Ole Miss vs. Tennessee Postgame Quotes

Oct. 1, 2005

TENNESSEE

Head Coach Phillip Fulmer
"This team has shown an incredible amount of courage and toughness and fight - particularly as banged up as we are at some spots. I'm thrilled with the win. I thought our kids played really, really well. Our offensive front did a really good job of controlling the line of scrimmage; the defensive line did (too). I hate that (the defense) gave up those (yards on the long fourth-quarter run). I don't know how many yards (Ole Miss had up to that point), but it wasn't much. I'm really happy to get the win and (we now need to prepare for) a much bigger game ... Georgia."

On senior QB Rick Clausen
"His ankle (was hurting), and he had two fingers that were dislocated in the first ballgame - but he's played with them. He got the heck knocked out of him a couple times. He's a tough guy. He's a leader."

On redshirt freshman TB Arian Foster
"I'm really proud of Arian. He's a good player. He needs to get a little tougher, but he's a good player."

DE Parys Haralson
"We knew coming in it would be a tough game. The offense was moving the ball some, and we were able to get some stops. Doing that, we were able to get a victory. We didn't let the short week bother us. The ends kept contain, and the tackles clogged up the middle. (Mississippi RB Mico) McSwain's going to be a good back."

DB Jonathan Wade
"It's (his interception) a blessing. The defensive line was getting a lot of pressure all day. That forced him (Mississippi QB Micheal Spurlock) out of the pocket, and he had to make some decisions he really didn't want to make. If you've got Parys Haralson and the rest of those boys coming after you, you'd try to get rid of the ball, too. We're (defensive backs) still coming along and growing, but we're far from where we want to be. It's all over with. It's time to play Georgia now. We've got another big game to get ready for."

TB Gerald Riggs Jr.
"It thought we played well and started out pretty good. We slowed down a little bit. There were a few times we could have put it in the end zone. (On his strong play thus far this season) I certainly worked hard in the offseason to play at that level and be able to make those plays. I think it's started to pay off."

QB Rick Clausen
"We'll be fine as a football team. You've got to give them (Mississippi) credit. They made us move the length of the field. I thought between the 20s (yard lines) we moved the ball well. In the red zone, we kicked too many field goals. The guys made plays when they needed to be made, but we left some plays on the field. When we get in the red zone, we've got to score touchdowns. We've just got to execute better."

PK James Wilhoit
"We missed two (field goals). One got blocked and one missed probably by two feet. Sometimes statistically things don't work out the way you'd like. It's a tough situation. You can't really be that upset. I look at it as a process. I think the one that got blocked had a good chance because it was blocked in the middle. It was definitely a great job by the kickoff coverage team. I still have some soreness but it doesn't affect any of my kicks. There's a difference between pain and soreness. I'm just getting my confidence back."

OlE MISS

HEAD COACH Ed Orgeron
"Coming here was what our team needed, to see where we were talent-wise, scheme-wise and competitiveness-wise. I was pleased with the improvement by the defense and the kicking game.

"Patrick Willis did a great job. He makes a difference in our defense. I was proud of the way he came back and fought. It was a game-time decision. I was a little concerned about him, but gave him a shot and he played excellent.

"After the first series, we settled down and played. The adjustments worked. I felt our team was ready to compete. I was pleased with the way our coaches kept them together. We were not good enough to overcome the turnovers and penalties. They have a good defensive line and we didn't protect and handle the ball well.

"I want this team to improve. We're building this program from the ground up. We will have a good program here. We're taking it one day at a time.

"The effort was there defensively. I thought they came ready to play.

"I thought Will Moseley kicked and punted the ball well. He had a lot of confidence and there was a lot of confidence by the head coach. He showed he can go in any type of atmosphere.

"We're not where we need to be offensively, with holding penalties and jumping offside. It will be great to get home and get ready.

"We didn't get Mico McSwain the ball enough. He's a good athlete. We need the ball in his hands more. Espy played well, but he's part of 11. The offense happens in spurts; it's inconsistent."

RB Mico McSwain
"It was hard at first to get into a rhythm, but after we got into "the" rhythm we were alright. We got into a bind in our schemes, but once we made that correction we did better."

On his thought of breaking away near the end of the game
"I thought I was going to take it all the way, but then I looked to the side and I saw somebody and he caught me. They made big plays like that everywhere. It was just another good example of their team speed and taking the right angle to make the tackle."

P Will Moseley
"Once we settled down after digging ourselves into a hole we were ok. The difference was making a big play when we needed it and today we just couldn't make that happen.

On handling both punting and field goal duties
"This was actually the first game I had handled both duties and I felt like I did pretty good. I am happy with the way it is improving every week and it is getting better."

DE Jayme Mitchell
"I feel like we got off to a slow start and we didn't make the big plays early and it hurt us. When the ball comes our way we have got to make a play. We have got to make the play, that is all there is to it. Tennessee made plays and we didn't and that's why they won."

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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