Oct. 21, 2006
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SDSU-Air Force Postgame Quotes
Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, Calif.
SDSU Head Coach Chuck Long
On the game:
" I am more elated for the team than anything else. Our defense stepped up for a crucial stop, and than our offense drove down the field to get us the victory. I told the team two things before the game: one, to miss me with the Gatorade, and two, to be able to sing the fight song after a victory tonight. Tonight we accomplished both, they missed me with the Gatorade and more importantly, we were able to get the victory."
On the keys of the game:
"Tonight came down to the big three (things) - penalties, mistakes and big plays. We were about even with penalties, but we made less mistakes, and what gave us the victory was the fact that we were able to come up with more big plays."
On sticking to the original game plan:
"Before we left for the field tonight I told the players that I believed in them. I have not wavered from that thought, and it paid off with a victory over Air Force tonight. The team gutted it out and a victory like this can play a large role in team morale."
On having the two weeks to prepare:
"The two weeks were critical, since the Air Force offense is so unique. The Air Force offense eats up the clock which really limits the times each teams' offenses will have the ball. Coach (Fisher) DeBerry has been able to run this offense since 1984, but tonight our team was able to stop them."
SDSU Player Quotes
Junior wide receiver Chaz Schilens
On how the team responded when the game was tied at 3-3:
"We knew when they tied the game at three, we had to get the momentum back. They're a good offense and they have a good running game. They take up a lot of time offensively, so we knew we had to go out there and score. I think we responded well and captured the momentum back. We got the big play and that was crucial."
On Kevin Craft:
"He has a lot of poise in the pocket and makes a lot of good decisions. The most important thing is that he has confidence in himself. He doesn't get rattled and makes great choices."
Junior kicker Garrett Palmer
On the win:
"It's a new season, it's like we are 1-0. It's coach Long's first win and hopefully, it will snowball. Coach Long has been confident throughout the whole thing. That is what you have to see in a head coach."
On the game:
"The defense played their hearts out. That offense from Air Force is amazing. Our defense stepped up big time and the offense did the same, especially that last drive. And Atiyyah (Henderson) played one heck of a game."
On the game-winning field goal:
"I've practiced this a million times. When (Air Force kicker Zach) Sasser kicked the field goal, I knew it was going to come down to me. I was just hoping the offense would get me within range. I knew I was going to make it before I went into the game. I had the mental part down, I just had to go out there and physically do it."
Defensive lineman Jonathan Bailes
On the win:
"It feels great. We were looking at this game as being a new (start to the) season, the next seven would be our new season. We forgot about the past and want to do some great things the rest of the way. It's only one win and we are going to work harder."
On being fresh:
"(Defensive Coordinator Bob Elliott) did a great job keeping us fresh. Their offensive line is tough. We just stuck to what coach told us and stayed disciplined."
Linebacker Joe Martin
On Air Force's offense:
"Their offense is going to get their yards during the game. When they get into the red zone, they look for the defense to make mistakes. But tonight our defense didn't make many mistakes which allowed us to stop them in crucial situations."
Head Coach Fisher DeBerry
On the game:
"I really salute the San Diego State team and Chuck Long on his first win. He and his staff did a tremendous job in utilizing their open date before us. We had to scratch our heads and scrapple a little bit."
On the deciding factor in the game:
"We cannot trade touchdowns for field goals. The whole game boils down to the fact that they made two and we made one, that was the winning edge in the ballgame."
On the game plan:
"Obviously, we didn't play the way I thought we could. We didn't play as fast as we could have in the first period. We had three drives into the redzone and we got no points."
On SDSU:
"I think their runner (Atiyyah) Henderson certainly did an outstanding job and got some second-effort yardage. He's to be commended. He's a tremendous competitor. Certainly, I thought their quarterback held his poise extremely well.
"You've got to give (Kevin) Craft and Henderson credit, and certainly his offensive line. We had them in a grasp once or twice and let them out. We didn't get a couple of calls that I thought we might have gotten, but at the same time, they took it down there and did what they had to do."