Colorado University Athletics
Colorado-Washington State Quotes
October 01, 2011 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Jon Embree
On Why His Team Can't Finish - "I have no idea. We are up 10 with 3-minutes left and we can't make a play on either side of the ball. I don't know what it is. We are practicing situations until we are blue in the face just for these situations. We failed to execute on either side of the ball. No excuse."
On Trying To Change The Team's Mentality "It has not changed. It is still there. I have not gotten the mentality changed."
On What Happened In The Last Washington State Touchdown "It was a blown coverage."
On If His Team Thought They Had Won The Game "No because we weren't acting like it. There was no celebrating going on down there. There was no giddiness going on down there so I don't think they were acting as if the game was over by any stretch of the imagination."
On If The Issues With The Secondary Finally Catching Up To the Team "It is what we got, so we have to play with it and find a way to play it and win. It is who we have, we can't change that. Injuries are a part of the game so that is what we have so that is what we have to work with."
On How He Tried To Fix The Secondary Issues "Blitzing, mixing zone and man whatever it is you can do to try and help. We had some guys out there who it was obviously their first time and this is not the league to be in to be learning by trial-and-error."
On What He Told The Team In the Locker Room After The Game "I asked them 'When is it going to be enough When is enough, enough You put in all of this work, you do all of this stuff that you have done from spring ball to training camp for this This is what we did the work for So when is it enough' When are they going to get tired of losing When are they going to get tired of finding a way to lose because you know what, this staff, we've been here for five weeks and I'm tired of it. So if you've been here for five years, you've got to be tired of it myself too."
On If The Team Is Still Improving "We are improving in some areas, but are going backwards in others. We are OK in special teams, but then we give up a blocked field goal because a guy decided that he wanted to take a play off. We were decent in the kick return game, I thought we punted the ball better. We had some substitution issues just because of our personnel - of all of the injuries and guys working in a lot of different spots. So a couple of times on the field guys are in or they aren't in. So we'll make it so it is really easy. We get better in some areas and in other areas we haven't and until we play a complete game and I've said it since day one we are not good enough to play with penalties, we are not good enough to not play as a team. We are not good enough. Until we figure it out, we'll be sitting here doing these kinds of press conferences."
On If The Approach Changed In The Last Two Defensive Drives "You will have to talk to (defensive coordinator Greg) Brown about all of the calls. I don't think it changed drastically. I think he was trying to get guys help is certain situations and take away some things. So you will have to talk to him specifically if there is anything drastically different than what we had been doing all game. My initial reaction to that is maybe one call, here or there, but for the most part, I think he had been doing what he had been doing for most of the game. You don't have too much in just because of what we were dealing with. You can't ask them to learn too much."
On His Team Not Taking Advantage Of Opportunities "There were plenty of opportunities within that game and there is in every game. That is why we have to understand that every play is important and it all counts. We talk about that when we train, it all counts. Everything counts. So we had opportunities in there."
On His Patience With The Program And His Need To Win "All games. I said it Monday. I hate losing and I'm competitive and I expect these guys to win every time we go out there. I know people look at me as if I am crazy and they talk about the things that we don't have, but what we do have, we have to find a way to win with it. Complaining what you don't have or talking about all of this other stuff doesn't matter because we have to play, so let's go play we get a chance to play. We have to have urgency when we play; we have to expect to win. We don't expect win, we obviously don't. So that is on me, I have to figure out a way to get these guys to believe that they can win. It starts with Jon Embree, no one else."
On What Does Washington State's Performance Say About The Strength Of The Pac-12 Conference "I don't know. It is what it is. It is a good league, but like I've said before, I don't see ourselves being the worst team in the league."
On Allowing Growing Pains With His Staff "I haven't thought about it because I look at it as an excuse."
On If Losing Hurts More As A Head Coach "It is far tougher as a head coach."
Washington State Head Coach Paul Wulff
What The Win Means For The Program "It's a real big win for a lot of reasons. Just to get a conference victory on the road this year and how we won to overcome so many things that happened. It was just great to be able to come out on top."
On The Difference In The Game "Just our perseverance; our guys kept playing hard. In the fourth quarter, we came alive. We played good defense. They popped a big run on us and we gave them that touchdown. Our defense played pretty well and offensively, we converted the last few times we had the ball."
On The Game-Winning Touchdown Pass "On the interception [Marshall] Lobbestael threw, we came back to the same play. We ran a double-move and Marquees Wilson went over the top."
On The Obstacles "There are a lot of things going on out there that I do not have a great view from, and there are things I have a good view on. Our troops just kept playing. The players just didn't let it affect themthat was the bottom line."
On The Game-Winning Fumble Recovery "They threw the ball on a crossing route, and one of our players just grabbed the arms."
On Before The Final Touchdown Pass "I was looking at it and thought, 'Marshall, don't overthrow it.' I couldn't tell from my angle."
On Benefiting From CU's Defensive Injuries "We didn't know for sure, because they did some things a little differently from what they've shownit happens. [Embree] still had three of their starters. We knew that some of their back-ups were playing, but we didn't go into this thinking that we were playing with a particular advantage."
On What This Says About His Team "When we win on the road and were behind late, I think it says a lot about character, a lot about perseverance. They've been working hard to get a road win. I think it says a lot."
On The Gratification Of The Win "It's very gratifying, because we came out here and didn't play very well and Colorado played their best football game. They weren't sloppy. Their offense did a lot of good stuff. Based on the film that I've seen of them before, today they were really good."
Colorado Players
CB Brian Lockridge
On Playing a New Position "I felt really comfortable with the position. I have a lot to learn, but picking it up in only three days, I felt I did really well today."
On Being Targeted By WSU Offense- "Being new, I kind of expect that, I'm still learning the position and I expect them to target me, so I must learn (the defense) and pick it up real fast."
On How To Move Forward After Another Close Loss- "As a team I think we just need to stay positive, continue working hard, and be the players that we are, and that's great players."
On Defensive Struggles- "We made a lot of mistakes, mental errors and it cost us. Mental errors is one thing that has been (hurting the team) for a while, and that's one thing that needs to change."
On Improving Next Week at Corner- "Get (more) hands on, and get in the receivers head."
CB Jason Espinoza
On The Depth at Cornerback - "We definitely have some guys that are hurt right now, and we want them back as soon as possible. But things like that happen, and you just have to go with it, adversity happens."
On Comfort Level With New Position- "The coaches got me and everyone else prepared for this game. There wasn't anything I was unsure about regarding who I had (to cover) or anything like that.
On Giving Up Points On Defense- "A lot of the (problem) is we hurt ourselves as a team with penalties, and things like that. Also field position plays a big role, and over the past few games we have given the other team really good field position. When you give teams half the field to work with, it is not too hard to move the ball."
PK Will Oliver
On Playing As a Freshman- "I'm just excited to have the opportunity, and I'm here doing what I can and hope it works."
On Being a Kicker In Close Games- "No matter what you are going to have to learn how to be good under pressure, so you have to learn it now or you won't be able to do it when it matters."
On Blocked Kicked- "I thought I hit the ball pretty well, I'm going to look at it on film but the entire right side went right through the line. I don't watch what happens, I just looked up and saw a Washington State (player) standing in my face."
DB Anthony Perkins
On The Defensive Coverage During WSU's Last Touchdown "(Marquess Wilson) ran a double-move, and we got beat."
On Play Of The Corners- "They did a great job, and we have so many young (corners) that were on their own for a lot of the game playing one-on-one coverage with the receivers and they did a great job. My hat is off to them, they competed...and I am excited to move forward with these guys, because I know that they are going to compete and work really hard, and the only place to go is up."
On The Mood Of The Defense Late In The Game- "We were excited (to protect the lead), we were up by ten points, we wanted to make them eat up clock and force them off the field as soon as possible. We were OK giving up some yards as long as it was eating up clock. But my hat is off to their offense; they drove down the field and were able to seal that drive off with a touchdown."
On The Difficulty To Rebound And Play Stanford- "We don't have a choice, we have to come back strong. After a game like this, there can only be one place to go, and we have to make sure we go up."
OLB Josh Hartigan
On Having Confidence As a Team- "It's just a matter of believing, and coming out and proving that and showing it on the field. We just don't make enough plays, and that includes me and everyone on the team. It is all about making (more) plays, making plays wins the game."
On Being Tired Of Losing- "It has been enough for me for a while, but all I can do is go out and try to do my job and play hard and try to help the team the best I can."
On Camaraderie Of Team - "I've been here for five years and I think this is the most together we have been (as a team) since I've been here. Everybody is talking and getting along. Competition can create animosity among players, but competition is needed right now to see who we need to put on the field (to help the team win)."
ILB Douglas Rippy
On The Loss Against Washington State- "All the work we put in during off season needs to show. We have to believe that we have to win. This is not the same program; we just have to trust our coaches and do what we have to do. It was a tough loss, just like Cal at home."
On How Much More Difficult This Loss Is Than Cal- "Yes this loss is difficult but at the same time we have to move on. We have to go back, watch film, and look at the things we did wrong. We have to correct them and not linger on the mistakes, because it's only going to carry over to next week and we need to move on."
On Washington State's QB And Offensive Line- "Their front line did a good job of protecting their quarterback, especially their running back, he did as much as he could but we didn't change the game plan that much. Obviously they made good plays so at the end of the day we just have to go out there and do our job. But you have to give it up for their offensive line."
On Washington State's WR Marquess Wilson- "We had to stop him. That was our main goal for us; he is just like Paul Richardson. We were just basically trying to stop the passing game and the running game; that was the whole game plan."
On Whether He Thought They Would Win At The Half- "Some games we just have to have it, the game is not won in just two quarters it takes all four quarters to win the game. At the same time as that we can't go out there with the mind-set that we are going to lose. You have to come together as a team and continue to grow through it."
On Embree Saying, "When Is Enough, Enough" After The Game- "Honestly I had enough after the Hawai'i game. I just hope every other guy did too. It takes some guys longer than others to really realize, but at the same time we've been losing for the past five years. I came from a high school program that was a losing program too, and I'm tired of it. It gets old. I want to win. When you walk around on campus, people bug you about what happened in the game. I'm just ready to win."
FS Ray Polk
On What Coach Said In The Locker Room "We have to figure out that it's ok to win. It's ok to be great, and we have a great team. It's just hard; I think this program has been through a lot. It's a stepping stone to figure out that we are really improving. We just have to perform and play well."
On Brian Lockridge And Jason Espinoza "I think they held their own. I knew going into it they were going to do a good job. I knew that some balls would be completed, others would be batted down. I think they did a great job. It is his first week playing corner and that is amazing ... (When I switched) It's hard, It's a completely different position."
QB Tyler Hansen
On Looking Upset About The Game- "I'm frustrated and disappointed; we constantly find ways to lose the game. We're up 10, we're up 14; we had opportunities to take the game. And we can't make that one play, can't get that first down. It's disappointing."
On The 3rd Down Call Of Throwing Instead Of Running- "It was a good call. They were in a good defense. It was the high point of the game. I had to throw the ball away, or take the sack. You have to give credit to them for reading the play. We have to make that play. We have to find a way ... It's tough, as a quarterback you have to switch your mindset to throwing the ball away ... we have to find a way to make that one play. We expect to win. We consistently find a way in critical conditions to not make a play and that's me included, that's everyone."
On Players Not Having The Right Urgency- "We need to have it every time and get it in the guys' minds that every play can be the game. You never know when that the critical play is going to come. It could be the first play of the game, or it could've been the pick I threw. That could be the outcome of the game. Guys cannot take any play for granted. We have to play as hard as we can."
On the Mentality Change From Last Year- "Yes I think so, last years' guys would've gone through the motions, but this year we're still playing. We're going to get it; we've got to get it."
Washington State Players
DE Travis Long
On What He Did To Prepare For The Game "I worked my butt off all week and came out and played hard."
On His Team's Penalties "We had a lot of things that didn't go our way, but you can't worry about that and we did a very good job and we kept fighting and fighting."
On The Five Personal Foul Penalties "We were just making stupid mistakes but we cut those down in the second half and we just played our game."
DE Logan Mayes
On His Fourth Quarter Sack Of CU QB Tyler Hansen "I didn't really get off the ball that quick and I didn't use my technique but I just kept going and going and just kept fighting, and eventually I just got by the guy and the quarterback was still holding the ball. Our secondary did a great job in coverage and I just made the tackle. It's a great feeling coming to my first game and making a sack."
On Getting Playing Time As A Freshman "Well I'm the youngest so they're always reminding me to take advantage of this opportunity. Travis Long also played as a freshman so he's always encouraging me and giving me advice."
On The Finish Of The Game "It was kind of a Cinderella story; it was a storybook ending. We just kept making plays even though we were getting hit with adversity. We just kept getting knocked down but we kept getting back up and we finally knocked them down and won the ball game. That's Cougar football right there."
WR Jared Karstetter
On How The Offense Played "We executed our game plan, we kept drives alive. We executed in the second half and took some quality shots down the field."
On What The Win Means To The Team "It's huge. All year we've preached finish, believe. After losing last week and we come to this week and it's not looking that good. But we just believed, believed, believed and we got it done. This win really means a ton. This is obviously a quality opponent, our first Pac-12 game and we got the W."
On The Atmosphere In Boulder "It was great; the crowd was lively the whole game. It was a lot of fun to play here I'm happy we got the W."
On His Thoughts Of The Cougars' Final Score "Just catch the damn ball. As soon as I saw it in the air, I just started screaming and running. We gave him [WR Marquess Wilson] a chance and he redeemed himself. He always makes a play at the end. We were laughing about it and asked him, 'When's the big play coming' And then after he made the catch, he came over to me and said 'There it is'."
On His Coach's Motto "Our coaches stressed moving on and being able to finish. You know, there (were) a lot of things going against us tonight with the calls and the dropped balls, but with stuff like that, I thought we gave a team effort."
On Coach Wulff Getting On The Officials "Yeah, that was great, you know, we always love to see Coach Wulff get fired up. Coach cares so much you could tell he was upset."
WR Marquess Wilson
On His Game Winning Catch "We realized what [SS Anthony Perkins] was doing; he was biting on all the end routes. So we took advantage of that and ran a pump fake and got open."
On RCB Greg Henderson "He's a great corner, he played hard but by the end of the game I noticed his weakness and just attacked that."
On His Dropped Touchdown Pass "I flushed it out of my mind right after I dropped it; I knew there was so much more of the game left. So I just got rid of the play and worried about the next one."
On How Big A Win This Was For His Team "It was a very big win, it's our first road win since last year. We showed how much heart we have and how much we work during practice with the fourth quarter workouts. And all that shows that we can fight."
On The Defense "I knew that if we gave our defense the lead, I knew they would come through for us in the end."
On QB Marshall Lobbestael "He played real good. He's a phenomenal quarterback; he knows what to do when he's under pressure. He's great at finding the open receiver down the field."
LG John Fullington
On What The Buffs Did To Pressure QB Marshall Lobbestael "We knew what was coming for the most part because that's what they've done this year. They've got like 14 sacks which is leading or near the lead of the Pac-12. We knew they were going to throw a lot of blitzes at us."
On Giving Lobbestael Time On The Game-Winning Play "Practice really calmed us down. We practiced clutch periods so we weren't freaking out when it actually happened. We were able to stay calm and composed. We picked up their pressure well and Marshall made a great pass."
On the win "It's huge. We know every game's going to be a close game this year. There aren't going to be many blowouts. The biggest thing in the fourth quarter we just got to finish, finish, finish."
RCB Daniel Simmons
On The Penalties "Gosh, I don't know how many penalties we had. We weren't getting calls in our favor, and there were some very iffy calls, that one in the end zone, I can't believe I didn't get called. But we just work so hard and we just wanted it so bad and we just came through and won in the fourth quarter."
On The Sideline Pass Interference Against CU WR Tony Clemons "I played that to perfection just liked I'm coached to do. I played it perfectly. I thought it was textbook but I don't know."
On The Win "Honestly, I think this was the best win of my life. It was well deserved. We can only relish this for the next 24 hours, but I'm going to dream about this tonight and I'm so happy I was a part of it. "
On What The Win Says About His Team "We're moving in the right direction and we're very excited about what we're going to do. We kept working and kept believing and that's what it's about. We worked so hard over the summer and this is the end result."
QB Marshall Lobbestael
On What Kind Of Win It Was "It was a huge win to stay in the game and fight back like all of us did through all of the adversity. We played through some things that were in our control and some that were out of our control."
On What He Read During Touchdown "We practice clutch every week. As players, we are lucky to have coaches that practice situations every week. Earlier in the game on the interception, they jumped a similar route, so we wanted to see if we could get [their safety] to bite again. On a play like that, the o-line did a great job of protecting because you need time on a double-move like that. The o-line made it happen, and Marquees Wilson made a great play."
On The Comeback "In this kind of atmosphere, as close as we are as a team, it's definitely a big building block. We took a big step for our guys to be in a situation like that."
On Finishing Strong "Practice pays off, and you have to practice these types of situations like we've practiced these past two weeks and how we practiced fourth quarters. We have to continue to practice situations. We need to have some carry-over from practice to the game. We finished great, but besides the win, there is a ton of stuff we did not do well, so we're not in this position."
On The Design Of The Touchdown "It was a designed pump like a dig. Coach [Todd] Sturdy drew it up; he thought we could get it, and it literally happened exactly how we thought it would. That just shows how much hard work the coaches put in and how they study the film. A sign of a great team is being able to do that. We drew it up on the sidelines and executed it perfectly. On a double-move like that, the o-line has to hold and make the blocks."
On Going Into The Last Drive "We were prepared. Coach Wulff and Coach Sturdy both said we had really good looks in our eyes. We were just very focused. From my point of view, our offense was focusedwe knew what we had to do. We weren't nervous, we were really relaxed, and it paid off."
On Wulff's Reaction To The Fourth Quarter Pass-Interference - "[The offense] was sitting on the bench, and we saw the replay. It's good to have a coach (Wulff) with such passion like that. We know that he is smart and won't do anything to hurt the team. It's good to have a coach who coaches with that much passion. Whether the call was right or wrong, it was out of our control. Right after that, all the coaches said that we couldn't control that and to just focus on something that we can control."
On Whether Or Not Wulff's Passion Rubs Off "It does, I think it does. Especially in practice when we practice the fourth quarter stuff and guys are getting mad and tired. The ability to execute when your adrenaline is going and you're tired is something we practice, and I think it's a good thing to have a coach with that passion. He is able to calm us down; it's a good combination."
On CU's Failure To Convert On The Interception "It was a huge deal. They stepped up when we needed them to. Colorado moved the ball well. They have a good offense, but our defense came up big, especially at the end. You never know what's going to happen. We always emphasize that field goals are keys, and Coach [Dave] Ungerer does a great job with our special teams. It's just a product of great coaching and great effort, and they came up huge for usthat was huge."
On Whether Or Not He Thought He Overthrew [Marquees] Wilson "I did right when I threw it. We practiced that route either in the spring or the summer, and we scored on it in the spring, but I thought I overthrew it for a second. Marquees just has great wheels."