Post-Game Quotes
Oct 25, 2008 | Football
Oct. 25, 2008
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
Tulane head coach Bob Toledo
Well, I don't know where to start. I'll start with...we had a very poor first half performance. It was very disappointing, very embarrassing. We just didn't perform. We didn't run the ball very well. We had guys open we didn't hit them well, early. A lot of incomplete passes. We turned the ball over on throwing the ball, we turned the ball over on a kick return, we got a field goal blocked, we got a penalty when we intercepted a pass, and we didn't get off the field on 3rd down. It was just a total failure on our part today and I've got to give credit to Rice. I thought they did a good job; they executed extremely well and we just didn't play well. What I did at halftime, was I told them `lets forget about the first half and I want to win the second half.' And I was proud of the fact that we fact that we came out and we played hard the second half. But obviously, too little, too late.
On the first half:
It's hard to understand. We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot. we throw the interceptions, we fumble the ball on the kickoff, we jump off sides, we throw incomplete passes. We were just not doing anything well at this point. That's what's disappointing because we have practiced well and we've practiced hard and we thought we were ready to play but obviously, we weren't.
On how important it was for Tulane to come out and play well in the second half:
Well I think I it was important. I think it was important to show that we aren't going to give up and quit more than anything else. And to prove that if you do execute things you can score points and have a chance to win a football game. But you cant win any football games if you don't execute and we just didn't execute on all 3 phases: offense, defense and special teams again.
On Quarterback Joe Kemp coming in and playing in the second half:
He came in and the thing he can do is he has some mobility so he can get away from some pressure and he can throw on the run well. He made a few mistakes which is understandable, he hasn't played a lot of football; he took some sacks he didn't need to take, but he overcame some things and made some big plays and did a nice job.
On if Tulane's streaks of mistakes have maybe become mental:
I don't know, ill have to go back to the psychiatrist and see what the psychology of this thing is. They don't want to make those mistakes I know that. And they practice hard not to make mistakes; they are just things that happen. I wish I had the answer to that we wouldn't be in this mess.
On Andre Anderson's injury:
Andre dislocated his shoulder, I believe. We don't know how long he'll be out. He'll have an MRI tomorrow. Losing him obviously hurt us a little bit.
On how Nate Austin performed filling in for Andre Anderson:
It appeared that he did a good job. He's a big, strong, physical back and did a nice job. He missed a blitz one time and we got our quarterback hit pretty good, so he has to learn more protections. But running the football, the screen, he did a nice job. He runs with a lot of power. He did a nice job.
On Kevin Moore:
He's not throwing the ball very well right now. He's not completing passes. its almost gotten worse, so we'll have to take a good, hard look at that this week and see what we're going to do. We have not made a decision; we're not going to make a decision when we're emotional, so we'll wait until this week to decide what we're going to do. He was very inaccurate. Maybe it's the thumb, I don't know. And maybe it's the thumb. I don't know. As you know, we've talked. He claims that it's okay. Well, if it's okay then he's not throwing the ball well enough for us.
On the team's preparation for Rice:
Again, it's not like we don't know what they're going to do. We know what they're going to do. We practice what they're going to do, but it gets back down to you have to physically go and do it. And we didn't.
On Coach Toledo's decision to attempt a field goal a few seconds before halftime:
I was trying to get some points on the board. You try to get something on the board to get some momentum. We came out the second half we scored and kicked the field goal and we had some momentum. But, you've got to get some points and you've got to get some momentum going. And again, another low kick and it cost us. That was a big play because they ran it back and then after we score in the second half, it could have been a close game. 28-17. But you know they blocked the field goal and it changes the complexion of the game. And again, we were trying to get points on the board.
On how much pressure Tulane's quarterbacks were under this game:
Yeah, they were. And again, we have to look at that. I think number one, they did a good job getting guys at the point of attack; they were dropping safety's down and that's why we were able to throw the ball, we just didn't complete passes. I think the disappointing thing was on the goal line. We had a chance to score again and we got stopped on 4th and one. That was disappointing.
Tulane Quarterback Kevin Moore
I just missed a bunch of throws that I'm not used to missing. I just didn't play well. I felt comfortable going in; I was confident in my preparation and the couple weeks of practices that we had, but I played terrible today. I don't know if it was any specific thing, I felt fine. I'm as healthy as ever. Joe (Kemp) played terrific in the second half.
On how he feels about his starting position right now and how he feels Joe (Kemp) did:
Like I said, Joe (Kemp) did a tremendous job; he came in and gave us a spark. He was lights out. I was really proud of him. I was really proud of him, I thought he came and played very well. But like I've always told you, that can't be and it's not my focus. When I won the job in camp I said that wasn't what I was concentrating on. I was just trying to better myself and the team. And that will be my focus this week. If he does make the decision (to start Joe instead), he's the head coach and that's what they pay him to do: to make the best decisions for us. But, ill approach this week like any other and prepare to win and go up to Baton Rouge and compete and give it our best shot.
On if his thumb affected him today:
No, like I said, I'm as healthy as ever. I feel great. I felt fine.
Tulane Running Back Nathan Austin
On the second half:
We were just trying to come in and trying to win the second half. We just forgot about the first half and tried to go in and get points on the board.
On feeling like there was nothing they could do right in the first half:
It was a tough feeling, but I mean, in the second half we just forgot about it, we didn't just keep our minds on it. We just wanted to go in and put points up.
On the long 49-yard screen pass:
I was just trying to get out and get open so the quarterback could see me. And it just so happened he did. I just tried to do the best I could.
On his reaction to Andre Anderson getting injured:
I just have to step up and fill in for his role. I just have to step up and do the best I can. Even though I'm a freshman, it doesn't matter. I'm just going to do what I'm supposed to do.
Tulane Center Michael Parenton
On if the reoccurring mistakes and the inability to get past them is frustrating:
You know, it really is. Because we stressed it so hard. And we made a point to eliminate those mistakes. In some instances, we didn't have as many crucial penalties or killer penalties on the offensive side of the ball and the mistakes still kill us. That's something that we have to work for as a team to eliminate because, it's like we were talking about it after, if you look after the first quarter it could've been a 21-17 ball game. But we get in such a deep hole because of what we did in the first quarter and making those mistakes and not executing that it ends up just hurting us in the long run. And it happened against Army. And we have to come out next week and keep fighting and keep working and put it all together.
On what he will do, as captain, to get the team back to where it was in the beginning of the season:
Well, you can't really change your philosophy because if you do too much of that then guys will eventually tune it out and you're always the mouth that's yelling and all that stuff. I think that this team has a ton of pride. Its always been something that I've seen over the past two years and it happened with the leadership that we had with the team last year. I think guys will not quit on this ball club and I think it's a testament to this coaching staff and what they've instilled in us. And we know what we have ahead of us this week; we know how important it is. And it's just like any other week. It's college football. We played bad this week, but thank goodness there's another opportunity coming up for us this next week. We'll get in the film room, we'll get out in the practice field, in the weight room and we'll do everything that we have to do in order to prepare to win. We've got to eliminate these stupid turnovers and mistakes and prove that we are that ball club that played with Alabama and East Carolina, in the first half with SMU and UL-Monroe. We're a good ball club, we just have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.
On Kevin Moore:
I trust Kevin. If Kevin says he's healthy and Kevin says he's fine...then I think he's fine. Like he said, maybe there were some balls that he didn't hit that he's hit before in the past. But I'm sure there were some blocks that I didn't hit that I've hit in the past. So everyone has their days, but if Kevin says he's fine. He's fine.
Tulane Quarterback Joe Kemp
On what it was like for him to sit through the first half:
It was tough, but just from the standpoint that we're a team and we were losing. Not as much from the individual part. I trust Kevin. If Kevin's in there I think we can win. If I'm in there, I think we can win. If Scott's in there I think we can win. It was tough, but just because we were losing.
On if his second half performance gave him a confidence boost:
Yes, on a personal standpoint it gave me confidence, just because I haven't gotten too much playing time so far this year. But confidence as a team, I think we're still, like Mike said, we're going to keep playing and I think we're real confident in what we've got going on.
On his mobility and the ability he has to get out of pressure situations:
Yeah, and that's something I try to take pride in is agility and speed and stuff like that. I've been working all season with Coach O (Gavin Osaki) and all the strength and conditioning coaches and I find it to be one of my strengths.
On how he feels that Coach Toledo may open the starting position up for quarterbacks this week:
I think that'd be great, but I still think that until they make that decision I'm going to have to sit behind Kevin.
On his long touchdown pass to Casey Robottom:
I saw they didn't really buy on our flea-flicker, they used man-coverage on our safety and I saw that he was even with him. Casey's got the best hands of anyone I've ever met in my life and I was just going to just throw that ball for him. And it was a great catch, a great catch and run.
Rice Head Coach David Baliff
Defensively you set a tone that allowed your offense to do what it needed to do.
I thought we played very efficient in the first half on offense, defense, and special teams. When you go into halftime winning 35 to nothing, we had big plays on special teams, we made great plays on defense, and our offense moved the chains. The story of the game is first off, Coach Toledo, he does a great job. He is building something great at Tulane. That was a classy football team we played today. But to be able to hold them to 34 yards rushing, because they are a running football team. I know they went through the air and passed for over 300, but when you make somebody beat you left handed, we made them try to do something they don't want to do and I thought that was a tribute, to our coaches having a nice plan on offense and defense. The play Chris Jones made right before the halftime really flipped the momentum back our way.
You really performed well defensively today, were your guys just ready to go and give you the effort you wanted today?
Yeah. I thought we had a great effort, and a good plan. We maintained leverage on the ball, we hadn't done that. We played great leverage in the first half, we played physical. We did in the second half. We had a lot of new faces out there, and I think we just had some growing pains. We just got to keep growing up as a football team.
Explain how important it was to score quickly off of those turnovers. It's one thing to force them, but another to get a quick score.
Every time you do that its just one step closer to winning a football game. Even when it wasn't the offense, it was Chris Jones right before half. Those are just huge plays for us and that breaks people's spirit.
You stepped forward with the running game today...
Absolutely. We got our first 100 yard rusher. Well, running back. You have to do that. When you are getting those alignments and they are really flushing those passing lanes, you have to have a running game that people really respect. I am really proud of CJ and that offensive line.
It looks like some youngsters stepped up today and showed their athleticism.
Travis Bradshaw, to be forced in to action, he is guy [that] when he hits you hear pads popping. I thought he played very confident tonight. They tried some gadget plays, and they scored on them, but we had people standing there with them.
Rice Quarterback Chase Clement
If [you] look back at the way we started, the first drive throwing the interception, I think what we had schematically was working there. They were playing a lot of cover 2 and we were able to find a lot holes and sure enough, we were able to capitalize as we continued on through the first half.
How demoralizing is it for a defense when an offense scores on a turnover?
That's the most important thing. When you get a turnover, you want to make sure you score on them because it demoralizes a team and that's what it did. You turn the ball over four times, that's just tough. When our defense puts us in good positions like that, and our offense the way it is, we can put up points and that was good for us.
On establishing a running game to complement the passing attack.
Him stepping up is huge for us, and obviously that gives us a lot of balance because now you can't just look to cover JD and James, try to double those guys, because now you have to worry about CJ. Not only that, he is good coming out of the backfield catching balls. He is really a versatile back that can do a lot for us.
Rice Safety Willie Garley
On playing the entire game defensively
We did what we could. When our number was called, we had to hit `em. We tried to do our best to do that this game.
On the game's keys
We had a great week of preparation, we knew we had to break down and make plays when our number was called. Mental toughness is the biggest thing out there. We had fun as a team and made plays.
On Rice's blitz packages
We had been running our blitz kind of hesitant; we went all out and had to make our blitz in two seconds. The big key was two second blitzes, that helps out our corners and everything else is out there on an island.
How big of a confidence boost was the win?
Goal line defense has been struggling, and these past two games we have been stepping up and making plays. These guys are on the ball.
Rice Head Coach David Baliff
Defensively you set a tone that allowed your offense to do what it needed to do.
I thought we played very efficient in the first half on offense, defense, and special teams. When you go into halftime winning 35 to nothing, we had big plays on special teams, we made great plays on defense, and our offense moved the chains. The story of the game is first off, Coach Toledo, he does a great job. He is building something great at Tulane. That was a classy football team we played today. But to be able to hold them to 34 yards rushing, because they are a running football team. I know they went through the air and passed for over 300, but when you make somebody beat you left handed, we made them try to do something they don't want to do and I thought that was a tribute, to our coaches having a nice plan on offense and defense. The play Chris Jones made right before the halftime really flipped the momentum back our way.
You really performed well defensively today, were your guys just ready to go and give you the effort you wanted today?
Yeah. I thought we had a great effort, and a good plan. We maintained leverage on the ball, we hadn't done that. We played great leverage in the first half, we played physical. We did in the second half. We had a lot of new faces out there, and I think we just had some growing pains. We just got to keep growing up as a football team.
Explain how important it was to score quickly off of those turnovers. It's one thing to force them, but another to get a quick score.
Every time you do that its just one step closer to winning a football game. Even when it wasn't the offense, it was Chris Jones right before half. Those are just huge plays for us and that breaks people's spirit.
You stepped forward with the running game today...
Absolutely. We got our first 100 yard rusher. Well, running back. You have to do that. When you are getting those alignments and they are really flushing those passing lanes, you have to have a running game that people really respect. I am really proud of CJ and that offensive line.
It looks like some youngsters stepped up today and showed their athleticism.
Travis Bradshaw, to be forced in to action, he is guy [that] when he hits you hear pads popping. I thought he played very confident tonight. They tried some gadget plays, and they scored on them, but we had people standing there with them.
Rice Quarterback Chase Clement
If [you] look back at the way we started, the first drive throwing the interception, I think what we had schematically was working there. They were playing a lot of cover 2 and we were able to find a lot holes and sure enough, we were able to capitalize as we continued on through the first half.
How demoralizing is it for a defense when an offense scores on a turnover?
That's the most important thing. When you get a turnover, you want to make sure you score on them because it demoralizes a team and that's what it did. You turn the ball over four times, that's just tough. When our defense puts us in good positions like that, and our offense the way it is, we can put up points and that was good for us.
On establishing a running game to complement the passing attack.
Him stepping up is huge for us, and obviously that gives us a lot of balance because now you can't just look to cover JD and James, try to double those guys, because now you have to worry about CJ. Not only that, he is good coming out of the backfield catching balls. He is really a versatile back that can do a lot for us.
Rice Safety Willie Garley
On playing the entire game defensively
We did what we could. When our number was called, we had to hit `em. We tried to do our best to do that this game.
On the game's keys
We had a great week of preparation, we knew we had to break down and make plays when our number was called. Mental toughness is the biggest thing out there. We had fun as a team and made plays.
On Rice's blitz packages
We had been running our blitz kind of hesitant; we went all out and had to make our blitz in two seconds. The big key was two second blitzes, that helps out our corners and everything else is out there on an island.
How big of a confidence boost was the win?
Goal line defense has been struggling, and these past two games we have been stepping up and making plays. These guys are on the ball.
