Chattanooga Football Postgame Quotes
ETSU at Chattanooga
Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Thursday – Oct. 17, 2019

Rusty Wright, Head Coach
On victory over ETSU to move to 3-0 in the SoCon.
"It's huge. If you would have told me a month-and-a-half ago we'd be sitting here at 3-0 in the league, I don't know what I'd say after that James Madison game. These guys fight in that locker room. When they come to work during the week and they prepare themselves, they understand what a fight is now. They come to compete and play. I was disappointed in the juice on the sidelines early in the first half, but second half we just kept playing. It's huge. It was a fun game to be in because I knew we would eventually have a chance to win it and credit to those young men, they went and won it. That's what is so awesome about it. Those kids went out there and made plays, made stops and found a way to win a football game. They did that, I promise you that. That's what was so cool about being on the sidelines tonight."

On statistically having the huge advantage and looking like an 'easy win'. 
"There's no such thing this time of year. I never got upset the whole night. We were one play away from taking control the whole time. Everything they got tonight, we gave to them. Fumbled punt return, kid made an unbelievable play on us, credit to them. Randy [Sanders] does a great job of controlling the game. We had four possessions in the first half and that was it. It was like playing an option team. I give credit to our kids, they just kept playing. I told Vic [Ulmo] that he's going to get another chance, you're going to get another chance. Thankfully, he hit that last one. He's our guy. We're going to ride with him."
 
On things slowing down after the dropped punt return. 
"That's momentum. That's what happens. We had them on the ropes and our returner looked down to try to get a return going rather than focusing on the catch and trusting where he was. He looked up and it was by him. Just like a guy playing center field trying to throw home and missing out on the ball. Those things are easily fixable. That's why I wasn't upset at halftime. I knew we were going to be okay if we just kept playing. I didn't feel like they could drive the length of the field on us all night. I felt like we were good if we just kept playing and didn't try to screw it up and give it to them."

Victor Ulmo, Jr.-K
On mindset after few missed field goals, and ultimately nailing the game-winner. 
"It's all about a mindset I had to have. I trust my snapped, I trust my holder even though we didn't have a good day as a unit. We just have to keep getting better. I have to trust myself always, never had a doubt if I'd make that kick. Huge shout-out to the offense and to the defense. Defense kept making stops. Nick [Tiano] talked to me many times that he said he was going to get down the field and give me another shot. That meant a lot to me to know they had my back, so I just have to be better to help the team win games."

Nick Tiano, Sr.-QB
On keeping the confidence in kicker Victor Ulmo.
"I told Vic [Ulmo] all game, we're going to need you and we believe in you. In a game like this, it's a fight, back-and-forth. You get down there in field goal range and he was able to knock it down. These are the wins that feel the best."

On the play of freshman Ailym Ford.
"It's amazing. He [Ford] inspires all of us. The guy shows up every day and gives 100%. Whether it's meetings, practice, study hall, whatever he does. He comes out, every time he touches the ball, or he's blocking, he gives you everything he's got. That's something we all feed off of and him and the o-line are carrying this football team."

Malcom White, Sr.-OL
On blocking for the offensive unit.
"I love Nick [Tiano] a lot, but run blocking for Ailym [Ford] is a whole lot of fun. I mean, I feel like I have a lot more effect in the run game than the pass game. When you see that rushing stat, there's nothing more satisfying to an offensive lineman when someone rushes for 200 yards."
 
Marshall Cooper, Sr.-LB
On starting 3-0 in SoCon and moving forward.
"We have to have a better week of practice. The simple stuff. From the kick returns to the dropped punt returns, things like that. We have to fix things like that because it can come and bite us in the butt later. We have a chance to be a really good team, we just need to pick it up a little bit and finish strong."
 
On the defensive unit as a whole and improving.
"We're a unit that flies around. We're aggressive and we did our job for the most part. Their big run was a missed tackle, so it's a simple tackle that could have stopped that drive and take three points off the board. It's going to be a big year when everyone keeps having nights like this, and they know they can do it again."