NC State Quotes
Syracuse Football
Syracuse vs. North Carolina State
November 1, 2014
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
North Carolina State Head Coach Dave Doeren
Opening Statement:
“Great win. I’m happy for our players. I’m proud of them for fighting through a momentum changing game. There were a lot of plays that went back and forth and we knew Syracuse was going to play hard. They’re a good defense, they forced four turnovers last weekend at Clemson. They’re a good football team on defense for sure and we knew if we took care of the ball, which we did, and the turnover margin was tilted our way and we played good on special teams, which we were able to do. Our kicker and punter had great days, we faked a punt.
“We just find a way. When the momentum was shifting we turned it back our way repetitively. Pharaoh did it, Art Norman did it, Josh Jones did it. I’m proud of our guys for the way they had fight in them tonight. It was a really good win for them.”
On NC State’s first ACC win:
“I’m excited. Winning it on the road means a lot to me too. That’s something that has been a problem here in the past. I’m glad to have that one. It’s good to be on the winning side of things.
“When you see the delight on our players faces’ right now – just getting back to the winning side – I’m proud of them for fighting the way they did. It’s not about me at all, it’s all about them. The fact that they got that win, for our staff, it means a lot.”
On NC State’s defensive effort down the stretch:
“It’s huge man, it’s huge. Our defense carried us today. It was two good, hard-hitting defenses today. It was kind of an old school football game. Field position, defense, sacks and hits. We found a way to run the football. Field position was a big part of the game for us.”
On preparing against Syracuse’s banged up offensive line:
“Well, the injury report showing that the two guards were out didn’t come out until Thursday so we didn’t have, other than Hickey going down in the game, a good idea of what was going to be missing until Thursday.”
On NC State blitzing more as the game went on:
“We did. Early on we didn’t want to expose ourselves to something new. We kind of played base defense until we saw what their plan was and we were able to get some pressures off of that.”
On the onside kick:
“Crazy play. I said we’re going to do it the hard way. Talk about a game of inches. I watched the replay. It was really close. Heck of a kick and a play by their guy. You’d like to think it wouldn’t come down to that but it did.”
On Syracuse taking momentum before and after the half with two long drives:
“They got some pass interference calls that went their way. I told the guys, ‘Keep playing. They’re going to throw it to you eventually and one of you is going to make a game-saving interception and we’re all going to laugh about it.’ I wanted our guys to keep playing tight coverage. I don’t want them to be afraid to be near somebody because they’re going to throw flags today. It’s just how it works. Sometimes, when you’re a defensive back, it’s really difficult. The ball’s in the air and you’re running with the guy and sometimes you get called, sometimes you don’t. It’s really a hard play.”
On NC State’s coverage on the returned interception:
“We were in a zone-blitz. Pharaoh [McKever] was the drop-in. He was dropping over the tailback on that play. They were running double slants and he was just in the hole and the quarterback didn’t see him.”
North Carolina State Student Athlete Quotes
Jacoby Brissett, Quarterback, Junior
On how the game came down to the last second:
“It’s never easy. It was a win. Hats off to Syracuse, but we came in and finished the way we wanted to, working together and stayed the course.”
On how the offense played:
“I thought we played well. I have to play better, that’s evident. But the offensive line did a great job, the running backs, pretty much everybody had a great game. We’re just one play away from a touchdown on every drive so, we have to continue to play well and keep it going. In the red-zone Syracuse played really well but we won the game and that’s all that matters in the end.”
On the outlook moving forward this season:
“Like I said, we’re taking it one game at a time. We want to enjoy this one but get ready for the next one starting tomorrow.”
Describe the reaction after the game in the locker room:
“It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been waiting for a time to have a celebration like that in the locker room. Everybody was jumping around, celebrating, hugging each other, it was a great win for us and we really needed it.”
Wil Baumann, Punter, Senior
On his performance and how he effected the game:
“Well, me hitting the ball well and getting it down inside the 20 is just half of it. Our coverage team did a real good job getting down the field and not giving their return guys very much space. It’s big because it makes it that much harder on their offense, and a few times today it really worked out for us.”
On his season thus far and if he expected to do as well as he has:
“Every year I’ve expected to get better. (I) was definitely expecting to do better than last year, so not it’s not a surprise to me because I really put a lot of work in this offseason.”
On the reaction in the locker room after the game:
“People were running in there, jumping around, celebrating. Coaches were in there, even coach Doreen was showing us a few dance moves. It was exciting, we haven’t won an ACC game in a long time, so were excited to be turning this thing around.”
Pharaoh McKever, Defensive End, Freshman
On what was going through his mind as he was running his interception back:
“Just keep going. I played wide receiver last year and I really haven’t run that far in a long time, so when I got the ball, my intention was to just go and keep going.”
On how big of a win this is with bowl implications:
“We needed this, it’s our first ACC win. It stung going winless last year. Our intentions from the very start were to come in tonight and get this first one”
On the reaction in the locker room after the game:
“It was good, it always feels good after a win. We try to have a good time after we win, it was alive in there.”
On exploiting an injury riddled SU offensive line:
“We were just trying to take it one game at a time. We knew they were banged up, we just needed to take advantage of the opportunity that was given to us.”
Syracuse vs. North Carolina State
November 1, 2014
Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
North Carolina State Head Coach Dave Doeren
Opening Statement:
“Great win. I’m happy for our players. I’m proud of them for fighting through a momentum changing game. There were a lot of plays that went back and forth and we knew Syracuse was going to play hard. They’re a good defense, they forced four turnovers last weekend at Clemson. They’re a good football team on defense for sure and we knew if we took care of the ball, which we did, and the turnover margin was tilted our way and we played good on special teams, which we were able to do. Our kicker and punter had great days, we faked a punt.
“We just find a way. When the momentum was shifting we turned it back our way repetitively. Pharaoh did it, Art Norman did it, Josh Jones did it. I’m proud of our guys for the way they had fight in them tonight. It was a really good win for them.”
On NC State’s first ACC win:
“I’m excited. Winning it on the road means a lot to me too. That’s something that has been a problem here in the past. I’m glad to have that one. It’s good to be on the winning side of things.
“When you see the delight on our players faces’ right now – just getting back to the winning side – I’m proud of them for fighting the way they did. It’s not about me at all, it’s all about them. The fact that they got that win, for our staff, it means a lot.”
On NC State’s defensive effort down the stretch:
“It’s huge man, it’s huge. Our defense carried us today. It was two good, hard-hitting defenses today. It was kind of an old school football game. Field position, defense, sacks and hits. We found a way to run the football. Field position was a big part of the game for us.”
On preparing against Syracuse’s banged up offensive line:
“Well, the injury report showing that the two guards were out didn’t come out until Thursday so we didn’t have, other than Hickey going down in the game, a good idea of what was going to be missing until Thursday.”
On NC State blitzing more as the game went on:
“We did. Early on we didn’t want to expose ourselves to something new. We kind of played base defense until we saw what their plan was and we were able to get some pressures off of that.”
On the onside kick:
“Crazy play. I said we’re going to do it the hard way. Talk about a game of inches. I watched the replay. It was really close. Heck of a kick and a play by their guy. You’d like to think it wouldn’t come down to that but it did.”
On Syracuse taking momentum before and after the half with two long drives:
“They got some pass interference calls that went their way. I told the guys, ‘Keep playing. They’re going to throw it to you eventually and one of you is going to make a game-saving interception and we’re all going to laugh about it.’ I wanted our guys to keep playing tight coverage. I don’t want them to be afraid to be near somebody because they’re going to throw flags today. It’s just how it works. Sometimes, when you’re a defensive back, it’s really difficult. The ball’s in the air and you’re running with the guy and sometimes you get called, sometimes you don’t. It’s really a hard play.”
On NC State’s coverage on the returned interception:
“We were in a zone-blitz. Pharaoh [McKever] was the drop-in. He was dropping over the tailback on that play. They were running double slants and he was just in the hole and the quarterback didn’t see him.”
North Carolina State Student Athlete Quotes
Jacoby Brissett, Quarterback, Junior
On how the game came down to the last second:
“It’s never easy. It was a win. Hats off to Syracuse, but we came in and finished the way we wanted to, working together and stayed the course.”
On how the offense played:
“I thought we played well. I have to play better, that’s evident. But the offensive line did a great job, the running backs, pretty much everybody had a great game. We’re just one play away from a touchdown on every drive so, we have to continue to play well and keep it going. In the red-zone Syracuse played really well but we won the game and that’s all that matters in the end.”
On the outlook moving forward this season:
“Like I said, we’re taking it one game at a time. We want to enjoy this one but get ready for the next one starting tomorrow.”
Describe the reaction after the game in the locker room:
“It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been waiting for a time to have a celebration like that in the locker room. Everybody was jumping around, celebrating, hugging each other, it was a great win for us and we really needed it.”
Wil Baumann, Punter, Senior
On his performance and how he effected the game:
“Well, me hitting the ball well and getting it down inside the 20 is just half of it. Our coverage team did a real good job getting down the field and not giving their return guys very much space. It’s big because it makes it that much harder on their offense, and a few times today it really worked out for us.”
On his season thus far and if he expected to do as well as he has:
“Every year I’ve expected to get better. (I) was definitely expecting to do better than last year, so not it’s not a surprise to me because I really put a lot of work in this offseason.”
On the reaction in the locker room after the game:
“People were running in there, jumping around, celebrating. Coaches were in there, even coach Doreen was showing us a few dance moves. It was exciting, we haven’t won an ACC game in a long time, so were excited to be turning this thing around.”
Pharaoh McKever, Defensive End, Freshman
On what was going through his mind as he was running his interception back:
“Just keep going. I played wide receiver last year and I really haven’t run that far in a long time, so when I got the ball, my intention was to just go and keep going.”
On how big of a win this is with bowl implications:
“We needed this, it’s our first ACC win. It stung going winless last year. Our intentions from the very start were to come in tonight and get this first one”
On the reaction in the locker room after the game:
“It was good, it always feels good after a win. We try to have a good time after we win, it was alive in there.”
On exploiting an injury riddled SU offensive line:
“We were just trying to take it one game at a time. We knew they were banged up, we just needed to take advantage of the opportunity that was given to us.”
