CHATTANOOGA FOOTBALL QUOTES
Oct. 18, 2014 | #15 Mocs at The Citadel
Head Coach Russ Huesman
Thoughts on the game:
“What a relief to get this thing over with. To beat a good Citadel team that had been playing well on offense, get to 3-0 and come home undefeated in the Southern Conference is huge. I don't think there's any question about that.”
Thoughts on the opening score on the first play from scrimmage:
“We practiced that, but let me first start off by saying our offensive coaches did an unbelievable job today. We won this game because of how we played on offense. We chewed up time on the clock and executed. The only bad spot was that zone-read fumble, and those are killers, but thank goodness it didn't come back to bite us. But I thought offensively our players and coaches did a remarkable job.”
On the play of the Chattanooga running backs:
“Derrick Craine was incredible today, and Jacob (Huesman), Keon Williams and Richardre Bagley all had plenty of room to run. The offensive line did a great job. You have to give them credit because they blocked really well and opened up seams for our guys. Our backs did what backs are supposed to do. They broke tackles and made people miss. Both Keon Williams and Derrick Craine had great runs.”
On what he told the team in the locker room before the second half:
“I just asked the guys to give me 30 more minutes. I asked them to play as hard and as smart in the second, and just give 30 more minutes for each other. We played a 60 minute game. We played with intensity and focus. We got tired in the second half and didn't play as well, but we did what we had to do to win. I'm not looking for it to be pretty. I am looking for wins, and that's what we did.”
Thoughts on the defensive line's play:
“I thought Danny Ring was a monster inside there. I thought both linebackers played really well. Obviously Davis Tull always plays well, but he is negated in a lot of ways, as are the other ends. That offense is going away from you for half the game, and then the other half they're making you tackle people who don't even have the ball. But we were good enough up front to make plenty of negative-yardage plays to keep them off-track, and that's what you have to do against an offense like this.”
Derrick Craine, running back, sophomore
On preparing for carrying a heavy load this weekend:
“Tennessee is a strong SEC opponent, and I thought they were a building block for me. I had a career high carries against the Vols, and it gave me a lot of confidence coming into today.”
On holding onto the football for the final nine minutes of the game:
“That was huge. We weren't getting big yards. We were just getting first downs, but we were able to hang onto the football for long enough. Coaches were telling us to keep both hands on the ball and we were able to hold out for the win.”
On getting ready to host Mercer next weekend:
“We just have to get back to Chattanooga, get some treatment for some bumps and bruises when we get there and prepare for Mercer. We have to practice this week and treat it like any other game we've played this season.”
Nakevion Leslie, linebacker, sophomore
Thoughts on the game:
“We knew it was going to be a physical game. We knew The Citadel gets after it all four quarters and knew we had to be prepared for a grinding game. We did a lot of film study and practiced at running at the ball hard this week in preparation for their triple option.”
Thoughts on the defensive line's play:
“It was a great effort by the defensive line. They always give their best effort for every game and every practice. We depend on them heavily on the defense.”
On limiting The Citadel to 236 yards on 54 plays:
“We pride ourselves on that. We put in a lot of overtime during the week so we can come out here with our best and be prepared. We pride ourselves on being able to stop an option team like this.”
