Colorado New Mexico State Quotes
September 11, 2005 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Gary Barnett
General
“Our goal tonight was to get the game done by midnight. We did that. We had a great defensive plan. The kids really focused. They took the challenge of getting better. They didn't get caught up listening to the wrong people. On almost every phase of the game, we never lost our focus. Sometimes in games like this, you can get sloppy and you cannot focus and not get better. I was extremely pleased defensively that we were able to shut down a team that does a lot of different things to you.
“Overall, it was a great win. We had big special teams' plays. There were some really great offensive performances and great catches. Overall, just a really solid game.”
On CU's Offense
“In the first half, I thought we should have run the ball a little bit better. We were able to establish it (running game) better in the second half. This is what we needed to do.
“I thought Lawrence Vickers had a great game and I thought Joel (Klatt) did too.”
On CU Reserves
“We got to play a lot of players, especially on defense, and that bodes well for the future and keeps everybody happy.”
On NMSU
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On Preserving the Shutout
“We maintained our (intensity) levels throughout the game. When you get down there sometimes in those situations it's easy to give up. We challenged Coach (William) Inge to come up with a blocked kick. They had one and we also made a great play in the end zone. It was great and I know the happiest guy in the place was (WR) Chase McBride.”
On CU Running Backs
“He's just going to get better when everybody gets a feel for him. He's an electric player and he'll get better. It was great to see Byron Ellis get a lot of plays and he's a guy that's just going to get better too.”
On QB Joel Klatt
“We just want him to play his best game and get the win. All that other stuff (statistics), I don't take credit for that, that's just the scheme and coaches calling plays.
“I liked his aggressiveness with the ball. He turned and ran a couple of times when we had things screw up. He handled the blitzes really well.”
On NMSU LB Jimmy Cottrell
“I thought Jimmy played a really great game. I was hoping he wasn't hurt when he went down.”
On TE Quinn Sypniewski's TD
“It was his first touchdown. It was a great audible by Joel and a great catch.”
GENERAL
“From the very beginning we try to go out and get a stop, the first three-and-out we really set the tone for the defense and they kept rolling with that.”
PRESSURE ON THE QB
“We saw what UTEP was able to do last week with blitzing and so we just kept filling the gaps like they did and keeping our motor going to make stops. They throw so many passes that we had to stay with special packages all night and we did a good job because it is a pretty complicated offense.”
ON LIMITING THE RUNNING GAME
“It is the most that they ran all season and we didn't know that they would do that, so we just had to adjust and play good defense.”
ON TWO-YARD TOUCHDOWN RECPTION
“We scored because it was the perfect play setup. We kept running the ball and running the ball and getting good yardage and I wanted to keep doing that, but Klatt called the perfect play. Hugh Charles threw a good block to free Klatt up, and once I got the ball I just set my sights on the goal line.”
ON SCORING A TD BEFORE HALFTIME
”I knew that we were going to make it into the end zone; we jumped into our two-minute drill and we just kept rolling until we got there. It was a great way to get some momentum to carry into the second half.”
ON THREE TOUCHDOWNS
“There was excellent blocking all day; I don't think that when I can see the goal line anyone is going to stop me. The offensive line did a great line being energized today and I got to see a lot of grass in front on me because of it.”
QB Joel Klatt
GENERAL
“We felt like we could move the ball a little bit against the defense, and we were able to do that but we stalled out a little bit in the first half, and we can definitely clean some stuff up before we play again.”
ON BECOMING THE NUMBER ONE ALL TIME COMPLETION LEADER IN CU HISTORY
“It is really quite an honor, and in the future when I am sitting with my kids that will be a cool thing to talk about. But for the present time it is just a great thing that the Buffs got the win.”
ON QUINN SYPNIEWSKI'S TOUCHDOWN
“It only took him six years to get it and I gave him a terrible pass to do it on. I'll put my two tight ends up against anyone in the nation, they are both two of the best.”
ON FIRST TOUCHDOWN CATCH OF HIS CAREER
“I guess they say that the third senior year is a charm. On that play I didn't hear the call right in the huddle and so I just started running down the field. The defender was right on top on me and so I didn't think that ball would get thrown to me, then I saw the ball coming to me and I thought ?uh-oh I need to go up and get that.' I was just glad that I was able to come down with it.”
On Positives:
“The defense; they were warriors. They are the reasons we can stay in any game right now. “
General:
“Right now we are a one-sided team. We play well on defense and nothing else. We just need to start scoring in the first quarter, so we don't have to punt so often. I can look at
On playing UNM next week:
“I've got to do something on offense. We're good enough on defense to win games, we're just not getting any help.”
On Royal Gill:
“some of our biggest plays were when he got outside of the pocket. We just need some other players to step up. There weren't too many bright spots on offense.
On Lessons Learned:
“We have to go correct our mistakes. Sometimes you learn more by having your hat handed to you. I don't know. I guess we're richer.”
WR Paul Dombrowski
ON CAREER SETTING CATCH ? “It was a good play through the slot, and a good catch, but it's tough to fumble two plays later. All night we shot ourselves in the foot, just when we would get something going, we would hurt ourselves. Our D played great in the first half, but got tired in the second half. You can't be on the field for 40 defensive plays and not expect to give up points.”
LB Jimmy Cottrell
ON THEIR DEFENSIVE PLAY ? “In the second half we let down a bit, but their big tough guys that play a running style of game in the Big 12. We have to learn from our mistakes and move on, because we have another one net week. Yet it was still great to play near home (Castle Rock), it was nice to play with family and friends here.”
“It was tough tonight, but with the type of offense we play, we are going to be streaky. We are still young and learning the offense. These past to teams were tough, they played each other last year in a bowl game, and both have strong experienced players. We have to keep going, learning our style of play, because we have a couple of tough games against
