Colorado-Colorado State Quotes
September 03, 2005 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Gary Barnett
General
“That was one exciting game...a classic for college football. That's the way rivalries should be. CSU was very steady. The picks helped us but they were hard-nosed and played a good game. We overcame so many mistakes. It's amazing we overcame them and won. In the beginning we had tremendous momentum, but three penalties in a row hurt that momentum. It was a heck of a game.
We hung in there and kept making plays. The four picks really helped.”
On Mason Crosby
“That's why Mason Crosby is an All-American. We do take him for granted. John Torp's punts were great, too. If we field the squib kick cleanly we have a chance to take it to the house. Thirty-five percent of the game is kicking and we spend about that in practice. Our team has respect for Mason ever since he got here and made 60-yard field goals.”
On What to Work On
“We need to straighten up our sloppy play. Give the Rams credit?they fought hard and they are a good football team.”
On CSU's Interceptions
“We're just further along in the secondary coverage. In the beginning our pressure worked, but at the end (Justin)
On RB Hugh Charles
“(Later in the game) he got more comfortable. I have always said he runs well. He made people miss and kept is feet.”
On OL Brian Daniels
“Brian Daniels' absence certainly had an effect. We have eight or nine linemen and we played them quite a bit. We have to give credit to strength coach, Greg Finnegan, for the work he did this summer.”
On Distance For Final Field Goal
“(Anywhere) across the 50, it didn't matter. On the last drive I would have kicked it from anywhere.”
On Two-point Conversion
“Looking at the final score it was critical. At the time we discussed it and at the time it was a good idea. Earlier in the game I would not have done it, but with Mason, anytime you get across the 50 you can't tie the game.”
On
“Our game plan was to use the clock and get it to Hugh Charles and Lawrence Vickers. That opened up Quinn (Sypniewski) who had a great day.”
On Wide Recievers
“We got game one in and we should just get better. You can see Patrick Williams' speed on that last drive when he turned it up field. Alvin Barnett played a good game, too. I think we are going to be a team that is going to have to spread it around.”
On Sloppy Play Early On
“That was due to a lack of scrimmaging and not having officials. In a scrimmage you don't understand the consequences. I rolled the dice on (the lack of scrimmages) and almost blew it.”
PK Mason Crosby
ON MAKING GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL ? “It's probably the best birthday present I could ever ask for. Before the kick I was just looking at the uprights, knowing I was going to get it. I ran out on to the field not even knowing how far the kick was; It's the first game winning field goal I've ever had. The guys played great today, and I'm just glad I got the chance. I have 21 family members in from out of town. We're going to have a barbeque out at my place to celebrate the win and my birthday.”
TB Hugh Charles
“It's an honor to get the chance to start. I was glad to have coach Watson get me the ball, and I was blessed to have a great game.”
ON TUCHDOWN RUN ? “Every time I get the ball I think about scoring, and that's my motivation. I made a great juke cut after I got some great blocking from the line and I scored.”
ON RECEIVING FROM TB POSITION ? “This year I'm catching the ball very well, and that's important for me to do for my role as a teammate. Last year I had to get the freshman jitter-bugs out, but this year I have a lot more confidence.”
CB Gerett Burl
ON FOURTH QUARTER INTERCEPTION ? “The coaches had us in the right coverage. I was floating around looking at the wide receiver and the quarterback. I was able to read his shoulders and make the pick. Justin Holland is a great passer, but from last year to this year the defensive backs were more prepared, and the defensive line was getting more pressure.”
ON MASON CROSBY ? “I'm glad he's on our team, because without him I don't know if we'd be 1-0.”
QB Joel Klatt
“We have to give credit to CSU for the way that they played. They play so hard every year that the Buffs better be ready for them. As for our offensive unit, we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and we need to stick the nail in the coffin to end drives. It's great to get a first-week win against anyone in college football, but it's even harder against a rival, and I'm hopeful that we can go from here.”
ON CSU'S OFFENSE ? “Today really shows you how good
ON GAME WINNING DRIVE ? “If we were to get the ball on the twenty were just going to kneel the ball and take our chances in overtime, but Stephone Robinson made a great run right up the gut, and then Patrick Williams and Dusty Sprague made some great catches. And then finally to bring it all home, Mason Crosby is like a big warm blanket for our team. I have all the confidence in the world in our field goal unit; Greg Pace is a great snapper and Nick Holtz is a good holder. They're a great unit and they get things done.”
GENERAL--“My day started out rough. I caught the ball and then caught the thunder. The ball then hit my pads and popped out. At this level, you can't go on to the field with doubt. It doesn't matter if you're playing CSU or the
ON CSU CB (ROBERT) HERBERT ? “Herbert is a great corner back. It seems like he was on me all day. He really did a great job playing me tough and made it hard for me to accomplish anything offensively. “
“The main this is to keep composure. As a captain, I have to lead by example. By keeping my composure, it sets the example for the younger guys to follow, and allows us to get back into the game. We have expanded the offense this year. We have so many playmakers; we just try to get the ball in their hands. By expanding the offense, it also makes it more difficult for opposing defenses to game plan against us.”
ON TOUCHDOWN ? “We (
“I pointed to myself before the play, trying to tell the coaches to get me the ball. I felt it. I'm the captain and it was my time to step up and set an example for the team. I was so amazed at the block that Schaub set, that I didn't even realize the cornerback that was coming to tackle me. When I saw that, I decided it was time to introduce them to
ON HUGH CHARLES' PLAY ? “I had the ultimate confidence in him. If he gets a lane, he's so explosive I know he'll take it to the house. After his fumble, I told him not to get down and to get
ON BLOCKED PUNT ? “When I got through, I was going to block it or hit him. He started to run, so I kicked him to slow him down. That little bit that I got him, slowed him down enough for my teammates to catch him. On the first punt, I got through, but it was a bad snap and I wasn't able to get to him. When they went to punt the second time, I knew I'd be able to get through again and block it that time.”
Colorado State Head Coach Sonny Lubick
General Comments
“I was very proud of our football team. They (
On Special Teams
“Special teams hurt us a little bit. We came in with the intentions that they would have to earn every thing they got, and they earned it.”
On Kyle Bell
“I thought he was great. I'm very, very proud of Kyle Bell.”
On Justin Holland's int. at the end
“He tried to make something happen, he got flushed out, he took a chance, and that was that.”
On possibly going for two at the end
“I did, but they (coaching staff) talked me out of it.”
On CU's post-game celebration
“Looked like they were playing for the Super Bowl out there.”
On CSU's poise
“They (CSU) showed a lot of class and guts.”
