University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes
11/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
SOUTHERN MISS HEAD COACH JAY HOPSON
Q: Breaking down the game...
A: Yeah turnovers. That has been the story of our season. It was five or six turnovers. I was proud of the fact that we fought hard and gave all of ourselves, but you just can't do that. The reality of the game is that there were way too many balls on the ground. Thats all I got right now but that is something we have got to correct
Q: How did injuries play into tonights game?
A: We just have to see how it goes this week. I am hoping that they will be back next week but we just have to see.
Q: Allenzae [Staggers] was suspended the first half...
A: It was team rules. He'll be back at his role [WR] hopefully next week but we just need to quite shooting ourselves in the foot. That is the reality of us, bang, bang right out from the get go in the first two or three drives. We gave it to them on the 18 or the 2, whatever, it just if we quite doing that we will be a really good football team. Again sooner or later we have to quit doing that.
Q: You are down 21-7 and it is 3rd and long and you get that facemark penalty.
A: Yeah that was a big penalty because we had stopped them and maybe would've gotten the ball back. We were starting to move the ball on offense and maybe we get the ball back there and get the score up to 21-14 before the half but then it goes 28-7. There are always critical situations and plays in a game that swing the momentum one way or another but I was really proud of our players and the way they fought. We just need to cut our turnover margin and doing the little things like holding on to the ball and creating some turnovers for the other side. That is what we have to start doing sooner or later.
Q: This loss eliminates you guys from post season contention. Tough postgame?
A: Yeah it wasn't fun. It's never fun but we just have to go back and figure out a way to fix the negatives. There are a lot of things you can take away from the game that were positive but we have to figure out a way to quit doing the negatives to put us on top. You can't turn the ball over five or six times and beat anybody. That is just the reality of football. We have to quit doing it.
SOUTHERN MISS QUARTERBACK KEON HOWARD
Q: You had a pretty good game tonight with 98 yards, a long touch down pass and a rushing TD. Tell me how you felt the game went for you?
A: I feel good. Our team fought. Everybody fought and that is all was can ask for. Just to finish strong. We finished strong. It doesn't matter what the score was, the down-and-outs, we all finished strong. That is my biggest pet peeve is when we don't finish strong.
Q: Those turnovers, a couple came on sacks and runs. What do you take away from that? A: I personally feel like I can do better. I can secure the ball better and put my team in a better position but it is just a learning experience and I am still learning as the year goes on. I just have to keep learning.
Q: Did you feel comfortable?
A: Yeah I did. I have the best O-line in the country because without them nothing is possible. I feel comfortable behind those guys. I know they are going to protect me and lay their lives on the line for me every snap so I am going the same for them. So I felt comfortable out there today.
