UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 15, 2023

Joshua Cephus

Press Conference

Army - 37, UTSA - 29

Q. Josh, just what was the overall mood in the locker room today after the game?

JOSHUA CEPHUS: It was definitely -- we left a good amount of plays on the field. We didn't execute how we wanted, up to the standard that we normally play at.

We lost, you know, but it's definitely going back to the drawing board, watching film, seeing where we messed up, more detail, just fixing what we messed up on really.

Q. I guess just overall how disappointed are the guys? It feels like you might have left two wins on the table this season, and the season is coming up, conference is coming up. Just what's the overall mood of the guys?

JOSHUA CEPHUS: Like you said, it definitely hurt. The theme of this year is don't matter, get better. Whether we would have won those two games we left out, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Like I said, don't matter, get better.

After these 24 hours and watching film of what we did tonight, we'll be focused on Tennessee and getting the win there.

Q. What was it like going into halftime after Eddie Lee completed that 46-yard bomb into the end zone? Do you feel like that was a confidence booster for him for the rest of the game?

JOSHUA CEPHUS: Definitely. He threw a great ball, catchable ball for one of the zone six to make the play. If you don't know who the zone six is, that's the receivers.

Tykee went up and made a great play on the ball. We called the last four minutes of the second half -- I'm sorry. Oh, my gosh, I can't think. We call the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half the middle eight. Those minutes are where a lot of momentum can swing a game.

Like you said, I feel like that brought Eddie confidence, it gave us momentum. Tykee made a great play, and I think it gave him more confidence throughout the game as well.

Q. How did you feel about how Eddie Lee handled the moment overall standing up and being a starter for the first time? What did you see from him?

JOSHUA CEPHUS: I saw great confidence. Throughout these last couple weeks, fall camp, he just sits back, pays attention to Frank, takes all the mental reps. Whatever read Frank is making, he's going through as well. So I think that showed tonight.

Q. How much do you guys have to adjust on offense when Frank isn't out there? What's different?

JOSHUA CEPHUS: I don't think it's too much of an adjustment. For me really, it's just catching the ball. The ball spins a little different from a lefty than a righty. So that's the only difference.

Q. Can you take us through your touchdown on the screen pass where you got loose? What did you see on that play?

JOSHUA CEPHUS: I didn't really do nothing. It was all Oscar and -- I want to say it was Cam, either Cam Cooper or Houston blocking for me. They made a great block, put hands on somebody, was very physical. All I did was run straight.

Q. Josh, the defense obviously struggled today. Kind of a role reversal of the first two weeks. What did you think about the effort? Was that a tough, physical Army team?

JOSHUA CEPHUS: They definitely were physical. They are every year. It's always a tough game against Army.

I feel like offense didn't really help the defense as much today with field position, scoring. We've just got to get better.