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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Postgame Quotes
9/5/2004 | Football
Ole Miss Head Coach David Cutcliffe
Opening Statements
"Obviously it was extremely disappointing to play the way we did at times. I think the biggest issue we had was inconsistencies as a team. We had a hard time offensively getting anything done. As the evening went on we did bad on third downs. It's hard to sustain drives when you are 3-of-15 on third down. We have got a lot of work to do. Adversity is part of the game, and we are facing it early. We are going to have to pick ourselves up and go back to work. Monday, we will look at what we are doing. We have to get better in a hurry to be competitive. We intend to do that this week."
On the defense tonight
"I thought they gave a great effort. We played with a lot of energy against a good Memphis offense. We got a little cramped at the end and gave up a couple of plays that we would like to have back. We were pretty consistent most of the game. We have to quit giving up the big plays. We didn't do that tonight. Against a big play type offense like Memphis that can be difficult. I thought we competed hard all day."
On Micheal Spurlock's performance tonight
"Micheal was inconsistent tonight. He did some good things. He is going to learn a lot from the experience, but he was inconsistent throwing the ball tonight. It's tough sometimes, but he going to learn from it and get better with time. We will just see how it goes."
On establishing the run
"We had bad field position and we certainly didn't want to throw him to the wolves early on. Hopefully we could come back. They weren't really rushing the passer early on. They would drop eight guys back into coverage. We really didn't establish the run as early on as we would have liked. At times we ran the ball pretty well. But we didn't do anything consistently on offense tonight."
Ole Miss Offensive Players
Quarterback Micheal SpurlockOn his first collegiate start
"We played pretty well overall. I thought our defense played great, but we could have played better offensively. We're a work in progress, and we are looking to get better every week. I'm not pleased about this game, but I'll learn from it."
On his comfort level as the game progressed
"As the game played itself out, I got more comfortable and got more relaxed back there. The first couple of series I was a little tense and was trying to make things happen that weren't there. I've got to be more relaxed, and let the game come to me and not go make the game. With every trip back on the field I felt better, and we made some good progress down the field."
On next week's Alabama game
"We'll start Monday. It's get better Monday. We'll approach practice with some intensity and focus on playing better football."
Wide Receiver Bill Flowers
On the game
"I'm disappointed. We could have played a lot better. It was the first game of the season. We'll get the kinks out starting at practice on Monday. We really weren't smooth tonight."
On Joe Lee Dunn's defense
"Our coaches did a good job of showing us everything that they (Memphis) were going to do. We didn't execute like we can."
On Michael Spurlock's first collegiate start
"Michael did a good job for his first time. It was a challenge for him, but he'll get better as we get better."
On next week's Alabama game "I'm excited. They are a good team, and it's an SEC game. We'll have to prepare well to go to Bryant-Denny and play at night down there."
Wide Receiver Taye Biddle
On the game "We came out a little flat. They made plays and we didn't."
On team chemistry during first game
"I thought Spurlock made some good plays, and I think we are going to get better as a team. We're not happy about the loss, especially it being the first game. We've got to look forward now, though, and get better next week."
Running Back Vashon Pearson On the game
"We've got to keep our heads up. We need to remember that we started out slowly last year, and we turned the season into a good one. I believe that we can do that again."
On individual performance
"I think I did okay, but it wasn't enough. We've got to figure out how to do better and come out next week and make it happen."
Ole Miss Defensive Players
Linebacker Rob Robertson
On the overall defensive performance
"We played hard as a team, we just came up short. There were a couple of times where if we had made plays, it could have swung things the other way."
On the goal line stand
"We kind of got ourselves in a corner right away, so it was good they gave us a chance to get out of it on four downs instead of kicking (the field goal). It gave us a little momentum after being driven on at the beginning."
On the defense's condition as the game wore on
"I think a few people were cramping up a bit. I don't know how many snaps we played. We played a pretty good number of snaps, but as a defense I think we were doing alright."
Defensive Lineman Michael Bozeman
On the game
"D-line wise, I think we did pretty good. We attacked and moved around the ball a lot. We were in there for a lot of plays, but as a unit we did pretty good."
On the goal line stand
"That was exciting. It seem like it took forever. It was like it was in slow motion, but it was a good stand and gave our defense confidence."
On rebounding for next week
"We're going to rebound. This is just a learning lesson. This is the first game. We've got a couple of kinks to work out, but as each game goes on we're going to get better. We just have to learn from our mistakes."
Defensive Back Trumaine McBride
On his interception
"I already knew what they were running from watching film, so I just bolted out running and made a good play. When I was coming down he pulled it out when my knee hit (the ground)."
On coming up short "They played a good game, but we just didn't make plays when we needed to. We gave up too many big plays, but we're just going to bounce back Monday, work hard and make strides toward competing for an SEC title."
Memphis Postgame Quotes
Memphis Head Coach Tommy West
"Obviously, we are tickled to death and very excited to come down here and get a win. I was really disappointed in the mistakes we made. We had enough penalties to take ourselves out of the ball game. Our guys fought like crazy. If Ole Miss made a play, we answered, kept our lead, and held our poise after the start of the second half. We have a lot of work to do and this only counts as one. This is one game for us and we are really excited to get a win."
"I am most proud of the fact that we came out and really looked like a good football team. It wasn't that long ago, that we were terrible and couldn't even compete with these guys. I am really proud of our team and coaches. I felt Ole Miss did a good job and we did a good job."
"We are an aggressive football team and that is the way we work. I thought (DeAngelo) Williams got a little frustrated early. I could see the look in his eye, but that happens and we'll adjust."
"This team has a very quiet confidence. I want to make sure it's not an arrogance, and it's not, and I like it."
Memphis Player Quotes
Memphis Quarterback Danny Wimprine
"This was a big win for our program against a big Southeastern Conference team in their house. Our defense played incredibly. I missed some opportunities early because I was a little juiced up for this game. We settled down and played our game. Ole Miss played us well."
On the defense
"Our defense played well. They held down an athletic quarterback in Micheal Spurlock who is capable of making big, explosive plays. They got a few on us, but we came back and played well and won the game."
On gutting out a gritty game against Ole Miss
"Times are changing. This team is evolving. We're more gritty. We are better and well conditioned at the end. We want to be able to win a close game late, whether its with offense or defense."
Memphis Running Back De'Angelo Williams
"I want to (carry the ball) as many times as it takes to win. Whatever it takes to put the `W' up on the board."
On defenses keying on him "The offensive line told me at the beginning of the season that they would take care of me. I didn't know what they meant. I do now. I'm not used to (the hype and expectations). Ole Miss is a great team and played hard. Coach told us to pay attention to the details and we did that."
Memphis Linebacker Carlton Baker
On Micheal Spurlock being as good as expected
"No he was not. I think he was overrated. I don't think he lived up to the hype that everyone was talking about him. I said if we get after him, he'll make dumb mistakes because he'll try to be a hero."
Memphis Defensive Back Tristan Thomas
"There was pressure because a lot of people expected us to fold. We knew if we played our game and followed our assignments, we'd have a victory for us."