UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 13, 2025

Shad Banks

Press Conference

UTSA - 48, Incarnate Word - 20

Q. Shad, a little bit different mood in the locker room after this week?

SHAD BANKS JR.: Yeah, man, it's always fun after a win. First one, just an amazing feeling to get a W.

Q. How did you think the defense played overall today?

SHAD BANKS JR.: I mean, we gave up a few plays. Still a lot of things we've got to correct, a lot of miscommunication and stuff like that, but I think we played a lot better. We came out, forced turnovers, got them behind the sticks, and I think the boys were flying around, and we made plays.

Q. How important was it to have a performance like that given how everybody was feeling a week ago?

SHAD BANKS JR.: Yeah, each week we always worry about ourselves. We come out and try to be the best UTSA we can possibly be. It's never about the opponent, it's about us.

So we just came out there. Coach told us it was a big emphasis on getting to the ball, forcing turnovers, and getting to the QB. So I think we did a great job doing that today.

Q. I was just about to ask about that. Coach said the points you guys targeted in practice, most of them showed up on the field today. Is that kind of meaningful when you're able to put that into action?

SHAD BANKS JR.: Yeah, for sure. Like I said, no game is ever going to be perfect. It's hard to have perfect plays. But when you're coming out there and you're flying around and you're doing -- you're putting in a perfect effort, everything else is going to handle itself.

So I think everybody just try to come in and do our assignment, and D-line trying to get to the QB. Everybody else trying to force turnovers, trying to get the ball out.

Q. There was a lot of emotion on the field tonight. Did that have anything to do with the start to the season or just the tenacity you all were playing with tonight?

SHAD BANKS JR.: Yeah, we were just out there flying around. It had nothing to do with the start of the season. It had nothing to do with any of that. Really I just think it's the battle of San Antonio. So I think it got a little chippy.

Yeah, it was a fun game. I think we played okay, pretty decent.

Q. You touched on the pass rush. How did you feel about the way you got after the quarterback today? What was your overall impression?

SHAD BANKS JR.: Man, I just want to give a big shout out to the D-line, man. Coaches are just pushing them all week about getting to the quarterback and how we haven't done that. I think we took that as a challenge, and they came out with their head on fire. They came out to rush the QB, and that's what they did.

Q. When you see those different areas of improvement that you guys were able to hit this week, how does that sort of change your outlook going forward? What are your feelings on the rest of the season and what lies ahead?

SHAD BANKS JR.: My outlook is still the same. I know what the guys are capable of. I know what our coaches are capable of. I think, when we put everything together, it's still not all the way together, but when we do, this team is going to be -- the sky's the limit.