TicketsTemple at Cincinnati
Nippert Stadium
Nov. 10, 2017
Postgame Quotes
Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell
Opening statement:
"Obviously very, very disappointed in the way we really handled this whole situation and competed this game. For the first time, I think I told the guys that I am disappointed in the way we coached, disappointed in the way we prepared them. I don't know, to just not be able to put things together from working as hard as we do, I am a little bit lost for words and at some point in time we have got to find a way that we keep talking about penalties. We keep talking about these situations and the things we have got to do better and then yet we go out and continue to do the same things over and over again. We have really got to look deep down inside and we have two guaranteed weeks left to us. We are going to rely a lot on these seniors. Unfortunately, they have been in this situation the last couple of years and I don't think that it finished on a good note and someway somehow we have got to find a way to break through some of this stuff and finally start to see the things that we preach and see the things that we work on so hard and actually come out and show on a Friday or Saturday night when it really counts. I think that's where the disappointing thing comes, not disappointed in their effort, not disappointed in the way they prepared and things like that, disappointed in the way that what we put on film to show our program and to give us an opportunity to be successful."
On offensive execution and not throwing the ball in the first half:
"Well I mean that's the thing, the ability to put these things together is what is kind of baffling me. The defense can play really well in the first half and have a lot of really big stops and really tough situations. Offense doesn't move the ball very well and then in the second half it completely flips and the defense can't come up with a play. And on top of that we have a punt return, we haven't had a punt return in six years here, we had a punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter of the game and we get it called back on another penalty. We have another good kickoff return, maybe it was only out to the 40-yard line, we get it called back on a penalty and the ability for us to put these things together is what is really frustrating and we have got to find a way."
On if he feels there are areas where they have gotten better:
"It is hard to focus on the areas right now, I am sure we will. We will find them, I mean there is some guys, and we made some plays down the field tonight. In the second half the offense, I don't know if we have caught as many contested balls in the last nine or eight games prior to this than we caught tonight and the ability for us to do that is what we have kind of been waiting on offensively. You have got to take some of those chances and some of those shots and I know the situation again, it allowed for it a little bit more but it is really hard right now to try to figure out those areas where you are getting better when there are so many of those things that are glaring you right in the face and you work so hard and it is tough to see."
#5 Mike Boone, RB
On his two strong runs, including one touchdown:
"I was just trying to put us back in the game. The offensive line did their job. I'm just trying to do mine."
On how the atmosphere for the team changed after his score:
"Any ounce of hope. We were just giving it our all to mount a comeback."
On if this defeat hurt more since they won last game:
"Definitely. Any time you lose it hurts. Coming off a win last game and to lose this game, it hurts."
On what he wants to get accomplished in his last two games:
"Just come out with a great attitude and get back to work. Of course, we want to win the last two games. Just not have anybody hang their heads. Just come out and play."
#33 Jaylyin Minor, LB
On this game being a tougher loss because of the positive momentum of the previous win:
"Any loss you take is disappointing. As far as working and putting in the effort it's very disappointing not coming out successful. We didn't win the game as players. We didn't execute as we should've, it's just on us. We can't blame the coaches or anything like that, we're the ones on the field playing. We're the ones to put the blame on."
Temple Head Coach Geoff Collins
Opening statement:
"It was a good win. Our kids fought. They played really hard. They played together. I thought we ran the ball really well and I thought Frankie Juice had some spark, had some energy, natural leadership ability. I thought in the first half, defensively, we played lights out. In the second half, we kind of gave some things away and got some points put on us that we wish we could have back. But a good performance all around. And then Isaiah Wright with the big kickoff return for a touchdown was huge as well."
On the key to Temple's first-half play:
"The first half I thought we played really well. We were kind of depleted on the backend in the secondary. Then Chapelle Russell didn't play but I thought Isaiah came in and stood up nicely until he got hurt. And then Todd Jones, again last week he was the third-team linebacker, all preseason, basically all season. Last week, he played nickel for us to end the game. Today, he played will backer for us to end the game, or really the last three quarters he played will for us. It's a testament to how much he knows the entire package, he knows the positions, adds value to the organization. I'm really proud of Todd Jones and what he did for us."
On the play of David Hood:
"He did and I thought he did really well. Then Nitro came in and had some really good runs in the fourth quarter. Obviously we wish we had that one fumble back, but I thought they played well. They competed. The offensive line, they are kind of becoming like our defensive line where it doesn't matter who's in there, they step up and play really well and play at a high level."
On the effort by Isaiah Wright:
"He's done a really nice job for us. He had that return then threw that two-point conversion, so he's just an all-around, really good receiver. And he played quarterback for us today, as well, so he did some unique things again today offensively. Dave Patenaude and the offensive staff – being creative again and creating some different things that they had to burn some timeouts on some of the unique formations that we were using. So, I'm really proud of the kids and really proud of the offensive staff, as well."
On the climbing back to .500 record:
"I just am really proud of the kids. We challenged the sophomores and juniors during the open week to provide more leadership and help our small senior class and I think they've done that. And our seniors are special and the young guys that have developed some more leadership abilities – there are some young guys that are playing some good ball for us, and I'm really proud of those kids."
Nippert Stadium
Nov. 10, 2017
Postgame Quotes
Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell
Opening statement:
"Obviously very, very disappointed in the way we really handled this whole situation and competed this game. For the first time, I think I told the guys that I am disappointed in the way we coached, disappointed in the way we prepared them. I don't know, to just not be able to put things together from working as hard as we do, I am a little bit lost for words and at some point in time we have got to find a way that we keep talking about penalties. We keep talking about these situations and the things we have got to do better and then yet we go out and continue to do the same things over and over again. We have really got to look deep down inside and we have two guaranteed weeks left to us. We are going to rely a lot on these seniors. Unfortunately, they have been in this situation the last couple of years and I don't think that it finished on a good note and someway somehow we have got to find a way to break through some of this stuff and finally start to see the things that we preach and see the things that we work on so hard and actually come out and show on a Friday or Saturday night when it really counts. I think that's where the disappointing thing comes, not disappointed in their effort, not disappointed in the way they prepared and things like that, disappointed in the way that what we put on film to show our program and to give us an opportunity to be successful."
On offensive execution and not throwing the ball in the first half:
"Well I mean that's the thing, the ability to put these things together is what is kind of baffling me. The defense can play really well in the first half and have a lot of really big stops and really tough situations. Offense doesn't move the ball very well and then in the second half it completely flips and the defense can't come up with a play. And on top of that we have a punt return, we haven't had a punt return in six years here, we had a punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter of the game and we get it called back on another penalty. We have another good kickoff return, maybe it was only out to the 40-yard line, we get it called back on a penalty and the ability for us to put these things together is what is really frustrating and we have got to find a way."
On if he feels there are areas where they have gotten better:
"It is hard to focus on the areas right now, I am sure we will. We will find them, I mean there is some guys, and we made some plays down the field tonight. In the second half the offense, I don't know if we have caught as many contested balls in the last nine or eight games prior to this than we caught tonight and the ability for us to do that is what we have kind of been waiting on offensively. You have got to take some of those chances and some of those shots and I know the situation again, it allowed for it a little bit more but it is really hard right now to try to figure out those areas where you are getting better when there are so many of those things that are glaring you right in the face and you work so hard and it is tough to see."
#5 Mike Boone, RB
On his two strong runs, including one touchdown:
"I was just trying to put us back in the game. The offensive line did their job. I'm just trying to do mine."
On how the atmosphere for the team changed after his score:
"Any ounce of hope. We were just giving it our all to mount a comeback."
On if this defeat hurt more since they won last game:
"Definitely. Any time you lose it hurts. Coming off a win last game and to lose this game, it hurts."
On what he wants to get accomplished in his last two games:
"Just come out with a great attitude and get back to work. Of course, we want to win the last two games. Just not have anybody hang their heads. Just come out and play."
#33 Jaylyin Minor, LB
On this game being a tougher loss because of the positive momentum of the previous win:
"Any loss you take is disappointing. As far as working and putting in the effort it's very disappointing not coming out successful. We didn't win the game as players. We didn't execute as we should've, it's just on us. We can't blame the coaches or anything like that, we're the ones on the field playing. We're the ones to put the blame on."
Temple Head Coach Geoff Collins
Opening statement:
"It was a good win. Our kids fought. They played really hard. They played together. I thought we ran the ball really well and I thought Frankie Juice had some spark, had some energy, natural leadership ability. I thought in the first half, defensively, we played lights out. In the second half, we kind of gave some things away and got some points put on us that we wish we could have back. But a good performance all around. And then Isaiah Wright with the big kickoff return for a touchdown was huge as well."
On the key to Temple's first-half play:
"The first half I thought we played really well. We were kind of depleted on the backend in the secondary. Then Chapelle Russell didn't play but I thought Isaiah came in and stood up nicely until he got hurt. And then Todd Jones, again last week he was the third-team linebacker, all preseason, basically all season. Last week, he played nickel for us to end the game. Today, he played will backer for us to end the game, or really the last three quarters he played will for us. It's a testament to how much he knows the entire package, he knows the positions, adds value to the organization. I'm really proud of Todd Jones and what he did for us."
On the play of David Hood:
"He did and I thought he did really well. Then Nitro came in and had some really good runs in the fourth quarter. Obviously we wish we had that one fumble back, but I thought they played well. They competed. The offensive line, they are kind of becoming like our defensive line where it doesn't matter who's in there, they step up and play really well and play at a high level."
On the effort by Isaiah Wright:
"He's done a really nice job for us. He had that return then threw that two-point conversion, so he's just an all-around, really good receiver. And he played quarterback for us today, as well, so he did some unique things again today offensively. Dave Patenaude and the offensive staff – being creative again and creating some different things that they had to burn some timeouts on some of the unique formations that we were using. So, I'm really proud of the kids and really proud of the offensive staff, as well."
On the climbing back to .500 record:
"I just am really proud of the kids. We challenged the sophomores and juniors during the open week to provide more leadership and help our small senior class and I think they've done that. And our seniors are special and the young guys that have developed some more leadership abilities – there are some young guys that are playing some good ball for us, and I'm really proud of those kids."