Louisville-FIU Postgame Quotes
September 21, 2013 | Football
Sept. 21, 2013
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Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong
(Opening Statement)
“It was a great team win today. We were truly just a better football team than FIU. We just got to think about just how far our program has come in two years, whereas two years ago they came here and beat us. Then, last year it was a seven-point game. It's just so much as just our offense and defense and any kicking game. Our team responded. Yesterday, we used to have a walk-through on Fridays, a mental walk-though, and I just didn't like how things were going, so I stopped the walk-through and made them start over, I just had to tell the team they have the expectations around here. So, we have raised the bar and I expect us to go out today and perform, and we did, they responded well.”
(What were your best components?)
“Well, it's just who you play too. I don't think that FIU is a very good team right now, they are going through a re-building process and I think they will be able to turn it around, because they are recruiting.”
(What did you like about what you saw?)
“Well, if you just look at the running back position, Dominique did an unbelievable job. He had some good runs in and you got to have an offensive line and just do a better over-all job of blocking and just put bodies on bodies and just move the line of scrimmage. And Teddy had throws for a touchdown and defense was able to just shut them down. I don't know how many yards rushing in. I don't think they had many, I think it was around 30 total yards on offense.”
(Talk about the effort of those guys)
“We need to just over-power a team like we did up front and when you're in the back, the spaces we have and from the sacks from all sides.
(What did you see that you didn't like?)
“It's just a mental approach and you can't have a bust like we have on. We go offense versus defense and it's more of a walk through. A back goes the wrong way and then we kick the ball off and there are two guys standing there. A ball was thrown out in the flat for a touchdown and I just said enough, we're going to start this over. I don't care how long it takes. If we're here until 10 o'clock tonight, then we're here until 10 o'clock and we're going to do it the right way.”
(On playing an opponent that may not be playing your team's level)
“Well, you have to respect the game, and you have to respect your opponent. It doesn't matter who you play, because at any given time, if you're not really locked into it, you're going to get beat. So, that's what I want them to understand. We've come a long way with this program; we are nowhere near where we should be. So, let's not get full of ourselves.”
(Were you aware there was a running clock going?)
“What happened was we talked, both coaches talked.”
(Running clock was requested by the other coach?)
“It was just mutually agreed upon.”
(On Teddy Bridgewater blocking on Dominique Brown's 80-yard run)
“Well, when your best players are in, it just speaks volumes and it's a total team effort. With guys like Teddy, sometimes he has to block for you, so he breaks that long run and you saw Teddy and he ran downfield and tried to screen the guy.”
(On getting into the next segment of the season)
“Well, when you look at it, the first segment is done in our non-conference, then we get to step into our conference and every game counts. We are going to have to do better and we are going to have to improve the running game on offense. Defensively, we can't allow a team to run the ball on us wherever we go. And in special teams, we have to do a better job in the cover game and then we need to get the ball returned into positive yards.”
(On running clock)
“I don't think it's so much of it was running clock. He just said, 'Hey, let's keep the clock moving.' I just don't know what he started or what about the conversation. I just said, 'Hey, it's mutually agreed upon, so let's just get this game over with.'”
(On keeping the pace of the game moving)
“Well, you don't ever just want to try to embarrass a team because at some point you'll be on that side of the ball also. I respect that program and I'm not trying to see how bad we can beat our opponent.”
(How many times have you won by 72?)
“Never as a head coach.”
(On the success on third down)
“I've always said when we get a team to third down, and we have the pass rush we have with (Lorenzo) Mauldin and (Marcus) Smith, and the inside game, and when you put the speed out there with (Deiontrez) Mount and (B.J.) Dubose, we can pressure a quarterback and the offensive line. We just need to cover the back end and we expect to get off the field. We talk about it all the time. It's a money down. Get off the field on third down.”
(Brandon Dunn's play this year )
“Dunn is probably the most improved player. He's making a lot of plays. You see right before half, he gets a tackle for loss. But his leadership and how hard he's playing. And I said this to our staff yesterday in our staff meeting that it doesn't surprise me that our defensive line is playing so well because how well coach (Clint) Hurtt prepares them to play. It shows on the field and how hard they play on the field and how they carry themselves.”
(Is it possible to reach perfection)
“We try to reach it. I don't know if we're going to get there, but we're looking for it. The way you practice, you feel like - the time we put into practice, that we should get better results than what we get. I tell the players all the time just try to give your best each and every down. You're not out there that many plays. At the end of the day, you're probably playing 60 plays, 4-6 seconds a play lasts, just give me what you got.”
(The game getting out of hand)
“I always say when the game gets out of hand, and you're going to play a little into the third quarter and then get them out. The other team is not going to come back, so enough is enough. I tell them all the time, you can try to get your individual throws, but, we're still going to respect this game and respect this team also.”
(On Charles Gaines)
“Well, he is still taking steps and he's player with a lot of ability, a lot of talent. We've known he's had that; now it's more of him now just becoming more a part of us, because we're not going to become him. So, he just needs to become a part of the program, and he's taking steps and he's doing the right things right now.”
(On how to stop DeVante Parker)
“You can't. I just think because he's vertical and he can jump. He's going to go up over you. It's amazing to watch his vertical leap. He did that the other day at practice. I just said, 'Hey, when we get into the red zone, just throw it up there. Give him enough room, and he's going to come down with it.'”
Junior QB Teddy Bridgewater
(What was going right for you guys out there)
“It was just a great overall performance in all three phases of the game. We just went out today and competed and played a complete game. “
(Was this your best overall performance this season)
“As a team, yes. We still know we have a long way to go but were going to continue to get better each and every day. We're going to take this win and build off of it.”
(what were you guys working on out there today)
“We were just trying to fix ourselves. Establish a running game and establish a passing game that's unstoppable. Today we got one step closer to achieving that.”
(On how many players he can go to on the field)
“As a quarterback that's something that I love. Having guys who can just come in and change the game in five seconds as we saw today with Dominique (Brown) and his big run. Just having those weapons back there makes it fun to be a quarterback in this offense. I can hand it off and come right back and run a play action so that also helps the passing game.”
(What have you learned about your team after these first four games?)
“We're trying to do something special here. Coach Strong always talks about the talent but it's going to take leadership. Talent can take you a long way but somewhere down the line the leaders have to step up and continue to be outspoken for the team. I feel like the defense did a great job. Preston Brown, Brandon Dunn, and Hakeem Smith, those guys are the leaders of the defense and they did a good job.”
(If you're a defensive back how do you stop the jump ball to DeVante Parker)
“I can't answer that one for you; he's unstoppable.”
(On DeVante's second touchdown)
“We practice redzone scrambles so he scrambled to a spot and if he runs out of room he's taught to do what we call wheel back up. So he did that today and I just laid it up there. I had faith in him and I knew he'd come down with it.”
(On Michaelee Harris getting back on the field)
“It was very cool and I'm very excited for him. It's been a long process for him and to see him back out there competing with us means a lot to the entire team.”
(Is it good you guys have a bye week or would you rather keep playing)
“It's pretty tough to answer that but we're just going to take advantage of the bye week, continue to get better, and focus on the next opponent. “
(What was it like after the game to unite with all the Northwest guys on both teams)
“It was a special moment to be reunited with those guys. A lot of us grew up playing little league together and went on to play high school together. It's been different not playing together the past three years so whenever we come together it's always a special reunion. It was just a great feeling being able to take pictures and smile with your brothers.”
(What did they say about your team)
“They just told us to go do it and that's what we're going to do.”
(Is that area becoming a Louisville fan base)
“Oh yeah. I feel that it's happening in the entire state of Florida because we have guys from everywhere down there. In that area we have about 18 guys just from the city of Miami and the fan base has just grown there. It's so remarkable because every time I go home a bunch of guys come up to me and tell me that they watched the game and I played a good game. It's exciting to me to see the fan base continue to grow.”
Sophomore Cornerback Charles Gaines
(Is it a team goal every week for the defense to have a shut out)
"We feel we come prepared every week. To follow up on goals, we have six goals this week: six sacks, four turnovers, and less then 150 yards of total offense. We came out today with that mindset, and our ones' and our two's came out with that goal and accomplished it this week.”
(With a great game defensively, what can you do on defense to be better for next week)
"We have to keep coming out and practice. We have to give Teddy (Bridgewater) good looks and our scouts giving us good looks. They make us better as a player, as a unit, and a team. That is all we are working on, and believing in our coaches."
Senior Defensive End Marcus Smith
(On the defense improving for next game)
“We can do better tackling the run. We did a great job today, but I feel we still can do a better job stopping the run.”
(On his personal performance and the team)
“For me to have two sacks was great, but we are more worried about team accomplishments. As a defense, our goal was to make six sacks today and hold them under 50 yards rushing. I think we did a good job of holding them to that.”
FIU Head Coach Ron Turner
(On not being able to run the ball well)
“We had a tough day doing everything - throwing the ball, running the ball, blocking, and catching. It's where we are.”
(On his thoughts about Louisville and their national ranking)
“They are a very good team, a very good team. Nothing will surprise me with this team. They're a great football team all the way around. There are no weak areas. They are very well coached, they play hard, and they have exceptional athletes. They are a good football team.”
(On what needs to happen to turn things around at FIU)
“We just have to keep going, keep working. Recruit and get the right guys on the field and keep battling.”
(On his team not quitting)
“I didn't sense any of that here. I just saw guys that were big-eyed, wide-eyed - more so than any other game. I don't understand it. It looked like they were playing afraid to make mistakes, and I have no idea why. We had a very good week of practice so I was surprised when we had guys looking around and were afraid to make a mistake. You can't play like that. You can't do anything in life like that. And that's what we did, especially offensively and special teams-wise.”
(On if he noticed a running clock and if he requested)
“I don't know anything about a running clock. I did not (request it). I just thought they were setting it (the ball) quick. I did notice it was going quicker. First of all, I don't have the authority to request it. I wish I had the authority. I'm not saying I wouldn't have, but I did not request it.”
#32 Justin Halley (S)
(What was the feeling out there?)
“You don't work that hard all week and all summer long for that, it's definitely painful but it's just at times we mentally breakdown and don't do our responsibilities. The results showed today that it hurts when happens.”
(Was there anything that they did that surprised you?)
“No. not necessarily. It wasn't too complicated. We saw most of that all week at practice. It's just when the plays come to us, our defense has to make them. We were put, most of the first half, in tough spots being on our side of the 50 the whole time. We were just trying to hold them to, at most, field goals...They're a good team, you've got to give them credit, with Teddy and all their players, all those weapons on the side, number 9 (DeVante Parker). You just got to give them credit.”
(At half time what was said in the locker room)
“Just keep fighting, there's a whole other half to play. You can't just give up. I feel like our plays do work, we fight, even though our results haven't been what we wanted it this season. We still have 8 games to play. We're 0-0 in the conference so that's basically a new season. We've just got to get ready for that.”
(Did you feel like you guys kept fighting in the second half?)
“Yeah at times it was pretty hard on everyone to keep going, but I had faith in all my players to keep fighting. I feel like we care so that's not the issue. I guess it's a few other things.
#12 Quarterback E.J. Hilliard
(On the overall performance of the team)
“We were not nervous. From the start we had a lot of penalties. We had delay of games and procedures penalties that slowed us down. We just couldn't find a rhythm with the running game or passing game. We have to come back next week and practice. We have to get back to the fundamentals and the basic things so we can get better and find an identity for the team.”
(On having a bye week after a tough loss)
“I think everything will work itself out. After a game like this I think a bye week is perfect. We have to find ourselves as a team. We have to sit down and correct our mistakes. We had a few injures so it gives us a chance to rest and gives us a chance to be able to come back the week after next and get ready for conference play. I think it was a perfect time.”
(On the conversation with Teddy Bridgewater after the game)
“He was saying how proud he was of me. He told me he loved me, he told me good game and to keep my head up. To get the guys fired up and hungry. It's time for me to take the next step and lead the guys. That's pretty much it just good game and how proud he was and that he loved me.”
(On the play calling)
“Coach is going to do everything in his power that he feels is best for us to win. He's doing the right thing. He's trying to give us confidence that we can run the ball. We have to make sure we block and hit the right gaps. His approach to the game was a good approach. We have to be able to establish the run in football, in order for people to respect our ability to pass. I think coach has a good approach to the game.”
(On the comparison between the 2011 that beat Louisville and this team)
“I watched the game. It was a good game. We had one very talented player in T.Y. Hilton that changed the game around. He changed the culture at our school. I think the only thing we have to do to get back is to be confident. The guys have to be confident. The young players have to be ready to make plays. We have to have confidence in one another and trusting one another. So I think that's what's going to help us bring the program up - confidence and trust.”
