Louisville vs. Kentucky Postgame Quotes

Louisville interim head coach Lorenzo Ward
(On today's loss and the season overall) "It's been a rough year. You never want to go out losing eight games in a row at any program, and it's been a tough ordeal. These kids have been through a lot. It's not the ideal situation, but I think they kept fighting, it just wasn't good enough."

(On Malik Cunningham's status) "I think he ended up hurting his ankle, so he ended up coming in. I think he was already dressed when I got into the locker room. I think the last time he got sacked or whenever they hit him, he got hurt. He hurt his ankle."

(On his message to the players) "It's not the way we wanted to send these 11 seniors out. They've done a lot for this program, and you would have liked for them to leave with something positive. The thing I told all of them is it's not what you go through that makes you who you are, it's how you handle what you go through that makes you who you are. I told them all to remember the feeling of losing eight games in a row. That should be motivation to be better overall as a person and be a better player, and it starts tomorrow."

(On the issue in the second half with Micky Crum) "It really wasn't an issue. The official came to me – the head official – and said that Micky was chattering and that I needed to get him to stop. Apparently a couple of plays later, he threw a flag on Micky for still talking. So, I told Micky – I told them all before the game anyway – this is a rivalry, but if you get a personal foul, you're coming out of the game. So, that's all."

(On the reason Crum returned to the game) "Again, he wasn't thrown out of the game by me. He could go back in, but he had to come out of the game. It happened on defense early, and when those guys got penalties, we brought them out of the game."

(On whether he wanted to send Crum to the locker room) "Not at all. I just told him that he had a 15-yard penalty, a personal foul, he was out of the ball game."

(On what was bothering Crum) "I'm sure all those young men are frustrated. Micky is an emotional guy, and sometimes your emotions get the best of you."

(On his message to the team about handling emotions and the reason why emotions ran high throughout the game) "I don't think it was as bad as it could have been. We definitely had way too many penalties for doing extracurricular stuff, and we addressed it. I think it stems a little bit from last year with the Lamar (Jackson) situation, and I tried to address it. I heard a little chatter around the building this week, and I tried to address it that we weren't going to get into any of that type of game because number one, there's a lot of great players that have played in this program that we didn't want to embarrass. So, we had several meetings about it. I thought we should have been better at controlling our emotions, but I thought it could have been even worse."

(Can you talk about Jawon Pass's status for the game?) "He hurt his ankle. And he was in a boot for the majority of this week. And he had trouble dropping back and putting pressure on it, so we knew he was going to be out. We just didn't want to say it to give them a chance to prepare for Malik (Cunningham)."

(On Terry Wilson's performance) "I thought he played a great game. He struggled, to me, as I watched him all season, with throwing the deep ball. But he connected on a few today. That's what you like to do when you've got a running back like (Bennie) Snell, you like to load the box and try to make Terry beat you throwing the football."

(On Mekhi Becton's status) "I think he dislocated one of his fingers or something. So they tried to tape it up, but he couldn't go. That's as much as I know about the situation."

(Have you heard any talk about your or any of the other coaches status beyond tonight?) "No. We'll meet with Vince (Tyra) tomorrow, and we'll know more about it after that."

(Where do the players go in the immediate future without a permanent head coaching situation?) "I know that they have a team meeting tomorrow, but it's for some kind of exit going through the year. Vince (Tyra) is on top of hiring a new head coach, and I'm sure that they feel 100 percent that he will do what is best for the program."

(What do you think these players need right now) "I think, first of all, you've just got to hire a head coach. And then that head coach has got to bring in his assistants and start to develop a relationship with them. There's a lot of good young football players in this program. And the thing I told them all, we really have to change where we are today and in the future. It starts with discipline - the silly penalties we were getting. We had nine at halftime for 109 yards. You can't beat good teams getting silly penalties. It starts with discipline."

(What is your interest level in staying on and becoming permanent head coach?) "I've never had the thought of staying on and becoming permanent head coach here at Louisville. My life has always been… I take things the way the good lord sends them to me. I'm a man of faith and he's ordered my steps. And whatever step He has next for me, that's where I'm going."

Louisville Player Quotes
#33 Colin Wilson, #34 Jeremy Smith, #15 Sean McCormack, #9 CJ Avery, #11 Dee Smith
(General thoughts on the game) Wilson: "We shoot ourselves in the foot a lot. We have s big play and we go backwards because of penalties most of the time. It happened a lot this game."
Smith: "Penalties killed us. They came out ready to play, we came out kind of kinda ready to play and setbacks hurt us a lot. They hurt us a lot."

(What was coach Ward's message to you guys after the game? And what was your take away from the season?) Smith: We can't change what already happened already. Same thing we just said we hurt ourselves and stopped ourselves from progressing. That was basically it. He told us to keep our heads up and don't do anything crazy tonight."

(What's the keys to getting the program back going in the direction to where you were?) Wilson: "Discipline. With discipline, all the penalties we had won't happened. The big runs we had tonight, we got pushed back, about as big as the runs were. We are going backwards, going back to where the run started from instead of going from right there."
Smith: "Feeding off him, discipline and just coming together more as a team. A lot of time you see us as groups and not a team. Running backs are a group, quarterbacks might be a their own group. Offensive group and defensive group, it's never a together thing."

(What qualities would you like to see in a new head coach?) Wilson: I like coach Ward as our head coach right now. He's going to push us as players and he's also going to make us take something out of what he's saying and use it in life and just not on the field. Basically a coach who is going to push us and make us work hard at all times."

(Did you guys have a feel for when things started to go downhill tonight? When the emotion and the morale on the sideline started to change?) Smith: Offensive wise, I don't feel like there was a time. After watching big plays happen, or missed tackles or penalties on offense or defense, you kind of get a sense that things are starting to pick up and players minds' are starting to wonder elsewhere."

(Colin, obviously you guys aren't used to ending with no bowl game, where do you go now and what do you do tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month?) Wilson: "All we can do is work, use this season as a lesson really that's all we can do. And just work and not let this happen again, because I'm not used to this."

(Sean, just some early thoughts on what the issue you thought tonight was?) McCormack: "It's a lot faster in practice, I'm just glad I got an opportunity to go out there and play and hopefully I'll learn from everything I've seen out there and build up on it for the next time I get the opportunity."

(Sean, what's this year been like for you? You started on the scout team, and as the season went on you got to the point where you were in the game, how did things progress?) McCormack: "I've just been going through practice trying to learn as much as I can, just from observing. I haven't gotten many reps but really just trying to get the visual of everything and just build upon it, I feel like I did that and it helped me out. I ended up getting the opportunity, I wish I could've done more with it but lessons are learned."

(If you were speaking to a recruit or someone interested in the program, what would you tell them at this point considering how the season ended to convince them that this is a good place to be associated with.) McCormack: "I'd tell them that there is a lot of talent here. Circumstances just weren't what they needed to be, but there is definitely a lot of talent here to build on and if we get the right group of guys to commit and buy in and build a family here, we can definitely win a lot more games."

(Sean, what's this year been like for you? You started on the scout team and then as the season went on obviously got to the point where you were in the game. How have things progressed?) McCormack: "I've just been going through practice trying to learn the most I can from just observing. I haven't gotten many reps but, really trying to get the visual of everything and build upon and I feel like I did that and it helped me out and I ended up getting the opportunity. I wish I could've done more with it but lessons are learned."

(What qualities would you like to see in a new head coach?) Avery: More family oriented and just coming in and keeping us accountable for all the things we do. A big thing with us is discipline and we really need to work on that. I think the new head coach, whoever it is, he's going to get us right on that.

(C.J., why do you think things got to that point, where discipline was an issue?) Avery: "I don't have a true answer on that, it's just kind of a thing that has been going on all year and it was just selfish penalties on all of our teammates and we just have to keep each other accountable of those selfish penalties."

(Sean, how did it go when, when they put you in the game? I know Malik (Cunningham) went down. Were you prepared? How did you get ready to go?) McCormack: "I was preparing all week. My mindset was just prepare like I'm the starter and I got in, tried to keep my nerves about me and do the best I could. Not much more to do. Just go out there and try to perform."

(Dee, you've been around this program a long time. What's your impression of how things kind of got out of control this season and what you can learn from it?) Dee Smith: "I don't really know how, but just know that it did, we just have to handle adversity better next time. You've got a young group of guys so nothing will help but time. So over time we'll get better."

(C.J, as one of the guys that's on the roster that has the opportunity to come back, what do you want the, I guess the atmosphere to start changing like? How soon after the season is over?) Avery: "I think the atmosphere needs to change immediately. Guys got to- the season's over, we've got to get back into the weight room. We've got to get back into training and just building a great bond. I think the bond in the offseason, is what really helps the season. I think we'll just focus on creating a better bond."

(How do you keep guys together when there's not a coaching decision yet? And what's it going to be like in this couple of days, three days, a week, whatever it is without a coach?) Avery: "We can. Everyone has a perspective on how they're going to keep it together, but I think a lot of guys just going to kind of get away from football for a little bit and just get their mind off things and then, when a decision is made, that's when we come together as a team and start the new year."

(It's kind of a similar question for, for either the guys coming back. Obviously the season kind of caught everyone off guard. Where do you go from here in terms of what you do tonight? Tomorrow? Go back to class I guess) McCormack: "Finish up school. Really, it's on the players for their time at home because we're going to have a little break. It's on them to put the work in and get better over this break and not just sit on the couch and do nothing. You got to put the work in if you want to build a team and be successful. I plan on going home, just working on my craft, getting everything the way I want it to be and I just hope the teammates do too."

UK Head Coach Mark Stoops

(Opening Statement) "Obviously, a very gratifying victory. Proud of our coaching staff, proud of our team, just everybody for putting it all together and staying the course through a long, difficult season. It's not easy to do the things this team has done and is doing. When you're breaking down barriers and doing things that have been done in a long, long time, there's going to be bumps in the road. There's going to be highs and lows. There's going to be good and bad. I just greatly appreciate everyone in our program and organization just staying the course, staying steady, believing in the things that we're doing. That group of players in there, led by the seniors, is just a special group of young men. They've overcome a lot, a lot of adversity, and put a lot of hard work in for many years to put ourselves in position to do good. Really greatly appreciate that whole team and coaching staff. Our administration, I talked to (athletic director) Mitch (Barnhart), (executive associate athletic director) Marc Hill. It takes a lot of us. I appreciate our fan base that was here today and that core group that's always with us. We felt them in the stadium. That was a lot of blue at the end. It's been really good to see it all come together, get the Governor's Cup and bring it back home, and let these players take a few days to decompress and heal up a bit."

(Mark, two years ago, when you won this game, it gave you guys a lot of momentum in that December. What can this kind of performance do for you going into this December?) "I definitely believe it has to help us. We've won a lot of football games in a lot of different ways and that's what a team is all about. We feel good about what we have going on in recruiting and we want to keep on building on this. I was really pleased with (sophomore quarterback) Terry (Wilson). I really felt he did some really good things. He was 14-of-16 in the first half and really put it away at the end of the first half. He really played some really good football down the stretch late in the second quarter. With us getting the ball at the start of the third quarter, I know that was big."

(Mark, have you changed the entire offensive scheme this last couple of games?) "No, not at all. Not at all."

(How encouraging for the future is it to see Terry coming on through the end of the season?) "Without a doubt, it's really important. It's a tough position to play and there's got to be a lot of good pieces around you. He really was comfortable, threw some really good passes today in some tight windows. Bought some time with his legs. He really made a lot of good decisions. I think it's very encouraging."

(What does the ninth win mean?) "It's significant. There's no doubt. We want it. We're only guaranteed 12 opportunities, and we know how it is. And that's why college football is what it is, because you get 12 opportunities and it's a tough grind, and there's going to be some highs and lows. You've got to find a way to win the game in difficult situations and overcome it, adversity and bad plays, and getting nine is a big deal. It hasn't been done in 41 years and that is significant. I'm proud of that team. That's what I told them. They deserve some recognition because they've worked hard."

(Mark, was there any crowdsurfing in the locker room?) "No, I'm little banged up, though. Those big guys were throwing me around. I've been having neck problems, so it'll make me sore tomorrow. I'll be seeing the chiropractor in the morning, I'm sure."

(How tough is it what Terry Wilson did? To come into a senior-dominated team that was set to win this year and take over as the quarterback with no experience.) "It's tough. He was a transfer, coming in and not knowing the way of the land with his teammates, and just playing in general—being a first-year starter is different in college football, particularly in our league. But he's grown and stayed the course and stayed steady. He's had some highs and lows. It's tough, but he has to be able to handle that and keep on pushing forward."

(Midway through the season, was Terry banged up? It looked like these last two weeks he had a different gear, he played with a different speed.) "He was, but we're not making excuses. I'm not making excuses, but he was banged up. Played through it and he's certainly fine now."

(Louisville's had a lot of problems stopping everybody. You've got 600 yards, no punts, 29 first downs. What was available today that is not in normal games?) "They played hard. We knew they would. It's a rivalry game, and they have pride about it, and we knew they were going to come in and play tough and play hard and they did. They had some good stops at times, and we just knew if we just kept plugging along and running our offense—certainly, Terry made plays, he bought time, he threw the ball downfield and threw the ball in some tight windows. And our run game is always going to be there. We've just got to keep on staying the course with that. We ripped off some big runs late. That was nice to see, and (sophomore running back) A.J. (Rose) had a good run that kind of capped it off. We executed our offense and some of the pop passes, some of the passes where there's reads in there, we hit some of that with C.J., early, got us moving, and kind of kept them off balance."

(Mark, radio said [junior running back] Benny [Snell] hurt his back.) "Not that I'm aware of. He was banged up in there. I don't know exactly, to be honest with you, because I saw him in his locker. He didn't act like anything was wrong."

(Mark, as a rule, programs like to win bowl games, but there's still rewards for a season. I wonder with the chance to get the 10^th win, it's only happened twice, what that means?) "It definitely does. There's something about it, you're right. You hear 10, it's significant. And every win—we only get so many opportunities, so, it's very important. I felt like we really did some things differently from a year ago. The guys played really hard and we gave it a great effort, and we're going to do the same thing this year. We've got a bunch of guys that want to win. So, we'll try to make sure they're in a great mindset and we're going to go in there and give it everything to got to get another victory."

(Are you expecting the full team to go whatever bowl it is?) "I am, yes. I've had conversations with these guys. We've had some ongoing. If somebody chooses not to, we will address that at the time. I anticipate everyone."

(Mark, with [sophomore wide receiver] Lynn Bowden, he was in a different position last year. Just seems like this year, he's gotten better and better with his routes, becoming that playmaker that you saw when you recruited him.) "He really is. He stepped up today. We thought we had him on the deep fade that looked like it got deflected. I believe he was getting "contested". We just missed that one but came back a few plays later and made that competitive catch in the back of the end zone. He has been like that. He's been steady and getting better. We know he's great with the ball in his hands, but now he's getting open and Terry is hitting him."

(Mark, it looked like Louisville was trying to bait you with all their penalties, personal fouls. What was different?) "We talked about it all week, that we had to be have to be disciplined. We want to be aggressive and we want an aggressive mindset, but you have to be disciplined and fundamental. I felt like for the most part our guys kept their composure. I thought the officials did a great job keeping the game in check."

(For Louisville fans who have suffered through this season, do you see anything on the field that impressed you at all?) "Without a doubt. I know a lot of those guys over there. I know some of the coaches. They came out and played hard, I knew they would. They've had a tough year. If you are in this business and you're coaching long enough, you're going to be on the other side. I've been there before. I'm sure they will bounce back and get things going."

(Mark, in years past and long before you got here, a loss to Tennessee would send the season going sideways. Why didn't that happen this time?) "Because we've built on the leadership and foundation. We have been building for years and years. We have some guys who have some experience, that understand that and can bounce back. They have a mentality and a mindset and a belief system in each other and just rely on the foundation that has been set. I appreciate them for that. Like I said, there is no guarantees, but it doesn't surprise me. I knew that group would come out and play hard and just try to finish the season."

(Mark, a week ago, it was seniors who guided you to that win. Tonight, it was a bunch of guys who are going to be here next year. How much does that help?) "Without a doubt. We haven't had to lean on one of those guys, but we feel good about them. (Freshman running back) Kavosiey (Smoke) we saw a little bit of him tonight. A.J., his speed. That's good to see. Defensively, across the board, offensive line, defensive line, a lot of good players.

(22 [Chris Oats] looked a lot like 41 [Josh Allen] on that sack.) "Twenty-two has a good-looking frame. We like guys like that. There's some good, young talent there. It was good to see No. 4 (sophomore defensive end Joshua Paschal) back out there as well. He was getting a lot of snaps there at the end. He is pretty big playing that position right now, but he was playing a lot of snaps. He was getting a little tired there, but we just let him play."

(Did you reach your goal of changing the environment and the attitude of UK football? In your mind, when you came here, how many years did you think it would take until a nine-win season?) "I don't know. You never want to put time frames on things. We are never satisfied. We always feel like there is room for improvement and we are going to strive for that. Like I said, I don't take it for granted either. I appreciate the work that was put in for a long time. Just staying consistent and steady, continuing to work and build. We have some great people around here and going to continue to strive to do better."

UK Players Quotes
QB Terry Wilson
(About tonight being the best game of his Kentucky career) "I would like to believe so, yeah, I felt comfortable out there and we ran our playbook and we were making plays out there having fun, so I feel like we did good."

(About the offense needing a strong game after the struggles late in the season) "It was huge for us and it was a mindset for us that we needed to go out there and show everybody how explosive we are as an offense. So we just came out humming and ready to go and ready to make plays and I feel like it was contagious. "

(About being banged up late in the season) "I have a few little bumps and bruises and stuff like that. I had like a little sprain in my knee. But I'm feeling great. I'm feeling normal right now and this is a part of football, it comes with the game so I've just got to live in the treatment room and treat my body to get better."

(About winning nine games in a regular season since 1977) "Yeah, it means a lot but I feel like that's the standard that is being applied here. I feel like we hold ourselves to a higher standard and Coach Stoops does a great job on keeping our minds fresh and not trying to put too much on us. He wants the best for us and I feel like we all go out there and practice our best every day and I rarely see anybody slacking and if anybody is we're all accountable for each other and I feel like that's what it takes to be a successful football team but there still is growing that we need to do but I feel like we're coming a long way."

(About game setting the tone for the future) "Most definitely. Like I said, I feel like our offense is explosive like that all the time. Definitely at practice. We've just got to go out there and put the pieces together and make it work."

(What were the toughest pieces to put together) "Well, when I look back and watch film it's been times where I was a bit, not trusting in my reason and letting it go and not trusting everything. I feel like I've been playing my game and playing football and just letting everything happen. Not trying to force too much and just playing quarterback. "

(About Lynn being open in the end zone) "That was probably the easiest touchdown pass this season. That's the one that he gets open for us. I did a good job on expanding the play, you know, he was wide open."

(About film showing something about Louisville that was could be exploited) "In the SEC, we play some big dudes up front and we knew that we were going to have some time and take some shots down the field. They're pretty young outside, the DB's aren't really all that but we just knew that we would have to take shots and that we'd have to complete them. I feel like we had that game plan ready and we did it.

(About the postgame lockerroom) "It was hyped. Everybody was excited for the win. I feel like that's the standard. I feel like everybody on the team expects us to win and I'm just ready to celebrate the win tonight."

RB Benny Snell
(About the win capping off this season) "Man, it's not even really words to what it means to me. I be in the moment so much. I just be enjoying the time with my seniors. Us preparing this week; us just going through. We wanted it, we wanted it bad, because we had that bad taste in our mouth from last year. I feel amazing man."

(About not punting tonight) "I do realize that. That was really our plan. Going in, Coach Grant said that. The more we convert on third down, the more we would get in the end zone and they're going to quit, they were going to let up. I'm proud of my offense. I'm proud of my o-line. I'm proud of all my backs. All the running backs, they did an amazing job. I'm proud of twin. I'm proud of Lamb, he did an amazing job too. It was fun tonight."

(When you guys said you were close, week after week, you said 'close, close, close.') "This is what we were talking about. We wanted to come out swinging. We wanted to get that lead at first and make the statement that 'we here to play all night.' It was good."

(About the play of quarterback Terry Wilson) "T-greedy. He's came such a long way from the beginning of the season on his decisions he makes, being more patient, and trusting the o-line to give him time. I'm proud of Terry, he's great. He's amazing."

(About how much of win was Louisville letup or matchups) "The teams on each side, they're going to come out swinging. I say by the second or third drive you are what you are and that's going to be the game. That's making that statement early. Set in stone that we were going to play all night. Running and being on the ground, they were twisting my ankle and they were doing the little things. The refs kept me safe thank god. I just knew it was going to be one of those games. I was banged up a little bit, but it was fun."

(About the game little chippier than normal) "Yeah, that's because it's a rivalry game though. I expected this, I expected this."

(About playing in the bowl) "That's a great question. As of now I'm playing in the bowl game. I'm not done yet. To add onto this, it's not really important but I keep it in my mind. I got the all-time leading rushing record. I got 100 tonight, so I need 100 more. The bowl game will help me with that."

(About that decision process) "It's still a decision process but Benny Snell, as of right now, I want to play with my team again."

(About going to the NFL draft) "I don't know about that one. We are moving a little fast there. I'm still not sure on that decision. That decision will be made. It's going to be made eventually, but I'm not sure about that still."

University of Louisville Athletics

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