Oct. 2, 2004

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Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel (Opening Statement) "First of all, I want to introduce a man of tremendous character...Kent State former Head Coach, Don James. I'm proud of my team. We had to play through a lot of adversity, but we did the necessary things to win. I was happy was defensive shut-out in the second half. We were put in some bad positions, but we held up well. It's very different, playing Colorado. We haven't had much success against them in the past. We lost to them last year in Boulder. We definitely need to get better. We missed three field goals; and had some missed opportunities. But, it was a big gut-check to come up with the win."

(on the significance of Kinney's blocked kick) "I was hoping that we wouldn't have to find out how big that block was. But it was a great play."

(on seeing Mitchell's interception) "I couldn't see the play, but people outside told me it was a great play by Mitchell. That's the kind of play we hope to put players in the position to make."

(on the importance of the game and the win) " I think the game showed a lot of character, a lot of resolve. Games get bigger and bigger as the schedule goes on. It's good that we won a game, but there are some good teams on the schedule ahead. They're all big games from here on out. But the team had to go through adversity; we achieved through adversity and it was a really good victory for the team."

(on the touchdown pass to Sean Coffey that got called back) "I had a real good look at that, and I had to take it up with the officials."

(on defensive adjustments and performance in the second half) "The defensive staff meets in here during half-time and they look at all the plays that have been working. The defensive staff led by Matt Eberflus, looked at it, made some adjustments, made some different calls. And also I think that they were able to put more pressure on the quarterback in the second half with only a four-man front. And I was really happy about that. Still, we had a lot of penalties, some trouble in the kicking game, and I'm real disappointed when things like that don't work out."

(on Brock Harvey's injury) "I think he had a broken collarbone, but Matt Hoenes, who's never punted before - in fact he came in as a running back - but he has a good leg and we needed him to be able to use his leg in the punting game and I thought he stepped up. After his punt, he came off the field and said 'I didn't get that one very good; it didn't go very far,' but I thought he did good under the circumstances. As to Harvey's injury, I haven't talked to the trainers, so I don't know what's going to happen with that."

(on the number of points Pinkel thought they'd need to win) "I really don't predict scores like that. I don't know, with two teams like this, each trying to win, I never think about if its going to be a high scoring game. Well, when we play Texas Tech, I know it's going to be a high scoring game. I thought the defense made plays and we got through a lot of adversity. We played a good game today."

(on the rush defense) "I thought we played real well. There was one play in the first half that we had a zone blitz on. We worked on that in practice all week and we knew that we had to close the C-gap, but Purify made it right through the C-gap and took off. But, he's a good player and he makes good plays like that. I thought in the second half we did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage and the running game."

(on the touchdown pass to Sean Coffey) "I think the Sean Coffey of this year is a lot different than he was last year. Last year, he showed some glimpses against Nebraska, but he's a real different player now. He's a big player, 218 pounds, 6'4 ½", and on that play, he made a big play for us."

(on the number of scholarship cornerbacks) "I think it was Duncan, and I remember that as soon as I found out we only had one, he was having surgery the next day...We've come a long way. I don't think we need to put any statues up or anything. But yes we've gotten some good players through recruiting and player development. I really think it comes down to playing a good game, playing better, and that's what we did today."

(on the team celebrating as the game wore on) "Well, I think we had to go through a lot of adversity, we struggled sometimes. But we were playing a team that is traditionally on top of the Big 12 North and I think you feel good about yourself when you play well against a team like that. I think we've matured today and I think we've learned that winning isn't easy."

(on the increased level of pressure with Coach James here) "Yeah, I think so. I love the guy; he knew me when I was an 18-year-old punk, and I'm sure he could tell some stories about me, but don't go up and ask him for any."

Atiyyah Ellison (on the importance of stopping Purify on 3rd and 1) "That's real important for our defense...that's the main thing that we emphasize is getting off the field on third down."

(on surprising performance) "We just played to our potential, I guess. We weren't really surprised."

Shirdonya Mitchell (on the interception) "We were in man to man, and he came off the line of scrimmage kind of slow. So, I wasn't expecting him to throw the ball. So, when I looked back I kinda got that feeling in my body like 'OK, he threw the ball', and once he threw it it's all about who wants it the most. And obviously I wanted it the most. So, I got it."

(on whether he had the ball) "Yeah, I knew I had it because when he threw it, I kinda saw it and grabbed it - he was trying to grab it too. But, I was already coming down with it. And once I hit the ground, I heard the referee say 'Touchback' and I was like 'OK'.

(on who had the ball first) "No, I had it the whole time. I was just trying to hold on to it, He was trying to grab it. But, I had a strong grip on it, so I had it."

(on whether Colorado targeted Mitchell) "Yeah, I had a feeling like right when he threw it because I thought something isn't right here. And the wide receiver's eyes got big because he threw the ball. So, it's all about turning my head. Once I've seen it, it's all about going to get it. So, I had to go get it."

Joe Tantarelli (on Pinkel's confidence in and comments to Tantarelli) "You know, to be quite honest with you, all the coaches were pretty supportive. You know, I had all the support behind my back and out there I felt good, I was relaxed but it was just one of those days. I felt like even though the last two balls were pretty off, I thought I hit them pretty well. But, that's the way it turned out to be."

(on being relaxed before the kicks) "No, I felt no pressure at all. That's why I kinda don't know what happened out there. Because, I came off after the third and the fourth misses, and I was talking to the coach about it and I said I thought I hit the ball great, I just don't know what happened. Like I said, it's one of those days that I'm just going to forget about tonight and move on and get back at it tomorrow."

(on dismissing missed kicks with ease because of team's win) "Totally, totally. To be quite honest I'm just happy that we won the game. I would have placed all the blame on my shoulders if we would have lost. So, the defense played a hell of game and the offense played a solid game as well. I didn't hold up my end of the stick but I'll get back at it next week and continue on and get better."

Damien Nash (on the confidence this win gives the team) "A lot of confidence. We know that we can compete in the Big 12. We're starting off 1-0 and now we just can't lose."

(on his carries) "Oh yeah, I love it. Every time the ball is in my hands, I'm trying to do big things. Just going out there and the way they fed me today and they knew I was hungry and I had to make some things out of it."

(on the early touchdown) "Yeah, I knew they were going to make some adjustments, but I knew it was going to be a 60 minute ball's-out game. I knew they weren't going to give up and we weren't going to give up, and it was going to be determined at the end."

Sean Coffey (on his touchdown) "It was third down, and I wanted to get a first down. Rucker gave me a great block and I just went up the sideline and just went with it. Fortunately, we got six."

Brad Smith (on the win) "Oh yes, any way you can get it. It's a big win."

(on only scoring 17 points) "Yeah, we felt we were getting down there inside the 30 three or four times that we had a chance to score points but we didn't. But, yeah, we had to deal with some adversity sometimes but I think the team responded to it pretty well."

(on Tantarelli's missed field goals) "No, I mean, you know, you want to execute as a team, but that's how it goes. We still have a lot of confidence in Joe."

(on Sean Coffey's touchdown) "The one that counted? I didn't really see too much of it. I just tried to put it out there - a little dodge route - and he just made the rest happen. Made one guy miss and used his speed and made the play. And he's the type of guy that wants to make a play every play."

(on the opening scoring drives) "That was important. We always want to come out and start good and that kind of set the tone for the game. I think offensively we came out and I threw the ball pretty well and we're just working on finishing it and putting it in the end zone."