Minnesota Postgame Quotes
Minnesota Head Coach Tim Brewster Quotes
Syracuse vs. Minnesota
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
“I’m really proud of our team. The way that we found a way in a very adverse environment and under tough conditions to win a football game. This was exactly what I expected it to be, Syracuse is a tough place to play. I know (Coach Marrone) is proud of his football team because they played extremely well, they played their hearts out and their fans really did a great job supporting them. We didn’t do everything right by any means. We have a lot of things to work on but I’m excited that we found a way to win the football game. Our kids really believe in each other, there is tremendous chemistry on our team and a belief that we can make it happen.
“In the first half things were not our way. We had a quick jump in the game but I thought we did a nice job of adjusting defensively at halftime. We’re humble in victory. We have a lot of things to improve but I’m pleased that our guys found a way to win. (Kicker) Eric Ellestad was absolutely outstanding as a young guy who has never played before in this environment.”
On the last drive
“We talk about it and we worked on that particular situation all through training camp. Needing a drive to go get points whether or not we need a field goal or a touchdown. (Quarterback) Adam (Weber) was a little bit off rhythm early in the game but when the game was on the line I thought he really did a nice job. He had great control and we did a nice job, for the most part, protecting him. Our guys went and made some plays (wide receiver) Brandon Green had a couple of big catches down the stretch but overall Adam did what good quarterbacks do and led the team down the field.”
On wide receiver Eric Decker
“Eric Decker is a great player and anytime we can get him in a one-on-one situation and throw the ball up to him letting him have the opportunity to make a play we’re going to do that. Eric played well, made some big plays and did what we need for him to do.”
On the running game
“We made a much better effort to run the football. Our style of play is conducive to running the football, our backs ran hard. We had some good runs and we had some negative runs but I really feel like the running game is going to be a positive thing for us moving forward.”
On the defensive adjustments at halftime
“They were hurting us with the wildcat, basically an inside power play so we adjusted out tackles. The defense settled in and did some nice things once we settled down and adjusted at halftime. Obviously they were trying to protect (Greg) Paulus. I thought we did a good job on the bubble screen. They were hurting us with that early in the game, but Traye Simmons made some good plays on the bubble screen and we adjusted well.”
Wide Receiver Eric Decker
On being tired at the end of the game…
“Yes, a little tired. I think everybody’s tired. You give all effort into it and finally we pulled it off.”
On successes in the fourth quarter…
“I think as a unit, as an offense, we got more confidence in ourselves. We weren’t being consistent. We made adjustments at halftime, we came in the second half and finally started moving the ball. When you get those first downs you start building the momentum you start building your confidence.”
Quarterback Adam Weber
On what was going through his mind in the fourth quarter…
“We knew that we struggled throughout the game and that was very frustrating. I guess what’s nice about it is none of us started feeling down, started feeling bad for ourselves. Going through that last drive I didn’t feel any pressure. We knew that if we keep moving the ball, if we do our jobs, we would be able to put ourselves in that position. Luckily we all made some plays.”
On being able to finish this game…
“Growing up watching games like that, many times the Gophers struggled to win games like that. It’s fun now, going into my fourth year being a part of the program, seeing that change, seeing that confidence. We found a way to win.“
