Postgame quotes

VANDERBILT POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach Woody Widenhofer
"I'm so happy for our fans and our team for not giving up. Our coaching staff did such a great job of preparing our team for this hostile territory against a very good and a very experienced football team which was 2-0. They (Ole Miss) hung in there and fought us tooth and nail, and we were able to prevail in the end."

(In the overtime)
"I thought when we stopped them for a field goal in overtime, that the way our offense had been playing in the second half, we would have a chance to win the game."

(How this win compares to his Super Bowls at the professional level)
"This win ranks right up there with all the Super Bowls, believe it or not. The feelings I have for my coaches, players and fans makes it very special."

(On players making big plays)
"Our players were very courageous today. A number of players came up with big plays and made good decisions. Todd Yoder played on a limp leg, but gave it all he had. He began cramping up at the end. Freshman Dan Stricker did a helluva job and made some big plays. Tavarus Hogans made some big catches. And how about Elliott Carson, catching his first career touchdown in overtime.

(On the game-winning play)
"That's been a big bread-and-butter play for us the last two years. We've used it a couple of times. It won the South Carolina game for us last year. It's been a big play for us, and Elliott Carson has executed it well."

(On how big this win was today)
"I've been here two years and really enjoy coaching these kinds of kids. I knew the limitations and things we had to overcome. I thought we could do it if we had enough time and the opportunity to recruit the type of players we need. It was a very special win because I can't remember when we had our last road win. I know it's been a long drought, so I take my hat off to these players."

Vanderbilt Players

Linebacker Jamie Winborn
"This was a great game, and I can't even explain it. It (the win) just feels so great. We've worked so hard for so long. A lot of people didn't believe in us, but we believed in ourselves. We got down in the game, but we knew it wasn't anybody but ourselves who got us down. We went out there, and set our mind to it. We said that we were not going home without the win. We played to the best of our ability, and we came out on top."

(On Vanderbilt's offense)
"Our offense played great. They showed great composure. Every time the defense didn't do their job today, they helped us out. They went and put some points on the board, and that's all we can ask of them. The offense really showed up, and they won this game for us."

Tight End Elliott Carson
(On the overtime)
"We knew that, when the defense did their job in holding Ole Miss to a field goal, we had to score a touchdown. We just fought our butts off and came out on top."

(On adjustments at the half)
"We came in at half, and made some adjustments for the second half. We executed better in the second half. We just fought hard in the second half."

"Ole Miss has a great team, and they were fighting just as hard as we were. We knew we had an opportunity when we went into overtime, and when the defense held them to a field goal, we knew we had our chance. We never gave up and kept fighting the whole game. You could look in our players' eyes in overtime and knew we were going to win the game."

(On the touchdown-winning catch)
"I hopefully will make a lot more of these plays, so I won't just have to remember just this one. This will be a great play to look back on. I just so thankful to be the one who caught the touchdown pass."

Wide Receiver Tavarus Hogans
"This is just a different team. Some people have had their doubts after last week. We had to come from behind last week to win, but it was a good thing. Their was still some doubting after that win, but I don't know if this is the same old Vandy or not."

"We know that we are going to be in better condition than the other team in the second half. We have confidence in that right know. We're not trying to give the game away in the first half, but whatever happens happens. We know that we're going to dominate the second half."

"After halftime, we were a more settled and confident team. They showed us some looks that we wanted to take advantage of, and we did in the second half. We hit the long ball and hit some plays inside in the second half, and it worked out for us."

OLE MISS POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach David Cutcliffe
"Well, in general, the thing that obviously stood out in the second-half was our inability to keep possession of the football. They really won the time of possession in the second-half as we had had in first. But, the biggest thing was out inconsistency in every phase, and that was what frustrated us all afternoon. Obviously, that's my responsibility."

"We had some big plays. We had some big plays on the offense, and had big plays on the defense. We made some plays in the kicking game, but we have to be more consistent in all areas. Obviously, that's my responsibility. That's one of the things we're going to have to strive to do as a team."

"We have to give them credit. We never established anything. We were erratic in all areas and that's something I have to do a better job of. I know our kids fought hard. They played really hard. Vanderbilt played hard. Vanderbilt's a better team. I've been saying that they're a good football team. They're good on offense. They're good on defense. They're good in the kicking game."

"Each week's a new week. We're just going to have to go back to work on Monday."

"Deuce is one of those big-time playmakers. He's good as a running back, kick returner, and receiver. There's a lot of things Deuce can do for you. That's a good one-two punch. Joe Gunn was outstanding. I've said all along that our running backs are setting the tempo for our team."

"We have to grasp some consistency. I felt good about our opportunity to play in overtime. You never know how it's going to work out. We played extremely hard. We had a lot of people who were playing. That's a positive. We have a lot of people who are game ready, so we can play an awful lot of combinations."

"We give Vanderbilt credit. They came out and set the tempo and tone in the third quarter. This team will fight. That's not an issue with this football team (Ole Miss). This football team is going to be physically tough. It's a long season. We've got seven more conference opportunities. All you can do is take them one at a time. We can be a good, solid team."

"Overtime games are tough and it's really frustrating. There is a lot of things we are going to learn about our team. We made some great plays on both sides of the ball but there were too many inconsistencies that came back to haunt us."

"We felt like we had a chance to win the game and it was snatched away from us. When you get in overtime and you don't score a touchdown it's a bad feeling. We just didn't convert and do what we had to do."

"From watching them, this is one of the best teams that they've had by far. They have a chance to win every week. That's all you can do, is give yourself a chance to win every week."

"We are going to have put this behind us and practice and continue to get better. We are not going to panic. This program has character and we have a lot of outstanding young men that know how to work. When we get back on the practice field, we will get better.

OLE MISS PLAYER QUOTES

SYNIKER TAYLOR
"Vanderbilt has a good team. They came to play. They had a couple breaks go good for them and they came out on top."

(On his interceptions)
"When the opportunity came I just took advantage of the situation."

(On if next week was a distraction)
"Coach Cutcliffe always tells us to focus on one game at a time and I know in my mind that I was totally focused on this game. We just got outplayed today. We have to come out next week for another SEC game and play better."

DEUCE McALLISTER
"We didn't turn the ball over, we just didn't execute well enough. The defense played hard, but we didn't move the ball in the second half and Vanderbilt took advantage of it. It's still a young season and you never know what will happen."

ROMARO MILLER
"We can't sit back and dwell on this game, because we have Auburn next. We were focused on this game only, even though it's always in the back of our minds. We just didn't get the job done today. We have to work in practice to get better."

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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