University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss-Auburn Post Game Quotes
9/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2008
Southern Miss Post-Game Notes Auburn vs. Southern Miss Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium September 6, 2008
Head coach Larry Fedora Opening statement... "Obviously we are disappointed with the loss. I was disappointed in the way that we executed. I was pleased with the way defense hung in there the entire game; they forced four turnovers. They did a great job; they were out on the field a long time, especially in the first half."
"I was disappointed with the way the offense executed in the first half. I think we were a little big eyed in some situations. I was disappointed in our return teams. We didn't get much done on special teams to be honest. We gave up some big plays, but overall what I am proud about is that these guys played the entire game and all the way to the end. I don't feel like they ever thought they couldn't get it done. They just kept fighting."
On the drive right before half time... "It was disappointing. We had that holding call that backed us up and then we missed the field goal. We needed to put points on the board."
On the first half's tempo... "I was bewildered on the communications problems that we had. It wasn't' the noise, but it was basic things that we do every single day. That's why I think we had a little bit of big eyed syndrome. We'll go back into practice and work. We have a long way to go and a lot of room for improvement."
On quarterback Austin Davis... "In the first half he didn't have a lot of opportunities to throw the ball, but in the second half the offense started worrying about themselves and not what was going on on the other side of the ball. There are a couple of balls that I wish we could have back. I thought he did a nice job rolling out of the pocket and avoiding pressure and getting the ball where it needed to go."
On the opportunities to score... "We put ourselves in a position to win, but Auburn is the No. 9 team in the country. Our players would tell you that they're disappointed in the way that we executed because we felt like we shot ourselves in the foot a lot of times. That's not to take anything away from what Auburn did because they are a very good football team."
On communication problems... "We didn't have a single communication problem in the first game, but we had quite a few in the first half of this game. I don't know if it was focus; I don't know what the problem was."
How will this game prepare the team prepare them for conference games? "There's no doubt about it. I told the team that we will learn a lot from this game. We are not that far away, as long as we do the things that we need to do to take care of the ball. We didn't have to do anything special or extra ordinary; we just needed to do what we need to do and we didn't do that. That was disappointing."
On the freshmen stepping up, especially of Austin Davis and DeAndre Brown... "Both of those players, the last time they played was in high school. Each snap and each rep that they get, they are going to mature as the season goes on. They both have a long way to go, but you have to be pleased with the direction that they are headed."
On tight end Shawn Nelson's performance... "He did what Shawn Nelson can do. He should make plays like that in a game like this. He should make plays like that every game because he has that ability. He's a good football player and when we have the opportunity to get him the ball we need to because he can make plays for us like he did today."
SOUTHERN MISS PLAYER QUOTES Quarterback Austin Davis On completing 10 of his first 11 passes... "I was just trying to get in a rhythm and throw a lot of short stuff and try to open up the running game with the pass because when we came in here we knew that they were going to try to take the running game away from us."
Why were there so many short passes early in the game... "We are always going to try short completion passes to move the ball down the field. They did a good job of getting there and making the tackle. We tried to get it out there and make guys miss."
On the difference between the first and second half... "We got in the way of ourselves in the first half and made execution mistakes. All of that comes back on me really. In the second half we settled down and did what we could do by moving the ball. That's something we look forward to."
On communication problems... "We practiced for it for crowd noise. I thought we did a good job; maybe one or two [communication errors] in the first half. We had some miscommunications, but other than that, I thought we communicated well."
Executing on offense following the turnovers... "We had a chance to win the game. They didn't beat us. They played a good game, but I think we beat ourselves more than anything. That's something we can work on and get better at."
Linebacker Gerald McRath On creating so many turnovers and not having the offense capitalize... "That's the game. You have to play through adversity. Coach said there are only so many things you can do up to that point. You have to keep fighting and things are going to happen. On Auburn's opening drive, it looks like they are going to score and we cause a turnover. Throughout the whole game you have to stay positive."
Did you feel like you were out on the field forever in the first half? "It's the second game of the year and you're still trying to get acclimated to playing 15 minute quarters. In practice, you're moving around a lot but you get some down time. Coming to a game you're still trying to get in a rhythm." Tight end Shawn Nelson
On first half receptions... "I was pretty excited. In the spread you throw a lot and I found the soft spots in the zone. The defense played good, we just didn't finish on offense."
On the offense's frustration following turnovers... "Our defense played great; they caused a lot of turnovers, but we didn't execute. We're a young team and we will get better."
Did you feel as if this was your best game of your career? "Receiving wise, yes, but I always want to be a complete player. I go out every day and practice hard. I need to work on my blocking."
