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Post-Game Quotes
9/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 20, 2008
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Tulsa Head Coach Todd Graham
"That was as good of a football game as we have played. It reminds me of the Houston and Bowling Green games last season. Coming into this week everyone was talking about their defense, and to leave here tonight and have everyone talking about our defense is exciting. We played a complete game. We dominated on special teams, offense and defense."
"I'm really proud of our guys and there is really only one way to open up a new stadium and that is how you do it - in dominating fashion. I said that this game would tell us where we are at, and we have a good football team."
On tonight's early offense...
"We have a really good system and it worked tonight. When we were stopped it was because we stopped ourselves. I'm really proud of David Johnson because he has gotten better every single week. This was a good football team today. New Mexico dominated Arizona last week and just about had Texas A&M beat. They won nine games last year and went to a bowl game, and we came out and dominated them."
On the importance of stopping the run...
"I thought Coach Patterson had a great plan and Coach Randolph did a great job of executing that plan defensively. I've really been on them about attacking and not sitting back. I want our defense to play a certain way and I was really proud of the way they played tonight, because we shut down a very good running back."
"It was a dominating performance by our defense tonight, and we played with a real passion and we got turnovers."
On the potential of national attention and feeling if Tulsa should be ranked...
"I definitely think our team should be considered as a Top-25 team. We are 3-0, but all of that stuff should take care of itself. I'm not worried about all of that, I want our guys to go out there and get to 4-0."
On the game atmosphere...
"I was so happy for our fans tonight and happy for the city. It really took me back when I walked out there today to see the place packed full. It was so loud in there and our kids were feeding off the crowd. That is what you see when you go to a big-time Division 1 college game and that is what it felt like tonight."
"We always play well here but we have a different place now. It was a different setting out there tonight. It has never been like that before and it was absolutely incredible."
On New Mexico's defense...
"This was a tough team we played tonight. Their defense was making spread offenses look bad and they had a multitude of pressures. They are a very well-coached football team defensively and they have one of the top defenses in the country. We did a great job of protecting our quarterback by picking up the pressure. We did a great job on our spacing, and looking at us tonight, I think we have a chance at being really good offensively."
Tulsa Quarterback David Johnson
How does it feel to get the win?
"Exciting. I am speechless still. It was great to see our defense come out and play the way they did, create turnovers like they did, to watch Roy take one to the house and Charles Davis having a couple of interceptions. They just did a great job and that is what really helped to propel us."
What were you thinking about running into the stadium?
"It was just crazy because it has never been that way since I have been here. Every time when we used to come in we had parts of the stadium that were empty. It is pretty crazy to come in and not see one part of the stadium empty or with a seat not taken. The atmosphere was just unbelievable."
Was it louder than you ever remember?
"A little bit louder than I ever remember, which is a great thing for us. I think that creates a home atmosphere for us and gives us that extra advantage on defense. It really makes it a tougher place to play."
Can you talk about the big lead in the first half?
"We had some good things. I feel like we had a good scheme against what we thought they were going to do. Obviously, Damaris and some of the other receivers did a great job of turning guys around and getting open. The offensive line did a great job of giving me time to get the ball down the field and I was able to hit the open guy."
Considering the performance of Slick Shelly and Damaris Johnson, do you think experience is overrated in this system?
"I feel like this system is set up for our talents and the guys that we have. Obviously, if you are talented, like those two are extremely talented, it makes it that much easier and makes it that much better. I feel like experience is a great thing when it comes down to certain aspects, but at the same time guys can come in and be well equipped."
Was it good to get the interception out of your system?
"I guess to a certain extent. I think that is what I am going to focus on the most out of this entire game; fumbling the ball once and throwing those two interceptions. We take great pride in wanting to take care of the football. As we say, 'own the football in all phases.' We want to be number one in the country in taking care of the football. Obviously tonight we did not do a great job of doing that and we are going to have to put more of an emphasis on it."
Do you worry on the plays where your linemen freeze that they are going to blow through and knock you?
"They did that to me at North Texas and I got over that real quick. It is good because it sets up other things that we can do off of it. We did a little bit of it tonight with the throw back. Overall it is just part of our offense."
Tulsa Defensive Back Charles Davis
How do you think your defense played today?
"I think we played really well. Our front line did really great today. Our linebackers did extraordinary. They created everything for us."
What do you think about the blocked punt?
"It happened just like we drew it up. Charlie Opeseytian lined up to the left and I came right through the hole to get the block."
What do you think about the interceptions?
"The quarterback made a bad throw to the receivers and I was able to make a break on it and get the pick. The second one he threw it right to me."
New Mexico Head Coach Rocky Long
Thoughts on the game....
"It was one of those nightmare games. No matter what you try it doesn't work and no matter how hard you try it goes the other way. Those games happen every once in a while. You hope that don't happen but they do. The worst part of it is we got a couple of good football players hurt."
How the punt block affected the momentum of the game...
"That gave them some early momentum, but that doesn't decide how a game is going to be played. They were a much better football team than we were today."
Did the type of defense New Mexico play affect the outcome of the game?
"It doesn't matter what type of defense we played tonight. They were making plays and we were not making plays. We played everything we got in our book and nothing worked."
How did Brad Gruner play after he replaced starting quarterback Donovan Poorterie?
"I thought he did alright. He made some mistakes but he made some nice throws."
On the punt block it appeared Tulsa bunched in a lot of guys in the middle is that the time when the punter should roll out?
"No he wouldn't have time to rollout. I think we made an assignment error in the way we blocked because they shouldn't have blocked it anyways."
Do you think the opening of Chapman Stadium affected the play of Tulsa?
"Not really, I think they are a good football team. I think the importance of the night had them ready to go. I am not going to take anything away from them. They are a good football team, but we didn't play anywhere close to how we can play."
