Nov. 16, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
Press Conference Quotes in PDF Format
SDSU Football Weekly Press Conference Quotes
Aztec Athletics Center
November 16, 2010
Head Coach Brady Hoke
Opening Statement:
"We look forward to being back at (Qualcomm Stadium) and being at home in front of our friends, families and fans. We're playing a team that's been in the top 25 all year. They're a very good football team. They have very good athletes and they're coached well. It'll be a challenge for us. We have to complete a football game and play all four quarters. We have lots of work to do to prepare for this week. I like our kids' attitude and where they're at right now. I'll find out more at 2:30 this afternoon."
On playing Utah after its two straight losses:
"They have so much pride and tradition and a good legacy with what they've done. When you have that, you believe. Kyle (Whittingham) is a good football coach and he has a good staff. Those kids will be ready to play. When TCU went up there, I don't know if I've seen a team play better. TCU did everything right and got a couple of bounces. A turnover here and there with their ability to score, all of a sudden you're down 23-0 or 30-0. But they're a good football team. You watch how they run and it's physical. Their line returns four starters. Defensively, they play with a great spirit to them. They played in a monsoon in South Bend and that's never good for anyone. Notre Dame has good football players, it's Notre Dame."
On what he expects from Utah:
"I think they'll have their A-game, I don't think there's any doubt about it. This is a conference game and that's always important. They have a lot of tradition and history. As a coach, you always try to embrace that."
On a chance to finish second in the conference:
"It means a lot, no question. We'd like to win 10 games. We're disappointed that we won't be able to achieve our goal of the Mountain West Championship, but winning 10 games would put us in a position that we haven't been in since 1977. To win 10, you have to win eight. Our focus is on Utah and what we have to do this week."
On last year's Utah game:
"I think that all games are teachable moments. We went up there and they knocked us off the ball and pushed us around. We were down 37-0 at halftime and in the second half we played much better football for one reason or another. I think we've learned every step. We learned last week that you have to play the second quarter. We need to stay aggressive in everything we do."
Junior Quarterback Ryan Lindley
On what he learned against TCU:
"We won't quit. This is a tight-knit group and a tight family. It's a bunch of brothers that play for each other. We're not really playing for ourselves, but for this team and the legacy of San Diego State football. It's not just about us or the moment we're in, but for everything else."
On Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn: "Being from San Diego, I've met him a couple of times. He's a good player and he's had some success at Utah, so he's done a good job. He throws a really good deep ball and they have some guys that he can get the ball to."
On playing in the postseason: "We haven't put a lot of thought into it. It's something people ask us, especially around campus. We don't worry about where we're going or what's going on with that. We're just in the moment right now. A couple months down the line, we can look back and have fun with it. But right now, we have to play hard against Utah."
Senior Defensive Back Andrew Preston
On confidence carrying over from the TCU game:
"Besides the second quarter, we played a great game defensively. In the second quarter, we just didn't play our best football. But we still have confidence and we know we can compete with Utah. Hopefully we show that on Saturday."
On being called out publicly by head coach Brady Hoke after last year's Utah game:
"We learned a lot about that game. That was a different team last year. We came out in the first half and didn't play our best football. In the second half, we played a lot harder and held them to zero points. We definitely learned from that experience. This year, we've become closer as a team and play for each other more. We've been playing a lot better together."
On Utah losing its last two games by a score of 75-10:
"TCU really played a perfect game. I was just watching the film five minutes ago. TCU was playing the best football they could. Then they went up to Notre Dame and played a good team. You can't look at those games and take Utah lightly because of that. They're a good team that's still in the top 25. They've been in the top 25 all year. So we're definitely not going to take them lightly. They were in the top five just two weeks ago."