Louisville-Memphis Postgame Quotes
November 23, 2013 | Football
Nov. 23, 2013
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Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong
(Opening statement)
“I am so happy for our team - the first time in school history that we've had back-to- back double digit wins. I know it wasn't pretty, but to just see our seniors go out on such an emotional day and just to them go out the right way -I just wanted to make that happen for them. So much they've given this program and now they have a chance to go to a fourth-straight bowl game. I said it the other day, we have a group of players that were 20-3 and now we're 21-3 in our last 24 games. That is a special group and you hate to see those guys leave this program. I wish I could have red-shirted them as a freshman and could have brought them back here. I just know this, the reason we are in the position we are right now is because of that hard work that they put into our program. I am so happy for them. That was a good team out there today. We had our chance, we got out to a big lead, but we cannot lose out focus. We've got to continue to play, we have to finish. To watch their resiliency there at the end where we had to go move the ball and get a couple of first downs. Then defensively we had to go out and make a stop. We are just so happy to get (win) number 10.”
(On Teddy Bridgewater getting sacked four times and did he feel like Memphis was beating them up front?)
“Anytime the other team gets to your quarterback four times, you would like to protect him better.”
(On Preston Brown's juke move during the returned touchdown)
“Well he played running back in high school, so you would think at some point we would try and let him run the ball. I thought he was going to do that dance that he breaks out into all the time.”
(His thoughts on Preston Brown scoring the first touchdown of the game as a defensive leader)
“It was super, just because of he has done for the team, and then it was a defensive touchdown which I was really happy about. It was smart of him to pick the ball up because it looked like the quarterback's arm was starting into his motion. Then the ball kind of dribbled on the ground and to see him to continue and play through it. A lot of times you see guys just stand there, but he scooped and scored and made that move at the end, to get back across and go score.”
(On not getting into a rhythm offensively)
“It was more rhythm and we never got in sync. You see as we start off on offense and we had to punt the ball in the beginning. Then, we get them on third down on defense and they run a draw play. If we had executed what we had called then we would have had a guy coming underneath and it would have been a tackle for a loss. I always feel like on senior day you're not going to always play your best, just because guys get caught up in the emotion with their families there and right before the game; you have to go through a ceremony. You wish you could do it at some other time, but this is the only good time you can do it, because you want them to see the crowd and let the fans know how much we appreciate them.”
(On Calvin Pryor not playing today and when will he be back)
“Calvin (Pryor) violated a team rule - he will be back next game.”
(On the hurry up offense helping the rhythm)
“I felt that we weren't in a rhythm and it looked like we were just kind of slopping around and I was trying to get us up to the line of scrimmage to get us going. I told (Shawn) Watson 'let's go to the hurry up' so our linemen would move and our guys would get up to the line of scrimmage with a since of urgency - not so much get the other team off guard, because they just get lined up, but I wanted us to change our tempo. I just didn't like how slow we were going and I felt like we were in slow motion. Let's get them going, let's go guys.”
(On how far the program has come in the last few years)
“We've come a long ways. To get in that battle and all of sudden they scored and they get back into it. Then you try to go get a stop and the offense just isn't moving the football. I told our guys this yesterday; it's going to be a tough game, because I didn't feel the whole preparation the whole week. You look at a team like that and we got them at home, and it's not like you're just going to go roll the ball out (and win). You can't do that anymore. We haven't arrived there yet guys, so let's quit thinking we are there.”
(On the small crowd on senior day)
“It's something I've spoken about, so we're not going to change that. We're going to welcome the fans that come and tell them how much we appreciate their support. You just got to continue to win and continue to build the program and someday we'll get it changed.”
(On having back-to-back 10 win seasons for the first time in school history and talking to his players about that before the game)
“I just wanted them to know how special they are and how much they have put into the program and how far the program has come. There have been pockets where there've been some winning seasons. But for this group it was so special. I told them there are not too many teams around the country that can say they have 10 wins back-to-back and are 21-3 in their last 24 games. I don't care who you play. It doesn't really matter. You're 21-3 in the last two years. I told this group of guys, this was our first senior class, when you talk about Preston, Marcus Smith, BJ Butler... I can remember going into their homes and saying 'just come with us' and us as coaches not knowing what we had here and if it could get turned around. And me, being my first year as a head football coach, and for them to sign on with us and to change the program and to change the culture, so much can be said about them.”
(On making the case for Teddy Bridgewater's to win the Heisman Trophy)
“Well, you're looking at a team that's 10-1 and I don't know why he wouldn't be on the Heisman ballot. You got beat by a team that probably has a chance to go ahead and win this conference and has not struggled. So, you can't say they got beat by a bad football team.”
(On going for it on fourth and 10 late in the game)
“. I didn't want us to walk out and try and kick field goal, we already had one blocked. So we tried to run the clock down and then we ended up having to call timeout because there was some confusion. It didn't matter. I just didn't want us to take a chance of having to kick field goal and having it blocked.”
(On how the first field goal got blocked)
“I didn't see why. We probably just didn't get it off and they came in. You've got to give them credit sometimes also.”
(On the roughing the kicker penalty that gave them a first down)
“You dodge the bullet and got a first down, but we still had to go back out there and play defense. Our defense was ready to go play and I told them it's time for us to go get some pressure and let's go get some stops.”
(On the play of the defense in the first half)
“We've been playing good defense all year long and I felt like today we needed to go out and dominate and that's what we've been doing all season - for us to go get the touchdown and then Gaines go and pick one off. Defensively, we still played in spurts. We go make some plays and then you give up some third downs, which we haven't done all season long. It's all about guys getting off of blocks and guys making plays. We go up at halftime and I said there's no reason for us to lose this football game. You are up two scores so defense, go out and play.”
(On the plans for the bye week before playing Cincinnati)
“We'll go Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and then give them some time and we'll bounce back on Saturday and get ready to go play that game.”
Senior WR Damian Copeland
(On being emotional during the game)
“Not at all, not at all. You know I actually walked out with a smile on my face because I'm proud of all the work I have put in at this University in the last couple years. It has been a privilege to play on such a good team with great coaches surrounding me.”
(on what they need to prepare before the Cincinnati game)
“Well the best thing is you know we have a bye week, it's going to help us get healthy. We have a couple guys with little injuries so this bye week and rest will be the biggest thing to help us. But we don't need to take Cincinnati lightly, we need to just come out and execute and take care of the ball and try to end the season with a win on the road.”
Senior MLB Preston Brown
(On last home game)
“It feels good to come out and put on a good show for the fans. It feels good to show them that we have a great team and it was great to have a good win today.”
(On what was going through your mind after scoring that touchdown)
“I had a lot of emotions going through my mind. My grandfather died this morning, so there were a lot of emotions on me but it was great to get a touchdown for him.”
(On the keys to success on defense today)
“Just running to the ball, but it was also our fault when they ran a lot of back door screens and back door handoffs on the draw. They had a little difficulty to it but they did a great job with it.”
Junior QB Teddy Bridgewater
(Thoughts on the game)
“That it was a great game. We knew coming into this game that we have to execute on both sides of the ball and on special teams. For us to go up and then they start fighting back you know those things happen. It's all about how you answer them. We were able to finish strong and are glad to get the win.”
(On health status)
“I'm good. That's pretty much it.”
(On back issues)
“It was actually my tailbone. That was bothering me a lot but you know we were still able to pull through it. It wasn't too bad, I was able to finish the game healthy. I'll get some treatment and I'll be back. The trainer gave me an icy hot patch and it worked.”
(On possibly walking off the field for the last time)
“I still feel that we have a couple more games on the schedule. Right now I have my focus on that.”
(On first back-to-back 10 game winning seasons)
“It is always good to be a part of this group. I'm pretty excited for this entire team, especially the seniors. They were here when the program was low and now we are at an all-time high. These past years have been wonderful. Just being part of this team, that is just special.”
(On what senior class means to him)
“It means a lot, because a couple of guys from the class were some of Coach Strong's first recruiting class. Those guys are the leaders on the team along with the guys like Damian Copeland, Hakeem Smith and the defensive guys. We look up to those guys as mentors and as brothers, because those guys, in the locker room, care more about the team than themselves.”
(On possible last game thoughts)
“I came into the game just like I come into any other game. I was just proud to be out there with these guys again, especially the seniors.”
(On winning on senior day)
“It's a great feeling, because for the past 3-4 years Coach Strong said we haven't won on senior day. You know it was a great feeling to see those guys play the game one last time as a Cardinal. That was a great feeling for those guys. I'm pretty sure they're pretty pumped about it. Everyone is just pretty excited in the locker room right now.”
(On hurry-up-offense)
“It helped us a lot. We were able to get a jump start. We kind of stalled at one point of the game. We just needed some rhythm and that just helped it.”
(On fourth down conversion at the end of the game)
“Coach Strong wanted to go for it. He didn't want to take a chance for them to block the field goal and return it all the way for a touchdown. He just told me to rush it down, so I'm a little upset that I fell down short one yard.”
(On fourth quarter offensive struggle)
“That's something I don't have an answer for. Basically we go out there, execute the game plan. Maybe the team we face has a great defense and maybe we are hurting ourselves with penalties. There are all kinds of things that play into that.”
(On potential bowl game in Florida)
“I'm pretty excited. If you look behind us we have our team goal to go to a BCS game, so were not settling for the Russell Athletics Bowl.”
(On chance to return to team next year)
“I'm up here to talk about the team. Today is all about the seniors. So it's not about me.”
(On being honored on senior day)
“Coach Strong didn't mention it to me. So that was that. Today was the day for the seniors you know. Those guys were being honored. I take my hats off for those guys, everything they put into this program. I'm just honored to be a part of the team.”
Memphis Head Coach Justin Fuente
(On the overall game)
“That was a tough game obviously. Congratulations to Louisville and the coaching staff. They have a fine football team.”
(On the first quarter fumble)
“Tough one to swallow. That's not why we lost the game. We didn't execute, sometimes you're going to get calls and sometimes you're not going to get them. You have to make enough plays to win the game. “
(On the second half comeback)
“I think we just played relaxed. If you name everything that could go wrong, it did in the first half. We just played better and executed.”
(On the crucial mistakes Memphis made)
“If you want to beat Louisville at Louisville in this day and age you can't make mistakes. You can play as hard as you want but that's too good of a football team to make those mistakes. You have to be on edge. You don't have to be perfect but you have to be pretty close. We have to be pretty perfect. Louisville is pretty good on defense. A lot of teams will have a hard time scoring from the three yard line.”
(On the play of the defense)
“I think they played pretty well. The first drive of the second half was disappointing. We blocked a field goal, swarmed to the ball, and did a good job at the line of scrimmage. Obviously, they have really good skilled kids. One mistake and it's a touchdown. We saw that with the screen pass to the left side, we miss a tackle and they score.”
(On roughing the punter call)
“We just ran into the punter. We have to be better everywhere. You play a team like this you can't have mistakes like that. They have good enough players that they're going to force you to make plays.”
(Outlook on the rest of the season)
“It was a three week stretch we have. We talked to our kids about that. Win or lose, we still have to play Temple that is getting a lot better every game. The new quarterback back there and they took UCF to the wire. We have a lot to play for and a lot to look forward to. We are trying to build a program and every single game and every opportunity is a chance to improve. I anticipate that we'll have a great week in practice and we'll be ready to play.”
(On the play of the quarterback)
“I think he played pretty well after struggling early. Things were kind of crumbling around him. Between the Louisville defense and our own inability to get anything going, we just struggled throughout the whole game.”
Junior NT Terry Redden
(On today's performance)
“Well it was really disappointing as a team, as a unit, we could of did better. We could have come out fighting a little harder and finished strong. They are a good team, everything about them is good, but playing a little bit harder and we should have had more focus.”
(On the ability for this team to come back)
“In the second half we went into the locker room with a mindset that were not losing this game and things don't fall out to plan but it could have been better executed. Execution was the key at halftime.”
(On the lack of focus)
“You can never quit building on discipline. You got to keep coaching it every day, that's anybody. Penalties, it will cost you.”
(On Teddy Bridgewater)
“I wouldn't really say we identified Bridgewater to be a that much of a factor. It's a team game and we felt like we were a better team. We tried to come in with a victory but he held it down strong.”
Senior RB Brandon Hayes
(On the ability to rally)
“We just came out to flat in the first half. We came out with good momentum in the second half, but it was too big of a deficit to come back. We tip our hats out to them, they played good. I think we shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times on our sides and a few other penalties that really hurt us.”
(On the fumble)
“It was huge. It really got them into the game I think it was a huge momentum swing for them. And we just weren't able to come out and do something in that half. I think we came out in the second half ready to play, but against a team like Louisville you can't do that you have to play your best game.”
(On the difference in the second half)
“I think we just started playing like ourselves. I think a lot of players were just tense and stuff like that. We just played our game in the second half.”
(On reaction to the onside kick and the penalty)
“I was jumping. I ran on the field I think and I saw the penalty, and I knew it had to have been offsides. That was the only thing it could've been. And it was. And it really hurt. Huge momentum swing.”
(On the goal obviously to finish strong)
“Yes, definitely finish strong. I'm a senior, I definitely want to win these last two games. At least go out 5-7. We're definitely going to get prepared for Temple and then Connecticut after that.”
(On being able to get back in the game against one of the nation's top defenses)
“We have a young quarterback, but I think Paxton Lynch, really stepped it up in the second half. He was a lot more poise, he was just letting it go, and obviously he was making plays. Our running backs were making plays, our offensive line was blocking good, and our defense was doing good. Like I said it was 17-3 in the first half, it was too big a deficit.”
(On the roughing the kicker call)
“It wasn't just one player that messed it up. Reggis Ball is a great player. He made huge plays for us the whole night. It just so happened to be him that made that penalty. That happens sometimes, it's football. It kind of hurt us a little bit. We have to move on from it. It happened. We just have to look forward to the next two games.”
