Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes
Syracuse vs. Minnesota
September 5, 2009
Carrier Dome
Syracuse, N.Y.
Quarterback Greg Paulus, Graduate Student
Opening Statement:
"To start, let me just thank everyone for coming out, especially everyone in the community. This was a big time atmosphere and coming home, it was great to feel the Dome rocking. They gave us a huge boost today, so let me just thank them."
On what went wrong with the offense in the second half:
"We made a few mistakes. It's tough to get the ball movement when we are hurting ourselves, whether it was a bad throw or penalties or a bunch of things that hurt ourselves. But we have to give Minnesota some credit; they did a good job with some of their adjustments in the second half. We can do a better job."
On what it was like playing again:
"I would have liked a better outcome. That pick, I should not make that throw. I should not make that mistake. I will be kicking myself for a little bit thinking about that one. But playing football is awesome. It is so much fun. I can't tell you the joy I get when I am just playing and when you represent Syracuse and you get to put on a Syracuse uniform and get to come out here and play in the Dome with a lot of people in the stands. The support here is phenomenal and I look forward to it being that for the rest of the year. When you play with these guys and the camaraderie that these guys have and that this team has, it is something special. There is nothing like being in the huddle and having 10 guys looking at you and having the opportunity to make the difference in the game every time you touch the ball. "
On what he saw in the play in which he threw an interception in overtime:
"For the first read, I think I came off too quick. Then I tried to make a play. Sometimes it worked today, sometimes it didn’t. On that one, I should have just thrown the ball in the back of the end zone and kicked the field goal. That’s what I saw. I was just trying to make a play out there."
On if he saw any open receivers:
"There were about two or three out there drifting in the vicinity. I thought I got the ball a little bit higher, but I didn't. That was my mistake."
On whether or not he felt confident throughout the game:
"Yes. I think this team thought we were going to win the entire time and having that belief is important. We don't come into a game saying, 'Hey we are not going to win this one.' We truly believe every time that we step out there that we have a chance to win, and that we are going to do it. We are going to find a way. We had some opportunities to put them away, whether it was first downs or with one more score to stretch it to a two touchdown lead. We just didn’t get it done offensively and that's on me."
On his mentality after the first snap went over his head:
"We got into the play a little bit late and I rushed it a little bit. The communication on my part wasn't very good. I will take the blame for that. After that, we settled down so maybe that was a blessing. After that, I think we were down 14-3 and we started to move the ball and play some football. We really got settled down. It was good to get the first mistake out of the way and get the ball rolling. I like the way we responded from that. I think that this is going to be a game of mistakes, whether that’s a penalty, an interception or an incomplete pass or a drop. You have to bounce back from that quickly so the next one doesn’t linger and get you. I think that it was very important for us to bounce back in a positive way. I think that is a good sign for us. "
On if the game plan was changed to not put him in situations to make mistakes:
"We took what the defense gave us. Sometimes, that was a shot and sometimes that was a screen. Whether I audibled to that or checked to that or it was a package, I took what the defense gave me. If they want a play off, we'll take it, if not we will try to adjust and do something different. This week we were not going for conservative, we were going for what they gave us. We were aggressive and we want to be aggressive all the time. We are trying to play mistake free football."
On his touchdown pass to Mike Williams:
"It was just a pump and go. I dropped back; I don't even know what yard line we were on to be honest with you. But Mike got free; he makes a lot of plays. He makes them whether he is going up and getting them or running after the catch. He is a big time receiver and on that one he did a good job."
On the challenge of going on the road next week to Penn State:
"It is a great opportunity. It is another chance for us to get out there to get out there and get better. It is another chance for us to learn from the mistakes that we made today, some of the good things and some of the bad things. We will try to learn from the film and try to keep getting better and head in that direction. Having that type of environment, we know it is going to be hostile. We know that Penn State is really good, I know that they are ranked high. It is going to be a good challenge. It is going to be something where we can see where we are and where we are heading."
Running back Delone Carter, Senior
Opening statement:
"I just wanted to talk about the crowd and the effect that it had on the whole team today. I have never felt the Dome like that since I have been here. I just hope the support stays with us and we can show and give the crowd what they deserve."
On how disappointing this loss was:
"It is so disappointing. I feel like in overtime we should thrive with us being in the Dome and practicing in the Dome and everything that we went through. I think we should have pulled it out in overtime."
On if it was encouraging that the team was close to a victory:
"I see all the improvement and I am thankful for it. Don't get me wrong, but it is definitely not enough. I want more out of my whole team. And we are going to give you more."
On the challenge of facing Penn State next weekend:
"That is an exciting stage to play on. We are going to go through this week of practice and try to get our game to the next level. We are not done growing and we want to bring Syracuse back."
On using the “wildcat” formation:
"It is just another weapon for our offense. I really like how it went today. I think there is more to come with that."
On how close he got with the two carries he had in overtime:
"Not close enough. I tried to give a second and third effort, but I was not really getting it. It kind of hurts a little bit, but that is just something that I am not going to stop. I will continue to give extra effort."
On what he thought about quarterback Greg Paulus today:
"He went out there and showed you what type of warrior he is. He stayed in that battle with us and fought all the way to the end, to the last play. You know he is for real."
On why he thought the offense shutdown in the second half:
"I was really disappointed in that by us. We pride ourselves in moving that ball and we felt like that was something we worked hard on during the off-season. We are going to get in the film room and get that together and hold each other accountable."
Running Back Antwon Bailey, Sophomore
Reaction on losing the game
“It hurt, it hurt, for the fact of how much work we put into everything since January. We’ve been running, lifting, doing it all and doing it all right. We’ve just been looking forward to this game, but we came out and got beat, didn’t get things rolling. Another thing, we had the Dome packed. It was a great thing to have all of the fans out there. You don’t know how much that meant to us to have everyone there.”
On not making a play in the second half
“I have no answer for that. That is something we have to do in the future if we want to be good and be a great team.”
Nose Tackle Arthur Jones, Senior
On comparing the feeling of this game to the previous season
“Before I answer that I want to give thanks to the crowd for being out there. The atmosphere was unbelievable and we need to keep that going every week. Don’t give up on us, we’re going to bring it and keep it going.”
On being an improvement for last year
“It definitely was an improvement. There were some negatives in there, but there was a lot of good pull. Brandon Sharpe, a freshman, he did unbelievable, just working it and working it. There were a lot of good things, turnovers,a lot of big hits. So we are going to re-power and get ready for Penn State.”
On being a play away from winning the game
“It was pretty disappointing, but it is over now. We just have to learn from our mistakes and move on. It’s a long season and it is just the beginning. I’m proud to wear a Syracuse uniform and we are going to get it right.”
Linebaceker Ryan Gillum, Junior
Reaction on loss
“I went out there did the best I could to help this team win, we had a great crowd. They executed and that’s what happened. Minnesota did a good job at executing. We just have to stop them and make plays and do what we have to do to win.”
On being tired
“We were not tired at all. Our coaches have worked us so hard so that we would not be tired in the fourth quarter. I don’t think being tired was the thing. We worked hard at running and worked out our legs for instances like this, overtime. We just have to come out and start winning.”
Wide Receiver Mike Williams, Senior
On being one play a way from winning
“Like you said, we were one play a way from winning. Minnesota went out and they played a good game, they beat us and that’s all I can say. We just have to go out there and win a game. From the beginning we said that was the key to the season and that’s what we have to do.
On quarterback Greg Paulus’ performance
“He definitely did not look like he hasn’t played for four years. I think he played great today and went out there and made plays like a good point guard does.”
