Colorado-UCLA Quotes
October 31, 2015 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre
Opening Remarks
"First of all, I'd like to congratulate Nelson Spruce on setting the receiving record for all-time Pac-12 receiving. He had a heck of a day. He's a heck of a player for us. Also commend UCLA on a heck of football game. It was a lot of fun to watch, except on our side when it ended. I thought our young men played really hard. I thought we played really well at times and again shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times that were dramatic game-changing plays. But we kept battling and had an opportunity at the end of the game to win it. I was really pleased with our balance on offense and wasn't pleased with us not getting into the end zone a couple times or missing a field goal, which he came back and hit his field goals as well. You are going to miss one every once in a while. I thought the overall effort, intensity, fight was good (and well as) the game plan by our coordinators on both sides. We had a good game plan to attack and be aggressive, which we needed to, and we executed that. A couple balls bounced the wrong way, but the kids are still fighting."
On Colorado's Ball Control
"We have been able to do that. We can run our running backs. We've got some good ones. Our quarterback can run, and throw it, too. We feel like we can dictate the game. If we wouldn't have had the unfortunate turnover there, it would have been a different game. But I think we can do that in some Pac-12 games. I think with our balance and the ability of Sefo (Liufau) to get us in the right plays and do different things, I think we can be a good offense."
On First Half Red Zone Troubles
"It was really rough. What was so awesome was that they came right out (in the second half) in the opening drive and kept fighting and didn't let that bother them. On the road in the Pac-12 against a Top 25 team, that showed a lot."
On Message To The Team Postgame
"I told them I was really proud of how they fought and the things that they did and how they dominated the game at times, but we didn't win it. Credit to UCLA, they found a way to win it. We have to come back next week and battle."
UCLA Head Coach Jim Mora
Opening Remarks
"That was about as gritty a win as I have ever been around. To overcome the things that we overcame, in terms of personnel, was staggering. I couldn't tell you who was in there on any given play. From cramps, to sprained ankles to hamstrings and then a true freshman seals it [Nate Meadors] – a safety playing corner. That's a team win, which is what it's all about. It's all about winning. You talk about team and embracing team, that is what those guys did. It was hard. It was tough and it was a puzzle and they showed true grit. That's one of the most rewarding wins that I've had in three and a half years here."
On Nate Meadors' Late Interception
"He just got a good break. He trusted his instincts. I think he just read it and used his technique and trusted it and made a great play. He's a true freshman safety playing corner in a two-minute drive and that says a lot about him and his gumption and this whole team."
On UCLA's Defense An Potentially Being Fatigued
"I haven't asked the guys if they were tired. They just kept playing and made stops when they had to make stops."
On The Momentum & Flow Of The Game (Having One Offensive Play In 19 Minutes
"It was a touchdown, but that was hard on our defense. Ish [Adams] returns an interception for a touchdown, and then [Paul] Perkins takes it to the house. That's why I used a timeout. I cherish timeouts, but those guys needed a couple minutes. I mean, they were spent. We had over 60 plays in the first half. But I tell you what, at the end of the game, two big [defensive] plays and they rose up and made stops. That's what it's all about. It's awesome."
On Quarterback Josh Rosen's Performance And Growth
"I don't know that he played exceptionally well today. But he's doing great. He's making big-time improvements, as is this team. They're overcoming obstacles on a weekly basis. That is how you build grit."
On Whether There's A Cumulative Effect Druing A Season Of The Defense Tiring
"These are 18, 19, 20 year old kids. They recover. They'll be just fine on Monday, maybe a little sore. But I don't think there is."
On Whether He's Ever Coached A Game Just Like This
"I've coached over 600 games, so I'm sure at some point I've had a game like this."
