Chattanooga Football Postgame Quotes
Chattanooga at Western Carolina
Saturday – Nov. 19, 2022
Whitmire Stadium – Cullowhee, N.C.

Head Coach Rusty Wright
Overall thoughts on the game:
"I think our effort was great.  We just couldn't make a play when it matters."

On the play of the offense in the first half:
"We struggled in the first half.  (The interception) gave them a touchdown. We dropped a punt that wasn't that bad of a snap.  We just weren't good enough."

On the final defensive stand:
"We got them to fourth down. You always have a chance when you do that.  I used my timeouts to make sure we had time."

On the play of the defense:
"We have to figure out a way to go get them out. We have to consistently do the things we are supposed to do, and be in the places we are supposed to be, defensively to go get things done. When it came crunch time for us to do it, we didn't do it."

On the fourth-and-one on offense in the fourth quarter:
"It is man-on-man and it isn't a mystery.  We have to figure out a way to get it done. We have to figure out how to get hats on hats.  Credit to them, they stopped us."

On the chances of getting in the playoffs:
"We have no control over it now.  Even if we had one, we didn't have a whole lot of control over it, based on other people.  If we deserve to play, they will put us in there. If we don't, they won't. We have no one to look at other than the people in the mirror."

McClendon Curtis – Sr.-OL
On the effort in today's game:
"The boys played hard.  They always play hard.  We just have to capitalize and finish drives on offense.  The defense played hard too. We just all have to step up and make plays when it is time to make plays.  That is all it comes down to is making plays."

Summing up his career at UTC:
"It has been great.  I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else.  I have enjoyed every opportunity I have gotten here.  The ups and downs that I've had being here. The opportunities to continue to grow as a player and as a leader has been a hell of a ride."

Ailym Ford – Jr.-RB
Overall thoughts on the game:
"It was a great fight.  I would like to thank the seniors, the receivers, quarterbacks and defense for giving us a shot.  Even though we had some stalled drives, we still kept fighting to the end of the game."

On the long drive in the second half:
"We did move the ball, it just wasn't enough."

On the chance to play in the playoffs:
"It is what it is.  We will stay confident and we will keep on working if we do get the opportunity."

Devonnsha Maxwell – Sr.DL
On this thoughts on the game:
"It hurts."

On the possibility of getting a spot in the FCS Playoffs:
"It would be a lot.  It would be a blessing." 

On the difficulty of getting this program to take the next step:
"We all realized how hard it was going to be. We talk about it and we have seen it time and time again.  It was hard again today, we just couldn't see it through."

On trying to get the final stop:
"At the end of the day, they may a play and we didn't.  I appreciate putting it on us to make a play at the end.  I hurts a little more because I felt like we could have done better as a defense.  It's just how the chips fell."

On his career at UTC:
"It was a blessing.  It changed me and made me the man I am today.  I am forever grateful for it.  All of the coaches that brought me here.  I appreciate Coach Wright and every coach I have had since I came to Chattanooga.  I am thankful."