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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota/Iowa Post-Game Quotes
11/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota (3-9, 2-6) 27, Iowa (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) 24
Attendance: 50,805
Nov. 27, 2010
Post-Game Quotes
Minnesota Interim Head Coach Jeff Horton
On the game
“How about them Gophers? Who would’ve ever thunk it, as we like to say. What an outstanding effort by the players, the coaches. It started right from the get-go. We talked all week how the game was going to be won up front on both sides of the ball, and our guys just came out and played so hard the whole game. They took the lead there and we came back and I just can’t say enough about their effort and the way they did things and just hanging in there. It was just awesome. You can’t recreate what’s going on in the locker room right now.”
On Minnesota’s game plan against the nation’s sixth-best rushing defense
“We felt we just had to try to hit a few seams in there, spread them out a little bit, and we changed up the package some with MarQueis [Gray]…but still the big hogs up front, those guys got after it against a great defensive front. They’re one of the tops in the country, but we just really stayed after it and didn’t get away from it…It was just a great job pounding that football. That’s the way you’ve got to win and that’s what our guys did.”
On the success of the onside kick and third-down conversion
“The onside kick, we were either going to start the game with it if they had taken the ball or after our first score we were going to do it. It worked out. [Eric] Ellestad, he’d been maligned all year, and he executed it perfectly. That was great to see.”
On Minnesota’s defensive line
“I thought the defense was outstanding. They shut down a very good offense. Ricky Stanzi, they held him in check well. They shut down the running game very well.”
On the last game of the year
“It was a long month and a half, but the guys have stayed through it and found a way to get it done. The coaches, I can’t say enough about them. I mean, the uncertainty and coming every week and keep preparing and trying to help come up with a great game plan.”
Minnesota Players
MarQueis Gray, WR, So.
On grabbing Floyd:
“It was wild. I got in there late because I couldn’t get past the fans, everyone was taking pictures of the pig. We were just having a good time.”
Is this the start of something good:
“I would like to think so. It’s not how you start the season; it’s how you finish. We sent the seniors out with a great win and we hope to continue on next year.”
What do think of Jeff Horton and his coaching staff:
“I love them all especially Coach Horton. He was the quarterbacks coach and was moved to head coach and still stayed around with us during the season. I love them all coaches no matter what happens.”
Adam Weber, QB, Sr.
How did you feel when going up 10-0 after the onside kick:
“It was great. We got a game plan that we executed it in all three phases. The defense came and played, obviously our special teams made a big play. It was great. You draw it up and we had two weeks to plan everything out. When it’s going like that, things are going your way.
How about your running game:
“It was great; an unbelievable running game this week. I think Iowa prides themselves is containing the the passing game and not allowing teams to run on them. I believe we went far beyond what their averaging a game. Anytime run you can run the ball with success like we were toda, that directly correlates to this win; so that was great.”
Duane Bennett, RB, Jr.
On the last drive:
“I just think it was a great series of calls by our coordinator Thomas Henry. I just felt like every time we came to the huddle, he kept professing we have nothing to lose and we can go out with a big bang especially to end with a trophy game. It’s just a testament to those guys digging deep and finding what’s inside of them and finding any way possible to get the win.”
On motivation before the game…
“The motivation was to leave the season with a great win and something that will last as they (seniors) pursue their life after football. I think, you know just like a lot of coaches say, you would want the same to be done if you were a senior at that time. So I felt like it’s the last game, go out there and lay everything on the line and whatever happens. You will never step off the field saying I could have done this, I should have done that. So coming in, just knowing the seniors did everything for us for four or five years, for them to be able to leave with something like this is big for us.”
Troy Stoudermire, DB, Jr.
On the forced fumble:
“Oh man, I was already down the field celebrating. I saw him [Ryan Collado] jump on the ball. I just started celebrating because I knew we had it.”
On getting beat earlier in the first half…
“After I got beat, I went back to the sideline. The coach called me and he was telling me I got to play more inside, I can’t keep playing the go route like I was and I had the inside wide open. The second half they got me on the same slant play and I was right there in position just missed the tackle. In this game you got to have a bad memory you can’t dwell on one play because you’ll be down the whole game. You just got to let that go and go out and play the next play.”
Ryan Collado, CB, Sr.
On determination of defense
“That’s one thing the coaches always preach is pursuit. If they make one guy miss, we need pursuit. 11 guys to the football, that’s what they preach everyday and it paid off today. I made that play on the end around, Troy forced that fumble at the end of the game and it’s just something we practice. Get to the football. “
Getting the pig back after the time out…
“Well, I had a lot of fun going over there and getting the pig the first time. I was more than happy to run over there and get it again. I don’t know why they called the time out but i was fine with going over there again. It was just a surreal moment like Duane said. After four tough years, we had our ups and downs but it was great to finally get that rivalry win, get that trophy. It was great just finally being able to hold up the pig.”
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz
Opening Statement…
“First of all I’d like to congratulate Minnesota. They certainly deserved the win today. They beat us in all phases and played a great game. It’s a disappointing loss for our football team certainly. I give them credit; they played hard, they were well-prepared, and played the better game today.”
On Minnesota having two weeks to prepare…
“They did [have two weeks to prepare], but we’re all fighting the same challenges this time of year. The bottom line is they were more ready to go than we were today and they got what they deserved and we got what we deserved.”
On his team making too many mistakes…
“I’m not sure we did a lot well consistently in any one area right now. The only highlight I saw was Derrell’s [Johnson-Koulianos] kickoff return which certainly was a spark for us that we needed.”
On Iowa’s losses in the month of November…
“I think every [loss] was a little bit different, certainly, but they all have the same result and that’s certainly disappointing.”
On the story of Iowa’s regular season…
“I’m not sure I’m ready to say that right now. Tonight was certainly disappointing and that’s where my thoughts are right now.”
On if the losses are getting harder to explain…
“We’ve lost three straight and every one’s a different story. I don’t know if it’s harder to explain, but it’s no easier to digest—that’s for sure.”
Iowa Players Quotes
Broderick Binns, DE, Jr.
Opening statement:
“We didn’t come ready to play. Everything we tried to do they counteracted and they made plays when we didn’t.”
On the last drive by Minnesota:
“We tried to change up some things. Seems like it was working for a little bit, but they just shoved it down our throat and we couldn’t get off the field when we needed to.”
On the defensive not being able to get off the field in the five losses:
“Yea, its something we have to work on. I feel bad for this year’s team. We played well last year. I know last year is in the books, but we knew we were a good team coming in. But you know, we just have to come back, work harder and see what bowl game we go to.”
Allen Reisner, TE, Sr.
On the team coming out flat at the beginning of the game:
“Yeah that’s how it felt to us (coming out flat). I will have to watch the tape, get home and see what happened but they had ten points early and that doesn’t help.”
On the five losses giving up late scores in the fourth quarter:
“Yeah, that’s what it has looked like. Our offense has to put up more points on the board early in the game, and not put that pressure on the defense because that is a lot of pressure for anyone in any game at any time.”
On the team not being full circle coming into the game:
“Something is not going right. We don’t know what it is. We just didn’t have our heads in it. We beat ourselves today. They are a good team, but we beat ourselves.”
Ricky Stanzi, QB, Sr.
Opening Statement:
“There are a lot of things we need to fix right now. It’s a team loss, but it’s really tough when you’re on the road, lose and it’s a trophy game. I think we kind of need to evaluate a lot of different things and get back to work. Maybe bring a new attitude and energy and amp it up a little bit.”
On what he means by bringing a new attitude:
“Things started going south, obviously. We are on a three-game skid. We have to have a gut check. Bring your attitude to work, stay positive, and keep working to get better. It’s tough to do, but that’s what we need to do as a team right now. We have to have a good attitude and we need to attack each workout we get the next couple weeks. We need to get out there and improve on the areas we aren’t doing well in.”
