TicketsSept. 26, 2006
I thought we went down there and played very well in a hostile environment, especially in the first half. As we move through the process, we have to make good on our opportunities. Our attitude is excellent. The intentions are excellent. The intensity with which we play is very good. I am very proud of our football team for that.
We felt like we needed to outrush them. We felt like that was one of the keys to victory. We were ahead at the end of the third quarter, but they were driving. The tide turned when they were able to run the ball successfully.
We knew that special teams was going to have a big outcome on the game. We were very fortunate that the blocked punt only cost us two points. Other than that, I thought we played very well on special teams. Kevin Lovell had an excellent day with two big field goals.
We needed to come up with turnovers and stay on the plus side of turnovers. I felt like we had to win the turnover margin. We had a big interception by Dominic Ross at the end of the first half which resulted in points, but you would have like it to have led to a touchdown. We had a big fumble on a pass play that took us down to the four yard line which took away points as well.
We are very, very close in some respects. In other ways we have a long ways to go, in respects of being able to finish.
About Miami:
We have a critical game this weekend with Miami. It is one that people in this program will always take very very seriously based on the past history that is involved in this game. It has been a good rivalry the two years I have been here.
They are young, but they play very hard. They have some experience on the offensive side of the ball. I feel Ryne Robinson is one of the premier receivers in the nation. (Mike) Kokal is a very elusive quarterback. He can run and scramble. Defensively, Joey Card is a guy who makes a lot of plays for them.
Any time you get a chance to play your rival game you have to be motivated to play. It's like Earl Bruce used to say, "You walk the alleys when you don't win."
We walked the alleys this last year. I'm sure that we won't forget.
Why was UC able to run the ball against Virginia Tech?
We made a commitment to doing that and we challenged each other. Our success against Ohio State as a team gave us a little bit of confidence in terms that we could play at that level.
If everybody is on the same page it will work. We were on the same page more often than not. We played with great technique and great toughness.
What can you do about the fourth quarter at Ohio State and Virginia Tech?
When you believe you are going to win, somebody is going to make a play. If you look at Ohio State, Troy Smith is going to make that play. Last week at Virginia Tech, (Brandon) Ore made it. We need to get to the point where we can rise up and make a play. Little things happen throughout the course of the game that make the difference.
If you look at the last two games, at Ohio State and Virginia Tech we were right there. Rather than it being, "we're there", we have to understand that we have the confidence that we belong there and somebody has to make a play.
At the end of the game you have to expect to win. We are going to get better at that against a quality football team.
How do you get the message across to the freshmen about the importance of the rivalry?
There is nothing you can do to simulate it. You try to point towards that and show them. When you play in that game one time, when you coach in that game one time, you understand.
I don't make any bones about this, they don't like us. We don't like them. Call it what you want. I hope our players understand that when we walk into this game.