Tulsa
Boise State (Homecoming)
Post-Game Quotes
10/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2004
Final Stats | Notes
Tulsa Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe:
Opening Statement:
"Obviously, I'm disappointed with the fact that we didn't win the football game tonight, but I'm not disappointed in my team. I thought they played their tale off tonight. I thought they battled a very good Boise State team for 60 minutes. There is a lot of hurting guys in there right now, because it was a game that we felt like going into the game we could have won, and as the game unfolded it was a game we felt like we could win. I'm not disappointed in any guy in that locker room because they played their tale off from snap one to the very end of the game. If we can continue to improve hopefully some good things will happen for us. You have to give credit to Boise State they made plays when they had to, in the critical parts of the game to capture the victory. I take my hat off to them."
On your team's improvement:
"I think as a football team we improved this week. That's what I told the guys in the locker room. If we can continue to improve we can put ourselves in a position to win some games. We were in a position to win it tonight, but we didn't do it. We have to go to Reno next week, and win, and if we can do that then we'll put ourselves back where we were last year after three WAC games at 1-2. Again, we just need to continue to improve as a football team.
I'm proud the way our guys played tonight. I though we executed better on the offensive side of the football and made some big plays, James really operated well. But, again we're disappointed we lost the game. Offensively, we had good rhythm against a good football team. Like I said going into the game I thought they'd be the best football team we played this year, and I say that going out.
Did the kickoff return change momentum:
I thought it was a big momentum changer for us, it got us back to 21-14. It was a big momentum play in terms of the score differential. To me the biggest momentum changer was when we got the ball back to 21-21. On the opening drive of the second half taking it down and putting it in the end zone to make it 21-21, and then we made some plays to get ahead, we just couldn't hold the lead. Again you have to give a lot of credit to Boise State and their offense. They did a good job.
James Kilian:
On the third-and-three play:
"We wanted to move the ball and try to stay on the field of course. If we got a big play down the field, then maybe do something with it, but if not we certainly were not looking to have a three-and-out and not run the clock off."
"We got the ball on our 25-yard line, so you can't be aggressive with a minute left. We didn't want to turn the ball over, or do anything foolish. We tried to avoid that. They did a good job of dropping into coverage and taking away some of the underneath stuff we were looking for, and I tried to scramble around and make a play. I just missed the receiver a little bit high."
On progressing as an offense tonight:
"I think the difference was we were able to execute tonight. Boise State is a tremendous defense and I think our guys did a great job of making some great catches and running the ball after the catch was key for us. If we can continue to do that we're a good offense. I think in the past we just haven't been able to execute as well as we did tonight."
On teammate Garrett Mills:
"Garrett Mills is a great player. We were able to get some mismatches with him. Any time you have a linebacker covering him, we want to try and go over that. He did a great job of catching the ball and running with the ball after the catch."
Boise State Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Dan Hawkins:
General statement
"The extra point before the field goal was a little rocky. We got good protection and he banged it. There was no doubt in my mind. "
On playing an old style WAC game
"I enjoyed the whole game, I really did. A lot of times people say its nerve racking, but for me, it's a chess match. You'd love to have some plays here or there, they were making some plays. We did a good job not hanging our heads and making some plays we needed to to win."
On the "cardic kids" approach to winning games
"I think it shows a lot about them. We have a lot of new, young, and injured guys but they keep trying and finding ways to win. We have a lot of room to grow. We are still undefeated and this point and are still working toward that perfect game. It's a testament to this team."
On the play of T.J. Acree
"We decided that the way TU plays defense that you'd never be wide open. They do a nice job of playing defense. It's hard to get guys wide open. You've got to make catches in coverage and he did that. He is a guy you want to go to to make plays."
On Jared Zabransky's play
"He's learning and growing as a player. He didn't see the read on the pick but he recovered well. I think we've made strides to his growth but he's a winner. We never thought about changing him out at quarterback. He's our guy and we rely on him. He's a good player."
On Ashlan Davis's kickoff return for a touchdown
"It was part good TU special teams and part our scheme. They play their center at the 10-yard line and we had to work on that all week. We actually tried to hit the guy with the ball. It was a little bit of tactical thing. Not to mention that they did a good job. They did a good job blocking us. No. 3 is just fast."
On Tulsa's offense
"He (Kilian) did a good job of making throws and running around. He was sometimes he got a little bit of a bust on us. He did a nice job. Steve is very creative and keeps you off balance. They did a nice job, you have to give them that."
On the blocked punt
"We come after every punter. We felt like we had a couple of different schemes. We really felt like we should have had two other blocks and we just didn't get it done."
Tyler Jones, place kicker
On making the game winning kick
"It's taking me a long time to get to a situation like this in my career. I was just proud to be able to be able to make the kick and of being prepared. The offensive line was amazing. I give a lot of respect to the people helping me. There was no doubt in my mind about making that kick."
Feelings of the making the game winning kick
"When we called that time out, I went over to the net and kicked one in. I knew then that it was going in. Going out there, I was excited the minute I ran out on the field."
On preparing for the kick
"Once we got the ball back I started kicking into the net. I took a kick every play. Once we got into the 55-yard range, I started testing it. Once we got to 25 seconds, I was ready to go. I left the net and got ready to go. I started talking to myself and telling myself I had made the big kicks before. I was thinking of all of the practice that I had been through and trying to be positive. I just tried to think of what it would be like to make that game winning field goal."
