Oct. 23, 2010
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UCF Postgame Quotes
UCF 41, Rice 14
Oct. 23, 2010
UCF head coach George O'Leary
On how the team played...
"I went into the game asking for a full 60 minute game, and I feel that we still have that effort to give. We played well in spurts, but we turned the ball over a couple times in the second half. The kids are playing with great effort and enthusiasm on both offense and defense. We are trying different guys on the return game. Josh Robinson has a lot of potential, but you can't put the ball on the ground. Overall it was a good win. Heading into next week's game against East Carolina we haven't played our best game and we will need to play a full 60 minute game."
On Jeff Godfrey's best passing game...
"He underthrew a couple deep balls, but he has pocket poise and I think that is what's helping with his consistency. He is checking down well. He checked a few blitzes to quick gain plays. I'm pleased as far as him moving along. On some of those passes the receivers have to help him and go get them. He plays more consistent each week."
On the 59-yard pass play from Jeff Godfrey to Kamar Aiken to open the game...
"They play a lot of eight-man fronts to stop the run. (It was a) good play action and he had him deep. "
On the two young defensive tackles-Victor Gray and Troy Davis...
"They move well, especially their feet. They are keeping their weight and I'm happy with it. They aren't two 290-pound guys you would like to see in the middle, but they make up for it with their foot speed. They get off blocks quickly and that makes a difference. Defensively we played well except for one series, but that's no excuse because the defense still needs to make plays. It was a good team win, but we (still need) to play a full 60 minutes."
On getting L.D. Crow in the game...
"We said that we would put him in no matter where the ball is. Normally you don't put a first-year kid on the field at the two yard line and sure enough he dropped the first snap. He recovered and made a pass on third down and I was pleased to get him some work. He doesn't do the same things as Jeff but he manages the game and throws the ball very well."
Freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey
On the game...
"It was a great game overall. We came together as an offensive unit to win a game and that's what we did."
On Daunte Culpepper's return to UCF...
"It meant a lot for him to be here. He told me to go out, have fun and play some football. That's what he did when he was here and he told me to keep up the good work."
On UCF bringing in players from Miami...
"We have commits coming in from Miami and we have some great players. It doesn't really matter as long as they can play some football and play football like coach O'Leary would like them to."
From six weeks ago to now...
"I'm much more comfortable. I'm learning a lot from Rob Calabrese even though he's out. He's taught me a lot film wise and with the experience he has."
Culpepper said, "You have the opportunity to take this program where it hasn't been before." When you hear something like that what do think?
"WE have the chance to take it as team. To come out as an offensive unit and move the ball down the field for first downs and have the defense making stops is a team effort."
On his familiarity with Culpepper's history...
"Daunte means a lot and I'm trying to break his records."
Sophomore defensive lineman Troy Davis
On the game...
"Coach told us to come out today and play a good game. All defensive linemen in the rotation did well today. We kind of slipped up right before the half because we weren't all focused. Come Monday we're excited, but there will be things to work on for East Carolina."
Junior running back Ronnie Weaver
On Jeff Godfrey...
"He's grown leaps and bounds right in front of our eyes. We're 100 percent backing him up. Especially the offensive line and upperclassmen - whenever he has a question or we can help in any way we are all there for him."
What drives you to make those small runs?
"The will to win really. The offensive line puts forward their best efforts possible to make the blocks and if I can gain some yardage then we all win. It's a great team effort to gain the most yards possible."
Rice head coach David Bailiff
On the first half...
"We started slow, I didn't get them over that Houston win. You can't start the game against these guys with a deep play that's not defended. We didn't play defense very well the first half and didn't move the ball offensively. We played better the second half but against a team like UCF you can't have any let downs. The only way you can win one of these games is to be the best team and we didn't do that today."
On UCF's defense...
"I think right now they have a great defense and we didn't do a good job. We didn't have a good plan for slowing that defensive line down. It's our job to get these young men positioned so they can make plays and what UCF does defensively they were the better team today."
On QB hurries...
"There were times when [Fanuzzi] didn't even have time to react out there when [the offensive line breaks]. We knew we were going to have a hard time going up against them and on three steps we had to get rid of the ball. We tried to run some bootlegs, tried to run some traps, tried to run some screens, went through the whole gambit, but seemed whatever we called they were defending and making plays and we've got to make plays. Bottom line, there were some opportunities out there for us and we didn't take advantage of them. "
On having a bye week next...
"We have to get some guys back, we've got to use this week first and foremost to get better, refresh and get refocused. We got to get Eric Ball and Tyler Smith back, some receivers back, and we have to use this week as a get better week, not an off week. "
Rice junior quarterback Nick Fanuzzi
On defensive line pressure...
"They're a very good football team, this loss definitely hurts, I give them all the credit, but honestly our team came out flat today and we can't do that against a good team like this. They had a great game and we've got to come out stronger in the first half and play with more passion. I think when you come into a place like this you have to be excited to play. I felt good about the game coming into it, I felt like this team was ready, but actions are louder than words. We just have to look at this and move on."
On momentum from Houston...
"I think we have to take that win, move on from it, and keep on working because there is no time to look at one win and feel good and just assume it's going to happen again the same way next week. You have to come out every single week prepared to go into a battle and today it just felt like we weren't in the same mindset as last week. "
On UCF's defensive line ability...
"They're a great team, very athletic guys, they were quick but with that said I have to move quicker in the pocket and escape at times like that, there are so many things we can improve on and I'm sure tomorrow we will look at the film and I'll see many things that I need to work on because they played a great game but sometimes you need to look at what you yourself as a player need to work on. "
Getting into a deep hole...
"Regardless of what happens were a team and we need to work together and defense needs to pick up the offense and offense needs to pick up the defense, it goes hand in hand. Regardless of what the score is there's still plenty of time left in the game to go down and put points on the board. No matter what the scoreboard says you need to keep playing."