Louisville Football Postgame Quotes vs. Syracuse

Louisville Head Coach Scott Satterfield

(Opening statement)
"That was a big win, that as huge for our guys. We talked about sending these seniors off as winners and we were able to do that. Not only tonight, but also guaranteeing a winning season overall this year and also a winning season in ACC play. It's a huge accomplishment for these guys and particularly these seniors to stick with us this year and, it was tough on these guys. A lot of them haven't played as much they probably would have liked. Tonight we able to get a lot of seniors into action the night and make some plays which was awesome to see. The joy on their faces in that in that locker room right there, makes it all worthwhile. Again, just really proud of them - these games are close. Again, it came down to the wire. Last possession, our defense held. That was a huge goal line stand there had a ball and three-yard line, they went backwards. We were able to get that ball back and then offensively take off, five, almost six minutes and score a touchdown. That's how you win games and that was a great team effort."

(On Javian Hawkins in the second half)
"I think in the first half… Number one. our offense and I felt really good coming into the game tonight. They felt like they wanted to put it on them guys, run the ball behind us, that's kind of their mentality. And we kept hitting some big plays in the passing game in the first half, so we didn't really get the running game going as much, which we'll take. We'll take those big passing plays. But then the second half, the way the game was going, we felt like we needed to grind it out a little bit more, get the ball in his hands and allow him to run and try to get some of that clock off. I felt like that third quarter lasted forever, a lot of scoring back and forth. But it was good to get the running game going again. Last week was our worst running performance all season and to get it going back today… But it was good overall today too, because we had big plays in the passing game also."

(Any update on Russ Yeast)
"No. We'll get more tomorrow, some sort of lower leg injury, probably got rolled up there on that last one, that big play that had. So we'll evaluate see about it tomorrow."

(On finishing ACC play with a winning record)
"It's awesome. You'd love to win it, but Clemson right now is riding high and we're finishing second our side, which was great, 5-3. It's a tough league. My first time going through this league, it's tough. It's like every game, you've got to play your best ball. You've got to really focus every single play. A lot of these games come down to the end, who is going to make the play at the end, who's going to make the least amount of mistakes. We learned a lot this year as coaches I think, and also as players on this team of how you prepare well, you go out and execute and you're focused and you'll make plays. So it was a great learning experience, but while we were doing it, we won a lot of games. And the resiliency that our club showed this year, I think, was probably the one thing that stands out. If you look at the season and you look at individual games, I think that's probably the biggest thing that we're proud about."

(On the underclassmen coming back next year, that has to be a pretty exciting feeling for the coaches)
"Absolutely. We've got a lot of good skill players that will be coming back. A lot of production. When you look at both running backs, when you look at Dez Fitzpatrick and Tutu (Atwell) and Micale Cunningham and Marshon Ford - it was a lot of guys that are making plays. And it's fun. It's going to be fun for us, we've still got a couple of games left, but it'll be fun in the offseason to continue to grow and develop these guys. And then also take some of the young guys and continue to develop them. We've got to create a lot more depth, that's the one thing that we talked about this year that we didn't have a ton of depth. That's really both sides of the ball. But those guys are playmakers. It's fun to watch them play. They perform, they have fun doing it and we're excited about those guys.

(Did you expect to have the type of offensive production that you have had this season?)
"You always expect it, that's what we want. We want to be an explosive offense. So many question marks so it's kind of hard to answer that question, because you didn't really know what you were going to have. Offensive line was the biggest question mark. Those guys have played really, really good this year. Coach (DeWayne) Ledford, and those guys up front have done a great job. The tight ends we didn't even have one scholarship tight end we got here. So it kind of makeshift some guys, move some guys around. They played great this year because of the amount of blocks they have to make in the run and passing game. And they've gotten involved in catching touchdowns. We had a couple more tonight. So you just don't know. And then a lot of it comes back to the quarterback play… how well is your quarterback going to play. And you start Puma Pass the first couple of games. Then he goes down and then Cunningham and then Evan Conley. So we played three quarterbacks all along this whole thing. All the while, we put up big numbers. Coach (Frank) Ponce deserves a lot of credit - him and Coach (Zeb) Speir, the GA. They work those quarterbacks every day do a great job with those guys and give them confidence to make plays. So. we've got great quarterback play, so when you have that, you're going to be able to put up some big numbers and I think that's what we've been able to do. And the fact that we can run and throw. I think that that puts pressure on defenses that enables us to score a lot of points."

(On close games that come down to the fourth quarter)
"I feel like all of them are like this. It seems like every single one. Even NC State last week, they were getting ready going down and trying to score the end. And you think, alright get the hands team ready again. I told Rocco we've got to check and see, because we've had our hands team out there I think against 11 onside kicks. That's got to be close to a record in the season, I've never had that. I'd rather be that way than us trying to get the onside kick. I call my mom after every game and she tells me after the game to quit doing that. I'm like well, I don't want to do it, it's just the way it happens. And I think because you're playing a lot of teams, it's very competitive. We know how the ACC is this year, Clemson is kind of standing above everyone else, but everybody else is kind of right there. They're all close games and so you've got to battle you've got to fight your way to find ways to win games. It's part of football, it's going to come down to the wire."

(On the message to the defense to keep them in a positive mindset after having big lead)
"It was hard in the third quarter do that, they kept scoring. It's just the mentality of play the next play, no matter what happened. Play the next play and that's sometimes hard to do. They scored on two plays then they come back and next thing you know, score on another drive really quickly. So, we have to just forget about it. We have to get in our gaps. We have to make the plays. We've just got to continue to get better. I think that's the bottom line. We've got a long way to go in that regard. We're not where we need to be and they know that and they're working hard at it. The players and the coaches. And despite that, we still have won, our share of our games. So that's the good thing, when you come in and make corrections tomorrow and try to get better."

(Do you feel like they got tired in the second half?)
"I don't think so. I don't think it was fatigue. I think it's just doing your job is the bottom line. I think it's being in your gap, being where you're supposed to be. And I think that's the bottom line. And making plays when you when it's your turn to make the play, you've got to make tackles. It seemed like we missed some tackles in those few drives there. You've got to make some tackles, you've got to fit it right. So we'll go back and watch the film, but I'm assuming that's probably what it was. It wasn't fatigue, the guys, they were feeling good."

(You guys won these types of games, shootouts, but at some point, does this become a little bit of a concern with the defensive tackling?)
"We never liked it whether we're winning or losing. We never liked when we're tackling if we're missing tackles and we're not fitting right. We got to do a lot better job with that, again, we don't we don't like coming down and having these close games. Because we had a big lead 22 points and next thing you know they're right back in it. Our defense may turn the ball on we turn the ball over, and the held, we got the ball right back and then they drive down to the three yard and when we held them. It seems like our defense is making the plays when you need to even though they've given up a lot of plays and points but they are still making those plays when we need to."

(Before the year Jordan looked like he could be a guy who could be a playmaker for us. Obviously some off the field things now, what can something like that, do for him on senior day?)
He was very appreciative of it and I appreciate him as well you know he's worked his tail off he's not been any kind of a problem or issue for us since we've been here. All he's done his work. He didn't complain whenever he wouldn't give this number called as much. Tonight I told him that was pretty young for you man on senior day and, and he was excited and we've been working on that play all year really is the first time we've hit it, and it was just a good execution and I'm happy for him now. You know he'll forever remember that is senior day catching that touchdown pass and I love creating memories guys that will carry on forever.

(A big play and then a little bit of a celebration in the end zone. What was your message to him?)
"Well it wasn't just him it was everybody, and I asked him if they and they've seen our kickoff team, we don't need a backup 15 yards this we got a hard enough time covering when we're when we're supposed to be. So, we don't like that. They called it on Hawkins because he scored but he said it is really the whole offense. But I mean you know so they're celebrating they're happy I want to have have fun. We can't get penalties, but I want to have fun and celebrate. That's what it's all about. He's got to work too hard not to celebrate the week you know we can have the penalties we just got to make that right there come to the sideline take a picture thing wherever they were doing on the sideline."

(As a coach you look forward to being a part of that rivalry game?)
"I'm looking forward to it but I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do is celebrate this win. And we'll celebrate this win this evening, you don't get much time to celebrate, it's 7:30 or whatever it is now almost eight and l'm going to go to bed tonight, as a winner and beating Syracuse, we'll worry about Kentucky tomorrow. But were excited about it. You know me, that's going to be my first one. For this next week and I know our guys will be excited about it coming to practice on Sunday, we make our corrections and we're looking forward to the to the to the to the game next Saturday."

(Coach you hinted on it early, you started talking but just seniors are kind of really kind of revitalize this program just how important was it for you to help us take it this win for those guys?)
"Yeah that's real important so that's all we've talked about this week. We talked about sending these seniors out as winners and when I talked to him last night on this, a lot of these guys you know not regular players, you know was like 27 of them out there tonight. You know there's probably 10 or 12 that kind of contribute a lot, but it doesn't matter because they contribute so much more than maybe just on the field. Just every day in this building and in a weight room and meeting rooms. How they carry themselves and that's so they meant so much to this program this last year. Like I mentioned when the locker room on that December when I showed up and then for the first time, where they are now the joy of their face, means the world to me. And they'll forever be remembered as winners. And I think that's extremely important for these guys as you move forward in life and when they come back in business several years from now. We'll talk about nights like tonight. And so I'm excited for those guys and they're real appreciative, so it goes a long way and it's awesome, we send them out as winners."

DB Khane Pass, OT Mekhi Beckton, RB Javian Hawkins, QB Micale Cunningham
(About how important was this game and get the win for the seniors) Micale Cunningham: " It was big to get the win this for those guys and send them out on a good note. It was the last game for them in Cardinal Stadium for this year and what better way to go out than with a win."

(About Mekhi being emotional coming off to do. Can you just tell us what your emotions are and you know what that game meant to you and you) Mehki Becton: "It meant a lot, knowing this possibly might be my last home game, and sending these seniors away. It all hit me at the end of the game and it didn't me all day but then hit me at the end of the game."

(On Hawkins rushing for over 200 yards today) Javian Hawkins: "I didn't even know I had that many but trusting those boys up front like they do me every week and we get the job done."

(About the penalty for the celebration in the end zone) Javian Hawkins: "We have to live it up, right? You got to enjoy the game. We have seniors, like I said, is their last home game. We got to make sure we live to our best to the fullest."

(About why Hawkins had such a productive second half) Javian Hawkins: "We just wanted to, like us as an offense. We started opening it up for the pass. That opened it up right up front and then the holes started opening up everything. It started flowing and people started making plays and then everything started clicking."

(About Mekhi Becton staying in check considering some people consider him a first round draft pick)
Mekhi Becton: "Man, it hasn't been hard at all because I know I still have to keep playing so I don't think about it too much. I still have to play like, I don't have anything, and I feel like Coach Ledford helped me a lot with that because he keeps telling me 'stay the course and stay the course' so that's what I've been doing all year."

(About having young playmakers and having them here for a long time)   Micale Cunningham: "I mean, it's great having those weapons. Those young guys coming in being ready to play even though these coaches didn't really recruit those guys and they have been able to buy in. And then we have to move forward after this. This is a good win but can't dwell on it too much."

(About talking to coach said about the importance of the UK game.
Micale: No, you know he already knew it.
Mekhi Becton: He did already know it.
Javian Hawkins: He should already know it and he does.

(On Khane Pass' Senior Day and the importance of the win the seniors after everything) Khane Pass: "It was very important to go out with a win. You know this being our last game in Cardinal Stadium because they don't want to leave out with a bad taste in our mouth, and no regrets, so we're very important to get this win and to play good."

About Syracuse getting the first and goal down on a three and you guys were able to keep them out of there) Khane Pass: That was huge, that series was huge. I mean we bend but we didn't break so really huge. So I feel like that our stopping them played a big part in the game and how their energy went way down, So I say that was huge.

(About Syracuse's run in the third quarter, and what was said to keep them motivated or what need to be fixed.) Khane Pass: "We just made our corrections and we kept harping on we got to finish without a finish we played we played good at the beginning of the game but we got to finish the game so as Coach has been telling us we have to learn how to finish."

Amonte Caban, DL
(On that note,all the seniors have been through, just what does this win mean? A little bit more than just a normal win for you guys?) "Yeah, definitely, especially coming off of last year at 2-10. And just, you know, like we I've been in since 2015 so like I went to three straight bowls. Last year was so bad you don't even remember that. And given that a they blew us out last year, come back and beat them this year. We pretty much almost beat everybody that we lost to so it's definitely, it's real special."

(So talk about the series where they got down to the three yard line in the fourth quarter. How big was that for your defense?) ="That was big, we lost a lot of momentum, we lost a lot momentum in the third quarter. So we had to find a way to get it back and I think that drive and we had two stops. So those two gave us the energy to get back and finish the game up."

(You mentioned the momentum switching in the third quarter, what did you see change on the defense, or what was there or did you do some different offensively?) "We just, it was a point in time where we I got complacent was second with the lead. And so we had to figure out , we can't let them comeback. Then it would be Wake Forest all over again.    So always that we had to refocus ourselves and slow down everything back down and just our assignment."

TuTu Atwell, WR
(You went over 1,000 yards for the season and another huge game for you. What was it like out there for you? It's like everything was clicking for you.) "I mean it feel great the crowd and fans there to pump us up. Our quarterback did a very good job and I think overall the offense did very well tonight."

(How influential have these seniors been to this turnaround?) "Since day one they've been there.   Leading us and they've always there for us, especially the younger guys."

(When you know, the ball is coming to you, just how confident are you when you see the defender
up on and you know you're more likely to get caught?) "When my number gets called, I just take a deep breath, and I know it's coming to me so I got to take a deep breath and try not to worry about it and when I get a go."

(So we are at the end of the season and now opponents know what you can do have you noticed them trying to do things to take you out of the game?) "Yes. Coach Sat always calls a play for me to get the ball and every time the defense sees me in motion and they shift that way. But sometimes I tell Malik (Micale), you got to watch it now, I don't want them to just be blitzing til I get hit. But I just take one play at a time, and I just focus on what I have to do and I just get the job done."

Players Mentioned

Mekhi Becton

Amonte Caban

Evan Conley

Malik Cunningham

Dez Fitzpatrick

Marshon Ford

Javian Hawkins

Khane Pass

Russ Yeast

University of Louisville Athletics