Post-Game Quotes From Louisville-Tulane Football Game
October 28, 2000 | Football
Oct. 28, 2000
Louisville Head Coach John L. Smith
"In the long run, I think our defensive line won the football game. They put enough pressure up there on their quarterback that we were able to get out with the win. I've got to credit those guys.
"Offensively, we played much better in the second half. We just didn't get the ball back enough for us. There were some times when we had some really good series. Hanging on to the ball and running the clock down late, using up the clock -- that was a big series for us.
"We kept killing ourselves with penalties the first half. We felt like at halftime that we were stopping ourselves because we made a lot of penalties and stupid mistakes.
(on depth in his defensive line) "We have to have that. All it really takes is to come in for two or three plays and give a kid a blow. That really helps. Chad (Lee) came in and played good. This is the first game where Koby (Clark) did some things we like. He pushed the pocket back. He's got a huge body and he's got to be able to do that. I really liked what we was able to do more in a backup role. If we can keep our starters fresh, it can make a world of difference."
(on Tulane's offense) "They're good enough offensively that you're not going to take everything away. They do a good job. They're smart. They figure out who to throw to. You just have to be a little bit patient, and I think we were that. They took their share and they got down the field. Then we got a little stubborn, they had to kick one, we got a little stubborn and they had to kick another one. That's the way you have to beat these guys."
(on his team's win and C-USA foe East Carolina's loss) "It puts us in a position where we control our own destiny (facing C-USA leader Southern Miss next Saturday). That was an ugly way to finish that one a year ago (the loss to Southern Miss). We've been waiting to get back that one. Let's prepare. We have to play much better than we've been playing. We have to eliminate mistakes. Let's go down there and win a championship.
Tulane Head Coach Chris Scelfo
"We knew coming into this game that we were playing one of the best football teams in the league, and they played that way. Louisville, offensively, defensively and special teams, really played well. We had our opportunities. I thought our guys played extremely hard, and did some good things. It was a game that I felt, playing on the road, we had to play a perfect game to win and we didn't against one of the upper echelon teams."
(on losing QB Patrick Ramsey in the third quarter) "Pat was really on fire there. He was playing well. When you get your quarterback knocked out when he is in a rhythm, obviously that took away from us. J.P. (Losman) came back, drove us down the field and got us a touchdown. But it was obvious that Pat was in a rhythm."
(on his team's performance) "I thought we played well. We eliminated a lot of mistakes up until that last penalty. We have got to get better on our kickoff coverage, but obviously that guy (Zek Parker) returning has a lot to do with that too."
(on Tulane's defense) "Our defense was challenged all week, and I thought they responded to the challenge today. There are not many teams in America that have three outstanding receivers like that. (Dave) Ragone has the ability to tuck the ball and make something happen, so you have to account for him too."
(on the two long kickoff returns by Zek Parker) "It was missed tackles. They blocked us and we didn't get off a couple blocks and that guy is good at it."
(on the upcoming Louisville-Southern Miss game) "I would buy a ticket and go if I could."
Donovan Arp, senior defensive tackle
"Our goal sheet has 'Beat Kentucky,' 'Winning Season,' which we secured that today, and 'Winning Conference Championship' on it. We are not playing to be in second place. We are playing to go the distance. The seniors get to go out as winners, and we have a chance to take the conference."
(on his interception at the end of the game) "Obviously I was excited. I was hoping to get to the endzone, but it was fourth and 10 and if had not caught it would not have really mattered. At least it shows up good in the stats."
(on if the game was closer than expected) "I really thought it was going to be a first-half game, but once again we had to come out in the second half and pour on the juice. We have to get going in the first half. It almost seems like we have to wait until we get behind before we get that fire going. I think we need to go in there as seniors and get a little motivation going."
Chris Sivori, sopohmore punter
(On 63-yard punt) "On that punt, I had good blocking up front, a great snap, and with the wind behind me, I got my foot into it. It just took off."
(On the fake punt) "It was the first time I ran it. We only had a yard to go and coach Smith had confidence in me and I had enough confidence in my line. We made the call and we got it done. It's something we just put in this week."
(on next week's game versus Southern Miss) "Next week is the big game. That's what we are focusing on now. We are putting this one behind us."
Chad Lee, sophomore defensive end
(on fake punt) "It really boosted our energy level up because we know we had to come out and get a boost. That helped us a lot."
(on stopping Tulane on the final drive) "It had a lot to do with conditioning. I credit our coaches, they conditioned us to be in great shape for the fourth quarter and that's where we come out with a lot of wins. We need to start doing that in the first half so it doesn't get to that situation."
(on the conference) "This win was very important. We know we are going to have to get everything together and be clicking on all cylinders next week. It's going to be a battle."
T.J. Patterson, freshman running back
(on scoring his first touchdown) "I wish my Mom could have seen it. It was great."
(on the fake punt giving the team fired up) "It wouldn't take us much to get hyped up anyway. If we would have gotten the extra yard for the first down, we would have gotten pumped up but that just gave us a super boost."
(on the conference race) "It was a real important win because now we have some momentum. We just came off a loss and everyone smelled blood towards the end of the game. But that's what we thrive on and we just took over."
(on the defense) "The coaches told us earlier today that the offense is going to be the hunters and the defense is going to be the hyenas. We shoot down the kill and they clean up the rest and that's what they did. They played great."
