UCF Head Coach Scott Frost
Opening Statement:
"I thought we played well, but we can play a lot better. Particularly the first half offensively, we missed a lot of opportunities but we played better in the second half. At times we looked good and other times we shot ourselves in the foot. We have to keep getting better but that is a huge first start, getting that monkey off our back to get this win, so I'm really excited."
On what Frost said to the team at halftime:
"We don't make 'rah-rah' speeches around here very much and we won't. The guys are going to be excited, if they love football they will be excited. We made a few adjustments. We would have liked to see us come out of the third quarter and move it, but it took us a couple drives before we did that. When we are ahead of the game, we have to be able to step on people and finish the game. I felt that we did that on the second drive of the third quarter."
On if Frost thought Justin Holman was nervous to start the game:
"I don't think Justin [Holman] gets nervous. I think he was almost too amped up. I saw him right before the game and it looked like he drank 11 Red Bulls. He settled in nicely. I knew coming in that if we just executed and did our job, we had a good game plan, we had good players. Sometimes we did execute, we just need to keep improving so we can execute more often."
On how Frost felt the running game did against SCSU:
"I thought one of those runs were going to pop in the first half. We were close on a bunch of them and that's when the rushing numbers really climb. We were one broken tackle away from having a 30 or 40 yarder. Those will come at some point this year. That's a big improvement for this team. That's what I want our kids to understand that they got here because they worked their tails off. They are a different team than a year ago."
UCF Wide Receiver Tristan Payton
On the play where he threw the ball to Justin Holman:
"We don't practice it too many times but when my number is called I know I need to go out and perform."
On how it felt to finally get a victory:
"I was very excited. From the time I stepped in the locker room, it was exciting to get my first college football win."
On how the team felt pregame and early in the game:
"I looked at it as being poise under pressure. Even the younger guys got involved on the sidelines. We kept each other up and went out and attacked."
On Justin Holman's first half performance:
"I don't think he was off. I just think it is a new system he had to get used to. He had to get in his rhythm and we all just kept talking to him. We stayed on him the whole game, saying he'll make the next play. We fought all together and all four quarters together."
On how the team reacted after the game in the locker room:
"I can't even say, all of my teammates are so happy. I'm actually ready to get out of here."
UCF Linebacker Shaquill Griffin
On his interception:
"I was actually surprised that he threw it, and when he did, I tipped and just made the catch. I looked to my teammate and I said 'would you believe that I dreamed this play last night?'. I dreamed that play and even did it in practice and it happened. The coaches always say, make plays and take chances and that's what I did."
On what it's like to play on the same defense as his brother, Shaquem:
"It's a great experience. I have been looking forward to playing with him. When I came here, it was all about a package deal and to see him out there is the best feeling in the world."
On the celebration in the locker room:
"It's not's really big right now. We didn't win a conference championship or anything, it was only our first win. We just mostly try to stay humble and show the younger guys that the night is not over until we go to sleep at night, and right now, I am looking towards that next game at Michigan."
UCF Quarterback Justin Holman
On coming in to tonight's game with high emotions:
"Yeah, I was probably a little high strung at first but once we got into halftime we made the adjustments we needed to make, and once I talked to my teammates, we came out and got in the rhythm."
On how it feels to get a win:
"It feels great. We have to know how to handle it tonight and tomorrow and then we have to get back to work as soon as possible so we can get ready for Michigan."
On getting multiple skilled players involved:
"We have a lot of weapons, especially a lot of younger guys making contributions, but I am looking forward to seeing what this offense can do the rest of the season."
On how he felt after scoring his first touchdown:
"Aw man, it was like slow motion. Just looking up at the student section and seeing them going wild it kind of slowed everything down for me and it was kind of like 'ahh'. I let everything out and was like we are here, we're home. So, after that I was dialed in, ready to go. I calmed down and we started executing."
