Quotes From Football's 42-28 Homecoming Win Over Army
Oct 28, 2006 | Football
Oct. 28, 2006
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Tulane 42, Army 28
Tulane Game 8
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, La.
TULANE QUOTES
Chris Scelfo, head coach
On quarterback Lester Ricard's performance against Army:
"The last three or four weeks he has played the way he is capable of playing. Our offensive line hasn't given up a sack in three weeks and a tremendous amount of credit goes to them but he's made great checks and he's really doing a nice job. I think we had 8 or 9 different guys catch the ball today. It was a total team win today."
On if he thinks Ricard is as confident now as he has ever been:
"I think he's a lot more comfortable today than he was a couple of years ago. I think our offensive line is coming together. He had 4 new offensive line starters for him out there. That is something that is difficult for a quarterback to get used to."
On if he thought the team played better today then it did against Auburn:
"We've gotten better every week. Today we didn't have a turnover and that was a big key for us."
On the temperature in the Louisiana Superdome:
"I found it chilly in there. I don't know if Bill Curl and them were trying to get us ready to go up to West Virginia or not, But it was cold."
On the crowd in attendance:
"I thought the crowd was loud. A lot has to do with the population of this city is down over half. Our kids enjoy playing in the dome. We play pretty well in the 'Dome. We're an exciting team and our kids have really worked hard in the classroom, off the field, and on the field to get out there and go. I think true Tulane fans see that and I thought they were loud out there Saturday."
Lester Ricard, senior quarterback
On how he felt throwing against Army:
"I felt comfortable tonight. Offensive line gave me enough time to find my receivers. Receivers were getting open all night. For the most part I was consistent throwing the football, the offensive line was consistent blocking, and it just makes the game that much easier. We just played consistent football tonight"
On how Tulane attacked the Army defense:
"It was tough for them to figure out what we were trying to do. In the passing game, we do so many different things: we run so many inside routes, we run so many outside routes. And with Matt Forté running the football as well as he is, it makes my job that much easier."
On the offense's performance despite not having senior wideout Preston Brown on the field:
"When you're missing one of your best receivers and still have a performance like we had tonight, it shows we have a lot of depth on this football team. This football team is on the rise."
On the play of the Tulane receivers:
"They've made a commitment to keep catching the football and being consistent. Those guys take it personal when you write in the paper that they had 26 drops. Those guys took it upon their shoulders to carry the burden that they are not going to be talked about."
Matt Forté, junior running back
On his ability to run for 100-plus yards for the fourth consecutive week:
"That's part of our attack. You hit them with the run and the pass. Right when they're backing up and think the pass is coming, we hit them with the run."
David Skehan, junior strong safety
On his interception in the first quarter:
"That is just game plan right there. I did exactly what coach told me to and was right in the spot I needed to be in."
ARMY QUOTES
BOBBY ROSS, head coach
On the play of freshman quarterback Carson Williams:
"I thought he did a good job for a first-time freshman. You don't want to play freshmen at West Point. He hung in there very well. He had a couple of interceptions early in the game but after that I felt he was okay."
On the performance of Tulane's offense:
"They have moved the ball well against some good football teams. They seem to have found their niche offensively. I don't think we touched the ball the whole day in terms of a pass breakup or interception. Run-wise, we were soft and they had control of the line of scrimmage. We had a lot of situations where if we just stopped them one time we've got the momentum. And we never did."
On Ricard's ability to pick apart the Army defense:
"We've suffered from (a lack of a) pass rush all year long and that has been our nemesis. You should do better than that; (a team) would do that good versus air. Twelve straight (completions) and then nine straight, that is ridiculous, it really is."
TIM DUNN, senior tight end
On his 71-yard touchdown reception in the 3rd:
"The Tulane player that was supposed to be covering me ran into another Tulane player."
On the play of rookie QB Carson Williams:
"He did a heck of a job. There are a lot of experience things that go with that position. It takes a while for a lot of quarterbacks to get that. He went out there tonight and played a heck of a game. He handled himself very nicely I thought."
CARSON WILLIAMS, freshman quarterback
On his performance against Tulane in his first career start:
"Anyone is going to be nervous his first time starting. It kind of all went away after the first play. I made some mistakes. The thing I have to do now is work to improve so that I don't make the same mistake twice."
On the Tulane defense:
"The safeties did a good job. They were quick. They didn't give away their coverages until the last minute, which (made it) hard to tell the difference. (Tulane also) did a good job at getting in the passing lanes."
On what he feels he needs to improve on:
"I don't have to win the game by myself. I just have to manage it. If I do my job, everybody else will do theirs."
