Southern Miss vs. UAB: Postgame Quotes
11/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Opening Statement...
"Well, it was not the way we wanted to end the season. It just not the way you want to go out. We had a good two weeks leading up to this and I thought our guys were motivated. We had a couple good weeks of practice and we just didn't start fast. The opportunities we had early in the game offensively. We missed two field goals and turned it over in three of the first four times we had the ball and that is really it. We really didn't put them in an uncomfortable situation. They were comfortable the whole game and when you do that to a team that ran the ball as well as they did tonight, you are not giving yourself a chance to win. We didn't particularly play well in any one facet of the game. I wouldn't say special teams played well. We didn't punt it very well and gave up a kickoff return and we had a kickoff return ourselves. Defensively, we really didn't stop the run, which is where it all starts. Offensively, we didn't run it when we needed to early in the game and didn't score early when we had the opportunities. We get a big fourth down stop and get a chance to get down (in their end) and don't execute. But as I told the team, you don't always get what you want, you get what you deserve. We just weren't good enough today. But we are not as far away (as we need to be). Our players have to understand that we are close. We just need a few more pieces. We have already started the process coming back, starting with me, but we have no barriers to success here. This is a great institution. It has always been a great program, because we have the opportunity here to be really good."
On trying to stop UAB RB Jordan Howard...
"I thought they did a really nice job. I don't really know what they saw on film that they were doing to make the decision to stay in 12 personnel the whole time with two tight ends, but they certainly decided that they were going to run downhill. They tested our perimeter a little bit, but we just misfit some things, missed some tackles and gave up way too many explosive runs. It is pretty obvious what happened. He is good running back, He is big, powerful and gets downhill. If you don't make him go sideways they are hard to go down."
On his message to the team postgame...
"I am appreciative to the seniors for the effort that they have put in the last couple of years. It has been tough. It's tough on everybody. You don't work as hard as we work and put your name out there and play and not taste victory and not have it be hard, but our guys have done that. Our coaches and our players have continued to fight and work and have enthusiasm, believe in this university and where we are headed. It is frustrating for us as coaches and for them as players. The seniors have been through a lot - the ups and downs. But I appreciate how hard they have worked and we just weren't good enough today. "
On being bowl eligible...
It's huge. Someone told me you are probably going to be favored in one game. If you get three, it is good. If you get six, it will be some kind of a miracle. It is a big deal for us. It was part of our goals. People thought we were crazy when we broke it down to conference champs and part of that was being bowl eligible. You get what you dream about. You get what you hope for and work for. I am very happy for these guys.
How tough has it been to prepare with everything hanging over the program?
It has been tough. My wife will say that I am one who can focus pretty well, but it has been hard. I have to admit it. It has been tough. Hopefully, that shows what we are about. If you didn't see our fans or what these guys have done.
Any indication of what is going to happen?
I have no clue. As I have always said, let's just do it and do it right.
On UAB's performance the last two weeks...
Give Western Kentucky all the credit in the world, but when we play (Marshall), they were rolling and for our guys to play like they did. I hate we didn't get that one because we were right there. I think that is what kind of team we've got. I think we have gotten that much better week after week. It showed today.
Is the team going to rest and figure out where you are going next?
That's right. We hope to know something soon. We will keep our fingers crossed and say our prayers and hopefully we will get some good news.