Chattanooga Football Postgame Quotes
Eastern Illinois at Chattanooga
Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Thursday – Aug. 29, 2019

Rusty Wright, Head Coach
Overall thoughts after 24-10 win over EIU.
"It's hard to win a football game. We didn't have a lot tonight. It's been a long time since I've been around a football game that bad. We did things tonight we have not done all fall camp. Jumping off sides, pre-snap penalties, just things that are inexcusable. It all falls on me. There was a lot of things leading up to that in the last couple days and we played just like that. It showed. I'm not taking anything away from the guys, it's hard to win a football game. I don't care who you play and how it is out there. But you can't play football like that around here and be any good. It just can't happen, especially in the league. We have a long way to go."

On positives taken from tonight's win.
"They didn't quit. We just kept playing. As bad as things got and as sloppy as things got, they didn't quit. They [EIU] did some things early that we weren't prepared for and it kind of hurt us offensively. We were trying to figure them out early. I'm happy with a win. I guess we punted the ball really well, that was good. We scored when we were in the red zone too, so that's a positive. In these first games, you just try to find a way to win no matter who you play. I'm thankful for that, I really am, because they found that way."

On 9-play, 75-yard TD drive to open 2nd half.
"I challenged them in the locker room at halftime. EIU was lining up in the first half playing quarters, and there was a lot of space. I told the guys that. It was huge to get the field goal before half, huge. I told them to go out there and show them how it's going to be in the second half. I said let's put something together and put one on the board."

On play from offensive line and run game.
"The protection was fine. They [EIU] did some things early that confused us. We ran the football effectively one drive and once we figured it out and got some things done, we started moving it. We have to figure out a way to run the ball a little better than tonight, there's no doubt. We can't make a living doing that. There were some holes out there and we missed some cuts. We're going to have to figure out a way to be better."

Nick Tiano, Sr.-QB
On the fire and energy Head Coach Rusty Wright brings.
"This is Coach Wright every day. He brings the energy and brings the passion every day. He holds us to match that. That's huge for a college football program to bring that to practice and games. That's big for us and make a big difference for us."
 
On Coach Wright's hat toss during the fourth quarter.
"Yeah, we saw that. That's what you love about him. If it's someone late to dinner or a big play in a big game, he brings that passion in everything he does. We love that. We love playing for a guy that cares that much."

Overall thoughts after 24-10 season-opening win.
"It could have been better. It was a little sloppy but you always want to play better. We missed a few things for sure. We're always happy with a win though especially against a good team. We're happy to get a win."

Bryce Nunnelly, Jr.-WR
On the connection with QB Nick Tiano. (8 of last 12 games featured 50+ yard connection)
"I think it goes back to the time we put in by ourselves running routes, or with groups. Just getting that timing, trust and respect down. I know he's going to get it where it needs to go and I know he trusts that I'll go where I need to go. I didn't know it was that many times, but that's pretty great. That's a testament to him and the offensive line for doing their job and the receivers doing their job to allow me to get open. It makes my job easier."

On busting out with a 59-yard TD catch in the 2nd quarter.
"It's a little bit of both. It's in the middle. We talk about having explosive plays and that we need six, seven, and eight a game to get to where we wanted to be. It was a great play call by Coach [Joe] Pizzo at a great time in the game to get things started. It was a great call."

Khayyan Edwards, Sr.-DL
On overall thoughts about performance.
"I think we did really well and I'm really excited about the way we looked. We obviously have some growing to do in a lot of places, but we're going in the right direction."
 
On what made the defense click to hold EIU to 10 points.
"I think it was our attitude and will to get on the field and dominate. Coach Wright is on us a lot about wearing out your opponent, beating your opponent by doing your job, and I think that really helped us out a lot. It allowed us to hone in on what we're supposed to be doing."