Five for Five with Terrence Austin

On what it’s like to get avoided in the return game:
“Man, it’s frustrating, it really is. You kind of get real hot, you’re on a roll, you’re running them back, you’re getting some big returns, and then the other team kicks it away. It’s tough. That’s what comes when you’re making big plays though.”

On the magnitude of the game:
“We do know this is an important game, and we know the situation with the Pac-10, but really we’re trying to take this step by step. As far as we’re concerned, this is the best game we’re going to play for the rest of the season, because it’s the next game. That’s what we’re more worried about.”

On the 3-0 start:
“It’s real important we started at 3-0. It’s definitely given us confidence. We’ve pretty much forgot about all that happened last year, but we’re not forgetting 4-8. We know that it’s the beginning, we’re 3-0 and it’s Pac-10 play now. In order for us to kickstart and show that we’re improved, we have to keep winning. It starts right here.”

On the Stanford game last season:
“The game was a scratch-and-claw the whole game. All four quarters were tough. Stanford pulled away, we came back – it was a tug-of-war. I remember it really violent out there, a really physical game, and we pulled it out in the end.”

On Kevin Craft’s game-winning touchdown to Cory Harkey against Stanford last year:
“I remember running around in the backside, and Harkey was covered a little bit. Kevin scrambled a little to try and make room, and Harkey shook loose. I’m looking from the backside, and I’m like, ‘Aww, there’s nobody open. Is Kevin gonna run?’ I’m running over to try to get a block, and I see Kevin let the ball go, and I’m looking like, ‘Oh man, where’s the ball going?’ Harkey’s back there to catch the ball, and I just went berserk.”

Three for Three with Terrence Austin

On what went wrong in the special teams game against Kansas State:
“We had some mistakes on the kickoff team, some miscues that allowed them to get some returns on us. We worked on that specifically a whole lot this whole week. We can’t set up our defense up like that.”

On the focus of special teams during the bye week:
“I think we were getting a little loose last week, and we need to tighten up. We can’t afford that. The Pac-10 is really tough, so we have to get it down.”

On ST coach Frank Gansz getting fired up:
“He’s been on us hard. He’s been ornery – that’s his thing. We’ve got offensive and defensive players on special teams, so it’s a mixture of us, and we kind of have to be one. Everybody has to be in there solid. We have to have the gameplan down.”

Looking Up with Randall Carroll

Freshman wide receiver Randall Carroll has effectively earned his spot in the wide receiver rotation.
He is thankful for the potential playing time.
He is more thankful to be learning the position under Terrence Austin and Taylor Embree.
“As young guys, we’re all hotheaded,” Carroll said. “If something happens, we snap. The older guys show us how to hold our composure, how to work in pressure situations. Two-minute drills when you’re tired, keep working. Don’t talk to the defense; let them talk all day to us. They lead by example, and say, ‘Stay quiet and just show by your play on the field.'”