Postgame Quotes from Southern Miss-Arkansas State Contest
11/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 24, 2007
Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower
Opening Statement
"It was a great job by our players. How huge was the 4th-and-1 stop. They were moving the football on us; they got some things going. They are a good football team. Their quarterback (Leonard) is an excellent football player. He's athletic. He can throw the football. He can run it. It was a great job by our defense to make that stop with the game on the line."
On the Offense
"We're disappointed we didn't get more touchdowns in the game, but the other difference (in addition to the fourth-down stop) in the game is (Justin) Estes kicking three field goals. We saw a ton of blitzes, a couple of things a little different (than on tape). It was a game like we expected. They did everything they could to stop the run and challenge us to throw the ball. We got a couple of plays, but not enough, throwing the football."
On Tory Harrison Starting the Game at Running Back
"(Damion) Fletch(er) hadn't worked a lot during the week (due to injury). So that was the right thing to do."
On the Play of Arkansas State's Defense
"I thought both defenses did a pretty good job. We had 300 yards, and they had a few more."
"They gave us more fits than probably anyone. Three hundred yards--that's our lowest output of the year, I believe."
On the Victory
"I'm pleased with the win. I don't want to go back and say, "What if? What if?' Would you have liked to win a little bit easier, and not have it go down to the wire at the end? Obviously, you would. We said coming in this was a good football team. They had a chance to beat Texas and got a bad call at the end of the game. They were neck-and-neck with Tennessee into the second half. We've seen them play extremely well."
On the Senior Class
"It's a lot to say you went through your college career, never had a losing season, and went to four straight bowl games. They are real happy; they wanted this badly. They didn't want to be known as the class that broke the streak."
Arkansas State Head Coach Steve Roberts
On the game
"We're obviously disappointed in the outcome, but we are not disappointed in the effort at all. I thought they played extremely hard. We had some things that didn't go our way, but we kept fighting. We had opportunities a few times in all three phases of the game to do better than what we did. I am proud of the effort. We just have to fight a little bit harder I guess."
On the last possession
"We thought it was real close on third down, and also thought it was close on fourth down when (Leonard) stretched the ball out. I think it's evident to everyone here that we didn't get it."
On the seniors
"It's a tough time. You develop some very meaningful relationships. We hope we have done everything we can along with their families to equip them to be successful in life. I'm confident that these guys will be successful in life."
On the leadership heading into the final possession
"We felt like we were going to go down the field and score, but Southern Miss made some plays. They are a very, very good football team - a bowl team. They made the plays they had to to win the game."
On the defensive effort
"Our defense played well. We gave up some yardage, but when our backs were against the ball we forced some field goals. I was proud of the effort of everyone, not just the defense. It was a total team effort."
On Damion Fletcher
"He is a heck of a football player. He was the Conference USA back of the year last year, an all-conference player and had 1,300 plus yards going into the game. He's a great player and Southern Miss did a great job of getting him the football."
Southern Miss Player Quotes
QB #10 Jeremy Young
On the victory
"It's a great feeling, especially for the senior class. It was our last go `round at the Rock so we're all happy to come out with a win. We've put ourselves in position to get a bowl game now so we're feeling good."
"It's always frustrating when your defense is playing so well and your unit is not producing. We got those field goals, but I'd much rather have seven points than three."
On Arkansas State's pass rush
"It wasn't anything that I've never seen before. They did a good job of getting penetration and it forced me to get rid of the ball quickly. You just have to overcome those adverse situations."
"They blitzed us more than any other team has this season, and they might have got me a few times. But, we picked up the blitzers more than they got to me."
LG # 75 Chris Clark
On the victory
"It feels great to get this win, and keep this winning season's streak alive. Tradition never dies, and tradition is one of the reasons I came to Southern Miss."
On the attitude of the seniors
"There's a lot of love in that locker room right now, guys hugging one another, telling them how much they loved playing with them, that sort of thing. We've overcome a lot of adversity this season. That makes it that much more special for us."
On a potential bowl game
"It really doesn't matter where we go, we're just happy to be going. I'm happy to get one more game to wear the Black and Gold."
DE #91 Robert Henderson
On the game
"There's a winning tradition around here, so we definitely felt the weight lift off our chests after this victory. It hasn't been a bad year, but we feel it could have been a better year. So winning tonight to secure a bowl, and winning my final game in the Rock, is a big relief."
On the emotions of the seniors
"Emotions might be high right now, but I feel like it won't really sink in until after the bowl game. If this had been our last game, I think it would have had a much different feel to it."
Arkansas State Player Quotes
DB #21 Khayyam Burns
About the defensive effort
"The defense did a really good job preparing for the game. I thought the coaches did a great job preparing us, putting us in the right places and letting us know what to expect. We held them to a hundred yards rushing in the first half so we had to make some more key plays for us to win the ball game. I am definitely proud of the effort that the team gave. We just stepped up a little we got an interception and a fumbled recovery, we just needed a little bit more to give us a chance to win the game."
About his last game
"I think about all the seniors and I think about all the things that we have done over the years. All the two-a-days, all of the off season practicing and preparing; I am just proud of that and proud to be leaving with these group of guys. We lost, but we played well."
On Damion Fletcher
"He did a good job and made some good cuts. I am not going to take anything away from him as a back but we have seen just as good that we have shut down. We just didn't play our best game as far as winning."
QB #1 Cory Leonard
About the game
"In the first half we didn't get enough going and we didn't stay consistent enough. Our defense pulled off some big breaks that we didn't capitalize on. Throwing an interception in the red zone, looking back it was a really critical point in the game. That took away a chance for us to get some points. The blocked field goal to tie the game; that was another big play that we missed out on. We should have been able to put seven on the board. I can't fault the effort that we gave. I think the offense came out in the second half and gave a great effort. The offensive line played a good game. They protected really well. Looking back I am going to really enjoy watching the replay of the last offensive play we had. I really want to see if they got that call right. That caused 17 seniors the end of their college careers. I thought we did a great job. We fought hard and we ran the ball well. We controlled the line of scrimmage the second half, we just had some bad breaks and couldn't pull it off."