TicketsNov. 21, 2006
On the Rutgers Game:
"That was a huge win for our program this past Saturday. I thought there were huge plays in the game.
"I thought Nick did a great job of stepping in and making his first start of the season. He played with great poise and was really extraordinary in a lot of ways.
"I can point to his first pass to Derrick Stewart that led to our first touchdown and also the big play to Brent Celek later in the game. DeAngelo Smith's interception made it 17-0 when they were in the red zone. "
On Connecticut:
"UConn beat Indiana, 14-7, on the road and they played very well against Pitt, and won in overtime."
"They are very well-coached. They are ninth in the nation in rushing. They are up there defensively against the run."
"Last year, they were first in the nation against the run, when they played us. Right now they are a little banged up, but they will get things in order."
"They have to win two more games to get to a bowl, so I'm sure they are backed into a corner. They will come out fighting so it will be a great experience."
"It is the first time we've been up there. From what I've seen, it looks like a great atmosphere to play in. We had a nice time Saturday night so it is time to move forward."
On playing on the national stage:
"We talked to our players about the win on Sunday night. It was a game played with a great amount of passion and energy. They made a statement that we are some of the newest members of the BCS and we got a little bit of respect and feel like we belong.
"It is a big step in the right direction. I understand it is one of the highest ranked teams we've ever beat, but I think it is a huge step for our team and our players. It gave more confidence to go forward."
On reserve players stepping into significant roles:
"DeAngelo stepped in for John Bowie, who was out with an injured knee. We didn't advertise it, but we really had two starters that were out. The guys that came in; one made the BIG EAST honor roll and the other one was BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. It just goes to show that when you get an opportunity you can make good on it, and great things will happen."