Colorado University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Quotes: USC 47, Colorado 29
November 24, 2013 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
General
"I thought our team kept fighting, which I was really proud of. I was proud of how our seniors helped our guys prepare for this game, and how a lot of those guys played their hearts out. We had some opportunities in the first half and just couldn't get cranked up on offense. USC had something to do with that. Then we got something going in the second half, we had the turnover (fumble recovery returned for a touchdown), and then we couldn't stop them on the long drive. But our guys kept fighting and kept scrapping. Maybe if we could have gotten on the onside kick – it was good execution; it went through three or four of our [players] hands, we just couldn't grab it – it might have been a really, really exciting ending. But, I was really, really proud of how they kept fighting, kept working, and kept pushing. I thought we hit hard, I thought we competed. Missed a couple tackles there at the end that we hadn't been missing earlier in the game, but that's a credit to USC."
On Embracing The Seniors, Even Though He Didn't Recruit Them
"I have bonded with them, and I think they've bonded with us. I really like them and their effort and what they've done and how they've worked. A lot of the sacrifice they've made for the team, and they've been through a lot. I'm proud of what they've tried to accomplish. It hasn't always happened for us on the scoreboard for us, but I do think we're making great progress. I do see a lot of great work ethic, and a lot of different things that are happening daily that set the ground work and the foundation for you to be successful. If you're not doing those things, then it's mirrors and if you're doing those things then eventually good things will happen. I think there has been some good things, of course there hasn't been as many as we would like, but I do think there are some steps in the right direction, the way I see it."
On Where He Has Seen Improvement
"I think our fight, the way we've executed on both sides of the ball a lot of times. I think the way, we have put things together and the way our kids practice and are listening and asking questions in meetings and being conscientious. Those types of foundations – going to their workouts all the time, going to class – doing the things you have to do daily to be a good football program, getting the basics in place, and I think they understand that and are doing that. I believe they come every day to be focus and come ready for the games and tried to prepare themselves. I don't think they are just going through the motions by any stretch. We battled hard tonight, and I thought the way the kept battling there at the end, kept fighting, and kept pushing, I thought to me was impressive. Last game of the year, freezing cold, down, you keep battling keep fighting. They were excited, they were pumped up; it wasn't like it was a dead sideline. I think that shows you a lot of internal fortitude, by a bunch of guys, not just a few, a bunch. And, if they keep doing that, and keep doing that, good things will eventually happen.
On What He Told Team After The Game
"I said what I've seen with them all along. To me, this should be a fun week for us, we don't have class, we're the only one's here (on campus), so we can work at it, we can focus, do a lot of bonding. It's the last time this team will ever be together to play. Also, it's the last time the seniors will ever be here to play, and for some of them it will be the last time they ever play. So, they have kind of a week to put all that into perspective. And that's a tough thing when you've been doing it for 23 years, and you know it's going to end. I think it's a time for us to keep bonding closer, I really do think our seniors have helped move this program forward. I'm really, really proud of that, and we need to send them out the right way. I think they'll come back tomorrow, ready to go for practice and we'll have a good week. There's one or two ways it can go; you either splinter and say, 'well I only have three practices left, so whoo hoo', or you can say, 'let's do everything we can to make it special, and end it special.' They said that's what they want to do, and I could see in their eyes that that's what they want to do, which is really encouraging to a coach, it really is."
On How Important Conference Standings Are
"Yeah, one. We always want to be first. But, I think any progress – I think we've made progress – we need to start seeing some more progress on the scoreboard. That also helps in recruiting and it helps with different things. So, I think definitely we would like to see a 'W' on Saturday, just like Utah would also."
On Adjustments Made For WR Paul Richardson In 2nd Half
"They were doubling him a whole lot. We had seven times when we were trying to go to him, and seven times they doubled and we got sacked on two of them. We had to go and they changed what they were doing. In the second half, they played a little bit more quarters coverage, and we were looking trying to figure it out. A couple times we had it called, but the [defender] had some good coverage, too. So, we were able to get him the ball a little bit more in the second half because they changed a little bit of what they were doing. We moved him around a little bit more, we tried to move him around in the first half, we just couldn't get it to him or we over threw him, or we got hurried or flushed out of the pocket, that type of thing."
On QB Sefo Liufau's Performance
"I thought early on he didn't play as well as he would like, or we would like. But, the good thing about it is he got hit, he regained his composure, and he rallied. Which was good to see, it is really good to see. And that's important, he didn't just stay down, he rallied and climbed out of it. Which I think is another hurdle. I look at it as a progression of getting better. I would've loved him to play great the whole game, but he got hit in the face and kept battling and kept fighting. So, we could play a little bit better on defense. If we have a day like that in the future, but we have a little bit better day on defense overall, all of a sudden he'll battle back and bring us back. That's good to see. It really is.
Southern California Head Coach Ed Orgeron
General
"Good win for our team, we struggled at times to get some things done, we were inconsistent with some things but we won the game and that's what matters."
On The Defense
"We came out and played lights out defense in the first half. We made some substitutions in the third and the fourth quarter that didn't play as well as we wanted them to and they got back in the game. Overall, we remained pretty healthy for the game and we'll be ready for next week."
On The Win
"We're going to enjoy this victory here, digest everything and then we're going to get to work on the team across town on Monday."
On Playing UCLA Next Week
"UCLA vs. USC is always a big matchup, it's always a big rivalry, great crowd, great atmosphere, it's just one of the greatest rivalries in college football."
On The Weather
"We did not address it as a team. We told the team that under any circumstances we were going to play. I thought it was rather pleasant tonight compared to what we had heard it was going to be like."
On USC's Defense
"It was a tremendous job by Clancy (Pendergast). Great coverage, Paul Richardson, as I've said all week, is one of the best receivers in the league if not the country. We had some good rushes, Leonard (Williams) sack fumble was a big play, I thought we did a good job."
On Soma Vainuku
"He's a good player, I like seeing him running the ball, I love seeing him running the ball. What an excellent young man, he's a big part of our football team in all facets."
On The Win
"It was huge for us, there was a lot of preparation this week. We had an emotional game against Stanford and a rivalry game coming up, so it showed some maturity in our football team to come in here and win."
On Whether He Could Beat Ralphie
"I think Ralphie would win, I have to admit that."
Colorado Players
QB Sefo Liufau
ON THE PROBLEMS WITH FIRST HALF OFFENSE—"I think it was a combination of things. It wasn't anything in particular. We just didn't click in the beginning and it hurt. The defense did a really good job of stopping them and forcing some three and outs. Give credit to them [USC] that's the best defense we have played all year. They really brought their top blisses. They put a lot of pressure on us and are just a really good team. We didn't come out offensively strong enough. We have to come back tomorrow to work and get ready for Utah."
ON WHAT THE UTAH GAME MEANS—"I think this game coming up against Utah is an important one even though we don't have any chance to go to a bowl game. It's very important for next year to end on a high note. These guys are like family. We are going to stay together and we are going to go out fighting to win like we would if we had a bowl game.
ON THE CONFERENCE STANDINGS—"Obviously you want to win all your games, but we don't focus on the standings at all."
ON USC'S DEFENSE—"They are very athletic and very fast. Their front seven was by far the best we have played. They rarely brought in blitzes. They put pressure on us and took away our run game. Their defensive backs did a really good job covering in the back. Overall, they are really athletic and really sound. They didn't run anything crazy, they were just always in the right spots."
ON THE FRUSTRATION—"We always feel like we come close to winning then it slips away. We plan the hard work and don't play around at practice all week. It's just hard to transfer it to the field right now. It's frustrating everyone. Everyone is putting in so much time and effort. We go to football in the morning then go to class then go back to football. We just would like to see the hard work transfer in to games."
WR Nelson Spruce
ON WHAT THE UTAH GAME MEANS—"Coach talked about how we could either fall a part and go through the motions in our last three practices, or we can end the season on a right note and keep the momentum going in to next year."
ON THE DIFFICULTY OF MOVING THE BALL—"I think Sefo covered it pretty much. It was a lack of execution. The coaches had a good plan for us going in, but it was either one thing or another that was falling apart. It just didn't allow us to move the ball like we wanted to."
ON THE FUTURE—"I think this year we made incredible strides. I think we are really on the verge of being able to compete in every game. It's not looking like that on the scoreboard, but we are taking strides in the right direction and I think we built a lot in this first year with this staff. I think it will carry on in to next year."
LB Derrick Webb
ON HOW THE DEFENSE PLAYED—"I felt like we our heart out there today. That was the most important thing for me. I left it all out there on Senior Day. I feel like that is what they [Colorado's defense] definitely did. We play some plays and some tackles and played them hard. That is a good USC team; coming in we knew that. We matched their physicality. I'm proud of the defense."
ON THE EMOTIONAL SIDE—"It was very emotional. Playing my last game as a Buff at Folsom made me want to keep going. That is why this game meant so much to us seniors. We wanted that extra game in the end. We still got a lot to play for. I am playing for these guys right next to me who will be here next year and the years to come. We want to send them out on a high note so they have momentum going in to the off-season. We want to finish this season with five wins instead of four.
ON THE FEELING OF NOT HAVING A BOWL GAME EVER—"I wouldn't say my career was empty at all. It has been a tough four or five years. I learned a lot and met a lot of great men. I participated at the highest level of college football. I've had some great wins here at Colorado. There will some great wins to come for Colorado. I plan on coming back for some of those. This is bigger than my career. I did everything I could for my team and I feel like they did the same for me. The results are what they are. It's been a crazy ride. We had three coaches. All we can control is ourselves. I trust these guys every week. We come out there and battle. That is definitely not an empty feeling."
S Parker Orms
ON GETTING THE BUFFALO HEART AWARD—"I feel like all of the seniors deserve that award for what we have battled through the past five years. We have grown together and battled every Saturday together. All of the seniors deserve that award."
S Jered Bell
ON HIS DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN – "We practice those same things at practice almost every day. The first guy wraps up the tackle and the second guy goes in for the strip. I saw the same opportunity tonight and I went for it. It felt good. I'm happy to make plays for the defense. The coaches stressed that we needed turnovers to help the offense today and I went out there and tried to do that."
ON HIS PLAY GIVING THE BUFFS MOMENTUM – "It could have been a momentum changer, but on that next drive we let them go down and score so that put them back in it. We couldn't seize the opportunity."
ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S OFFENSE – "They are extremely athletic. They are really good – you can't take that away from those guys. You have to be sound on everything you do or they'll be able to take advantage of it."
ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S RUN GAME – "They run the ball really well. It's tough to defend and you really have to wrap up and tackle. We missed too many tackles today, so that was a big deal"
RB Michael Adkins
ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S RUSH DEFENSE – "They have a real good rush defense. Their defensive line got some penetration which disrupted our run a little bit and they are very fast to the ball.
ON COLORADO'S OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION – "Obviously it's frustrating when things don't go your way, but you just have to keep battling it out which is what we did."
ON COLORADO'S FOURTH QUARTER PERFORMANCE – "We have a motto to 'Start Fast, Finish Strong' so I felt like we did that today. It will definitely give us momentum heading into next week's game against Utah and hopefully will get us a win."
ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S OFFENSE – "Their O-line is really strong. They are really physical guys."
ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S RUN GAME – "It was hard to stop their run game. We worked on it all week. I think we just need to work on fitting better and have everyone be responsible for where they are supposed to be on defense."
Southern California Players
TB Javorius Allen
ON LEADING THE BAND AFTER THE GAME –"No, I never planned on leading the band, but it just happened that way. It felt good, my freshman year I thought, "it must be a big deal to get up and lead the band," and it is a big deal because not too many people get up there and do it. I've been honored to do it a couple times this year and I want to thank the coaching staff for believing in me, trusting in me, and for putting me in the position to make the plays that I do."
ON COMING BACK AFTER THE STANFORD LOSS LAST WEEK – "It was good. We came out with a great mindset that we were going to pound the ball, and we struggled a little bit, but as the game went on we picked it up. As for my fumble, I put that on myself, I can't blame anyone but me."
ON PLAYING UCLA –"UCLA is a great team. That's a great rival. We're going to go out Monday and go with the game plan that the coaches give us. We're going to take it like any other week, practice hard and go hard."
ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE CREATING HOLES – "The [offensive line] was doing what they do best, blocking. That's what they did, and they did a great job of it. I can't even argue with it because the coaches coach them and do a good job with them every day, getting them right and making sure they're in the right place with the right technique. I think we have a great o-line [offensive line].
ON EXPECTING TO PERFORM WHEN SCOUTING COLORADO –
"Like I said, I went with the game plan and the coaches put me in position to make a play and I made it."
ON THE WEATHER AFFECTING THE GAME PLAN –"No, like I said, especially my coach Tommie Robinson said that you can't let weather be a factor. They're going to be cold just like we're cold. So, I went out there with that mindset and after a couple plays I warmed up."
ON THIS WIN BEING BIG FOR USC –"It's a big win. It's a confidence booster for the guys, especially for Coach Orgeron, we do it for him. We want to see him happy and make the whole team happy. Like he [Ed Orgeron] said it's a family, and we're all in this together."
ON BEING ELIMINATED FROM THE PAC-12 SOUTH RACE – "I just figured that out, you told me. So, you know that's not going to have an effect. We're going to go out and play the game, play Trojan football and go from there."
QB Cody Kessler
ON THE UCLA GAME –"The biggest thing was we walked away with no injuries. The starters didn't play very long, maybe about two and a half quarters. I think they came out at the end of the third. It's nice to be able to get them out and keep them safe and healthy. It was a huge week and now we're onto UCLA so we can start getting ready for them."
ON MOMENTUM COMING INTO THE GAME – "Yeah we have been capable of it all year long, we just need the guys [referring to his teammates] to buy into the team and really get behind us and I feel like everyone on the team has been doing that. It's awesome guys are really playing for each other instead of playing for themselves and I'm having a blast."
ON WEATHER BEING A FACTOR – "No it was fine. After I came out from sitting on the sidelines then I got cold because I was sweating but it was fine. If you're going to play in the NFL you're going to play in freezing cold places so you have to get use to it. I think it was nice for all of our guys to get into a different climate."
ON STAYING FOCUSED – "I think the best part was that after a huge win last week we didn't lose focus and we're going to keep looking ahead to UCLA rivalry game next week. But we came in, stayed focused, and prepared like we do every week. We easily could have had a let up you know? You see stuff like that happen around the country. But I feel like all these guys play great especially the circumstances we're under. We battled some injuries tonight but we played well overall."
ON UCLA LOSING TO ARIZONA STATE –"No I didn't. I just heard about it just now. It is what it is we have worked so hard but the season isn't over. All the goals we want are still there. We come out next week and play great against UCLA and it will set us up for a great bowl game. We have to keep repairing and keep working hard. We're not going to let that bother us [referring to ASU beating UCLA] were going to keep sticking to our plan and keep doing what we're doing. Just focus on each game each week."
ON THE RUNNING GAME – "Yeah, it was awesome. Buck played great and has been playing great, I have had a blast playing with him. It's cool to see guys come in like Soma and get some carries at running back like he did in high school. Ty did well too and Trey came in a little bit, obviously he was still hurt but for him to come out and give Buck a little breather was good that helps me so much when we are able to run the ball that well. I think the best part about today was that we got away without any serious injuries. It was nice that we were able to get most the guys out in about two and a half quarters so they will be able to rest up before next week."
ON UCLA WEEK – "I have no idea. I have been around it and I have seen it before but I haven't played in the game so it's going to be a new experience for me playing in it. Obviously we know that there is a lot more emphasis on this game just because of the rivalry and the tradition behind it but were going to treat it just like any other week. We're going to keep the same mind set and prepare like we have prepared all year long and not try to over think things or do too much but just stick with what we have been doing. I know these guys are going to come out tomorrow and get the week started."