't play last week, comes up with huge opening statement. sacks. Talk about those. LINCOLN RILEY: That's our speed D. That's what we LINCOLN RILEY: Thank you. It was a great battle. I are. Coach (Alex) Grinch said it from day one, and think a lot of teams in our league have certainly that's spot on. We are an effort-based defense, and improved, certainly the one we played today has. Kind you got to see us make one of the key plays of the of fitting in the way it dame down, a heavy-hitting game on a great effort by Tre running them down, and game, very physical, a lot like the first game was, as far then the defensive line was relentless all day. That's as physicality. Just proud of our guys. These are hard the way you've got to play. Our guys have bought in, to win. We just brought up in our team meeting there, and we've done it early, and it's kind of time here in key we've got several fifth year seniors that are going to moments and games, and we've gotten better and leave here with five rings on their finger and the recall better as it's went on. majority of players leave and never have one true championship ring. It's been an I couldn't be happier with our defense, the way those awesome run. Today is about this group and this team. guys have played with so much new -- we knew it could We found a lot of ways to win football games. We be done here, and our guys believed it, our coaches certainly did it today. The defense was fantastic, like believed it, and we got a pretty good defense here. they've been the majority of this season, key stops, dominant on front, got constant pressure on whoever Q. Lincoln, you mentioned the guys that have been was playing as the day unfolded. Proud of a part of this team for a long time, Nick Basquine this team. These games are hard. You gotta appreciate talk about what he means to this team, and him them. A lot of credit to Matt Rhule, his staff, that team getting a touchdown on this stage for the first time over there we have a ton of respect for them, the way this year? they play. LINCOLN RILEY: He's got a well-documented journey here. He's symbolic of this team in a lot of ways. We've They have done a tremendous job, and it was difficult got guys in there that continue to fight, regardless of beating them twice. Trust me, each one of them was what happens. He's done that in his career and done hard, so very, very good football team over there that that for this team and he's been a great leader, deserves a lot of credit. teammate. I know Jalen (Hurts) had a lot of confidence in him and the big third down throw was a tremendous Q. Lincoln, it's 4th and 3, about the 47 or so, play by both those guys and fitting that Nick would have minute and a half left, whatever it was, you decided one of the in this game.

Rev #2 by #619 at 2019-12-07 22:44:00 GMT page 1 of 5 differences in the roads to get there? You played Q. Could you describe how you maybe adapted to everybody in this league, Baylor twice, SEC is a or rolled with their pressures that they were different animal. Can you compare the two roads? creating, their quarterback pressures in the first JALEN HURTS: There is a narrative out there that the half, how you guys were able to solve that? And a SEC is a different animal, but the Big 12 is tough. follow-up for Jalen, how did that pressure and the Baylor, they're a really good team, very physical team, changes that you guys had to adapt to, how did and I got a lot of respect for them. We're going to enjoy that affect what you were trying to do? it and, you know, just enjoy it. LINCOLN RILEY: We had a few things at half, couple of things schematically that we needed to do better. Q. Lincoln, your work is done but the weekend is far from over with the selection still to come. When They've got a couple pretty good defensive linemen the Committee looks at your resume what do you and they beat us in the first half and there were a hope they are being looking at most as it relates to couple of things I did first half that didn't put our guys in your team and what you've done this year? very good position, so we came in, we said, look this is LINCOLN RILEY: It's amazing how many times you what we're going to o to fix it. I've got to be better can get asked the same question different ways. I hope putting you in the right position, and then you guys they see the Big 12 Champions. They've got a job to gotta be better at winning your individual battles, and do, I get that. We've had a job to do as a team, which we did a much better job the second half. was continue to prove through the year, trust the things we could and ultimately win a Big 12 Championship. Q. Not unlike the first game this was a game that We've done that. We will see whatever road it takes us looked like you totally had it in control and here on but whichever one it is, we will be ready. they come there at the end. Was there anything that you had to tell the group in keeping from freaking Q. Jalen, congratulations on the win. With all the out there toward the end because of the way it challenges that you've overcame what does this changed? Was it just something that something win mean to you personally? discipline creates throughout the time with them? JALEN HURTS: This is not about me. Talk about me LINCOLN RILEY: I think that's fair to say. We've got a another time. How about these guys up here, two mentally tough football team. Just because you've been defensive leaders stepping in, playing well and getting mentally tough, doesn't mean you're going to in this it done for us. CeeDee Lamb coming back after moment. You still have to do it. We brought the guys up everybody thinks he's gone or something and, I mean, as we went to overtime I told them. This is fitting, the he's a dog. We got great players on this team, great way we started fall camp was red zone work, and three coaching. I'm blessed to be on my feet. I say it all the straight days of it, and it's fitting that start fall camp and time: I'm blessed to be with these guys. Coach Riley finish the regular season championship game with kind said it on senior night, or going to practice one of those of that overtime period. days, he said three years ago would you ever have thought your senior night would be at Oklahoma? If I They stuck to it, they absolutely stuck to it. So, you said that, you would have thought I was kidding. I said, know, we had to be mentally tough again and this yeah, I never -- I told Coach Grinch after this game, just group proved venues that it is. how crazy it is, if I would have ever thought as a true freshman, starting for Coach (Nick) Saban, winning an THE MODERATOR: My apologies, Jalen, I didn't give SEC Championship, going to a national championship you a chance to answer that. that I would be a Big 12 Champion with the Oklahoma Sooners in three years, I would think he was crazy too. JALEN HURTS: I was just listening to Coach. Winning But God works in mysterious ways, and I'm blessed to championships is hard, and winning is not easy. Coach be here with these guys. Riley talked about it every day, emphasize it every time, so we talk about situations in the game where we may Q. Was there emphasis to get CeeDee the ball have momentum or we may not, regardless it's not today being that he didn't play in the first game, supposed to be easy. We expect it to be that way. The and the opponent you're playing against, as tough mental toughness of this team and how we go about as their defense is? our business every day, just putting emphasis on focus, LINCOLN RILEY: I wouldn't say it had anything to do energy, passion, kind of the monumental aspects of our with the first game. CeeDee has been a really, really team. We embrace it all and we attack. good player for us for a long time. He's a dynamic player and we have prided ourselves on getting the ball Q. Jalen, if you guys get there this is going to be to our best players as much as we can and he did a your fourth playoff. Can you describe the great job with the opportunities that he's had. Kind of

Rev #2 by #619 at 2019-12-07 22:44:00 GMT page 2 of 5 like Jalen said all that false narrative out there, we've may be. been through these deals, CeeDee, these guys up here, we've been through these deals, we know what KENNETH MURRAY: He said it all. we can do. It changes week-to-week. You can't always control that. He had a big game, he's had a lot of big Q. Kenneth, you guys -- you played as well games here and had one here today. defensively and it keeps getting better and better. That was a remarkable performance, though, gave Q. CeeDee, after your first two big plays what were up the two long pass plays but other than that it they doing to you that made life difficult? How did was unbelievable. What did you do differently? they adjust? KENNETH MURRAY: We came here, we locked in, and CEEDEE LAMB: I felt like at that point I was opening it we did what we were supposed to do. Hats off to those up for my teammates. I wasn't frustrated or anything, I guys. I mean, I feel like they came in and they played wasn't thinking nothing, I was just telling him what I hard. Came in and struck to their script and we were was seeing and we just kind of went from there. If able to capitalize on that and able to fall back on our those two first two opening plays, they bust for big preparation and execute. plays you would hope the defense would adjust to that, and they did that, and I kinda let them know so we Q. Neville and Kenneth, can you walk us through went in different kinda ways. the overtime. The offense does what they're supposed to do, they get a touchdown quick, you Q. Jalen, how strange did it feel at halftime given know if you can stop them -- I saw you stalking the fact that the defense played pretty good, yet around Kenneth and you looked fired up. And you look at the scoreboard and Baylor has the Kenneth, you start, because you're going to make lead? Did that feel strange? Neville start again, I know, but could you take us JALEN HURTS: It's football. I said that earlier; it's not through the overtime and how it went? supposed to be easy. Regardless of the situation how KENNETH MURRAY: Coach Riley just said it. That's a do you respond, so what, now what? I think this team situation we practice in fall camp, and it's something showed the right type of resilience, the approach we that we been prepared for, even though we haven't had had with it all year. Put us in any type of situation, and a situation like that this year. It's something that, you we find a way to fight and get it done. know, because they've done a phenomenal job of preparing us for it, going into the game we knew no LINCOLN RILEY: Me and Jalen and CeeDee aren't matter how long it took, whether it went to overtime or answering another question until you ask these two not we were going to go out there and battle it, get a guys a question, please. stop.

Q. For Kenneth and Neville you guys have played Obviously seeing our offense do what they do best, it well these last few weeks, at times winning this was time for us to do what we do best. team games. How satisfying is it to do that in a championship game today and what is it about : Pretty much to reiterate what Alex Grinch that has changed the mentality of this he said. We played this part so many times at practice. defense in the last year? Everything that we really say from moving on forward NEVILLE GALLIMORE: Satisfied isn't the word, but I goes back to what we practice. That wasn't a moment mean, it's just good to see what happens where we got that was too big for us. We knew plays had to be made all guys on all sides of the ball buying into what and we had to step up. That was an opportunity that coaches are telling us. The great thing about this is we had and we made the most of it. we've played these situations. We've played these games so many times, starting at practice, starting Q. For Kenneth and Neville -- back from, you know, the wintertime, fall camp, you LINCOLN RILEY: We scared 'em! name it. Q. -- Matt Rhule came in here and was wrapping up It was just great to see what happens when we decide his season and was commenting on his team and to just do our job to the best of our abilities and trust then he took clear time to pause and say that he the coaching. Having Coach Grinch instill that in us, I'm had a ton of respect for you, Kenneth and for you not going to say it makes that easy, but we're fighting Neville and Bookie Radley-Hiles, because you guys and we know the expectations that we have for our went up to him after both losses to Baylor, at defensive group is so high that it's nothing for us to not Baylor. I want to know what it's like to set the listen to all sides. Our focus is trying to play our best example for your squad even in significant ball in crunch time situations or whatever the situation moments like that.

Rev #2 by #619 at 2019-12-07 22:44:00 GMT page 3 of 5 KENNETH MURRAY: Like I said before, I got how the young guys, to get everybody bought in, it's tremendous respect for those guys. They came out tough. To see guys, to have young guys that look up to here and played a great game and going up to the you that can truly trust the process and just understand head coach that's something I do pretty much every this is what happens when you believe, this is what week, after the game going up and just saying thank happens when you sell out, this is what happens when you. I truly believe in taking advantage of the you don't think or have the "what if's" just do. Just go, opportunity and having an opportunity and going out trust your coaches, that they are going to put you in the there and, you know, taking advantage of it is big and right position and trust your ability. being grateful for that is something I think is big. That's really what it was, going in there and I think it's That took a lot for us to grow as a team, and I can't say collective effort on defense. I think it's not one guy, I even defensively because competing with these guys think everybody has bought into doing their job and we for so long, our offense, it slows the game down, you understand it's not about anybody individually, it's know. Again, what we do at practice, I can't speak for something that we want as a university, and I think any other team without there are so many situations, we've done a great job of buying in to that and done a there are so many different types of adversities that our great job of executing our jobs. coaches casually put us through to prepare us for tough situations that for some would see it as an NEVILLE GALLIMORE: Basically it is what it is, man. obstacle we see as an opportunity. Respect. Got a lot of respect for the head coach, got a lot of respect for that team. You've got to have a lot of That's what we look forward to. There is never a hill respect for your opponent and that goes back to how that's too high to climb as long as I got my brothers, I we prepared and, you know, we understand Baylor has got my guys with me. a great football team. They got great guys and they had a plan. I know when we truly believe and trust the process, good things will happen. That's pretty much it. Just to even had the opportunity to compete against them for the second time, you know, it was tough. Q. Kenneth, you've been forced to be the Hard-fought win but definitely got a lot of respect for the spokesman for this dense for years now. You go coaches, respect for the team. Appreciate the through Georgia, you go through Alabama. What opportunity that we got a chance to go to battle against would it mean to you to see this defense the way them. that it's playing go back into the College Football Playoffs with all the narrative that is out there Q. For Kenneth and Neville, you guys have won surrounding you guys? championships before but the defense is seen as a KENNETH MURRAY: I mean, it would be huge for this much bigger strength this year. Talk about how that team period to be able to get that opportunity. I think feels, you guys are No. 1 in Big 12 defense. A lot of that's what I'm focused on is us as a team getting this people probably don't know that. Talk about the opportunity. Whether, you know, we play in the College transition from last season to this season. Football Playoff or playing outside in the backyard, NEVILLE GALLIMORE: We knew what we wanted to we're going to play the way we play. We're going to go accomplish from the get-go. I've been here for a long out there and do our jobs and execute. time, been here since 2015, and I've been blessed to be a part of a great team. I'm blessed to see great Q. Lincoln, you said when you first got here you players offensively do amazing things. Just talking to wanted to see a defense like the one in 2008 you Kenneth and even talking to Jalen Hurts and the older faced. Is this a defense that's approaching that guys in the group, we knew there had to be a change. level? Obviously it starts with the coaches leading the way but LINCOLN RILEY: We're getting better. That's all that's really it starts with us and just to see kinda how we -- all that is for the papers and the media, and the fans. worked, how we put our foot down and regardless of We're getting better. We're excited about the way we're the adversity that we're facing we have a job to do and playing. I had everybody in the room after we finished, we have a statement to make. after we broke the team down I said raise your hand if you're a new player here, raise your hand if you're a Obviously a lot of things didn't work out in our favor player that hasn't played, playing your first time, raise what we wanted, but we knew that this was a stepping your hand if you're on defense because it's new for stone and we wanted to be the starting point for every single player there and just about every player in something special. Coach Grinch gave us that the room had their hand up and almost all the staff did. opportunity. I seen, even though it's my last season Saying all that, this team has a long ways to go to get here, just to see the start of something special, to see the to the level we can be at, collectively as a team. All

Rev #2 by #619 at 2019-12-07 22:44:00 GMT page 4 of 5 three sides of the ball. And that's what's exciting, whoever we play, wherever it is, we're going to continue to get better and then, you know, whatever happens, whatever comparisons are made, we will let the outside handle that.

Q. Neville and Kenneth, Lincoln talked about -- I asked him why he decided not to go for it on 4th and 3 near the end of the game. It's one thing for a coach to say I trust you, it's another one to show it. What does it mean to you to know that he's willing to put the game in your hands at the end and in overtime? KENNETH MURRAY: Three and out, take-away. That's our saying, that's what Coach says all the time, when we play the game we don't make no evaluation. Doesn't matter if we up by 50 or down by 50 there is no evaluations being made, it's truly just a mind-set of three and out, take away, going out there to take away. So really don't not matter which Coach Riley does. 4th and 3, they on the 10 yard line and in their territory.

He wants to go for it, we're going to go for it, and we are going to go out there and go three and out, take away.

LINCOLN RILEY: And that's a great mind-set. We had a few times this year that was similar, and we went for it, and there is confidence on both sides and for damn sure a lot of confidence in those guys.

NEVILLE GALLIMORE: If Coach Riley, Coach Grinch telling us we have an opportunity to make something happen, we gotta do it. Obviously that trust is earned. We appreciate those moments but, again, you play the sport, you play the game because you want the opportunity to step up. We love that. We love the fact that, again, as a team, the fact that offensively ever, whoever, special teams can count on the next guy. Okay, we need something to happen. It is what it is. We appreciate it but that's a part of it. Coach came out and said three and out takeaways, nothing else changes, doesn't matter what the situation is, we gotta do our job and at a high level.

THE MODERATOR: Guys, congratulations.

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