UNLV-Ole Miss Postgame Quotes

Oct. 28, 2000

UNLV HEAD COACH JOHN ROBINSON

"I would have paid money to see that game. The whole game was a little weird in terms of timing and traveling across the country. I think both teams started the game scratching their heads, but once we got going, it was quite an outstanding game."

"In the two weeks before this game, we were tired and had really lost our edge, but I feel like we got it back today."

"This is a really classy group of people at Ole Miss. Their team played hard and efficiently, and I thought their quarterback played well."

"The intangible qualities of our football team are just outstanding. The players never give up, and I really commend them for it."

"I think the road to being a winner is paved with a lot of pain. You have to pay the price to become a winner. We didn't get the win today, but we are entering a very important part of the season. We want to go out and win three or four of our last four games and make it to a bowl game."

QB JASON THOMAS
"They (the Ole Miss defense) are real good. I thought I did terrible. It was just one of those days you make the plays when you have to. Most of the time we didn't make the plays, but we made them when we had too. We might not have done well on first or second, but we had a lot more third down conversions.

On coming back in the second half:
"We put in their minds their minds we were going to execute and we weren't go to go down like that. This team has a lot of pride and character. Each game we build on that. It is unfortunate we had to be on the wrong side of it."

On the two point conversion:
"It was a QB draw left and Kevin Brown was supposed to go right to decoy the linebacker and when they closed the hole, I went right. We made eye contact and I flipped him the ball."

RB JEREMI RUDOLPH
On the tying touchdown:
"I think our offensive linemen stepped up big. John Greer had to block two guys. I just read my blocks and got it in the hole."

"Our offensive line is young. All praise to the offensive line and the receivers for blocking downfield. I think we have one of the best backfields in the nation. We are just not really known for the conference we are in. In the SEC you are going to get more attention. We just came out and did our best. Kevin and I talk during the game and kept each other on level.

DL ANTHONY SUGGS (Oxford, Miss., native)

On coming back:
"I was looking forward to it. I wanted to play in front of my hometown people, and let them see what I've been doing in Las Vegas."

"We knew we had to stop the run. We practiced on it all week. We knew we had to stop the power runs and the stretch play because we knew they were going to run it."

OLE MISS HEAD COACH DAVID CUTCLIFFE

"I want to commend UNLV, Coach Robinson, his staff and his players. They played a hard-fought game."

"It took a lot to come back in overtime after losing momentum in the fourth quarter. We're looking forward to getting on the practice field Monday and getting back in conference play at Arkansas next Saturday."

On Deuce McAllister:
"Deuce was not completely ready to play. But, he knew he could help us in overtime, and he wanted to help us if he could. Nobody can jump over the top on a short yardage play like Deuce can, and nobody can make big plays like he can."

On Romaro Miller:
"Romaro had a tremendous game this afternoon. He was really on target with his throws today. Romaro took care of the football, and so did our entire offense. Romaro is a warrior and always makes big plays."

On Ken Lucas:
"Ken had a great game today. He's one of the better cornerbacks in the SEC. If he keeps playing like has been, he should be strongly considered for postseason honors."

OLE MISS PLAYER QUOTES

ROMARO MILLER
(On the hot and cold play of the offense)
"There is no particular reason for that. There were just some times during the game when our offense didn't move the ball, and their defense stepped up. Their defense won some of the battles out there today. We just kept plugging and fighting and we were able to pull it out in the end.

JOE GUNN
On the offensive play:
"I felt like I was in a groove today. The offensive line did a good job of blocking. That was something we put an emphasis on in practice the last two weeks. It paid off and the team is getting better."

On the stretch run:
"These last four games will be crunch time for us. I'm going to try to step up and make plays for us. As an upperclassmen, I feel I need to step up and do my part. When my number is called, I'll try to do my best."

GRANT HEARD
On his career game:
"It's always great to have a game like this. With it being my last Homecoming, my last year, to come out and explode like that felt great."

On his 65-yard TD catch:
"When we run that play, we always expect the safety to come down and try to strip the ball. When the safety didn't come, I looked up and saw L.J. (Taylor) blocking down field and I took off as hard as I could."

On him and Romaro playing well together today:
"We worked hard on trying to get our timing back down the past two weeks. We tried to get everybody on the same page, and it worked out great today. We played against a good defensive team today with an All-America defensive back, and we threw the ball well against them."

IAN BASS
"We were well prepared for this game. UNLV is a consistent offensive team, and they made some big plays in the second half. We made some adjustments and pulled out the victory."

On his play:
"I'm always happy to help the team any way I can. I don't really pay attention to individual stats. This defense plays together as a team, and that's the way I look at it."

On his position change to linebacker:
"It's a good move for me. I moved from the offensive backfield where we were stacked at the running back position. The move to linebacker has gone well so far, and I'm happy with the opportunity to play."

KEN LUCAS
On his second interception:
"The receiver was lined up tight on the formation. They were running across and out-leveraging us all game. On that play, I just sat outside, and the receiver ran a fly pattern. When the ball came out to the flat, I ran under the receiver and made a play on it."

On his play:
"I felt like I was out of shape today. I missed two weeks of practice, and when you do that, you feel out of shape."

On UNLV's success on offense:
"I guess they watched the Auburn game tape, and saw that the cut-back was there and that's what they were mainly running. They had a lot of success running the ball today. They also have some good wide receivers. You have to give them credit."

DEUCE MCALLISTER
On his health, his play in overtime:
"I feel pretty good. I wasn't 100 percent and the staff made the decision not to play me during most of the game. Coach Cutcliffe and I talked right after the coin toss. My ankle is still a little tender. I told the coaches that they kept me out of regulation, but they weren't going to keep me out of the overtime. I wanted to play regardless of how my ankle felt because I wanted to help the team get the win."

"I can cut a little bit, but the ankle is still tender. Hopefully, it will be 100 percent by next week."

"I had my shoes taped up, but I had cut the tape off my shoes late in the game. Once we were in overtime, I had to get re-taped during that three-minute break between regulation and overtime. The trainer was telling me that they were not going to put me back in. I told the trainer that Coach was going to put me back in, and he's not going to keep me out."

"I was just doing what I had to do to help the team."

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related News

Related Videos