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University of Minnesota Athletics
Air Force - Postgame Quotes
9/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
POSTGAME QUOTES
Minnesota 20, Air Force 13
Sept. 12, 2009 – TCF Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, Minn.
Temp: 80 degrees, partly cloudy, wind from Northeast
Attendance: 50,805 (sellout)
Kickoff: 6:07 p.m. (CT)
Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun
Opening statement…
“Overall, this was just a phenomenal atmosphere for college football. They got something here that is pretty darn neat, and really special. It’s evident that they have a place where they can build something down the road, and be a top-20 program. In regards to what we did; I thought there were spots where we played good, but to win here under these circumstances, you have to play great. We did not. There were times where we had a chance to convert on a fourth-and-one inside the 10-yard line, and we did not do it. There were times when it was third-and-10 and we got them pinned inside the 10-yard line, and we did not keep them pinned. You fumble, and the ball gets returned for a touchdown; on the road, you’re not going to win. Another really huge play was the third-and-25. We had just scored a touchdown to go ahead, and on that third-and-25 they convert on a seam route and go on to score a touchdown. In general, I think it’s an incredible experience. As a football team I feel we need to grow up and there is going to be a maturity required throughout the season. By no means will it get any easier.”
On the third-and-25 conversion by Minnesota
“It was a huge play, without a doubt, in terms of just being able to keep the ball in front of you. You have to take deep enough drops to make that seam route a very difficult pass to make. To win a game like this, that play cannot convert. It wasn’t the only play, but in a game there are probably six to eight plays that decide the game and that was one of them.”
On what this game means to Air Force
“It goes so far beyond what happened tonight, and what our guys are going to be dealing with in five years from now. There are no moral victories. We had to come up with some stops that we didn’t, but there is more to it than that. I’m not disappointed in my guys’ effort, not at all. I think across the board we need to accelerate the maturation process.”
Air Force Junior WR #83 Kevin Fogler
On how quickly the game turned around in Minnesota’s favor:
“It happened pretty fast, but we’ve been in a lot of games where the whole game changes like that, so we’ve seen it before. Things really changed really quick, but it wasn’t surprising.”
Air Force Junior LB # 36 Andrew Morris, Jr.
On the game:
“When you play a tough team like that, Minnesota is a great team: well coached, well disciplined, you keep it close, and you can’t make any mistakes. Of course it’s disappointing to lose, but we just didn’t play well enough at the moments that we had to.”
On Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber:
“They have a great offensive line. Weber’s a great player. I feel that our coaches prepared us well. We knew we were up for a test as a defense. Of course it’s disappointing, not making some plays. Overall we’ll just learn from our mistakes and try to go out there next week and beat New Mexico, our next opponent.”
Air Force Sophomore DB #6 Jon Davis
On Air Force’s defensive performance:
“I think our coach had us in the right spots when we needed to be in the right spots. They were making the plays and we weren’t. I think if we had capitalized on some of those plays we would have been in much better shape.”
On what areas Air Force could have improved upon:
“I think everything could have been better. The secondary as a unit could have broke better on the ball. If we would have capitalized on a couple more that we had our hands on, get a pick or something, we would have capitalized on those things I think it would have been a different game.”
Air Force QB #7 Tim Jefferson
On the fumble return for a touchdown
“We were supposed to have our “Z” receiver. He was supposed to be trailing but he wasn’t there. I tried to tuck it back, but as soon as I did he punched the ball out.”
The 3-1 failure to convert at the Minnesota 8-yard line
“I won’t be disappointed in the line. I was disappointed in myself. I saw a crease but I got held up by one of the offensive linemen and could not hit (the hole) hard enough so I would not blame anyone for that one.”
Minnesota 20, Air Force 13
Sept. 12, 2009 – TCF Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, Minn.
Temp: 80 degrees, partly cloudy, wind from Northeast
Attendance: 50,805 (sellout)
Kickoff: 6:07 p.m. (CT)
Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun
Opening statement…
“Overall, this was just a phenomenal atmosphere for college football. They got something here that is pretty darn neat, and really special. It’s evident that they have a place where they can build something down the road, and be a top-20 program. In regards to what we did; I thought there were spots where we played good, but to win here under these circumstances, you have to play great. We did not. There were times where we had a chance to convert on a fourth-and-one inside the 10-yard line, and we did not do it. There were times when it was third-and-10 and we got them pinned inside the 10-yard line, and we did not keep them pinned. You fumble, and the ball gets returned for a touchdown; on the road, you’re not going to win. Another really huge play was the third-and-25. We had just scored a touchdown to go ahead, and on that third-and-25 they convert on a seam route and go on to score a touchdown. In general, I think it’s an incredible experience. As a football team I feel we need to grow up and there is going to be a maturity required throughout the season. By no means will it get any easier.”
On the third-and-25 conversion by Minnesota
“It was a huge play, without a doubt, in terms of just being able to keep the ball in front of you. You have to take deep enough drops to make that seam route a very difficult pass to make. To win a game like this, that play cannot convert. It wasn’t the only play, but in a game there are probably six to eight plays that decide the game and that was one of them.”
On what this game means to Air Force
“It goes so far beyond what happened tonight, and what our guys are going to be dealing with in five years from now. There are no moral victories. We had to come up with some stops that we didn’t, but there is more to it than that. I’m not disappointed in my guys’ effort, not at all. I think across the board we need to accelerate the maturation process.”
Air Force Junior WR #83 Kevin Fogler
On how quickly the game turned around in Minnesota’s favor:
“It happened pretty fast, but we’ve been in a lot of games where the whole game changes like that, so we’ve seen it before. Things really changed really quick, but it wasn’t surprising.”
Air Force Junior LB # 36 Andrew Morris, Jr.
On the game:
“When you play a tough team like that, Minnesota is a great team: well coached, well disciplined, you keep it close, and you can’t make any mistakes. Of course it’s disappointing to lose, but we just didn’t play well enough at the moments that we had to.”
On Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber:
“They have a great offensive line. Weber’s a great player. I feel that our coaches prepared us well. We knew we were up for a test as a defense. Of course it’s disappointing, not making some plays. Overall we’ll just learn from our mistakes and try to go out there next week and beat New Mexico, our next opponent.”
Air Force Sophomore DB #6 Jon Davis
On Air Force’s defensive performance:
“I think our coach had us in the right spots when we needed to be in the right spots. They were making the plays and we weren’t. I think if we had capitalized on some of those plays we would have been in much better shape.”
On what areas Air Force could have improved upon:
“I think everything could have been better. The secondary as a unit could have broke better on the ball. If we would have capitalized on a couple more that we had our hands on, get a pick or something, we would have capitalized on those things I think it would have been a different game.”
Air Force QB #7 Tim Jefferson
On the fumble return for a touchdown
“We were supposed to have our “Z” receiver. He was supposed to be trailing but he wasn’t there. I tried to tuck it back, but as soon as I did he punched the ball out.”
The 3-1 failure to convert at the Minnesota 8-yard line
“I won’t be disappointed in the line. I was disappointed in myself. I saw a crease but I got held up by one of the offensive linemen and could not hit (the hole) hard enough so I would not blame anyone for that one.”
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