University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes for the Southern Miss-Marshall Game
11/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 25, 2006
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HATTIESBURG, Miss. -
Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower Quotes
Opening statement:"I thought we played really well in the game. It was a solid performance, and we won the turnover battle. We made a big play in the kicking game, and we did a good job of running the ball. I thought Jeremy Young had a good ball game; it's certainly going to give him some confidence. Defensively, we did a good job on their back. He's (Bradshaw) a great player, and he's going to get some yards on you. The best we did was create turnovers and made stops when we had to. It was a good game; we played well. I'm proud of our players, and I'm really proud of our coaching staff. I'm proud of our fans; I never imagined we'd have a crowd like that tonight. They responded, and we appreciate them very much."
On if the first touchdown set the tone for the game:"You always want to get off to a fast start and get some momentum early. We did a good job on the first drive, and we did a good job of mixing throwing and running. Then defensively, we go three-and-out and block a kick. We haven't blocked one in a while; I was glad to see us to that and get some points off it."
On the importance of Jeremy Young playing consistent:"If you're going to have a good offense, your quarterback has to be consistent. He's got to make good decisions, and Jeremy did tonight. He made good decisions and made some good throws for us. I thought he managed the game really well too."
On the defense's performance:"During the last few weeks, we really played well on defense. We gave up seven points against a team that was averaging 36.5 in the last five ball games. That says it all right there."
On the turnover margin:"That's one of the most important stats, the turnover margin. We talk about it, and we work on it every week. It's tough to win with four turnovers, which we had last week and won. That will be a key next week against Houston."
Martavius Prince, DL
On the win:"It was a great win for the team as a whole. We played well defensively and offensively. It was a good win overall."
On how the defense played:"That was one of our main goals coming into this game was to contain (Bradshaw). We felt that if we did that, we could make it to where they had to go to more of a passing game. We did a great job getting to the ball and causing turnovers. That is something that we emphasize every day in practice."
George Batiste, OL
On playing in his final game:"It was overwhelming, yet exciting. It's one of those things that you don't expect to come so fast, but when it approaches, you have to deal with it because it's life. We dealt with it like we needed to, and now we are going to Houston to play a very good football team for the Conference championship."
On the running game:"The hats go off to our coaches because they prepared us to make plays. We just came out and executed. We all came together and did what we had to do to win."
Jeremy Young, QB
On having extra pressure in this game: "There wasn't any extra pressure because we dealt with it like we do every game. We always want to win the game. Our goal every game is to get the victory and play in the conference championship. We just wanted to come out as an offense and execute and that is what we did."
On his performance:"As far as game management, we just wanted to keep the ball in our hands and keep their defense on the field. Our offensive line did a great job of establishing the run, and we did well in the end of the game."
Damion Fletcher, RB
On winning four games in a row:"We knew all along that we were a great team. The coaches came out and told us that we just had to work hard every week. We had to prepare well, and we had to handle our business on the field. They had confidence in us, and we had confidence in each other. We did what we knew we could do."
Marshall Head Coach Mark Snyder
On the deciding factor in the game:"Turnovers. And the blocked punt. But turnovers. Just like against East Carolina. You can't do that on the road and expect to win."
On Ahmad Bradshaw's performance:"That's the consolation, I guess. He put some points on the board. But we dug ourselves a hole and couldn't get out of it."
On the off-season: "We start season two tomorrow, with recruiting for us coaches. The seniors were very emotional in the locker room there, and they tried to buy in and did the things we asked of them. I hope in some small way I made a difference in their lives."
On if scoring at the start of the 2nd half could have changed momentum: "It might have. It might have helped an awful lot. We felt like we could come back and make some adjustments. We were gonna stick to the running game, we learned our lesson against ECU. They got a holding penalty down there, and it brings the ball back and we miss the field goal. Definitely a waste of momentum."
On Southern Miss' performance: "They did a good job. They had a good game plan. They executed it very well. Our performance didn't remind me of anything but bad football."
Curtis Keyes, Senior DB
On Marshall's Mistakes: "In a game like this you can't have turnovers. We turned it over more than once; we had the blocked field goal. To come away with a win we were going to have to play fundamental football, mistake-free football. If you give Southern Miss things, they'll run away with the game and that's what they did."On Trying to Get a Sixth Win:"As a defensive player you like to play a team like Southern Miss. You know there are not going to be a lot of trick plays; it's going to be smash-mouth football. It's going to be the team that wants it most. Apparently, they wanted it more than we did."
On His Emotions: "It's a bit of shock. I look back at my career here -- when you give it your all, you can walk away with a smile on your face. I had a lot of great memories here at Marshall. It's been a great run, but all things must come to an end. Tonight is the end."
Dennis Thornton, Senior DB
On the State of the Marshall Program:"We've come a long way, but we need to keep pushing. We cannot be satisfied. I know Coach Snyder will have them working hard this spring like he had us working hard. Hopefully, the guys will come out on top next year."
On His Emotions:"It hurts to go out the way we did, but that's the chance you take when you play the game of football. You have to take the good with the bad, the wins with the losses, and look forward to the next day."
