Todd Graham Quotations

Many of these grants exemplify our new direction to empower organizations with start-up funding. This quarter our board recognized several non-profit applicants who were beginning innovative projects in our priority areas of community development, economic development, education and social needs.

This (program) was tough to turn around, but that's what I do.

We've got a plan. We know exactly what works. I've got a tremendous belief in the staff that I have, and I have a tremendous belief in these players, and there's no doubt in my mind that we're going to be successful.

This situation is one I've researched quite a bit. There's no doubt in my mind we're going to build a winner here.

This (offer) is a reflection on what (the players) accomplished.

Coach Randolph was not happy with me because I wouldn't let him do what we do, and what we do is pressure. We just wanted to stay basic, naturally, because I'm sure there are people here watching us.

There's a great sense of anticipation by the players and coaches. We're just excited to get out there, get started. We talked (Tuesday) about getting out of the office. We're ready to get out of the office and go to work.

I'll be forever indebted to him for taking a chance on a no-name guy from Tulsa. The thing that makes me feel great is how proud he is of hiring me. I'm honored by that. We'll make him proud.

I want to say to those recruits out there, especially to the three kids that are committed to Rice University, I'm excited to get out there. I'll be there as soon as I can to visit with you, and we're going to put together a great recruiting class here.

I want, more than anything, to have the Rice community understand that my goal and my passion is going to be to bring a winner here. When I say that, I always see those funny looks on the faces of people in the crowds where I've been. They really doubt that, and that's fine. But two or three years from now, we'll have all that changed.

These are five guys who possess the same type philosophies of positive attitude and energy as I do. They come from diverse settings, from a conference and bowl champion at Tulsa, to successful high school programs in Texas and Oklahoma.

It's not a program that I think is decimated, that there's no talent and no hope. It's just one of those things I feel like some new ideas and modernizing our approach and what we're doing will get kids excited in recruiting.