The hardest thing to overcome in any football game is turnovers, especially when you're on the road. If we score those [two drives into Ball State territory that ended in fumbles], it's over at halftime.

Omar does a nice job taking care of the football. We do a good job coaching that ... stressing getting rid of the ball on time and protecting our quarterback. We do a nice job with him inside the system and don't throw a lot of high-risk plays.

It was a good win against a good team, especially when you can get a win on the road. Memphis has been playing some of the best basketball in the league at home, and anytime you can come out and get a win, it's big.

Playing on the road, you're fighting and clawing to get everything you can get. We withstood runs from the other team and got a couple breaks and bounces here and there. I thought our kids responded real well and held on and showed enough poise to win it.

We told our kids at halftime that football is a game of peaks and valleys. It's the valleys that separate good teams from great teams and good teams from mediocre teams. I think our kids showed character and responded when we needed them to.

If you're focused on places you want to be down the road, you're not focusing on the task at hand.