Everything interim coach Bryan McClendon said at his final Alamo Bowl press conference
The 14th-ranked Oregon Ducks take on the 16th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Alamo Bowl on Wednesday.
It’s a high-profile matchup in name, and both of these programs had College Football Playoff aspirations right up until the end of the season. The Sooners lost a rare Bedlam battle to knock them out of contention, and Oregon stubbed its toe one too many times against Utah. Still, these are talented teams even if they’re being run by interim coaches with makeshift two-deeps.
Bryan McClendon, coaching the Ducks in the game before Dan Lanning takes over full-time, met with reporters on Tuesday for one final time ahead of the game alongside interim OU coach Bob Stoops.
Here’s everything that was said:
Stoops offered kudos to both staffs in this game given that so many are leaving for other jobs after the bowl.
"They don’t have to do it," he said. "In today's world there’s a lot of pressure not to do it, with recruiting and whatnot. But these guys have all held true." #GoDucks
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) December 28, 2021
Question asked about motivation this week, given big-picture goals.
BMac: "One of the biggest messages that has been echoed throughout this time is, this part of the year is about finishing. You have a clear opportunity to be able to finish something that you started." #GoDucks
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) December 28, 2021
Bryan McClendon says Keanu Williams and Bryan Addison are available to play. Says Popo Aumave, Jackson LaDuke, Jake Shipley, and Adrian Jackson are not.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) December 28, 2021
Bob Stoops in response to question from @jasonkersey about a potential postgame tequila bath:
“That’d be OK. What’s administration gonna do, fire me?"
— Mason Young (@Mason_Young_0) December 28, 2021
McClendon said some estimates of how short-handed the Ducks are go overboard. But, he acknowledged, "We're having to dig into some depth at different spots. What we have to do is make sure the guys are able to step up, and it’s given guys the opportunity to do that." #GoDucks
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) December 28, 2021
McClendon calls Oklahoma QB Caleb Williams "probably the best playmaker in the country."
Joked that while he wasn't sad to see a few of the defensive opt-outs for the Sooners, he wished the quarterback had made the same decision. #GoDucks
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) December 28, 2021
Bryan McClendon says OL Ryan Walk isn't likely gonna be available. Sounds like an emergency situation if that's even possible.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) December 28, 2021
Bob Stoops was very high on the Oregon Defense and said they have talent at a lot of spots, and then joked to Bryan McClendon it'd be great if a few of those guys would opt out.
Well, about that Bob……
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) December 28, 2021
