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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota-Penn State Quotes
10/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Opening Statement
"I thought our kids played with a lot of passion and energy. It has been a wild week with a full load of emotions for the players and the coaches. I thought they came out today with some great passion and energy and played as hard as they could. There were a few plays in there that got away from us, but I could not be more proud of the way they represented the university. We want to win. That is the bottom line, and we have to do everything in our power to do that, but I really thought they responded to a tough week."
On the interception changing the momentum...
"That was a big swing in the game. It is a shame it happened before halftime because we felt really good about where we were. Still, in the second half we came back out. Our first drive was great. I thought the kids came out with a lot of energy. It was back and forth. We just did not do enough to get the victory. That is the disappointing thing, but there is no fault of anybody involved."
On the defense and offensive protection in the game...
"I thought the defense played really good and keeping Penn State to two out of 10 on the third down was awesome. It gave the offense a change to get the ball back and win that possession time. Adam [Weber] did a good job. The offensive line gave him time. They have really done a great job this year protecting Adam and Adam does a good job of avoiding some things if it does get loose. We have cut those things down almost three-quarters of the way from a year ago. That is something you can build on and we have got to."
Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno
On the interception in the second quarter that led to a touchdown...
"Well, I think it was very important. A turnover's a big thing. I keep telling (the players), 'We need one turnover. We need one turnover.'...We hadn't come up with plays. We didn't have a turnover against Alabama. I don't think we had a turnover against Illinois. I don't think we had a turnover against Iowa. ...You have to make something to happen for yourself."
On the difference between this week and last week's loss to Illinois...
"We had a lot more bounce on the sideline."
On how different it feels playing for Coach Horton...
"Yeah, a little bit. It was a little different having Hammock as our coordinator. It felt nice attacking the first downs. It was nice as quarterback. Every coach brings something with their personality being different. We're still Coach Brew's team. We're playing for him. Coach Horton has done a great job coming in here and changing up the little things, trying to get us motivated, trying to get some energy back. He brought great motivation and great energy to the team."
On getting 10,000 yards...
"I don't know. It doesn't really mean anything. I'll keep the ball. I don't know, we lost."
On the play before the interception with McKnight...
"We're taking a shot there. Ideally that's the play you want with two safeties, but I saw a single guy. I kept the play on, knowing that Da' Jon was going for the play, and of all things, we might get called. So, I could have thrown the ball away, I could have changed the play, but I saw Da'Jon and with the play action we would have a one-on-one match-up. I put the ball up thinking it was either to Da 'Jon or pass interference call. We didn't get either of those. So, too bad. The ref saw it one way, and we saw it another way."
Da 'Jon McKnight
On the play before the interception...
"I forgot to do...he had my jersey. He obviously tripped me. The ref didn't call it so, I don't know."
On talking about his performance...
"I'm just trying to help my team win. I'm just trying to play my hardest and obviously we're not coming out with the win. I have to try harder and practice to finish the games."
On pass interference calls
"I mean, it's bad when we don't get them and they get them. But we can't let the game rest in the ref's hands so we got to play harder."
On facing three quarterbacks...
"It was one of those things, when the other guy came in we knew what they were going to do. Even on they play the scored on we knew. It was one of those things, we just shot ourselves in the foot today."
On penalty flags against the Gophers...
"It is tough when you're the defense and you get off the field on third down or you stop them and there is a flag. We just need to snap out of it."
On the touchdown pass following the PSU interception...
"The deep ball he threw over top of me. We knew they were going to take a shot, we were in a in a three man defense and the corner and I were not on the same page."
On offensive success, but still getting beat...
"It was frustrating from a team aspect, the goal was to play well in all three phases, and we still have not put that together.... We just need to keep going, keep pushing."
On personal success today...
"I just wanted to run hard and help the team. The offensive line blocked real well and there were holes open. When the holes were open, I just tried to take advantage of it."
On penalties...
"We were upset, but you can't pout, I tried to make the play after the interception, we just need to keep playing."
Matt McGloin
On getting a chance to play...
"It felt good, it was good to get an opportunity. I'm glad coach had faith in me today and I'm glad the players out there supported me, as well."
On his emotions after completing his first pass...
"You can't [describe how it feels]. It was my first completion as a Penn Stater, but after that you have to look past it and continue the game. I got a little rowdy and I had to settle down, but the coaches and players did a good job of getting me to settle down."
Malcolm Willis
On what the win proves...
"I don't know what it proves, but it definitely feels good. It lets us know that we're still a team that can win, we got back on a winning track, and got back over .500 and things like that. We just got to keep it going. We have five games to go and we're going to work as hard as we can in practice to come out next week and play our game and play with the same intensity."
On his role during the game...
"I didn't know how much I was going to play. I knew I was going to get a crack at it early. [The coaches] told me to make sure I was ready all week during practice...I didn't know how much I was going to play, but I knew I was going to get in, though."
Derek Moye
On quarterback Matt McGoloin's play...
"That's definitely exciting for him and he knew that if he got the chance, he'd be able to go out there and make things happen. It was a matter of him getting a chance and he went out there and showed what he could do. He's obviously got some improvements to make, but for his first game, he played pretty well."
On whether he is getting on track...
"I guess a little bit. I feel like throughout the season, I've been open a little bit, but there has been some other receivers that have been a little bit more open than I have and the ball can't always go to me."
Evan Royster
On McGloin's first drive...
"It was a strong drive. We didn't put any points on the board, but it got our offense going and gave us some confidence. We came out playing a little better after that."
On if he gets frustrated from a lack of carries...
"No, we need to get other people the ball. If we want to be successful we can't just run me or run somebody else-we have to spread it around."
On the emergence of tailback Silas Redd...
"He played great today. He's a major asset to our offense and we just need to get him the ball. He mad
