Colorado University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Colorado-Arizona State Quotes
September 14, 2014 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
General
"First of all, I want to congratulate [UCLA QB] Jerry Neuheisel on an unbelievable finish (UCLA defeated Texas 20-17 Saturday night). I saw it before I came in here, and knowing the dad and knowing the boy and all that I think that was pretty special. Our game: Wow. It really hurts, it really hurts. Can't turn the ball over, but we have to cause turnovers on defense. Our kids kept fighting, kept battling. We are improving, but golly that hurt. They are a really good football team Arizona State very athletic, very big, and I thought our guys kept fighting, kept battling. A couple third down stops we didn't get. We have to get the ball in the end zone when we're down there (in the Red Zone). We have to keep working on it, and find a way to get that done. But, I thought we flew around and fought and battle hard out there tonight."
On Fumbling The Ball Just Before Halftime
"[That was] huge, huge, huge. You have to hold on to the ball in there, [ASU] is trying to pull it out. That was the first fumble [TB Michael Adkins'] had since he's been here, but we have to stop them there too. We stopped them, but then they got it in (for a touchdown) on a third down on us. We have to make them kick a field goal there, and we didn't. Had some chances; the last turnover, [QB Sefo Liufau] is going to be really upset with himself because there was a guy wide open and we would have scored a touchdown [ASU] busted a coverage. But, all the kids played valiantly. I have to do a better job coaching them on some situations, we have some things we need to fix, but we're definitely improving. The last week was the best week of practice we have had since I've been here, period. So, I see us getting better, and better, and better, but we have to get it done because there are a lot of great football teams in our league with some talent."
On Fans Leaving Early
"I did not notice that, but if they did, I would definitely love for them to stay for those kids (CU players) because they are fighting their hearts out. We're getting better and we're going to end up doing some good things eventually."
On QB Sefo Liufau Being Taken Out Of The Game
"He had been beat up a little bit and then he had just thrown that pick, and he was kind of limping around. I wanted to give [QB Jordan Gehrke] a chance and get him some experience and get going. I thought he did some good things. I thought I was going to have to put him in earlier because Sefo [Liufau] got hit so late one time. But, that's why we did that."
On The Game Changing When ASU QB Taylor Kelly Left The Game With An Injury
"I didn't realize Kelly was hurt until they brought [ASU QB Mike Bercovici] in. He's an option-type running guy, but I thought he was a good quarterback too, there's no doubt. Taylor [Kelly] made some good plays for them of course, we just needed to make a few more. We didn't care which quarterback it was, the kids just kept playing and kept fighting."
On Getting Explosive Plays From The Running Game
"That was satisfying as far as getting those explosive plays, there's no doubt about it. We just keep working at it hard. Christian [Powell] made a couple nice runs, Donovan [Lee] came in and did a good job on the reverse, so I thought those were some good plays for us. It's just a tough game, I felt like we definitely had chances to win it. [ASU] made a couple of plays there in the opening drive, we had two third downs with chances to stop them, and they made good plays and a couple close calls to say the least."
On Kickoff Coverage Improving
"Yeah, we got better at that. They never returned one, so we'll see. From the sidelines you could see guys running free that would have (been able to make a play), they weren't locked up and blocked like before (in past weeks). So, yes, I agree with you on that."
On WR Donovan Lee And What He Adds To Offense
"He just adds ability to run after catch and do some things. We had only been playing about five receivers right now and if felt like we needed to get another guy going a little bit in case anyone gets injured or anything like that and they'll have their feet wet, ready to play. He can do some good things, good with the ball under his hands and he can do some things after the catch."
On Nelson Spruce's Second Touchdown Catch
"Pretty good, wasn't it He's made some spectacular catches, I guess just dial him up for two touchdowns every week, that's what he does. He's so strong; you guys have heard me say that, he's just so strong with his hands. He just catches everything. He competes, and he finds a way to go get the ball. Nelson has played really, really well, and I'm proud of what Nelson is doing, and we need to keep him doing the same thing week in and week out."
On Defense Playing Well Against A Top-Ranked Offense "Yeah, we did. We're getting better. Our athletes are starting to understand where to fit better, starting to understand what they see better, diagnosing quicker, tackling in space well, some good one-on-one tackles and getting them down. They are a bunch of young guys that are playing more and more and getting better. In the game, they are seeing things, asking questions, talking about things, they're understanding and communicating with each other, they know when they screw up, which is all super. In the past it was, 'I don't know what I saw, I don't know what happened,' now they are seeing it and understanding it and we are able to communicate well and that's why we are able to fix things and that just comes with experience and playing."
On WR Shay Fields Making Plays Against Pac-12 Opponent
"Shay is an excellent player, he has good hands, the game is not too big for him, he'll keep making plays."
Colorado Defensive Coordinator Kent Baer
General
"I thought those kids grew up a little bit more today. They're starting to believe in themselves and play a little harder and do some really good things against a really good offense. It's encouraging."
On The Defense's Play After The First Quarter
"We played it better. They did some things first quarter that we hadn't seen and we didn't adjust to it well and that's my fault for not going over some stuff. After that, we just started strutting our stuff and did it. We played it pretty well."
On The Future Of The Defense
"It [our defense] is really encouraging. Tonight was one game. We have our hands full next week and we just have to keep picking one at a time. We should go 1-0 next week and just go on from there."
On What Impressed Him About The Defense
"This whole group did a good job and the D-line did a good job. The one thing I'm disappointed in is the turnovers and if we turn the ball over we have to match it. We work on it all the time, but it's just something we have to keep pushing."
On The Growth Of The Team
"It [this game] was huge. There are so many young guys out there playing and I think they really believe that they can play with anybody now. But that's just one game so we're only as good as the next game, our next practice. So we just keep working and building on the positives. We have to build on the positives, coach up the things we didn't do well and make sure we understand that. Then we just move on from there."
Arizona State Head Coach Todd Graham
On Colorado
"I want to congratulate Coach MacIntyre, heck I'm just telling you, I told you guys before that there is a tremendous football coach here who does a great job. I thought they showed great heart and determination. They played extremely hard, we were rolling along there. We thought we would make it 21 to 0, those guys fight and scratching, you can tell their coach has a lot of character and heart. So I want to congratulate those guys for hard fought effort tonight."
On His Team
"We are really proud of our team; some unbelievable performances tonight. I'm really proud of our team; we had 100 percent ball security on offense. Two out of three times this year we put the ball on the ground one time in three games. If you have 100 percent ball security you are going to win most games in the Pac-12."
On The Offense
"I was really proud of the offense and how they played and how we got (Mike) Bercovici coming in and it takes a little diversity with Taylor (Kelly) coming out of the game. I'm really proud how he came in and played, obviously. DJ and those guys played really well."
On The Defense
"Defensively, how many turnovers on downs we had at least three or four. We had three take-aways defensively, so we had six or seven times guys, Jordan Simone and Damarious Randall, they were absolutely phenomenal. Armand Perry gave up great coverage over the top that was a heck of a catch by Colorado receiver. I'm really proud Matt Haack he really had that game we've been looking for him to have. Christian Sam, you got Latu who goes down who practice with Ezekiel Bishop he just wasn't ready. It was a lot of critical errors; we were pretty much discombobulated when that happened."
General
"The coaching deal is a little over rated. I don't know if I have been more proud of my team then I was tonight, just all the different things that happened tonight and how they respond; this team has got great character, tremendous brotherhood, finding out ways to win, getting better every week I'm really proud of this team"
On The Status Of Taylor Kelly
"All I know is he is out for tonight and we will evaluate it tomorrow; same thing with Latu."
On How Concerned He Was About Injuries
"Pretty concerned, I believe that was the tough part tonight but the best part about it is that you have to be able to respond. We talked about it on the sidelines. We got a lot of confidence in (Mike) Bercovici, he prepares like he's playing every week. So these guys were very important to us, two team captains that you lose but we'll work harder on it. We got a week and a half so we have a chance to get those two back, so we will see how that goes."
On Teams Pass Rush Effort
"By far the best pass rush effort. We have been playing unconventionally. We played a half the first week against Weber State and then last we played a triple option team, so I thought we made the most improvement we made all year long in our pass rush. We got after the quarterback pretty good tonight. The biggest thing I didn't like was the eight penalties which I think is a record in my tenure and really really dumb penalties. The game is over, we've stopped them and we roughed the quarterback, really really dumb penalties. We cannot have those; that was the most penalties we've ever had and they were all legit penalties. Three pass interference penalties, we got a holding penalty when we were trying to run the clock out; it's just a lot of things we don't do and so we got to really work on that. That's coaching; penalties are coaching so we have to do a better job of that. "
On Momentum Swings In The Game
"The one thing these guys are responding on to is that they get a feel for the game defensively; they really get it about attacking the football. We've attacked the football really well in the last two weeks and Jordan has been phenomenal. We had some big time hits tonight. We were playing physical, that's how you win games, you don't get those three take-aways you might be in trouble. I like this team, I like how their spirit, I like the improvement we are making and Jordan has really emerged as a play maker and that's a long way to go in three weeks."
Colorado Players
QB Sefo Liufau
ON HIS PERFORMANCE "There were ups and downs. That's always going to happen in games, but I just made two critical errors. The safety in the first pick played well in quarters and came back to help his guy. I put too much on the ball on the second one, I got fooled. So there are little things to fix, but ultimately that's probably seven points in the beginning. I just have to elevate my game for next week."
ON ENCOURAGING TAKEAWAYS FROM THE GAME "The guys fought all game and you can't take that away from us. We moved the ball up and down the field, the defense made plenty of stops. We should have won that game flat-out. That's how I feel and that's how the whole team feels."
ON THE BALANCE OF THE OFFENSE "I think we've found a nice balance between the run and pass, especially the running game. The running backs are doing a good job of finding the holes that the offensive linemen are opening up for them. We're just taking what they give us. I applaud the offensive line, especially up front for opening up the holes for our running backs and making some plays."
ON THE CROWD "It was great. It's great to have that support with all of those fans here, especially we applaud those who stayed to the end to support us."
ON STRATEGY AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF "I think we didn't need the timeouts, they were gassed. You could see the linebackers with hands on their hips and the offensive linemen weren't getting set fast enough, so we didn't want to give them any time to catch their breath."
TB Christian Powell
ON THE RUNNING GAME - "It's a matter of how much we practice it and execute. That's all it is, it's a football game. There are things that aren't always going to go the way that you want, but there are just things that we have to keep working on. I feel like everyone has bought in to that and that's what we're going to do for the rest of the season."
ON THE OFFENSE SCORING IN THE SECOND QUARTER "The team clicked. Everybody figured out that it was time to go. Everybody started motivating each other and motivating themselves. The defense made stops, the offense got into the end zone and we just fought off of each other's energy."
DE Derek McCartney
ON HOW THE DEFENSE PLAYED "We made mistakes, too many mistakes."
ON THE DIFFERENCE WITH TAYLOR KELLY OUT OF THE GAME "They're just a good team and their second quarterback was really good too. We just have to step our game up for next week."
WR Nelson Spruce
ON HOW THE OFFENSE GAINED RHYTHM "Offensively, I think after the first couple of drives that we got into a good rhythm, we started to get some momentum on offense. That turnover kind of hurt us, so if we could eliminate that, I think going into half time we were doing pretty well."
ON THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE GAME "I think it shows that we can play at this level. Last year this was a team that dominated us in all aspects, but today I never felt as if we were out-manned at all. I think we learned a lot about ourselves from this game."
ON WHETHER COLORADO SHOULD HAVE WON "Obviously it's football, there's a lot things that go into that, but if we do a few things here-and-there, eliminate a few turnovers and get a few stops...You can say that after any game I guess, but this is one that we really feel like we could have had."
DB Chidobe Awuzie
ON PLAYING AGAINST ASU'S STRONG OFFENSE -"I am encouraged what we did in the second half. We kind of held them. We really picked it up in the second half. We could have made a little bit more plays. We made a slip ups on third downs, which kind of hurt us, but we are going to get it next week."
ON CU'S PERFORMANCE TONIGHT AGAINST ASU'S QUARTERBACK "It's a big confidence builder. We were always confident in ourselves. Kenny Crawley had a big game. Tedric [Thompson] had a big game and Greg [Henderson] had a big game too. We just need to clear some things up. Little penalties that they threw on third downs on Tedric, we really didn't think it was a penalty. So, if we clear those things up, we will be good."
ON ASU'S OFFENSE - "We always believe in ourselves. We have never doubted ourselves. That was for all the non-believers. We always have that sense that we have to win every game that we play, no matter what their rank is, but that one was for all the people that didn't believe in us. Now they know that we aren't messing around this year."
ON THEIR RUNNING GAME - "Yeah, that was probably the best week of practice that we've had since I've been here. We were just trying to clear a lot of thing us. We were playing a good Pac-12 team, Arizona State. We just have to keep this momentum going. We have to clear those things us and try and get more W's."
ON TAKING ONE GAME AT A TIME - "We just have to have every week of practice like we had last week and it will be very good. We should be competing well in the Pac-12."
TB Christian Powell
ON HIS PERFORMANCE AND BIG PLAYS TONIGHT - "It's obviously good. You want to make some runs like that and I just feel like it was good effort from everybody. The O-line was up there making their box. Receivers were down blocking for us. It was just good to see that happening for us"
ON FINDING POSITIVES OUT OF TONIGHT'S GAME "After a game like this, you want to find some positives out of it. Obviously everyone is down and hurt because of the loss, but I guess looking at some positives we kept moving forward. We just need to keep working on the things we need to."
ON MAKING THE MOST OUT OF BEING ON THE FIELD "Every time you are on the field, you have to make the most out of your opportunities. I think that's something that this running back group takes pride in. Whenever anyone's number gets called, they do all they can. They play hard and run hard to make the most out of their opportunities."
WR Tyler McCulloch
ON MAKING BIG PLAYS TONIGHT "Yeah, I can't even describe the feeling. I know I do that all week at practice and it just hasn't translated into a game yet. I had a few more plays that I feel I didn't make, but it was a definite positive."
ON BREAKING AWAY FROM HIS SLUMP "I have to stay as positive as possible throughout this whole time. As I said, it is there in practice, so coach just said to keep waiting and that it will come. Tonight, it happened."
ON HIS GAME TONIGHT AND MOVING FORWARD - "It was really encouraging. There were a lot of plays out there that still could have been made, so it was a definite positive on moving forward."
ON THE TURNOVERS "It started out a little slow, then we had all the momentum then we had a few plays where a few mental lapses can just change a game like that. We were definitely kicking ourselves because we felt like we could have beat that team."
ON TEAM'S PERFORMANCE TONIGHT "I thought we played well. If you look at the tape, there were a lot of plays out there that could have been made. Knowing that we had those opportunities though is a definite positive going forward."
ON LOST OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE GAME "We started out a little slow, then we had all the momentum. There were just a few plays with little mental lapses, which changed the game like that. We're obviously kicking ourselves, because we feel we could've beat that team for sure."
LB Kenneth Olugbode
ON IMPROVING FOR "There is always something to work on in practice coming out of the game. We just have to watch film, see our mistakes and then correct them. We're so close. There were a couple of things here and there. I'm sure we can come out next week with a W. If we fix things this week, we can be a lot better in sound."
ON HIS FAVORITE PART OF THE GAME TONIGHT - "That big hit that I had. I finally had one of those. After being out on the field, I finally got to hit someone and to be in the spotlight."
ON LEARNING FROM THIS GAME "Communication is key. If we can talk, I am sure we can talk, we can definitely start making plays. If we communicate from one side of the field to the other, we will be sound of defense."
DB Tedric Thompson
ON THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE TONIGHT "We played well. Regardless of what a lot of people said, we still believe in our hearts that we should have won that game. We did a lot of good things in practice this week. We just have to bounce back and keep fighting like we did tonight."
ON THE TEAM'S CONFIDENCE AGAINST a TOP 25 TEAM "As a team, we can beat anyone we play. We feel we have one of the best coaching staffs in the nation, so if we listen to them, we know they'll put us in the right position.
DL Juda Parker
ON THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE TONIGHT "It is disappointing whenever you aren't successful at the end of the game but there is a lot of positives to take out of this. I felt that as a whole team, we played extremely hard. Even during the fourth quarter, with five minutes, there are times that we could have been within five points. I thought that we played great, we played our asses off. I'm proud of my teammates that we continued to keep on pushing and fighting."
ON THIS GAME AS A "MORAL VICTORY" "When you think about it like that, you always want to be in the mindset that you're going to come out and win. You never want to think of it as a moral victory but when you watch the film the next day, there is a lot of positives. I felt that we took a step even farther as a team. I felt that we played really well and there's things to clean up but I'm optimistic about next week. Whoever's coming in, I'm looking forward to that."
ON THE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE TONIGHT "I thought that we played really strong, that our DB's did well on third down conversions. We really got off the field at crucial times and swung the momentum in our favor. But, I feel like there's thins to clean up, some little things coverage wise and defensively. Other than that, I feel good about ourselves."
ON THE GROWTH OF THE DEFENSIVE END TONIGHT- "Definitely. With this team, we're all in the Pac-12 South and I feel that coming in this year, we wanted to see the big guys face to face. I felt that we did extremely well. That's a positive."
ON THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LAST THREE QUARTERS "Guys settled down, the nerves settled down. We felt that we belong and that we can play with these guys. I know personally how good our team is and I feel that the guys just really have to focus on their assignments. We played assignment football and we didn't let the situation, the magnitude of the game, overtake us. That really helped."
ON TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE "We never want to think of a team coming in and rolling up on us like that. We always have the mindset that we're going to come in and play our brand of football. We continued to do that tonight and I feel that that's a step in the right direction for our team, for the Colorado Buffaloes. I feel good about that."
ON THE GROWTH OF THE DEFENSIVE ENDS "It's a really great feeling to feel comfortable with the guys playing next to you. Our ends were doing a lot better job. I feel that that's good for us, leading the program in the right direction. Those guys getting the pass records and the two sacks, I feel good about that."
Arizona State Players
RB D.J. Foster
ON TAYLOR KELLY LEAVING GAME "I thought our team played very well. We finished the game and showed a lot of passion. I thought Mike [Bercovici] came in and did what he could. I thought our team had a lot of passion and our team came together and that's what I wanted to see. Our team bonded together when we had guys going out.
ON COMING OUT STRONGER IN SECOND HALF "I just think that we had to stay focused. Having two road games in a row is tough sometimes, especially with a young team. I think that we have to stay focused, our leaders have to keep leading, and we have to keep getting those wins. I think that is the most important thing; we have to find a way to win and we are taking care of that.
ON POST-GAME LOCKER ROOM MOOD "I think everyone is excited. We pulled out a tough road victory and I think that was important. We have a big challenge ahead of us in the next couple of weeks, especially in the next game [UCLA], so we just have to come together and re-load when we get back to Tempe [Arizona]. I'm excited about where our team is at. We have great character and passion and I think it is showing on the field."
ON RESPONSE TO CU'S EARLY ADJUSTMENT "We finally got some passes deep with Jaelen [Strong] and Gary [Chambers] and our receivers started to play well. TK [Taylor Kelly] was playing terrifically and had a huge run. He is doing amazing things. I thought our offensive line blocked great tonight and they really brought the passion like they do every week. I'm very proud of them as well."
ON STRONG PERFORMANCE WEEK-TO-WEEK "I'm just trying to help my team as much as I can. I know we have a lot of tough games coming up and I'm just trying to be a leader out there vocally to lead the offense as much as I can. I'm excited week in and week out how our offensive line and defense is practicing though out the week. It's very positive and I really like where our team is at right now. We have a lot of great chemistry and I'm very excited to see what we do."
ON FIRST TIME 3-0 SINCE 1997 "It was huge. We started off Pac-12 play today and I think that's a huge win for us. We want to get back to the Pac-12 championship and it starts right here on the road. I'm very proud of my team and the heart and passion they showed tonight, especially our defense. A lot of young guys, like Jordan [Simone] said, coming in and making plays. I'm very proud of our team and how much heart they played with tonight."
ON OVERLOOKING CU "I don't think we overlooked them. I think we prepared and we prepare for the best every week. I think that's where Coach [Todd] Graham does a great job. He makes sure we are giving it our all during the week and at practice no matter who we are playing. I thought we played well. Sometimes those road wins are hard to come out of. You have to really bring intensity and I thought we pulled it together."
DB Jordan Simone
ON PERSONAL FORCED TURNOVERS "On the pick I just saw the quarterback throw it. I was just running and just went for the ball. To be honest, I did not even know what was happening. On the fumble two defensive linemen had him wrapped up and I just came in and tried to rip it out. I have to give credit to the linemen that had him held up. I'm really happy about it. Every week you have to keep getting better and I'm just doing what the coaches ask me to do. Our defense, the safety's, are the play makers. Without those ten other guys I'm nothing so I have to give them all the credit too."
ON NEWCOMERS "I think we are good and we are getting better every day which is what is important. The young guys need leadership and they do not have time to be young. We have some guys stepping up, DJ [Calhoun] and AP [Armand Perry], and Christian Sam came in and had a pick at the end which was big time. I think we are rolling."
ON YOUNG DEFENSE IN SKILL POSITIONS "The coaches put us in a real good position to make plays and those young guys definitely stepped up after a few plays once they got their jitters out. We need to worry about us more than anything. We need to do what we are coached to do and trust in ourselves for a good turnout."
ON OVERLOOKED ARIZONA STATE DEFENSE "We have guys like Jaelen [Strong], D.J. [Foster], and TK [Tyler Kelly] who are unbelievable players. I think our defense is going to surprise a lot of people goes on. We have a lot of players, Damarious Randall, Jaxon Hood, two-year starter, and I think we are rolling into next week against UCLA."