UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 6, 2025

Shad Banks, Jr.

Press Conference

Texas State 43, UTSA 36

Q. Shad, how would you summarize the mood in the locker room after the game today?

SHAD BANKS JR: I mean, it was a rivalry game. Going against Texas state, right down the road, so of course people going to be, you know, mad about it. But I think we didn't take it too bad.

I mean, we know what we did wrong. We know what we need to do, and so it's just going to get in and watch film tomorrow and on to the next week.

Q. Defensively what was it that didn't quite go right for you guys today?

SHAD BANKS JR: Honestly, we beat ourselves, man. Everything that they did is because we didn't do our job. You know, missed assignments, missed tackles, missed everything. If we just clean up ourselves, we'll be fine. All it was to it.

Q. Coach told us the morale of the guys was pretty low. How do you guys pick up the pieces and move on after this one?

SHAD BANKS JR: I mean, like I said, we all going to be -- people going to be low. This is a rivalry game. This meant a lot to everybody, the whole city.

So I mean, we going to get in and watch film and see our mess-ups and what we need to fix and we are going to move on.

Q. For you as a leader, do you have to do anything to make sure the guys stay up and don't get rattled by an 0-2 start?

SHAD BANKS JR: Yeah, I mean, of course. I just feel like this team, we too close as a brotherhood, so like even though the dudes are like we are selected as leaders, I feel like everybody on the team is a leader.

So everybody on the team is a leader. Everybody on the team is followers. I think we'll be good.

Q. What did you make the environment today?

SHAD BANKS JR: It was amazing, man. First time in the Dome. Looking forward to the rest of the year in the Dome. Man, we just got clean it up.

Q. How do you feel about the way you handled the physicality today? Did you feel like you played to the level you wanted to in that sense?

SHAD BANKS JR: I mean, when it comes to physicality I don't think -- it's like we good when it comes to physicality. I feel like it's the mental part. It's the thinking before the -- like, you know, it's just like we just beat ourselves today. We beat ourselves last week as well.

So just it is what it is. Got clean it up.

Q. Along those lines, they were able to hit some explosive plays against you guys. Is that what you're talking about?

SHAD BANKS JR: Yeah, for sure. I just feel like both the games we played this year we beat ourselves. Nobody can beat UTSA but UTSA. That's what it is. That's how it was today and that's how it was last week. We got to clean it up.