Syracuse Player Quotes
Syracuse University Player Quotes
vs. Connecticut
November 18, 2006 -- Carrier Dome
Senior Quarterback Perry Patterson
On the significance of the win
“It’s a big win; you just want to get the win after all the hard work you put in during the week. We knew what kind of game it was going to be, we knew they were going to be a tough team. We gave them the respect they deserved working hard in practice throughout the course of the week. Coach (Robinson) has a vision, we still have a vision for this program and we’re just trying to be a part of it.”
On the emotion for the seniors last game in the Dome
“Earlier I know a couple of the guys were crying, but I guess we won’t really feel it until a couple weeks from now or later on, but it was nice just to get a win.”
On the offensive drive in the third quarter
“We want to drive the field and get the explosive plays if we can. We just had a little communication error with adjustments and some of the running calls and we managed to fix them for a couple weeks now and we’re just getting better, we’re doing a better job. We just shut down their offense; the defense did a great job for us today.”
On the team’s confidence level during the game
“Our confidence was still high. I didn’t know we have five three-and-outs, but we just know that we have to keep playing, just keep playing through four quarters. That’s why we didn’t get down because we had some three-and-outs. That’s the adversity that’s going to come throughout the course of the game.”
On what the senior class has been through
“We’ve been through a lot. The thing is, we do have a BIG EAST Championship. We have a bowl game and that’s something that no one can take from us. That 1-10 season was something we had to face because of the coaching change and a lot of other reasons. It just shows the toughness and the character of this senior class. We had a lot of adversity in our face and we just kept fighting and battled through it and we came out with a win today.”
On Thursday’s scrimmage in practice
“Usually on a Thursday it’s just a light day and a mental day but Coach (Robinson) didn’t like the way we were practicing through the rest of the week so he had us run a practice with full pads and it was work that we needed because he didn’t like the way we were practicing. It felt good the guys came out and competed and it was something that we needed to get this win.”
Senior Free Safety Joe Fields
On the defense
“I think the defensive line did a great job taking away the passing lanes and the running lanes from the quarterback. We knew they were going to try to improvise and they (the defensive line) did a great job of restricting lanes and blocking the ball.”
On the defense all season
“We knew we were doing things that were good, but we knew we weren’t just playing four quarters. We always feel like we’re doing things at times, but today they scored early and then they scored late. We did a great job of just flying to the ball and doing what we were doing. We’ve done well in other games we just got a chance to finish the deal.”
On the difference today
“Today was just our day, the seniors might have had something to do with it. We have a lot of seniors on defense, guys that we didn’t want to let down. They talk about last year how the seniors went out and we didn’t want to do that. I know me, personally, I just wanted to have a hand in the seniors going out like this.”
On the transition from quarterback to defense
“I feel like I’ve been playing okay, I feel like I made some plays today, but I feel like I could do better and I’m going to keep working toward that. It feels good to make plays, but I feel like I have a lot more in me.”
On his two interceptions
“The first one was a great play by the defensive line, again. They took away all the running lanes. I didn’t know if I should run and try to go get the quarterback, but I saw Tanard (Jackson) move toward the quarterback so I dropped back and cut to get the ball. The second one I just jumped in front of the tight end because I saw him waiting for the quarterback and it just worked out.”
On coming up from Texas to play at SU
“It was a tough time at first, but I’m glad I stayed and I’m glad I made the change to defense. I enjoyed it.”
Senior Linebacker Kelvin Smith
On the emotion in the locker room on senior day
“It’s the last game and we’ve been here for a long time so everybody is going to feel that. A lot of guys take it for granted these games that we play. We’ve played our heart out for five years and it all adds up to this. It’s great to go out with a win. It’s great and I’m sure all those guys felt it in that locker room.”
On the defensive strategy
“We had a lot of intensity going out and I give a lot of credit to Coach Robinson. He had a game plan that was just going to attack (quarterback D.J.) Hernandez just going after him, he didn’t hold anything back and I really respect him for the calls he made this game. He did a great job.”
On practice the past week
“I guess it just felt like guys were going through the motions a little bit and I don’t think they were really taking into consideration how big the game was and I think Coach really sensed that. We suited up on Thursday and everybody was mad at the beginning, but we went out there and we had fun with it, and we were ready and I credit that going into this game. At the end of practice that was just a great practice on Thursday and we knew we were ready.”
On what the win means
“Of course we needed that win. It’s our first BIG EAST win, and it was big. We had a lot of recruits here, a lot of big time guys, and they needed to see it’s not all what is on T.V. and what people write about and talk about. To come in here and see us play like that is real big.”
On what the win will do for the program
“I definitely think a win toward the end of the season just leaves a good taste in your mouth going into next year that you left here a winner in the Dome.”
On how the defense contained Connecticut Quarterback D.J. Hernandez
“We were putting pressure on him but at the same time having a spy guy in the back who was trying to see where he goes, trying to see his movements and keep an eye on him so that was one of the biggest things.”
On who was handling the defensive strategy
“It was between me, (Jerry) Mackey and Jameel McClain; for the most part we were all working it together.”
On his last game in the Dome
“One game doesn’t really sum it up for me, I played a lot of games out here so my time is up. It’s about that time to move on and some other things. It’s just great to go out on top, though.”
On the toughness and character of the team
“Everybody is tough, it’s football, that’s the way the sport is. Any team that lays down shouldn’t be playing Division I sports, so I expect that out of any team, any team that’s doing bad or any team that’s doing good, you just need to finish out the season regardless of what’s going on and that’s what we did.”
On playing Rutgers
“What do we have to lose? So, we’re going to go down there and throw everything at them. That’s how we were when we went to Notre Dame, so we’ll go down there to New Jersey, it’s right around the corner from my house and I’m just going to have fun with it.”
On the defensive effort
“The guys were playing well today, a lot of young guys, too. (Defensive end) Jameel McClain had a heck of a game and he told me he was going to play his heart out for the seniors. I think a lot of young guys stepped up to the plate and made some big plays. We just came through and kept getting after them.”
RB Curtis Brinkley
Talk about the amount of playing time you saw today?
“I haven’t seen that much playing time in a long time but when you see that much playing time in a game, you have to take advantage of it.”
DE Jameel McClain
How much does it mean to end the last home game with a win?
“Thank goodness for the last home game, but more importantly, thank goodness for the seniors. We gave the seniors a good game. It is something that they can remember for a long time. The BIG EAST win is great, but for the seniors to leave the Dome with a win is even greater.
How important is it right now that you have a BIG EAST win?
“It’s always important to get a win, and getting one in the BIG EAST is extremely important because these are the games that count.”
P/K Brendan Carney
Talk about the seniors.
“We have never given up. When people look back on our group, they are going to say, ‘they were down, they were up, but they never quit.’ That is a great way to be remembered. This was just a great way to go out.”
Talk about the importance of this game.
“We’re not playing for a bowl or anything like that. We are just playing at this point for self-pride. We knew Connecticut was trying for a bowl and it was nice to take that out of the picture for them. Everything about the day was great. The fans were great and we played great. We just had a lot of fun.”
Talk about the locker room atmosphere today.
“I was crying like a baby before the game. We all came together as a unit. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in a pre-game locker room. We knew we were going to win and hopefully those feelings can carryover to our next game.”
CB Tanard Jackson
Talk about senior day.
“To get our first BIG EAST win, on senior day, and in my last game here, you can’t ask for much more than that. The fans always stayed with us even though we’ve had a rough two years here. I think they appreciated this win today. ”
Talk about the locker room atmosphere after the game.
“It was more relief in getting our first BIG EAST win. It was just great.”
Talk about playing Rutgers next week.
“It’s going to be another challenge. They are a great team, but we want to make the most of the opportunity.”
QB Andrew Robinson
Talk about the impact QB Perry Patterson has had on you and what you have learned from him.
“Patterson is a tremendous player. He has been extremely influential and crucial for me to develop and grow as a quarterback this season. I can’t thank Perry enough for all the things he has done for me. He’s a guy that calls me out on things and teaches me at the same time.”
LB Jerry Mackey
Talk about your last home game today.
“I think we really performed well today. I’m really excited. This is just a great way to go out. It was really emotional out there, but we had a whole lot of fun.”
Talk about the past four years and the importance of this game to the seniors.
“We’ve been through a lot. To go out in the Dome like this in our last game is just special. It meant the world to us to get that win. It just felt so good. We really deserved it because we’ve worked really hard.”
Talk about the locker room atmosphere.
“I honestly don’t even remember. It was just so emotional. I was just soaking it all in. I’ve been in this place five years. I’ve been through a lot here. I set goals early on, and have worked hard to accomplish those throughout my time here.”
Talk about the importance of winning this game.
“I think this is the start of something big. This is our first BIG EAST win. We ended the losing streak finally and I think this is a good start for the guys to build off of for next year. We got some young guys who got to play in the game as well and it was great for the coaches to evaluate them for next year. It was good that Coach Robinson gave the young linebackers a chance to play while accomplishing our goal of winning at the same time.”
Offensive Coordinator Brian White
On the win
“If you really analyze what we’ve done in the first quarter of football games it’s pretty impressive. With the exception of Cincinnati we’ve come out and scored I think at least a field goal by our second possession. We’ve been pretty good out of the box which means we’re prepared and we’re taking advantage of things. We haven’t been able to sustain things and get over that lull and we did today. Our defense was aggressive and turned the ball over to us. We still need to be more opportunistic in those areas. It’s a good win. It’s an excellent win for this program, and for these players who have really committed themselves to this program and I’m just ecstatic for the seniors. It’s been well chronicled they’ve gone through plenty of adversity and for them to leave the Dome with a win, they’ll always remember it. You always remember your last game at the University that you play at in your home stadium. It was just a really good total team win.”
