University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Football vs. Appalachian State Game Quotes
9/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Coach Todd Monken
Opening Statement:
One thing I will say about our team is you never stop fighting. All the way to the last play. That has been a staple of those guys. If you watch our guys up front throughout four games, they have never taken a field goal or a PAT off. That is character. That is pride. That is a point. You never know. You play to the last play. That has been something that has resonated with me in the two games we've played at home. It is about making plays when it matters. There are a number of things we need to work on. There are a number of things on the positive end and there are a number of things that we are going to have to get better on. I thought we had a great week of practice. I continue to believe our team plays really hard. They play for each other. But there are a lot of things we need to clean up. As I always say, I am the head coach, it starts with me. I thought our coaches did a great job. I thought our defense did a great job in the third quarter when offensively when we couldn't get out of our own way. We are going to have to scratch and claw our ways to wins and we did tonight. I am not going to over analyze it. There is nothing like winning.
On the performance of Das McCullum...
Senior. A guy who probably could have said, `You know what to heck with it. I am giving it up. It is too hard to come back and rehab.' It says a lot about his character and how much he loves being a part of Southern Miss football because we have had a number of guys who have said they don't want to do it anymore. Das doesn't say much but he loves to play football. He loves his teammates. And he loves this University.
On the performance of George Payne...
It was good to have him back. We just haven't had him. We are just rotating the backs. He worked himself back. He had a really good week. We know we have to run the ball better. We did not do that. We have to have a better plan on how to run it. I am happy for George. I am happy to have him back. I don't see any reason why we won't have Ito (Smith) back this week along with George and Tez (Parks). I am happy for George.
How much does it build confidence to get into the red zone and score a touchdown?
It is a powerful thing. When you are struggling as a team to build consistency, it is huge. We have to find a way to pull ourselves out of it when we are not having those runs. We will get there.
Does it resonate to be able to win despite not playing your best?
That is a good sign. I really believe that. In baseball when a pitcher doesn't have his best stuff and finds a way to scratch out a win. I thought our guys battled all the way to the end. I thought they gave us an opportunity early in the game. Our defense struggled early to get off the field. (App State) converted a number of third downs. In the third, we kind of righted it. We just didn't compliment it when we had opportunities to nail it. At the end, what matters most is finding a way to win. Now we have to find a way to do it better against a Rice team that is stung a little bit. It will be our conference opener. We will continue to get better. I know it. We have the right kind of guys.
Senior DE Dasman McCullum
On the blocked extra point at the end of the game...
"I just knew we had to make a play. I know (Rakeem) Nunez (-Roches) had been getting good pressure on the field goal blocks so I said `Nunez, you make the pressure and I am going to block it' and I just happened to stick my hand up at the right time and block the field goal."
On whether he was jumping...
"I tried to jump as I high as I could."
On the fumble recovery...
"My teammate kind of tripped me up. That happens though. I wish I would have scored." Sophomore Running Back George Payne
On his play during the game
"It was good play calling by the coaches and everybody executed well. The linemen blocked well and the receivers blocked down the field well and it was able to put me in the end zone."
On running the wild cat formation
"It is going downhill and that is usually my style. I just got my shoulders squared and just ran over who was in the way."
On his touchdown reception
"I didn't think Nick saw me at first as I was waving my hand and making sure he saw me. It was a perfect call by the coaches. The safety and the linebacker blitzed so I was left wide open. I do not think anyone was within 10 yards of me."
On his first rushing TD
"It was a huge hole in the alley so I need to give that touchdown to my linemen. I turned the corner and there was nothing but space. So, I just cut it up and got the six."
Appalachian State Players
Sophomore Running Back Marcus Cox
"Today is my birthday, but Southern Miss played a great game, defensively. They had a game plan and they executed. We came in executed at times, and other times we didn't. We have to just bounce back this week and work on the little things." "As a player you want to do as much as you can to change strategies if they don't work. But you have to deal with what the defense gives you. I had a few mistake, but I just have to learn from them."
"My impression of Taylor and his first full game... I am really proud of Taylor. He played tough in the fourth quarter. He came in and tied the game for us. He has a bright future. We just have to keep him confident. "
Freshman Running Back Terrance Upshaw
"We gave a full effort on defense. It's a hard pill to swallow. It was a hard L. We just have to look forward to the next game. I'm just working on my craft every day. I'm working on my technique. The Coaches put me in the position to be better and that's all I want to do."
"We communicate as a team much better to come together as a group. Communication is key. And all we can do is just play the next play."
