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University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
11/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
Nov. 11, 2017
TCF Bank Stadium
Nebraska at Minnesota
P.J. Fleck, Minnesota Head Coach
Summary of tonight's game…
We got better I really give our players a lot of credit. We had the adversity of Michigan and everybody say about us, and you know this day and age is a very social world and these guys hear everything. What they did was come back and stay in our program, relied on their culture, leaned on their culture and had a phenomenal practice Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and that's the direct result of that what I'm proud of them for. They believe in the process and this is part of the process. Being able to respond after getting blown out and when you didn't play well, you come out and play one of the most complete games you've played, that's response. I think everyone's learned a very valuable life lesson, and a program lesson. I'm very proud of them for leaning on the process and you know they played really well tonight.
On what was consistent with the running game today…
First of all, we kept it very simple this week. We went back tor the basis of our offense and we were going to allow Demry to run the ball a little bit more but Demry had to makes the decisive decisions to make that happen. I thought Demry ran the offense as good as he has ever run it; he ran it like he ran it in practice the last two weeks. Now last week we lost to Michigan but I thought he practiced really well. This week was a lot better and you saw the results of him pulling the ball, making good decisions, great throws, decisive decisions outside the pocket whether throw it away or run for it. I thought he played really well, played very smart, ran our offense the way it needed to be done and then when he had the ability to pull it he did and finished.
On the opening kickoff getting everything started on the right foot...
We talked pregame we needed to start fast. Anytime you play a 4-5 team, it is going to go one way or the other and there's some type of doubt somewhere in people's minds. We needed to bring that doubt out early, and that was the message. Rodney just really taking off the entire load of everything that you've done in the run game with Shannon kind of being in and out at times. Kobe has done a phenomenal job of coming in there and rushing really well. But when you talk about I mean the type of day Rodney Smith had I though he had a tremendous job, broke tackles, not only that first down when we needed to get first downs, understanding situational football. He's becoming a better back every single day, a complete back. Long way to go, this is one piece of the puzzle, one-step along the journey but we can learn a lot from tonight.
On what was working so well defensively…
Well I think we were able to get pressure. The first few series they were able to run the ball pretty well, made some adjustments in terms of how we were fitting some people in and things. I thought Rob Smith did a great job adjusting to that. You know they attacked us through the air in some play action pass game from two really fast, really explosive receivers, one here from the state of Minnesota. We have to keep those types of players here in the state of Minnesota, period. So everybody listening, whoever you know that's a great player keep him here, 18 class, 19 class, keep him here because those type of players continue to make us better but they were down the field in play action stuff. We are not very deep in the secondary and they took advantage of it. I thought our players responded to it, they threw their oar back in the water and kept rowing and finished drives.
Demry Croft, Minnesota Quarterback
On his record breaking run game…
"I give credit to the offensive line, they opened up a lot of great space. We went through practice this week and focused on the details and focusing on this game.
On what has changed for his personal game…
"Being able to read the defenders better and knowing their body language a little bit better ... being in the film room more has helped a lot."
On what the team has improved on since the start of the season…
"We've been working on it since training camp but we're finally starting to put it all together, all three phases of the game and today"
On Rodney Smith's first touchdown to start the game…
"It was great to seeing him running down that field. That was a great feeling to start off on the right note. We talk about it all week, being elite and all three phases of the game, and we started it off right with special teams.
Jacob Huff, Minnesota Safety
On stopping the Nebraska offense…
'Defensively, the way we were able to make tackles and swarm to the ball. They had a great offense, so locking down on the receivers. The rest of the guys did a great job this week. It was key in bouncing back from last week because we didn't really preform in those areas.
On how important stopping third down conversions was…
"Those are game changing plays. When you get a team that wants to try on fourth down conversion and being able to make those stops are huge. It's huge for the whole team and when you're able to make those stops, more things happen that are good. It puts you in a great situation.
On stopping on fourth down and the change of momentum…
"Whenever you get a turnover in the red zone it's really a game changing play. It was a humbling experience seeing all the other guys swarming to the ball. It really gets you excited when you're out there."
On looking forward to the rest of season and the team's motivation…
"We're putting our head down and trusting the process. We put ourselves in some bad situations earlier in the year so we're focusing on just winning the next game and the game after that and accept whatever is handed to that. We're worrying more about the next game ahead than on the post season.
Rodney Smith, Minnesota Running Back
On his opening kickoff return…
"All the credit goes to my teammates. They all did a great job in blocking and giving me room. All I had to do was run straight. All the credit goes to the guys up front blocking for me on that one."
On his reaction to Demry Croft's terrific rushing performance…
"It was amazing what he did. When you have a quarterback that is dangerous like that, it makes things easier for the running backs."
On the growth of confidence in Demry Croft…
"He has definitely embraced the leadership role. He has embraced this culture and this offense. I am proud of the strides he has made."
Kobe McCrary, Minnesota Running Back
On Coach Fleck saying he is one of the most improved individuals on the team and how he has changed his approach…
"I have learned to be patient. Watching and playing with Shannon (Brooks) and Rodney (Smith), along with working with the coaches, I have also gotten a lot better at preparation. Every week you always have to be prepared to play."
On how much work the offense has put in on option plays…
"I say this everyday: we need Demry (Croft) for the read option. He helps us out a lot and plays a vital part in our success with the option."
Mike Riley, Nebraska Head Coach
On the summary of the game…
"You saw the game, it started bad and went from there. The opening kickoff was really a setback for us, it didn't have to be a killer. I thought we responded pretty well and we responded again after that. Then we got stopped on fourth down and then never really did stop them from there. It kept mounting from there. It's an old story of they did a nice job of running the football, in multiple ways, through the runner and the quarterback and some of the fly-sweep stuff with it. Their versatility was good and they were productive and created some pretty good passing situations for the quarterback. We were one-dimensional, especially after we got far behind, and couldn't even try to be balanced. "
On the team's effort today…
"You certainly look at that as a valid question about the effort and being ready to go right off the bat, when they return a kickoff for a touchdown. But then I thought of the response, and physically, we actually ran the ball ok, the first couple drives and scored on a touchdown and then had another drive and didn't score. I think we physically and mentally responded. Here's what happened on the defensive end, they moved the football and we couldn't get them off the field. With regards on intensity, I know that the score indicates we didn't, and I know that we probably got setback on our heels a little bit, a lot, with the opening kickoff. But like I said then, we responded, but never got our feet on the ground at any time, that I can remember defensively."
On the impact of Tanner Lee's exit of the game…
"There is no final medical thing that I have heard, except that the doctor used the term impact migraine. So obviously it has to do with impact in the game. I did not hear the word concussion, necessarily but I will certainly have more information for you later. I do not know the specific play that it occurred. Part way, through halftime, someone came up to me and said Tanner is talking to the doctors; he does not feel well. Currently, he does not feel great. He does not look bad, he won't talk badly, he is coherent, but I know he doesn't feel good right now."
On the team as a whole…
"Right now, you have to inherently rely on the character of the people around you, the players and the coaches. I think that it sounds like a broken record, but the coaches will get together to plan and prepare and the players, I think will just have to call upon on their own personal pride to do the right thing. Whether or not their lights have been on all the way, whatever that is or the opinion of what it looked like today, these are good kids, they have worked hard, they did prepare. We had a plan. We did not obviously prepare for this. WE were surprised by it, but I will continue to say that they had good intentions and tried in every way to get ready to play."
Patrick O'Brien, Nebraska Quarterback
On his approach to the game...
"Keep playing football, that's really all you can ask. Just take advantage of the moment you're given, just take every play at a time. Try to get better with each play, it was a great experience for me. Also we have to get better as a team, just working better and getting better every day."
On the looking forward to next couple weeks and becoming bowl eligible...
"Obviously that is one of the things, you want to be Bowl eligible. That is one of the perks playing in college football and that is definitely one of our goals, but also just progressing each and every day. Everyone can get better as a team and that's just our goal."
On his playing under the circumstances...
"I thought I played alright. I missed a couple throws, I mean not to get down on myself, but I have to keep progressing. This is my first time playing in an actual game, I felt I did alright but there is always room for improvement."
