Colorado-Stanford Quotes

vs
Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Colorado Linebacker Kenneth Olugbode


We all know you have bigger goals, but talk about being bowl eligible.
"It means a lot, especially as seniors, fifth-year seniors, the guys who came in with Mac, even guys that weren't here -- who were here when Coach Mac wasn't, it seems huge to be able to finally go to a bowl."

And for you, defense was such a big part of this win. Does that mean a little bit extra?
"No, it means to us as a team. It doesn't really matter offense, defense, special teams, as long as we get a W, that's just how we feel as a team. We just want to go out there as a unit and make sure we do our best."

When the field goals kept missing, you guys had to protect a very slim lead. What was it that allowed you to continue to answer the bell in that situation?
"As a defense, I told them, I said, all right, let's go to work."

What was it like to play against a player like McCaffrey?
"It's awesome. I mean, he's got all that hype, he's got all the press and everything that are behind him, supporting him. It's just awesome to play someone like that.

Just a year ago Stanford kind of dominated you guys. What does it mean for you to come out here now and have this kind of performance?
"It means a lot. We talked about that all week, that we got dominated last year, and we can't have that."

What's it like to beat your brother's team?
"It's great to be back in the day. It's awesome to beat my brother's team, as well, a lot of those guys he played with, and it's like -- honestly, it's like playing with your family out there, as well."

How much pride do you guys take in a performance like that and giving yourselves a chance to win?
"It's a lot of pride, but again, we're a team. Even if the offense went out there and played lights out, we'd still be behind them and we'd still be hyped."

Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre


General
"Our kids have been through so much blankety-blank that they just believed, and the way they fight, the way they keep fighting, and we were down to our fourth kicker. We just keep working and everything, and I am so proud of these guys. We are so blessed to be at Colorado, and I want to thank the 7:44 in the a.m. prayer group. Thank you very much."

Stanford Head Coach David Shaw

General
"First of all, I commend Coach MacIntyre for the job that he's done at Colorado. I think that needs to be stated first and foremost. Recruiting, coaching, they were very close last year in a lot of games, and didn't finish. This year you see that changed. On to our team. Defensively, outstanding. For what the Colorado team has done up until this game, it was tough to see -- it was tough to even anticipate getting a game like that from our defensive side. Coach Anderson, Lance Anderson, phenomenal job, phenomenal job. Holding that team to 10 points in particular with as inefficient as we were on offense, it was an outstanding job to hold that team to 10 points. They missed a few field goals, but we kept them to those field goal opportunities. Offensively we've got to score more than three points. Ended up with five, got to score more than three. It's as simple as that. There were a lot of things that we have to do better and some things that we have to look into tweaking, obviously. We're not going to talk about those here. You can ask those questions if you want to, but I'm not going to answer that because there are a lot of discussions that we have to have as an offensive staff. Our personnel doesn't reflect our production, and all the fingers point to me. That's on me. That's my responsibility to get the most out of the players that we have. Yes, we have injuries, but nobody cares. Got a couple guys back, got Christian McCaffrey back, probably not 100 percent, but obviously really good, still really good. When we don't get enough 1st downs, we don't maintain our possessions, then no one gets enough touches. Bryce Love doesn't get enough opportunities. Michael Rector doesn't get enough opportunities. Trent Irwin doesn't get enough opportunities. These are very, very good football players. Bottom line, we need more production from the quarterback position. We're not going to have that conversation here about who's going to start, who's not going to start, who's going to play and how much. You can ask the question, we're not going to have that conversation here. We're going to go back and evaluate the film again, and we're going to find out the best way possible to move forward."

 

Stanford Defensive Lineman Solomon Thomas


How disappointing is this game, 10-5, your defense gave up some yards but held, but how disappointing is it?
"I mean, it's really disappointing. It's a loss. It sucks. You never want to lose. We fight every day. We work so hard to win. We work for our teammates, we work hard for our coaches, we work hard for Stanford University, and to come out here and play like that is unacceptable. It's got to stop and we've got to come together as a team and play our best football. We have not played our best football yet on either side of the ball. When we do that, it'll be something special, but until then, we've got to work harder."

What did you tell the team in the locker room after the game?
"I just told them to come together as a team, love one another, and fight for one another. Real simple, short and sweet. There's not much to be said. We've said everything that needs to be said. It's time to execute and fight."

I know the defense, you guys held up your end; you held them to 10 points, but is there any kind of frustration on your part with the offense not able to get going?
"No frustration, just when the offense doesn't perform, it's an opportunity for us to be great, and so we take that opportunity -- we don't try to take that for granted, we try to take advantage of the opportunities. If they throw a pick and we have to back them up, that's an opportunity for us to be great on goal-line defense, so that's the kind of perspective we try to have on it, and it's a perspective that you have to have on it, and the mentality that you have to have to be a great defense, and yeah."

What was the toughest part of defending Colorado today?
"I don't think we played the read well, and the quarterback run. We missed too many tackles, let them break too many tackles. Yeah, we held them to 10 points, but they had over 200 yards rushing, and that's totally unacceptable. We can't let that happen."

You go up against this offense, Stanford offense, every day in practice. How surprising is it to see what shows up on the field against what you play in practice?
"It's not the same offense. They're way better than what they put out on there, and we believe in them. We believe they'll come together. We have faith in them, and we love them, and they'll play their best football sometime this season, and they will shock the world. I believe that with my whole heart, and I believe in my team and I believe in my teammates and I believe in my coaches."


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