Maine Head Coach and Player Quotes
Syracuse Football vs. Maine
Visitor Quotes
September 26, 2009
University of Maine Head Coach Jack Cosgrove
On being aggressive tonight:
“We knew we needed to do something so we took a different approach. We got aggressive.”
On sustaining momentum against a school like Syracuse:
“I didn’t think we were over matched. I’m just disappointed in that second half. We got beat 28-7and we gave away the football game. I don’t think we played as hard. I was happy with the first half, but it was tough to see it get away from us like it did.”
On changing their strategy so much tonight:
“We didn’t think we were going to be able to run the ball. They are 16th in the country against the run. It was pretty simple. We just needed to recognize what we thought we couldn’t do versus what we thought we could. We just did what we thought would give us the best opportunity to win. We had to take chances on special teams as well, which we thought was going to be important. Some things worked out and gave us.”
On when they decided to go with Warren Smith at quarterback:
“We decided during the week at practice. I don’t think we knew for sure until Friday what we were going to do. We had to make sure we handled the game plan properly so I would say Friday.”
On Smith’s performance at quarterback:
“I was disappointed in turning the ball over. We went in saying that we can’t turn the ball over and we turned it over twice. That really hurt us. It gave them points. The first one, the deep one, was because we got greedy and we have to calm that down. We had a guy wide open in the flat, but those are things you sometimes just have to coach and live with when you’re working with a young quarterback. It’s important that he learned from it that’s for sure.”
On looking ahead:
“We came here to win. We played solid for 30 minutes, but we have a tough conference schedule ahead of us and this isn’t going to get it done. We got a better understanding of who we are, what our strengths are, and what we can do. I’m just worried we’re not as mature of a team to handle a good game. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to work on that.”
Maine player quotes
Senior Wide Receiver Landis Williams
On how the first half started so well:
“It felt real good going into this week. We said we were going to have an aggressive game plan and an aggressive mind set. Even before the game all the captains were talking that no matter what happens during this game, make sure we fight from beginning to end. That was the whole mind set we had as an offense, as a defense, and even on special teams. The game got comfortable for us, throwing the ball and being aggressive, but the whole team had that mind set.”
On having Warren Smith playing the entire game:
“I was excited going into the game; I knew I was going to have opportunities. Every opportunity I got I just wanted to capitalize. I knew the game plan, Coach Bourgoin made the game plan real clear to us before the game so I didn’t have too much thinking to do. I just knew that I had to go out there and try to play my best and execute the plays that he was calling and catch the balls that Warren was throwing.”
Senior Defensive Back Brandon McLaughlin
On how much better he feels about the team after this game:
“Coach said it the best, we put the picture out there for what we need to do and how we need to play. Finishing like that is not acceptable, we can’t go halfway. We have to go 100 percent all the time – when we watch film and practice, doing everything we need to get better. It will translate out there on the field, going the full 60 instead of playing just one good half.”
On how Syracuse was able to run the ball in the second half:
“The stuff they came out with in the second half wasn’t something that they hadn’t showed. We practiced that, we just didn’t finish. We were getting off the field on third down in the first half. When it came to third down in the second half we just couldn’t come off. We had some busts and that is just not acceptable. That goes with the theme of playing the whole way, and not just a percent. Some guys maybe didn’t do what they were supposed to do on that play and that’s what happens when you’re not all on the same page.”
Sophomore Quarterback Warren Smith
On Maine’s trick plays:
“We were playing against a big 1-A team, and we were going all out. Our theme was ‘going for it’ this week, and obviously we went for it. We put the picture out there, like Brandon said, in the first half, but we didn’t finish. That’s what we’ve got to work on – we have to play a full 60-minute game. That’s what it is going to take to win a CAA championship or maybe a national championship.”
On practicing the trick plays during the week:
“We always work on the plays, it’s a routine. Every week we do exactly what we have to do, and today we used them. I guess practice makes perfect.”
On being able to throw the ball more and open things up:
“It felt good, throwing the ball around. The O-Line obviously helped me out a lot, protecting me, and we have athletes on the outside to make it all happen.”
On the mood in the locker room at halftime:
“We were up, we were happy, but our theme was that we have to finish. We lost this game. I am not going to sugar-coat it that we almost beat a 1-A game. We lost. That’s not acceptable to us and that’s not acceptable to Coach Cosgrove. The halftime felt great, as Brandon said we put the picture out there, but we have to do it for 60 minutes,not 30 minutes.
On how much the penalties hurt:
“They hurt. The little things you have to work on, and we’re going to learn from it and we’re going to get ready for Delaware next week.”
On adjustments Syracuse made to improve defensively in the second half:
“They started dropping more guys back into coverage, but we just didn’t execute. We had the play calls, we had the personnel in there, we just didn’t execute like we did in the first half. Like I said, if you want to win a ballgame like this, you have to execute for 60 minutes.”
