RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz spoke to the media ahead of LA Tech's game at UAB on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. CT.
 
Head Coach Skip Holtz:
On the Old Dominion game:
"It's frustrating to be so close and to still come up short. I was proud of the way a lot of guys played defensively for three quarters. We played outstanding football. I continue to look at the growth of Keivie Rose and the way he's playing. Deshon Hall. DJ Jackson is getting more and more minutes upfront. Mykol Clark is doing a really nice job for us. Our linebackers are really starting to come into their own. I say that because Trey Baldwin and Tyler Grubbs have been playing a major role, but to see the way Kody Fulp has come in and the minutes he's giving us right now. Maki Carabin. Even Allen Walker is doing a really nice job. Those five guys are playing really well for us at linebacker. BeeJay Williamson continues to step up. I was proud of Khalil Ladler Saturday. Baylen Buchanan, unfortunately, wasn't able to finish the game but he played really well at corner. Our defense was 3-of-10 through the first three quarters on third down. Unfortunately, in the fourth quarter, we had that score to put us up 20-17 and they had a 20-play drive that went down and tied the game up.
 
"Offensively, we did some good things but we aren't consistent enough at anything to do what we need to do. Our special teams played really well, especially our punt team. We averaged 45 yards a punt and downed a ball on the one, the six and the 10 and kept them backed up a long way away making them drive 90-plus yards to try and get a score. Our defense came up with stops and our offense had good field position. Unfortunately, we weren't able to capitalize on it. The bright spot of the offense was with two minutes to go right before the half. They executed a two-minute drive that went down the field and scored. They ran a kickoff back and we were able to go down and get another field goal out of it. The final two minutes with a two-minute mindset, the offense did some consistent things and got some bigger chunks of yardage. They did a much better job protecting the quarterback this week upfront on the offensive line. Dakota White was in at tackle because Biron Rossell had an injury. He did a nice job. The receivers continue to play well when you talk about Tre (Harris), Smoke (Harris) and Griffin Hebert. We have to get a running game going where we can run the ball with some type of consistency. It seems like when we don't make it, we get one and when we do, we get four. That's just not good enough right now to be able to move the ball and continue drives. It's frustrating to be so close. This team needs a win for our confidence. It doesn't get any easier this week with UAB. Some guys played well. Unfortunately, we weren't able to score one more point than they did.
 
"We have four games remaining on the schedule. The attitude right now is we have to find a way to win. The attitude and the togetherness of this team, they certainly haven't thrown in the towel. But, we need something good to happen to us at this point. We're struggling right now. Being so close and not being able to get it finished is just frustrating not only for our players and our coaches, but also our fans. We need to be able to find a way to get a win this week with UAB."
 
On what it will take to get the win on Saturday:
"We're going to have to protect the football. We're going to have to do a really job protecting the football offensively. We have to try and generate some points whether that's through the running game or the passing game. Defensively, the key is we can't give up the big play. We've got to keep the ball in front of us. Make them earn it again. They're going to earn some yards rushing. You just have to make sure you don't give up the homerun ball and make them earn everything they get. Offensively, it's about trying to protect the ball and manufacture points. Defensively, it's about not giving up the big play, trying to keep the ball in front and make them snap it again."