Nov. 22, 2008
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SDSU-UNLV Postgame Quotes in PDF Format
SDSU Head Coach Chuck Long
Opening statement:
"It was a great victory for the Aztecs and I'm very proud of their effort. It was a senior bowl theme this week and we had a great time in practice. We made it fun for them and they really responded tonight. Mike Schmidt, who was out with a knee injury, fought his way back and got a little playing time tonight. I've really enjoyed coaching him for his three years here. He earned it the hard way by walking on and earning a scholarship. Ryan Lindley had a great night. You saw a glimpse of his future tonight and I'm really proud of what he did with the offense. I spoke of the seniors all week and one senior I wanted to mention was Eric Miclot. He had a tough go and he will never play football again. I asked him to speak to the team before the game and it was very heartfelt. I believe our team responded. I'm proud because our guys really gave a nice springboard into the offseason and that is what you want. I'm proud of the seniors for working hard all year long and never quitting."
On senior impact on the game:
"Mike (Schmidt) energized everybody by coming back in there. Corey's (Boudreaux) big interception of course and Tyler Campbell. Siaosi Fifita was in there and T.J. McKay was playing well. It all worked out pretty well tonight for everybody."
On changing the game plan for the last game:
"I felt if you take away the two interceptions with the way the game ended last week, the last two or three games Lindley has really started to take command of this team. We feel like he is going to be one of the great leaders in this program. Today everything was quick. His reads were quick and he just got rid of the ball very accurately. You saw the offense spread around and when you have that balance with throwing, it will be more efficient. UNLV was a team that was fighting for a bowl berth and those (teams) are dangerous. If you add that to it, it was a great win for us."
SDSU Player Quotes
Senior linebacker Russell Allen
On the feeling of victory:
"It feels great. We talked all week about what it would feel like to go out as a winner, but I couldn't imagine it would feel this good. The fact that it's over is not real yet. We are so excited with the way we all played today. We are glad to go out with a win, definitely."
On the emotion of playing his final game as an Aztec:
"This is a huge part of my life. It's a good end to it. It's a good feeling."
On how the game went:
"We played against a team that was fighting for their life today. We came out and executed well. It was a fight to the end, with the seven-point game late in the fourth quarter. We just kept fighting. I think that shows exactly what we did all season long, that obviously things weren't going our way, but we continued and tonight it really paid off for us. It's a great way to go out and it proves that this team is coming together. We built a foundation and we are only going to go up from there."
If the win erases all the losses this season:
"I don't think it erases it. I think we all know we weren't as successful as we wanted to be, but it feels pretty good. It's a great way to go out. I couldn't ask for a better senior night. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys who just kept working. It's really a tribute to us and to this coaching staff - sticking to it and keep telling us just to do what we do and it worked out for us. It doesn't erase it, but it makes it feel a lot better."
On what sticks out the most in his career:
"Just the guys. The relationships that you build, the times in the locker room, the practice field, the conditioning times and all those things. Those relationships that you build will last a lifetime. That's number one, definitely."
On what's next:
"Who knows. I love to play football. I'm going to try to play as long as I can, but whatever happens, happens. I'm just going to see where God takes me."
Senior running back Tyler Campbell
On seeing the captains step up in the final game:
"It means a lot. Especially with Mike Schmidt because he's playing hurt. He didn't have to go out there and step it up the way he did with the knee injury he has. These are guys who have been around for a long time and we've been together; to end it on a note like that is something you can only dream. The fact that the dream came true made it that much more remarkable."
On what was going through his mind on the 4th and one play:
"I had to get the first down. I think coach was screaming down my throat saying, `Don't fumble the ball.' It was a crucial time in the fourth quarter. It was the trust factor built up in our offensive coordinator. To give me the ball meant that he had faith in me and that meant a lot. I knew I was going to get the job done if I got the chance, especially since Atiyyah Henderson had been running the ball great all night."
On how Ryan Lindley will affect the program:
"From the moment he came to this school, his maturity level has been through the roof. He is so impressive in how he soaks up the game and the time he puts in on and off the field. This program is lucky to have this man here for the next couple of years. He is mature beyond belief. This is a young man who is beyond what you would expect of a redshirt freshman. If I were one of the younger guys, I'd be glad Lindley is still here."
Redshirt Freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley
On how it feels as a redshirt freshman to help out the seniors:
"I've been telling them all year, every time we go in the locker room and we lose, I feel for these guys (the seniors) the most. I know how much, and I probably don't even know the whole story of how much these guys have put in, because I've only been here for two years. The impact this senior class has had on everybody's lives from top to bottom - from guys as young as me to the juniors. I just think it's only fitting that they go out like this. Tyler (Campbell) was talking about Mike (Schmidt). I don't even think Mike has bent his knee in the last three weeks and all of a sudden I just see him out there. He's strapped up ready to go first period. He's a warrior. When guys do stuff like that, you build an extreme bond with them. You feel for them and you're right there with them. I just think it's a blessing that we send these guys out with a win. (As a) side note, it's great momentum for us (non-seniors) too. I know these guys feel the same way. It's been a blessing and a privilege to work side-by-side with these guys for a year and a half."
UNLV Head Coach Mike Sanford
On the game:
"The first thing is, San Diego State deserves a lot of credit. They played a better game than us tonight. They didn't turn the ball over that I know of. We had three turnovers. That ended up being a huge difference in the game. I'm not going to make any excuses about injuries or any of that stuff. We had some guys hurt, some guys that didn't play. That's not what why we lost. We have to play better and we didn't play well enough. I do believe on the positive side the fact that we were in position to be bowl eligible. The fact we didn't take advantage of it and make that next step and get it done is obviously unsatisfactory. It's not good enough. We've got to get more turnovers and play better defense and score more points on offense. We have to run the football. And we didn't do those things tonight."
On the emotions and feelings of the players:
"Devastated, a lot of tears. There were a lot of guys who really cared and wanted to win badly. They are really hurt. (The) Seniors are devastated, this is their last football game, because we didn't think it was going to be."
On if he was embarrassed by the outcome:
"They changed some things up and we made some adjustments. As a team we needed to stop them.
"Embarrassed is not the word. All I can say is that I'm very disappointed, very upset. They are a good football team. Everybody outside of our program was telling us how good they were. And the media kept telling us how easy this game was going to be. They are one of the best passing attacks we went up against this year. That's a good passing attack. You can call it whatever you want to call it. They are a way better football team than their record. They have better players than their record. You can say whatever you want to say, but I'm not going to say I'm embarrassed. You have to give them credit. They won. They played better than us."