Colorado University Athletics
Colorado-Kansas State Post Game Quotes
November 04, 2006 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Dan Hawkins
General
“It parallels a little bit what we've done. We start a little slow and then we got a couple of plays to create some sparks. Guys were doing pretty good there, and then we needed to put offense and defense together. I think guys were starting a little bit slow. Offense was very slow, and when the offense gets going, we need help from the defense.”
“It's probably typical of a team that's looking for external means of confidence, reinforcement and so it's hard during those down times because you start waiting for something to happen instead of making something to happen.”
“I think in this whole thing, you have to just try to get better. You just have to try to improve. You look at all the variables from A to Z, involving every aspect going on and you try to fix those and that's where you pour your energies. I think we need to spend a bunch of time doing these instead of lamenting about things that you can't change and you can't fix. Then, you're pouring yourself in the wrong direction.”
“You keep turning over stones and looking for something new you can throw in to cause a couple of sparks. I told the guys I'm never giving up and we're never giving up. We're going to play the season through, and I'll continue to be as creative as I can to find solutions. That's just the nature of it sometimes.”
On offensive production
“It's hard to tell exactly. For a period of time there in the second quarter we ran about nine plays. We didn't have a lot of opportunities and that hurts your rhythm as well.”
On defensive production
“I think this was a case of they started a little bit slower than they would've liked to. It's difficult in a game and in a season. All three groups need to feed off of each other a little bit, and it's been hard. They haven't been complaining about a lot of offensive firepower, but you know those things are hard. They're hard emotionally on you.”
“I don't think ?Flat' is the word. It's not a question of flat. It's a question of coming out and saying ?Can I do it?' and ?I want to do it,' versus ?I'm going to do it.' Again when you have those plays where things go right, you can slip into that mode of ?I'm going to do it.' It's very typical of a team in our situation.”
On the team's morale
“These guys have always fought. They always have. And I should give them a lot of credit. It's having those moments when you get that extra inertia that allows you to make a tackle or to make a run ? to do something above and beyond. They've never ever given up. They never have.”
“Losing always stinks. There's no two ways around that, but again, I've said this before, I've been in enough jump-starts where you start to understand the dynamics a little bit, and you understand how to attack that.”
“If you have a formula, if you have a plan that's been used many times before, and you understand that plan, then you can have a lot of confidence. And I do. It never happens as fast as you want it to, but you know the things that have to exist and have to go on and again, I've done it and many other guys have done it.”
On the difference between tonight's game and the Oct. 14, CU-Texas Tech game
“We had that situation where we got out early and we got to a pretty big lead, so you start having confidence. Guys are feeling good. They're energized. The defense played well. The offense came back, rallied off of that, made some plays, and you get ahead and then you have some confidence. And then you start playing a little looser and you start playing to make plays.”
“In a game you look at that stretch and in this game here, it's the same thing here for a little bit. Guys start getting a little more energy and they start making plays, and they get a little more confidence.”
On ILB Thaddaeus Washington, whose two front teeth were cracked
“It took our docs a little while to work on him and get him going. Then he could go back out.”
“Toughness is a huge component of life and football. Any time you have somebody that's dinged, and they're able to work through that, I think it provides a tremendous amount of inspiration to the rest of the guys. I totally believe in many cases you aren't as hurt as you think you are. I had a quarterback who played with a broken leg once, a knowing broken leg, a week after he broke it and I've had guys play with dislocated shoulders.”
“There's a lot you can do with the human mind when you will it to do that.
Kansas State Head Coach Ron Prince
General
“One of the big things was to come into this place on the road against a very proud team. These kids represented the North last year and to be able to win this game on the road in this place, and particularly against this team, that was really our goal. I was really proud of the fact that our kids did what they did and we knew that Colorado would respond in the second half, they're a very proud unit. Our coaches did a very good job getting the ball to the right players at the right time; guys made big plays, Jordy Nelson did that. To be able to run the ball allowed Josh (Freeman) to do what he did. I was very pleased with the way the game was conducted. This is a very good running football team, defensively we needed all the help we could get from our offense and they responded each time, which was positive.”
On KSU's First Road Win
“This is one of the very challenging mysteries about sports, the field is exactly the same. There is an element because they are just kids and when you go on the road with an opposing crowd and step out side of your comfort area, for them to be able to come in here and play the way they did in such a convincing fashion, we were hoping that we could get that kind of response and we did and I was very proud of them.”
On What Was Said in the Locker Room Post Game
“One of the things we talked about was being able to play four games down the stretch here. In our mind, November is playoff football. We were able to take care of business last week against Iowa State, and we were able to come on the road and win an important game here, and November is what we think college football is all about. We've got two more games in this month and it looks like we'll have a chance to play another one later and in my mind that's just an opportunity to win another game, and that is how we would like to finish the season.”
On The Play of Josh Freeman
“I thought Josh was very much in control of the circumstances with a couple of exceptions. They had a couple blitzes that got to us, number 53 (Abraham Wright) was significant. We were trying to keep out of those situations as much as possible and I thought we did a really good job of play-calling, which put Josh in a position to make some passes that not only were high percentage, but it gave us some opportunity for a run after the catch. I was really pleased with Josh's demeanor all week. He was very poised and had a good week of practice and this probably will be able to add to his confidence.”
On The Play of Jordy Nelson
“Having Jordy Nelson, a veteran player, having him back was terrific and he did what he's been doing his whole career, which is making big plays.”
On Being Bowl Eligible
“For the coaches and us, it is not a reward for the season, it is just a chance on a national scale to show what Kansas State is all about. We have a great story in Manhattan, the ?Miracle in Manhattan' and all of those other things that have occurred, and we'd like to be able to build on that. We have a great bowl tradition here and it looks like we'll have an opportunity to be able to continue that and make it very positive.”
Colorado Players
ON OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE?“We just have to start fast and finish fast. We started slow today, we practiced well all week. I missed some plays all game, but mostly in the first half and I take the blame for that.
“It's not like us to miss open guys like that. You just don't miss guys wide open like that and I missed them. It came back to haunt us in the first half. The second half we came back and we battled and we were making plays.”
ON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HALVES?“There wasn't any difference, it all came down on me making plays. I missed guys in the first half and in the second half we came out fired up and made some big plays.”
ON FIRST YEAR AS A QB?“I'm still learning, this is my first year playing in games at CU, so I am still learning. I just need to stay patient and to remember to play within the offense. I get us in trouble we I try to do too much, I just need to continue to play within the offense.”
GENERAL ? “We started off slow and the second half we came out getting back, but we just need to start off fast and finish fast. It hurt us in the first half.”
ON RUNNING GAME ? “We worked hard on the running game this week and we were successful running the ball and we just had that mindset.”
ON RED ZONE TROUBLE ? “It's just the little things. A guy may miss a block here or miss a block there. Myself making a wrong read, so forth and so on.”
ON HIS TD RUN ? “It was an option read, the guy bit and I had daylight and took it to the house.”
TB Hugh Charles
ON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HALVES?“We didn't say or change anything at the half. Really, we just started making some big plays and that sparked the offense and inspired the guys to make some more plays.”
ON OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE?“We can't always get away with just rushing the ball, we have to be able to throw the ball too. We just need to find a rhythm on offense and it will work out.
ON BERNARD JACKSON'S TD RUN?“Those are the kind of big plays that spark the team, offensively and defensively. Plays like that give us confidence.”
ON THIRD QUARTER DRIVE THAT STALLED INSIDE THE KSU 10?“That was deflating, I could hear people talking about it. It does not spark anything, it keeps the team down. We have to keep working hard and finish the season strong.”
TB Mel Holiday
ON LONG RUN?“Yeah (it was a nice run), they told me I was out of bounds and I was a little mad about that, but Bernard (Jackson) finished for us. Big plays spark the team, someone has to do that, I just wish it would have happened earlier.”
ON OFFENSE'S SECOND HALF SUCCESS?“I wish we could have done that earlier, we would have had even more yards, more points and probably come away with a win. If we could get the same energy offensively that our defense starts with we would be better off.”
ON FINISHING THE SEASON STRONG?“Oh yeah, we will still be fighting, working and keep improving. We will come out strong next week and hopefully come out with a win.”
OLB Brad Jones
ON KSU OFFENSE?“No, there weren't any plays we didn't practice, with exception to their reverses and other trick plays. I just want to give credit to the Kansas State offense, they played well all game and executed better than we did defensively.”
ON LOSING LB THADDAEUS WASHINGTON FOR PART OF FIRST HALF?“I didn't think it threw off the rhythm of our linebackers, we prepare for any situation. It was a big loss for us, no doubt because Thad is a great player.”
ON LOSING FS RYAN WALTERS TO INJURY?“Ryan Walters is definitely a great player for us, obviously it hurt us but we have guys who can step up and make some plays.”
ON IMPROVING?“In preparation defensively we have to come out with a new vigor. We have to come out each week with a new commitment to the team and each other. We have to keep working and improving to get a win next week. I keep telling our players that now it is about pride.”
GENERAL?“We let one slip away today. It was a game of momentum swings, they had the momentum, we had it, then they had it. Once they got it at the end we couldn't get it back.”
ON KSU OFFENSE?“Everything they did we knew and everything they showed us we practiced. Everything that happened was on us. This offense (Kansas State) we knew the best out of all the offenses we've faced this year, we just didn't execute today.”
GENERAL?“First half the offense did not play as well as the defense did, and the second half kind of vice versa. If we can get on the same page we'll win some games.”
ON THIS SEASON?“It has been really hard. Losing and me don't get along well, we have two games left and the players with heart and soul will come out ready to play.
ON KSU OFFENSE?“Everything they did we practiced, we just didn't execute. We didn't break down and make tackles or the big plays when we had the opportunities.“
ON JORDY NELSON'S TOUCHDOWN?“I was there, I knew it was coming I just didn't break down and make the play. It turned out to be a big one, I just have to go back to work tomorrow and keep improving.”
ON DEFENSE ? “We didn't play like we've normally been playing, but at times we did good and at times we did bad. The overall outcome I think was a poor performance because of how many points we let them score on us. When someone scores 34 points, typically the defense doesn't have a good game.”
ON KSU's OFFENSE ? “They had some quick screens and took it to the house. We had a couple tackles missed. Ultimately it comes down to tackling and eliminating the mistakes. We let some little screen sweep up the sideline. It definitely wasn't pretty but at the same time I still had faith that we were still in it and it wasn't over.
“We knew that they liked to run the ball and work off play action. To me, they looked no different than any team we've played. We still have to watch the quick passes and they were doing that a lot. It was frustrating, but [KSU's QB Josh Freeman] is just like every quarterback, just get pressure on him and shut down a run.”
ON LOSING ? “We hate to lose. It makes it harder to get yourself psyched up to go practice again, but at the same time I'm a strong man and just being given this opportunity to play college ball is a blessing in itself. Like Coach Hawkins has said, I've never expected this to happen my senior year, being 1-9, but at the same time I've got a lot of encouragement from my family and my coaches. They've made me realize that it's just a game and it's not the end of my life. Every opportunity is a blessing to go out there and play and especially the bond that I have with my teammates.”
ON LB THADDAEUS WASHINGTON ? “Not just today but throughout this whole season, people don't give him enough recognition as to what he's done and the kind of leader that he has been. I tip my hat to him. That guy has got a lot of heart. He's amazing.”
Kansas State Players
RB James Johnson
ON QB JOSH FREEMAN-“(Josh) Freeman is an awesome quarterback. He led us to our victory tonight.”
ON BECOMING BOWL ELIGIBLE -“It is a chance for another victory for us. It is also a chance for us to bring
ON WR JORDY NELSON-“He made a great play (on fourth quarter 74-yard reception). We are weightlifting partners now, so ever since he started working out with me, he is making big plays.”
RB Leon Patton
ON GETTING THE ROAD VICTORY-“We just tried to focus on keeping our mentality in the second half. We did not think about it like we were too confident. We know how good
ON REACHING A BOWL AS A FRESHMEN-“It means a lot to be a freshmen and reaching a bowl game already. I'm just really excited.”
CB Justin
ON BECOMING BOWL ELIGIBLE-“It feels great for us. We have been working really hard, and our team really deserves a chance like this.”
ON QB JOSH FREEMAN-“He is just a leader. He is young, but he is coming along every week very well. I have the utmost respect for Josh (Freeman).”
ON GETTING THE ROAD VICTORY-“It feels great. We have had great practices all week, and I think our coaches prepared us really well for this game.”
LT Greg Wafford
ON HIS DOWN FIELD BLOCK DURING WR YAMON FIGURS' 30-YARD TD RUN-“It felt really good. I just kept running until I heard a whistle. We always play to the whistle. I did not know where (Yamon) Figurs was during the play. I just looked at the guys in front of me, and they were still coming so I kept blocking.”
ON BECOMING BOWL ELIGIBLE-“We still have a game next week that we really need to focus on. We just need to take it by game. We need to focus and prepare for playing
QB Josh Freeman
ON THE OFFENSE-“We did not do anything different today than we had in the past games. The coaches were calling the same plays, and we were just able to execute. The line did a great job protecting, and the running game was really able to help us out. I think we are just getting on the same page. Everybody is just starting to get a good understanding of the offense. Coach is still pushing us and we are responding well. I wanted to come out a throw the ball today. I didn't really know about my stats. Coach called a great game. I was just paying attention to the score. They came out a made a nice little rally.”
ON 74 YARD TD PASS TO JORDY NELSON- “That was all Jordy (Nelson). We were hot on that play, I just got rid of the ball to Jordy and he made a play.”
ON HELPING OUT THE DEFENSE - “It felt good to help out the defense today.
ON HIS COMFORT LEVEL -“Today I was fairly comfortable. the line did a great job protecting. I just did what I could do. It helps me out a lot when the line is opening big holes and our backs are running through it and it is taking more than one guy to bring them down.”
ON GETTING THE ROAD WIN-“It means a lot. We come out every week with the intention of putting up a game like this, and having a level of being unstoppable on the field. Today they had a real tough time stopping us and we took advantage of that. It was just a great overall team effort.”
DT Blake Seiler
ON THE DEFENSE-“We had a good pass rush today, and that allowed us to not have to blitz that much. We came out really strong, and then we got into a little slump but we were able to pull out of it and bounce back. Our offense had a good running game today, and that was able to help out the defense.”
ON THE WIN -“It feels really good to get to six wins and be bowl eligible. It brings a lot of happiness to the program. We have a big game against
