Colorado-Iowa State Quotes
November 08, 2008 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Dan Hawkins
On What He Said to the Defense Before the Game's Final Play
“I think we had a pretty good idea that they were going to run a zone-read or some kind of speed option. I think (Defensive Coordinator) Ron [Collins] did a good job of mixing it up down there. That's when it's all on the line. They made the play, and it was a great play.”
On the Quarterback Situation and the Team's Reaction
“I think you're not going to have the feelings that you're going to have after a game like this if you're not willing to work through games like we had last week. So much of great football and great teams is being able to work through the bumps and hanging in there. You set your ego aside and you're ready; Cody [Hawkins] has had to tag out for Tyler [Hansen],
On His Confidence in
“There's no question that it's squirrelly at best. I think you just have to hang in there and keep trying to work with them. It's not like they're not trying, but you don't have as bunch of options. We just have to keep grinding and keep working. The blocked extra point wasn't the kicker's fault. Both of these guys are first year players. It's their first year dealing with stress, dealing with pressure, dealing with failure, dealing with injury; but they will rally back to prove themselves. They're just going through the valley a little bit. Everybody has to do it, but they'll come out on the other side.”
On
“We've had a lot of issues on offense. It was great to just see them operating, blocking the right guys, running the right routes, catching the ball, doing those kinds of things; we certainly know that they are capable of that. You just stay after them week after week and it eventually shows up, and it did today.”
On What He Told the Team at Halftime
“We missed a couple of kicks and it sucks the wind out of you a little bit. We have a couple of penalties on special teams and that sucks the wind out of you; we just had some of those instances. You wipe away some of those. You get a couple of plays and your momentum goes up, and your confidence is up and then your energy is up; that is indicative of young guys. Our staff was very poised at halftime, and I thought our team was as well. We put a lot of credence on the first two drives of the second half and I think that's always big for setting the tempo of the game. For the first time, we answered on offense and defense, and that really set the tone for the half. I give them a lot of credit for just believing and the staff a lot of credit for staying in there and coaching our guys.”
On TB Darrell Scott
“He's doing better. The biggest thing is hopefully he got out of it without tweaking his ankle, and I think that will be the biggest adjustment for us. We certainly want to get him the ball for two reasons. One, he is a good player, and you want to run the football; and then without running, his opportunities go up, and he's getting healthier. So it's a convergence of a lot of principles.”
On QB Tyler Hansen
“It's so hard. He makes a lot of plays with his feet, he's really awesome and he can throw it; he's just a young guy. In some of the stuff that Cody has seen a time or two, comes a little bit more natural and it was a bit of a change-up for the second half. What's really hard on any player when you are in-and-out like that. It's not easy. It's hard on the guy and it's hard on the team, but we still believe in him, and he's going to be fine. Some of the stuff wasn't all his fault either. They stayed with their typical game plan like they have. We felt like we needed a little bit of a change when Cody came in and did a great job.”
On Persevering and Winning the Game
“At the end of the day, it's about one coach or one team winning more games than another coach or another team. But I really believe that we're doing the things that championship teams do. I really believe that on and off the field. We're doing what you're supposed to do, and we just have to hang with it. When you have those breakthrough moments, they help you. It's beating
On the Win
“I'm just really happy for them. These poor guys have been slugging it out. I had a guy come and watch practice last week and he said “You're kids run around like they are 10-0.” You want them to know that that is how you do it, and that's how you win. Those guys get a boost of confidence and see al of that stuff pay off for them. That's what fathers live for, to see their sons go through that, and that's big. I appreciate their attitude and their work ethic and their toughness, our staff too. They just keep coming every day. I always say that in the end, you'll have your just due and day in the sun. it was big for them, and they got one today.”
On
“I really had a good talk with Coach Chizik before the game. I think he is a lot like me. We were talking about the motivational job that you have to do every week, and I think he's doing an awesome job with that in getting those guys to hang in there. He's done a great job, and I have a lot of respect for him. I think our principles are very much the same. They have pride and they have coaches they're going to answer and they are rebuilding. They did a great job and came out and got some confidence going. Then we answered and they answered. It was a gritty deal by both teams when we go up in the end, they go down and get the ball to the one inch line. He's doing all of the right things.”
Colorado Offensive Coordinator Mark Helfrich
“The plan was to go with
On Starting QB Cody Hawkins in the Second Half
“We weren't executing very well in the first half and the pass protection was good. Cody is a smart guy and we had a lot of guys make plays.”
On the Offense
“I thought our guys would have sparked a little earlier but they did a great job making plays. They caught the ball well, they passed well, and they protected well.
On WR Cody Crawford and QB Cody Hawkins
“I feel really good for Cody Crawford and Cody Hawkins. Hawkins has been criticized a lot in the media. Cody Crawford looks like me and he's making plays. Actually, I'm a little taller.”
On QB Cody Hawkins Scramble and Fumble
“The pump fake works everywhere on the field, we just have to keep the ball.”
On
They got us in the first half a little with the zone blitz, we had to clean that up. The offensive line did a good job of protecting, they need all of the confidence they can get.”
On
“They have different strengths and we need to utilize each of their strengths. Cody has seen a thing or two that
Iowa State Head Coach Gene Chizik
On Final Series
“We were going to spike the ball. Then come back with a play. They had been giving us a bunch of blitzes up inside, so we called the option on the last one and they made a great play.”
“There was so much inside pressure on all the other ones. So when that happened we felt like we'd run the option where he could obviously keep it or pitch it, given which one was open. So that's what we went with.”
“He did a nice job on the last drive. Some of the receivers did a good job catching the football. Alex (Robinson) made a good run on a play or two on that last series. But we came up a play short. We got ourselves in a position to score.”
Difference In
“It was basically a fourth quarter meltdown. Cody did a nice job in leading his team, there's no doubt about that. Defensively we didn't slow him down and the two minute offense.”
On Improving Offense
“I think we've improved some things. We've run the ball a little bit better these last couple of weeks. I don't know what the stats will say. But Austen's becoming a better quarterback. We still have dropped balls here and there. And just little things that make a difference.”
“We had another delay of game today. Offensively, we can't tolerate that. But I think, yes, in some areas we are getting better.”
On Play of Running Back Alex Robinson
”I think he's really starting to feel it. Using his vision, and making some cuts, and hitting some holes better than he was earlier in the year. But I also think there are some holes there that weren't there earlier in the year.”
On Play of Offensive Line
”Yeah I mean, as I said earlier, our offensive line is a M.A.S.H. unit. We're starting, you know, a lot of different guys in there; trying to shuffle them around. They're beat up and banged up. So there are just different guys in there right now, and they're trying to mix and match the best we can. But it's that point in the year where we're really banged up.”
On Play of Austen Arnaud
“He took a couple hard shots in there today, and got back up, and made some good runs in there. He gave our team a chance to win, I think. But he's a tough guy. He's been stepping up to the plate, he is becoming a team leader. In a leadership role, he is developing into that. And I think each week that goes by you can see that. I'm proud of where he's going, there is a lot of things he can get better at, but I'm proud of where he's going.”
Colorado Players
SS D.J. Dykes
ON GOAL LINE STAND-“It was obviously a big play. Any game changer is going to be a big play. They were on the one foot line and we needed to make a big play. It decided the game, so it meant a lot. They gave the ball to the quarterback, who is a very good player, Shaun Mohler made him pitch it and that got them to about the 5-yard line. Then we just swarmed the ball. Me and Jimmy Smith were able to break our blocks and make the tackle.”
ON
CB Jimmy Smith
ON THE LAST PLAY-“It was a huge play by our defense. It saved our bowl hopes for the season.”
ON HIS PLAY-“I had a couple of good plays on defense but they should have been interceptions. If I was more focused, I would have made those plays.”
ON
GENERAL-“If the offense can get some mojo going, and feel like they can score, the defense will keep the lead.”
WR Patrick Williams
ON TOUCHDOWN CATCH-“We practiced it a different way all week. But we knew the concept of the play and as we lined up I guess they decided not to cover me and blew the coverage and I was open. Cody [Hawkins] saw me and I'm glad we were on the same page. We came out and made a play for our team.”
ON PLAY OF THE DEFENSE-“I was just hoping the defense would hold up. This is what we worked for. We have a great d-line and a great secondary. They stepped up and made a play, the game was in their hands and they got a huge stop. It is a big win for our team.”
ON THE WIN-“It is a big win to me but any win is a big win to me. Any “W” in the column feels like a national championship because I love to win. It was a great win because we battled back from so far down. There were ups and downs, penalties, missed cues, but we stepped up and made the plays.”
FS Ryan Walters
ON STOPPING ISU ON THEIR FINAL DRIVE-“We knew we had to keep fighting. After the offense scored, we had to hang in there and step up. There was even a play there where I missed a tackle, and Jalil [Brown] stepped up and helped me out. We kind of had that feeling ? every one looked steely eyed, and we knew were going to make the play.”
ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME-“Everyone on the field was screaming ?option'. Even Coach Brown was yelling it from the sideline. It might have been a quarterback sneak at first, but when they went into the shotgun, I thought it was the option. We had our guys coming off the edge. It was a great way to end the game.”
QB Cody
ON COMING IN, IN THE SECOND HALF- “It's huge. I wasn't really sure what was going on. Tyler and I are great friends. Coach Helfirch came to me and said ?Cody your in.' It's definitely has a different feel when you go in in the second half. I've never sat out the entire first half. I got a lot of time to sit down and think. I just went out there and had a lot of fun and did what we do everyday in practice.”
ON THE DEFENSE AT THE END OF THE GAME-“I had a lot of confidence in the defense, Scotty and I made sure we did our part and pumped up the crowd. We have a lot of playmakers, we are just young. Momentum was huge. We had guys going out and making plays.”
ON TYLER HANSEN GETTING THE START-“To be honest, I didn't know if I was going to play at all. I didn't get any snaps in practice Thursday or Friday, I just tried to coach-up
ON IOWA STATE DEFENSE BEING TIRED- “That's a great art of our team. We have a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I think when we do push the tempo like that it gives us a chance to even the tables. The guy gets set right away and our guys can go out and make a lot of plays. I think when we were going up and down the field like that the guys are having fun and the momentum keeps rolling.”
ON FUMBLE- “That's why we go to church.”
WR Scotty McKnight
ON HIS FIRST TD RECEPTION-“It was kind of a designed play. Josh can draw a lot of attention with his speed and athleticism. We were faking a bubble screen to Josh, and I acted like I was going to block the cornerback, and then just took it up the sideline.”
DE Maurice Lucas
ON BIG STOP- “It's the things we do in practice, the things we watch on film. We have so much brotherhood I just knew my guys were going to get me on the inside so I knew there was nothing to worry about behind me. That made a big difference. It brought down the clock.”
ON OFFENSE- “Right now we just have to keep working together. It's going to happen. We had to get a stop and get the offense the ball.”
ON CODY HAWKINS- “Cody's just such a great leader. No matter what he stays positive the entire time. He is always giving someone a pat on the back. No matter who is in, Tyler or Cody, he stays positive, we all stay positive.”
ON TIRED
LB Brad Jones
ON GOAL LINE STAND BEING SIMILAR TO COLORADO STATE GAME 2004-“It takes you back, back to freshman year when Colorado State. It was a long time ago. It feels like almost the exact same play.”
ON FINAL DRIVE-“They had some big plays. They were going real fast they kind of threw us off a couple plays. We did bend, but we didn't break. That's what counts.”
ON IOWA STATE QB AUSTEN ARNAUD-“I give props to their quarterback all day. He's a great player and we don't really get a break with good quarterbacks in the Big 12.”
RB Demetrius Sumler
ON DARRELL SCOTT STARTING- “Darrell Scott worked his butt off this week. I was just patient and I waited my turn to make some plays.”
ON THE OFFENSE-“Our offense has been struggling. And to take a drive down the field and score ? that was huge for us.”
ON THE DEFENSE-“The defense played well, and we knew deep down they would step up.”
ON WHY HE GOT MORE TOUCHES IN THE SECOND HALF-“We started to run the hurry up offense, and the flow of the game changed a little bit.”
Iowa State Players
LB Derec Schmidgall
ON COLORADO QB CODY HAWKINS- “Both of their quarterbacks are good quarterbacks. Cody was just throwing it all around. They went to the hurry-up and we couldn't slow them down.”
ON THE FOURTH QUARTER COLLAPSE?“A debacle is exactly what it was. We just lost it. It was a hard one.”
LB Jesse Smith
ON COLORADO QB CODY HAWKINS? “He did a real good job. They went to a quick count and he made some very good plays. He is a very good player. He did a good job scrambling, we weren't able to get to him. They made plays like we knew they would.”
ON THE LOSS?“It's never just one play. We need to go back to the drawing board, watch film, and go back to practice. We need to stay positive, stay together in order to get a win this next game.”
OL Doug Dedrick
ON THE LAST PLAY?“We had been killing them all day with the option. It was a perfect call. The defense did what we expected. It just unfortunately did not work out for us.”
ON BOUNCING BACK AFTER THE LOSS?“We only have two more games. We have to get a win. The great thing about this team is that there is not one man that will shut it down.”
ON BEING A SENIOR? “I am only guaranteed two more games the rest of my life, in a game I have been playing since I was eight-years old. I am going to try to go out on a high note. The camaraderie and the locker room are what I will miss the most.”
QB Austen Arnaud
ON THE FINAL MINUTE OF THE GAME? “I thought he (WR Darius Darks) was in, but apparently not. I'm not going to blame the game on the refs, we just let it slip away from us. We thought it (the last play) was going to work, but they brought two players off the bench. I was worried but had total confidence. It hurts to go out like this.”
ON RB ALEXANDER ROBBINSON?“He has been working his tail off all week, and totally deserves the great game he had. He is a great running back.”
GENERAL?“We always have a shot to win it, it seems like. This one hurts inside. I will be playing these last two games for the seniors. We're on the verge, just not quite there yet.”
WR Darius Darks
ON CATCH WHERE HE WAS RULED SHORT OF GOAL LINE?“I was really just concentrating on catching the ball. I thought I was in, but just have to take it in stride.
ON THE LAST PLAY?“The option had been working all game. We thought we could catch them off guard, but they sniffed it out.”
ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH QB AUSTEN ARNAUD?“We're definitely starting to develop a connection. I developed more as a wide receiver, which has helped him find me.”
GENERAL?“I feel like we were just one play away. That has been the story all year.
RB Alexander Robinson
ON THE LAST PLAY?“It's kind of a blur right now. I had the ball in my hands, and I had to make a play. The coaches set us up and put us in a position to win the game.”
ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE?“They deserve a lot of credit. They did a great job the whole game opening up holes for us.”
ON RUSHING FOR 100 YARDS?“It's hard to be happy about that whenever you lose. It pales in comparison to the loss.”
