Colorado State University Athletics
Postgame quotes
11/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 13, 2010
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CSU Head Coach Steve Fairchild
General: “You all saw it like I did; there are no excuses. We got out-played, we got out-coached we got out-classed. I did not see this coming. I thought we had a great week of practice and preparation. Give credit to BYU and Bronco Mendenhall and his staff because they certainly played a terrific game and we did not. Obviously our intent now is to go back to work and hopefully finish up the season strong in Laramie.”
On today’s performance affecting next week’s game: “I’m disappointed in what we did out there today but I think we are a much better football team than we showed out there. We’re going to coach it the same way we always do and hopefully we’ll show up and play like we’re capable of.”
On an explanation of today’s performance: “I thought we were coming along as a football team and I knew they were. They were playing some pretty good football. Any time you lay the ball on the ground like we did and give up a big pass play and let them get rolling, you’re going to get what you get. We couldn’t get them off the field on third down; we couldn’t make enough plays offensively. Again, we’ll look at us, but I want to give BYU and Bronco Mendenhall the credit they deserve.
On the Rams’ effort: The effort was there. I just think anytime you turn the ball over like we did and give up third-down conversion after third-down conversion, you’re going to be in for a long afternoon.
On the defensive play: “I thought we were coming on defensively and if you can’t get them off the field, they’re going to score points and that’s what happened.”
On feelings after the game: “I’m disappointed, obviously, but we’re in this for the long haul and obviously this isn’t what we’re looking for. But I think we’ve got some good kids in that locker room and I think we’ve got some kids that will keep getting better and better and will keep playing hard.”
On a carryover effect into the Wyoming game: “We’ve got too much pride in that locker room, and I think this Wyoming game is important. I don’t anticipate any negative in that regard.”
On the running game: “It’s the way they were playing us a little bit. They were playing more geared to stop the run and I could have made better play calls and I could have coached better, the whole 9 yards, but give them their credit.”
On having a big game like Wyoming to follow this performance: “I’m glad we have another game. Our kids certainly love to play. I would hate to think this would be the final showing of our football team. We’re very fortunate to have one more shot to go out and prove that we’re a better football team than we showed today.”
On his senior class: “I love those guys. I do want to say it’s a great senior class and I really do appreciate the senior leadership they provide. It is disappointing we could not send them out on a better note. I truly believe this is one of the most fun years I have had in my entire time in coaching. We had such great leadership and such great want-to out on the practice field, it’s just disappointing we could not send them out with a little better effort.”
On changes in the coaching staff next season: “I hope not. I think staff continuity is key, and I know we’re doing the right thing. I know we’re coaching the right way and I know we’re recruiting the right way, so I will do anything I can do to retain our staff. It’s part of college football. Guys do what they have to do professionally but we’ve got a solid staff. I knew that when I got hired, that was going to be key as anything and we’ve got a fine plan and a clear plan and we’ll just keep working it.”
On BYU’s improvement: “There is no question they executed better. They played better. We turned the ball over and the flood gates opened. We certainly don’t want to take away from anything BYU did today. They played a good game. Give Bronco and his staff all the credit in the world.
On three straight turnovers in the first quarter-plus: “We just gave it away in the first quarter.”
On the similarities to last year’s BYU game: “Exactly what we did last year. But (in 2009) we rallied and played the last three quarters and hung in there with them. We just weren’t up to it today.”
BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall
General: “Our team continues to improve and take steps forward and they’ve prepared diligently during the week and I think we’re well prepared. We executed at a very high level and it’s a gratifying win.”
On Jake Heaps: “I think Jake is just continuing to improve every week. He’s showing more poise and he’s making better decisions every week. He’s continuing to learn how to lead our football team and I think that shows in his performance and how our team is continuing to move in the right direction.”
On Luke Ashworth: “Luke is doing a fantastic job. You can see some real chemistry starting to develop in maybe the last two weeks especially, maybe the last three. It’s good because it’s starting to give us the balance again to be able to run and throw the football. The flea-flicker is something that especially early in the game we were trying to make sure we could capture the momentum and then hold it, and it’s gratifying. I think you have to prepare and execute on a higher level on the road, and I think we did that, so that’s another item on the checklist that we can now learn from as the team continues to mature.”
On the defense: “I think they played very well, very opportunistic. They did a nice job with turnovers. And again, we had a great chance to play a lot of players at the end of the game. I think they’re gaining a lot of confidence. I think they’re very excited to play. I’m not sure how many turnovers we created today, but it helped us win the game.”
On overall play of team: “We took another step forward in our execution as a football team. We have two more opportunities in regular season, and I don’t think we’ve reached our potential yet, and there’s an urgency that I feel and I think our team feels to reach that potential.”
On depth: “We’re starting to establish some depth and certainly some ability as we rotate different personnel groups in and different players based on injury, so it’s always nice not to have a significant drop-off when you put a new player in.”
On bouncing back after Hoffman’s early fumble: “It didn’t seem to faze the team much. I think the resiliency is growing as they continue through the season. It’s hard to remember the beginning of this season. There’s been so much work that’s been put in to reach where we are now.”
On what he expected before the game: “I thought Colorado State, when we watched their film against San Diego State, we were preparing for a game like we played against San Diego State. I wasn’t sure how much improvement we made vs. UNLV, where our team was, but this gives me a better idea that maybe we took a little bigger jump than I thought we might have.”
On how the success of the quarterback affects the team: “The quarterback is the most visible position, and so how he plays is almost how people judge how the team is playing. So when they see the quarterback play well, I think it just helps them carry themselves as well with a little bit more confidence. His play is helping our whole team.”
On the role turnovers played in the game: “It’s hard to score when you don’t have the ball. When you turn the ball over in the opponent’s territory, the chances for you to win are not very good.”
On his respect for Steve Fairchild and kneeling at the end of the game: “He’s a great coach and I respect him and I think they have a good program. I have been on the other side before. I think it’s a class way to finish the game, I wouldn’t consider doing it any other way.”
CSU Players
FS Elijah-Blu Smith
On his feelings after the loss: “It was a low blow to the team. We started off pretty good. We had some good momentum going into the game but we didn’t capitalize like we needed to.”
On momentum after recovering a fumble to start the game: “I got it and I looked up and somebody hit me. I thought it was some good momentum to get us going.”
On how surprised he was after BYU scored consecutive touchdowns: “It was kind of disappointing. I don’t know what to say. It was definitely something that gets any team down.”
On what to do to keep spirits up: “Work hard. Our seniors are still here and we still gotta play for them. We got a boot to play for, so that is definitely something we look forward to.”
LB Ricky Brewer
On having a great game personally: “Obviously you want to play well individually. If everyone plays well individually we win games. I just wanted to go out and do my part individually but as far as the team is concerned, I’d rather win and have no tackles then obviously lose like we did today.”
On when the shell-shocked feeling set in: “It happened so fast. We just didn’t show up in the first quarter. We beat ourselves. Obviously they are a great team, I’m not taking anything away from them. Penalties and turnovers, those are a recipe for disaster and that’s what we served up today.”
On how he feels about having one more game: “The overall message I was telling the team was that we got Wyoming next week. That’s the Border War. That means a lot to people all across the country. Bronze Boot. We watched them run over to our sideline and just take it from us last year. So hopefully guys remember the way they felt when that happened and use that as motivation to get up on that saddle and get a victory next week.”
On believing the team is heading in the right direction: “My teammates have a bright future. They have some great up-and-coming leaders. We have a great defensive unit returning. I just think if we concentrate on getting a win next week that’ll end this streak. We are one. Just get a victory and use it as fuel for the next season for those guys.”
QB Pete Thomas
On when he hit a stunned feeling: “This is the most embarrassed I’ve been after a football game. Played pretty bad on offense, and you can’t turn the ball over four times and expect to win the ball game.”
On the importance of next week: “I personally feel that I let all the seniors down. They’ve been great team leaders, great guys; we let them down today. But this isn’t the last game of the season. We got one more, and we have to get that boot back and send them out the right way.”
On having to change the gameplan after the first quarter: “We had to abolish the gameplan pretty quick and that’s not good when you have to do that. But it all started with the way we played in the first quarter on offense.”
On how important it is to have one more game: “Like I said, I’m embarrassed. I know our fans are embarrassed. We didn’t expect to come out like this. Thank God we have another game because we need to redeem ourselves and get that boot back. I’ve obviously never been a part of the rivalry but I think I know the importance of it. But most importantly I want to send these seniors out with a win. They’ve meant so much to our team and to me personally.”
On how he feels that he won’t get another chance to play BYU: “I can’t control any of that. We just have to play who is on our schedule.”
FB Zac Pauga
On a senior day he didn’t envision: “It’s the opposite of what I wanted to happen. Even if it was a loss, I would have liked to have played them closer and played them tougher.”
On what made the game get out of hand: “I have no idea. When we were sitting on the sideline it seemed like we couldn’t get a break, things weren’t going our way. I really have no idea.”
On having to throw away the gameplan: “We’d obviously like to run the ball, but when you’re down 35 points you have to throw it if you want to stay in the game.”
On what was talked about at halftime: “We just talked about getting back into the game, playing with a little bit of pride, showing people who we are. That’s what we tried to do.”
LB Mychal Sisson
On his initial feeling: “We thought we were going to go out there and give it to them after we caused that turnover. But they came back and responded just like any team should.”
On not being able to respond to BYU: “I don’t know what happened. You just gotta try and respond back, every time somebody turns the ball over you just gotta go back and respond. You can’t think about the last play, just respond to it.”
On how he feels that there is a game left: “I’m glad that we have one more game left, especially so we can give our seniors one last victory. This was a big game, but next week is even bigger because of the rivalry and to get our seniors a win.”
BYU Players
S Andrew Rich
On the freshmen quarterbacks: “It was fun to watch. I thought about it before the game and said a little something to Jake. They are both great players and are going to have good careers. It is real fun to watch real young guys play against old guys like me.”
On feeding off the offensive success: “It is key for our defense. As a defense, it’s not such a high-pressure situation. The offense played great, moved the ball and made big plays. I couldn’t be more happy for them.”
On the outcome of the game: “Colorado State is a good team. They have a lot of good schemes, good players, and good coaches. I thought it was going be a little bit closer, more of a dogfight. We forced turnovers and the offense made big plays.”
On watching the growth of the team as a senior: “We are growing as a team. There have been some growing pains, especially at the first of the season. Losing four straight was obviously an uncomfortable thing. We’ve shown some character and battled back.”
QB Jake Heaps
On the early fumble: “It wasn’t a problem. We were driving right down the field. It never shook our offense; it never shook the team. It was one of those times where we just had to get the ball back and get it going.”
On third-down conversions: “That’s how you have to play great football. You have to convert on third down. That’s a key spot in the game and it builds a lot of momentum for the offense. You have to put drives together and convert in tough spots.”
On Luke Ashworth: “Luke played a phenomenal game. He broke the record for having four touchdowns in the first half. It was unreal. He practices hard. This is his last year and he is giving everything he’s got.”
DB Brian Logan
On the change from the beginning of the season: “Just the mentality, how hard we are working in practice. That’s the difference. It’s the same guys. The coaches gave our mentality a change. We are running to the ball and flying around.”
On the defensive score: “It felt good. We’ve been talking about it all week, actually all season. We were happy about that.”
LB Brandon Ogletree
On the growth of the linebackers: “Every week in practice I see everyone getting better. It is really encouraging. Guys stepped up a lot and made plays.”
On Kyle Van Noy’s fumble recovery for a touchdown: “I always tease Van Noy that he doesn’t make enough plays. He was pretty happy when he finally got that one. Any big play like that has a lot to with being at the right place at the right time. Good job to him for being in the right place.”
On the outcome of the game: “Every week in practice, working as hard as we do, we know that we put in the work and we’ll be a really difficult team to beat. As these wins keep accumulating our confidence gets bigger and bigger. We just want to ride this wave of momentum out.”
