Chattanooga Football Postgame Quotes
Chattanooga at VMI
Foster Stadium – Lexington, Va.
Saturday - Sept. 23, 2017

Head Coach Tom Arth
Thoughts on the game:
"I was really proud of the way the players came out.  I thought they played with great energy from the beginning of the game.  They really carried it through for the majority of the 60 minutes. 

"I was most proud of that opening drive.  That first play of the game, defensively we gave up a 9-route down the sideline, but we responded really well. We went three-and-out that next series.  Offense came out and we dropped the opening play, and we end up in a third-and-10.  We convert it and go on to a great drive and put the ball in the end zone.  Come back and get a three-and-out and block the punt.

"That is everything that we have talked about, playing together, playing as a team, as Chattanooga, on offense, defense and special teams, feeding off each other.  We did that to start that game and it kind of carried us through."

On getting four takeaways:
"It is critical.  Turnovers are a major predictor of success.  Unfortunately, we gave them one, but we were able to get four.  That really helped to create some momentum and got some short fields for our offense.  Our players went out and executed at a really high level." 

On the execution of the offense:
"They practiced hard all week.  They really did.  All of the work was put in on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  They came out and they let it all hang out.  It was good to see.  I was really proud of the way they played today." 

On the play of Lucas Webb:
"Lucas is a great player.  He is a great leader.  He is a great person.  That is what great players do.  They find the ability to make plays when their team needs it.  Lucas has been that for a long time here at Chattanooga.  He certainly was that way today."

On using Brandon Dowdell as the punt returner:
"I thought he did a great job.  I thought he had some nice returns.  He caught the ball well.  He has been playing for us and he has been such a key guy on special teams for us.  He is one of our best special teams players.  He is a smart guy, football is really important to him.  He is what you want to have across the board."

Tae Davis – Sr.-LB
On the win:
"The first win is always the toughest one to get. I'm glad we got it underneath our belt and we can just continue to build and keep rolling through our season into conference play."

On getting takeaways:
"At the beginning of week, Coach Kaufman told us that we're doing pretty good, but the one thing we're not doing good was creating takeaways. Our Goal was five, so we fell one short, but I'm glad with the guys in the end.  Getting picks and getting the ball out, finishing plays and creating momentum."

Alphonso Stewart – Sr.-WR
On the impact he had in the game with a blocked punt and touchdown:
"I wouldn't necessarily say my impact, but we need to make an impact early on. That was a big emphasis all week leading up to game; we wanted to start this game faster than we have started any game off, because we know when our offense gets rolling it's gonna be hard to stop us. We wanted to play ahead instead of behind again."

On the blocked punt:
"I ran past the ball and blocked it with my side. I could have tackled the guy, but I just laid out and hoped something touched him."

Richardre Bagley – Sr.-RB
On the performance of the offense:
"It felt really good, just because we feel this is how we're supposed to perform every Saturday. Each week we preach on offense, gotta show what we're about. Gotta come out with some swagger, confidence and I feel like we did that today."

On the fast start to the game:
"The biggest thing coach preached was execution. Execute things we practice and everybody did their job. If everybody does their singular job, the whole train will run perfectly and that's what happened today."

On getting four TDs:
"Great blocking by the line. Darrell Bridges, he had a great game, too. I feel like we complement each other really well. We were feeding off each other and that's all that was."

On building on the win:
"We're gonna enjoy this win today, go back in it tomorrow, get back to work, watch film and prepare for Western Carolina."

Nick Tiano – So.-QB
Thoughts on the win:
"We didn't start the season the way we wanted, but to come out in conference play and for everything to click from the opening snap was huge for us. Now roll into next game we just need to keep it up and keep this momentum going."
 
On seeing the results:
"Huge. Our team, we're built to play with the lead. Our offense, the way we control the ball, when we get a lead, we can really kill people running the ball; throwing the ball; chewing clock. So for us to come out, start fast like we've been preaching all week, all season and just get that momentum going and sustain it, that was key for us, too. We started so fast and for us to continue to do that all the way until the end of the game was just huge for us rolling into next week."

On the 17-play drive:
"Incredible. We came in at halftime, and Coach Arth told us don't be satisfied with where we're at. We've gotta play 60 minutes, play a complete game. That's what we're gonna do, and for us to come out and do that was huge for our confidence and building our brand of football."

Lucas Webb – Sr.-DB
On his playmaking ability:
"Always a great feeling. Credit to the coaches for coming up with the scheme and putting us in position. Tae was getting pressure on the quarterback, caused a not-great throw and I was able to capitalize on it. It's all the way through; all the way around."

In his confidence in defensive scheme:
"It was different at first, new coaches, new schemes, but now we're starting to get to it. There's always things we can clean up, but it's really start to come together. Good way to roll into conference."