I was able to catch up with Pete Robertson and Lee Hays after practice today.
Pete Robertson
-Robertson had a quiet 7 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack on Saturday. He was obviously not pleased with the result on Saturday and the costly penalties is what really sunk the ship versus West Virginia.
“We just made too many mistakes. We made costly penalties that drove us back and we can’t do that. That is what really kind of knocked us off. With a team like that, you have to play 100% for all four quarters until there is zero zero on the clock.”
-The Kansas State ground game isn’t flashy (currently only averaging 166 yards per game which ranks 64 in the country) but they run the ball and run it effectively. Kansas State’s leading rusher is their quarterback John Hubener who has 411 yards and 8 touchdowns on 117 carries. Robertson said the defense’s strategy is simple: Force the pass which has been easier said than done up to this point.
“Our main focus is to try and get those guys to throw the ball. Kansas State has been very good at running the ball. They can make big plays off of you. If one guy makes a mistake they can take it 20-30 yards. We just have to do the most we can to stay in our gaps and play assignment football.”
-I asked Robertson what the team’s attitude is like coming off of their third straight loss.
“The sky is the limit. We have to push for the sky every single time you get after it in workouts, practice or a game. You just have to reach for the sky and you will get out what you want at the end of the day. You got to keep trying and you can’t give up. This is Big 12 football. You never know what could happen in Big 12 football. Amazing plays happen every weekend and we can be that team to do it. We just have to keep pushing forward and we are working better.”
-Following his practice comments, I asked Pete if he saw a little bit of that attitude in how they team went out and practiced today.
“Most definitely. Guys are really into it and are ready to play. We are ready to get this season going and get this win on Saturday. We are going to be in the Jones for the last time and even the young guys on board are taking it on with us. We are excited for this game.”
-Robertson is one of the 23 seniors who will be honored in the game versus Kansas State on Saturday for Senior Day. I asked him what his thoughts were on his career as a Red Raider.
“It’s been amazing. A lot of ups and downs, a lot of coaching changes but through it all I just say that it has been fun and I’ve enjoyed a lot of it. Hanging out with the guys, meeting new guys and guys that have became almost like brothers to me. It has felt great. It has been a great ride and a lot of guys would die to be in this position we are in today.”
-His favorite moment in a Red Raider uniform?
“My favorite moment was probably two years ago when we played Oklahoma State, and I caught a pick-six and took it to the crib. It was here at the Jones and it helped us get back in the game but it had been awhile with the ball in my hands. I’ll never forget that.”
-Robertson has gone through a lot of changes since joining the Red Raiders in the 2011 signing class. He showed up with the name ‘LaDarrin’ and eventually changed it to his nickname Pete somewhere during his redshirt season. Robertson was a three-star athlete coming into Texas Tech and was projected as a wide receiver. He then made the switch from receiver to safety, from safety to defensive end and then from defensive end to an outside linebacker type of role. I asked him his thoughts on going through the multiple position changes.
“When I first got here and they moved me to defense it was kind of mind-blowing because I have never played a lick of defense in my life. I eventually just told myself forget it, because I could play anywhere they put me at anyways. I had times where I wanted to move positions or I didn’t want to move positions but at the end of the day I got words from my momma and my cousin that really helped me. Whatever position they put me at just give it 110% and now I’m at the rush end and I am loving it right now.”
-With many seniors playing their last game in the Jones, has Robertson made it known to the younger players the importance of this game?
“I’m not putting the pressure on a lot of guys, the young guys. We are treating this game the same as every single one. We want to every single one. I’m not telling guys that we need to get this one because we should’ve got the ones before. We are taking it as another game and are just preparing even better than last week. Compete with ourselves to get better and try to win.”
Lee Hays
-Coach Hays’ unit was able to pave the way for 179 yards rushing on Saturday in the loss. Senior RB DeAndre Washington was able to cross the 100-yard barrier against the WVU defense on Saturday and in doing so posted back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons since 1995-1996. Hays was still not satisfied with his unit’s performance and still wants to see a lot more things before he is satisfied.
“For me, there is always something. Every game I have ever coached in we have got a lot more to work on. I think the seniors could play harder, the guys in the game could play harder. There is a lot of technical stuff to clean up. I don’t think it will ever be good enough and that is my job and I have to do a better job of staying on them and making sure they keep playing hard.”
-What does Coach Hays expect to see from the Kansas State defense?
“Just solid, well coached, fundamental football team. They have some guys who have played together and fought for awhile. Strong kids. They are not going to try and disguise a whole bunch. They are going to line up in their gap and play football and try to outphysical them.”
-With Senior Day on Saturday, I asked Coach Hays his thoughts on the group of Seniors who will be playing their last game in the Jones –especially the starters Alfredo Morales, Jared Kaster, and Le’Raven Clark.
“It is a special group for me. I love all those kids. I think senior day will be hardest on me just to see them go. I love being around them. They have been high character kids who have worked hard. I want to see them finish on a high note with 7 wins. Just from a personal standpoint, babies have to leave the nest and I hate it.”
-I also asked Coach Hays what he has seen from an attitude standpoint from his unit now that Tech sits with a 5-5 record.
“My guys are not satisfied with what happened on Saturday. They understand the magnitude of the game on Saturday and the next few games. Our last talk was that we have two Tuesdays and two Wednesdays left to be together and don’t leave anything on this field. Do not look back. You are not guaranteed a bowl and that is just the way it is in college football. They have had a good attitude. I have a veteran group, they understand the highs and lows and they have to push through it.”
Pete Robertson
-Robertson had a quiet 7 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack on Saturday. He was obviously not pleased with the result on Saturday and the costly penalties is what really sunk the ship versus West Virginia.
“We just made too many mistakes. We made costly penalties that drove us back and we can’t do that. That is what really kind of knocked us off. With a team like that, you have to play 100% for all four quarters until there is zero zero on the clock.”
-The Kansas State ground game isn’t flashy (currently only averaging 166 yards per game which ranks 64 in the country) but they run the ball and run it effectively. Kansas State’s leading rusher is their quarterback John Hubener who has 411 yards and 8 touchdowns on 117 carries. Robertson said the defense’s strategy is simple: Force the pass which has been easier said than done up to this point.
“Our main focus is to try and get those guys to throw the ball. Kansas State has been very good at running the ball. They can make big plays off of you. If one guy makes a mistake they can take it 20-30 yards. We just have to do the most we can to stay in our gaps and play assignment football.”
-I asked Robertson what the team’s attitude is like coming off of their third straight loss.
“The sky is the limit. We have to push for the sky every single time you get after it in workouts, practice or a game. You just have to reach for the sky and you will get out what you want at the end of the day. You got to keep trying and you can’t give up. This is Big 12 football. You never know what could happen in Big 12 football. Amazing plays happen every weekend and we can be that team to do it. We just have to keep pushing forward and we are working better.”
-Following his practice comments, I asked Pete if he saw a little bit of that attitude in how they team went out and practiced today.
“Most definitely. Guys are really into it and are ready to play. We are ready to get this season going and get this win on Saturday. We are going to be in the Jones for the last time and even the young guys on board are taking it on with us. We are excited for this game.”
-Robertson is one of the 23 seniors who will be honored in the game versus Kansas State on Saturday for Senior Day. I asked him what his thoughts were on his career as a Red Raider.
“It’s been amazing. A lot of ups and downs, a lot of coaching changes but through it all I just say that it has been fun and I’ve enjoyed a lot of it. Hanging out with the guys, meeting new guys and guys that have became almost like brothers to me. It has felt great. It has been a great ride and a lot of guys would die to be in this position we are in today.”
-His favorite moment in a Red Raider uniform?
“My favorite moment was probably two years ago when we played Oklahoma State, and I caught a pick-six and took it to the crib. It was here at the Jones and it helped us get back in the game but it had been awhile with the ball in my hands. I’ll never forget that.”
-Robertson has gone through a lot of changes since joining the Red Raiders in the 2011 signing class. He showed up with the name ‘LaDarrin’ and eventually changed it to his nickname Pete somewhere during his redshirt season. Robertson was a three-star athlete coming into Texas Tech and was projected as a wide receiver. He then made the switch from receiver to safety, from safety to defensive end and then from defensive end to an outside linebacker type of role. I asked him his thoughts on going through the multiple position changes.
“When I first got here and they moved me to defense it was kind of mind-blowing because I have never played a lick of defense in my life. I eventually just told myself forget it, because I could play anywhere they put me at anyways. I had times where I wanted to move positions or I didn’t want to move positions but at the end of the day I got words from my momma and my cousin that really helped me. Whatever position they put me at just give it 110% and now I’m at the rush end and I am loving it right now.”
-With many seniors playing their last game in the Jones, has Robertson made it known to the younger players the importance of this game?
“I’m not putting the pressure on a lot of guys, the young guys. We are treating this game the same as every single one. We want to every single one. I’m not telling guys that we need to get this one because we should’ve got the ones before. We are taking it as another game and are just preparing even better than last week. Compete with ourselves to get better and try to win.”
Lee Hays
-Coach Hays’ unit was able to pave the way for 179 yards rushing on Saturday in the loss. Senior RB DeAndre Washington was able to cross the 100-yard barrier against the WVU defense on Saturday and in doing so posted back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons since 1995-1996. Hays was still not satisfied with his unit’s performance and still wants to see a lot more things before he is satisfied.
“For me, there is always something. Every game I have ever coached in we have got a lot more to work on. I think the seniors could play harder, the guys in the game could play harder. There is a lot of technical stuff to clean up. I don’t think it will ever be good enough and that is my job and I have to do a better job of staying on them and making sure they keep playing hard.”
-What does Coach Hays expect to see from the Kansas State defense?
“Just solid, well coached, fundamental football team. They have some guys who have played together and fought for awhile. Strong kids. They are not going to try and disguise a whole bunch. They are going to line up in their gap and play football and try to outphysical them.”
-With Senior Day on Saturday, I asked Coach Hays his thoughts on the group of Seniors who will be playing their last game in the Jones –especially the starters Alfredo Morales, Jared Kaster, and Le’Raven Clark.
“It is a special group for me. I love all those kids. I think senior day will be hardest on me just to see them go. I love being around them. They have been high character kids who have worked hard. I want to see them finish on a high note with 7 wins. Just from a personal standpoint, babies have to leave the nest and I hate it.”
-I also asked Coach Hays what he has seen from an attitude standpoint from his unit now that Tech sits with a 5-5 record.
“My guys are not satisfied with what happened on Saturday. They understand the magnitude of the game on Saturday and the next few games. Our last talk was that we have two Tuesdays and two Wednesdays left to be together and don’t leave anything on this field. Do not look back. You are not guaranteed a bowl and that is just the way it is in college football. They have had a good attitude. I have a veteran group, they understand the highs and lows and they have to push through it.”
