University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota-Purdue Quotes
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
| POSTGAME QUOTES Minnesota (1-3, 0-1) 31, Purdue (4-0, 1-0) 45 September 22, 2007 |
Minnesota Coach Tim Brewster
Opening statement:
“We have to find a way to play better in the first half. Tonight we turned it over and dropped the ball on the 10-yard line when we were about to score. Those are self-inflicted wounds and when we figure out how to eliminate them, we are going to be a good football team this season. These kids continue to play hard and we keep making strides.”
On: Duane Bennett
“Bennett is a good football player and I am very excited about the progress he has made and what he brings to the table. He gave us a lift in the second half and he is only going to continue to get better as the season goes on.”
On: The Slow Start in the First Half
“We have to take better care of the football. We also have to make plays when we have our hands on an interception or a chance to recover a fumble; we have to take advantage of that. We have been behind every game and we can’t continue to do that in the Big Ten.”
“Our coaching staff needs to figure out a way for us to start better. We are going to continue to put our guys in positions to make plays. Sooner or later those breaks are going to fall our way.”
On: Defensive Play
“Our defense played good tonight but not great. I do, however, think that they are making strides and we’re very confident tonight against a very good Purdue offense. Coach Withers put in a good game plan that they executed pretty well.”
Minnesota Player Quotes
Adam Weber, Redshirt Freshman Quarterback
On coming out flat
“The coaches came up with a good plan, and we had a good week of practice, that’s something we’ve got to figure out as teammates and as an offense. We had the chances and I think our starters have to hold that responsibility; that’s my responsibility too. We just can’t do that. Purdue’s a good team and we got other good teams like Ohio State coming in too and we just can’t do that.”
On an interception
“I saw someone coming and I didn’t want to put it up in the air too long and another (person) came and made a play on it; and it’s one of those things I will learn from, but it’s frustrating. If you take away some of the mistakes we had we were right in this game, and that’s the frustrating part of it.”
On the run in the second half
“Our conditioning is gonna help us out and our offense will be able to keep coming up with drives in the third quarter. But if we kill ourselves in the first quarter all that conditioning doesn’t help you out too much.”
Eric Decker, So., Wide Receiver
On being inconsistent
“On offense we have to be able to sustain a drive and have to confidence to show our ability right away and come out strong and I think that’s been showcased in the last few games that we haven’t done it. I think we can score points easily, and we came back and just were too far behind at that point.”
On turnovers
“We had four again today and that cost us points, one right by the end zone and one returned for a touchdown and it kills the drives and just kills our momentum.”
On Harris’ fumble at the end of the first half
“I’ve never seen anything like that ever. We’re getting the opportunities we’re just not taking advantage of them. I think there’s something in the next few games we’re gonna break out of.”
On getting bad breaks
“We’re hurting ourselves with turnovers. I think if we can sustain our drives, we can stay in it. Our defense showed they can play pretty well today.”
Deon Hightower, Jr. , Linebacker
On: The possibility of being 4-0
“We always have the chance to win a game. We just need to make plays and gives ourselves opportunities.”
On: If the defense has improved
“Absolutely we have improved. We have to just keep making plays.”
Duane Bennett, Fr. Running Back
On: What were you thinking after the first three games without much playing time?
“I feel the coaches had the best interest for me by keeping me on the sidelines and getting me adjusted to the speed of the game and getting me used to everything. Everything went well, the transition coming in was good. I was ready when the coaches called. But as far as waiting, my thing was that you could always learn by watching.”
On: Was this your coming out party?
“I guess you could say that. I played again Bowling Green; I played against Miami of Ohio. I think this is a true statement for everyone to notice what I can do. Everything is transitioning well. Everything was basically in order so all I had to do was go out and play.”
On: Securing the ball after Pinnix’s fumble...
“Securing the ball is that main focus for a running back because when we get it we are 6 or 7 yards deep in the backfield. We have to run to the line of scrimmage so we can advance the ball. Ball security is a big thing running backs talk about. After the incident happened we had to put it behind us and not dwell on it so we went on and played ball.”
On: What did tonight’s game do to boost your confidence?
“It boosted my confidence 10 times better then what it was going in to the first three games of the season. I would have to say that adjusting to the speed of the game is slowing down for me. I am remembering all the plays and everything is transitioning well so right know it is like I understand everything. No need to rush, no need to out think. I don’t want my brain thinking faster then my feet because that is when you mess up. So right now, everything is going well and tonight just gave me a boost of confidence.”
Purdue Coach Joe Tiller
On the opening kickoff return for a touchdown and the interception return by Cliff Avril:
“Two big plays. Obviously, to score starting the game and to score on defense is always huge. The way we played defensively and on special teams during the first half was significant and in the second half we were able to match their scores. That was the difference. If we couldn’t match their scores, then we’re in a real track meet.”
On Minnesota:
“Overall, I think that they got hot, which they’re going to do. I like their offense; I like their quarterback. I think they have enough talent to score a lot of points on people. If you get into a track meet with them, you better match their scores and that’s what we were able to do for the most part in the second half.”
On whether Purdue made any second-half adjustments on defense:
“They just got better. [Weber] didn’t overthrow his guys; the receivers held onto the ball and they did a nice job running the football. They just did a better job of executing in the second half than they did in the first half.”
On whether he was disappointed with his team’s second half performance on defense:
“Not really. We knew coming in having looked at them on tape the way they come back. If you study this team, if you didn’t expect this type of a game, you’d be a fool. That’s the way they’ve played their first three games. They’ve gone into overtime, but they’ve come from behind each time. I thought we needed to hang in with their offense in the second half and we did that.
“I was very disappointed with our performance on offense the first half. Way too many dropped balls.”
Purdue Players
Punter Jared Armstrong
On: Fumble Recovery on blocked field goal
“I think he tried to switch hands. I didn’t think he think I was as close as I was. I was probably like five yards behind him.”
Wide Receiver Desmond Tardy
On returning the opening kickoff return
“I was nervous because this was the first time I’ve done a kickoff since high school. I saw them coming to me. I looked and it seemed like a whole lot of Minnesota (players) coming straight at me. I turned right and ended up cutting it right. Then I thought the last guy was going to get me. I had a lot of sideline left and I just took off.”
Defensive End Cliff Avril
On returning an interception for touchdown
“This was my first touchdown ever. I had been reading the screens pretty well. I just felt that was what they were going to kind of try to do.”
On contributing to Big Ten opener win
“I am very excited. I’m here to help the team. I am trying to make plays and get all of the other guys to make plays. We got the W’ so that’s great stuff.”
Quarterback Curtis Painter
On the first half analysis of game and defensive contribution
“Defense did a great job in the first half. We ran back the opening kickoff too. We got some points on the board.”
On the second half offense
“I think in the second half we did a lot better job. We had a complete offense. We ran the ball really well. We threw it where we needed it on a couple of third down conversions. We had a nice balanced offense.”
