Colorado-Missouri Quotes
October 09, 2010 | Football
Colorado Head Coach Dan Hawkins
On the team's struggles:
"It really started special teams-wise, when we missed the field goal and then had the blocked field goal, so that confined us offensively. We thought our defense played really well. [Starting defensive end Josh] Hartigan did really well, played really hard, and did a nice job. [The defense] gave us a short field a lot in the third [quarter]."
On his decision to switch quarterbacks in the third quarter:
"I don't think it was so much on what [Tyler Hansen] was not doing, but I was just trying to get something going."
On his disagreement with the safety call:
"We were throwing the ball on time, and we had a route that way but that guy got tackled and couldn't get there and get the ball on time. That was my contention."
On whether Mizzou's fake punt was a turning point:
"They did a good job executing, and we did a good job defending it. I don't know if that was a turning point, but it was one of those specialty plays in the first half that were problems."
On trying to run up the middle as they did against Georgia:
"At times we did okay. We started with some okay times there in the second half. By and large, though, it was not good. They did a good job stunting and looping and stemming in there and giving us some problems.
On the special teams breakdowns:
"I think it had to do more with just being able to get off on a good foot, whether it's at home or on the road. You saw that when we played Hawaii, which was a great thing where we were able to come back and get some things going in the second half when we weren't so productive in the first half.
On the Colorado defense:
"I thought they did a great job. Their backs were against the wall several times, and they did a nice job. They got a couple turnovers in there, and had some good coverage."
Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel
On The Shut Out Victory
"I thought it was a really good team victory. It's nice to see our defense step it up. As you all know the turnover we had in the second quarter was in about the worst field position you could get. It says an awful lot about them [the defense], and I'm glad we could preserve it [the shut out] at the end too."
On The Special Teams
"The fakes are one of those things that works. It's a good call; they're well-designed. Blocked field goals, blocked punts. Those are really good things. We are pleased with that. Just a lot of good things happened."
On The Lack Of Penalties
"It's one of the factors of winning-if you get a team that does the right things. It doesn't mean you're going to win but you put that in your favor, and you don't help your opponent. That was the best thing."
On Blaine Gabbert's Injury
"They said it was a high hip pointer. He tried to go out and play. He struggled with it, and James Franklin was called in. And talk about the heat of the battle. That one drive that he was a part of with this offense, that was a huge drive from a young player. He had a pick at the end, which was unfortunate to not get a touchdown or a field goal at the end of that drive."
On Colorado's Defense
"We also got to run the football. We've got to give them credit-we struggled a little bit up front in handling some of their stuff and finishing blocks. They had a good plan and they did a good job."
On The First Conference Win
"It's a great win. We've got a big game next week. So I'm focused on that, I'm always thinking about fixing things. I'm very proud of our football team. Any time you can get a shutout, certainly with the adversity we have on that field, it was good."
On Facing Texas A&M
"There's going to be a lot of tests. This is the next one up, that's conference play. You know that when you start the season. That's what it's all about. Like I told the players, there are a lot of guys that are sore. When you play this caliber of opponent and you're beat up a little bit, that's what you should be. Then you wake up and you start getting all the treatment, rehab stuff, get the soreness out, hit the hot tubs, and you get prepared for battle next week. That's the way it is. And that's the beauty of it-if you can do it and survive it. Then that's how you play your best."
Colorado Players
QB Cody Hawkins
ON INITIAL MISTAKES-"There was some inconsistency there and we really shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times, whether it was with a penalty or there was a misplay here and there. Obviously, we have to learn from our mistakes and get a little bit better. The safety that started off the game was a situation in which Tyler was never in before and obviously you got to come out in any situation you're in. We need to look at the film and learn from our mistakes because we are a good football team and they are going to crucify you when you play like this, but then everyone anoints you king when you play like you did against Georgia.
ON PAST AWAY GAMES-"With a football team like ours, I thought we had the fortitude to bounce back from the game like California and beat a good team in Hawaii and beat a good team in Georgia. Obviously, regardless whether you're playing at home or on the road you got to get a little bit of momentum going and you have to capitalize when plays are there to be made and we did not do that tonight."
ON THEIR ROAD STRUGGLES-"I think it's so funny how everybody talks about the road. It's not like we have been kicking ass at home. I mean, we have been struggling in tough situations and I think that inconsistency has plagued us a little bit, just because we had a lot of young guys and this year is a different story, not because we're on the road, I think's it's a different team offensively because we have more talent and we have guys who can make plays and we have leadership there. We just have to be able to learn from our mistakes. "
QB Tyler Hansen
ON THE SAFETY-We had a receiver that was going to go out there, but he did not get out. That was just a rough play call and just a tough spot to be at. Paul Richardson was the main guy on the play and he was double teamed so that was no good. In the end zone you cannot really take any chances in getting out of the pocket."
ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED-"You just got to keep your head up. I know there were certain things we cut ourselves on, such as the drives and penalties. It's just dumb stuff that we keep doing, especially on the road that we need to clean up. It's just easy stuff, such as the one penalty on the false start. It's just stuff you need to clean up; we got to know the play clock is. It's just little stuff we need to clean up on and focus. We'll clean it up and get better."
Missouri Players
WR TJ Moe
ON YARDS AFTER CATCH- "I'm just trying to help the team in anyway I can. Coaches sometimes yell me for taking uneccessary hits but I'm not just going to go down. "
ON FIRST IMPRESSION OF BIG 12 PLAY - "It's exciting. It's a different atmosphere than you have during non-conference play. There's a lot of fans who filled up the stands tonight. Everyone is playing hard. Your playing for your conference life now."
ON THE ROAD TRIP TO TEXAS A&M - "It's exciting. They've got a great atmosphere there and it's a lot of fun. Its college football. It doesn't get much better than that."
CB Carl Gettis
ON MAINTAINING THE SHUT OUT - "We definitely didn't want to give it up. On their last drive with two or three minutes left, we were saying we can't give up here. We had to put up a big stop and get this shut out. We really wanted that goose egg tonight."
ON STARTING BIG 12 PLAY WITH A WIN - "It's great to always start off with a win. We're going to watch some film Sunday and find out what we did wrong and correct our mistakes and get ready for Texas A&M."
ON NEXT WEEK'S OPPONENT TEXAS A&M - "We're going to be going on the road where they've got a good quarterback and some playmakers on that team. We're going to have to be ready and be prepared."
DE Jacquies Smith
ON THE SHUT OUT - "Its real sweet to come out here and basically dominate on defense. A lot of people think of football in an offensive mindset, but when you get a shutout like that it just means it was a great performance by the entire defense. "
ON DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON - "We just have to go out there and work to get better and practice. We need to be persistent on defense just like tonight's performance "
OL Tim Barnes
ON THE SHUT OUT - "Feels good to come in it and get a big win in the Big 12 right off the bat. Colorado is a good team, much improved from last year and they came out and fought hard. They had a pretty good game plan for us and we had to make a lot of adjustments. They did a good job."
ON BIG 12 CONFERENCE PLAY - "We always expect in the Big 12 that's its going to be a four quarter battle and we've got to be ready to fight for all four quarters. You expect to be sore afterwards, I know I am right now."
ON WINNING THE FIRST GAME OF BIG 12 PLAY - "It's nice. We worked so hard to get through the non-conference schedule and we go 4-0. We start out the Big 12 with a win tonight and it sets us in the right direction. It leaves a good taste in your mouth. We keep working hard and we go for the next opponent which is Texas A&M."
