MISSOURI-OKLAHOMA POST-GAME QUOTES
10/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 5, 2002
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MISSOURI HEAD COACH GARY PINKEL
on Oklahoma:
"They're a great football team. We knew that before they got here, and this just reinforced everything I believed. They're a remarkable defensive team, and they did what they needed to do on offense to win."
on how the team is taking the loss:
"We're disappointed, and we're certainly frustrated. When you get a chance to win a football game, a close game, you can't turn the ball over. You can't give up big plays. There are a lot of things we did that you can't do to win a game like this."
on his team's effort:
"My guys were fighting, and that's the first sign. You have got to be able to do that as a competitor. You've got to be able to get in there and fight. When things got tough out there, especially in the 3rd quarter when they took a sizeable lead, that tested our character. I was pleased from that standpoint. We fought to the end against a real good team.
on the fake field goal to win the game for OU:
"That was a great call by Oklahoma because it worked. We had two guys in position, but they just didn't make the play. They made the play, that's why they're undefeated right now."
on Brad Smith:
"Yeah, Brad Smith still amazes me. He's 18 years old. This is his fifth game. He's playing against some pretty good guys. He's been amazing me for about a year and a half now. But, he forced a couple of balls in critical situations. I'll still suggest he'll learn from that. His upside is pretty remarkable."
MISSOURI LINEBACKER SEAN DOYLE
on Brad Smith's performance:
"He played outstanding. At one point the defense was letting our team down and Brad came out and led us right back into the game. That's something we haven't had before. He put us in a position to win."
On giving up big plays:
"Those were caused by missed tackles. That's something we've just got to eliminate - because that'll kill defense in big games. It all comes down to executing and making the tackle."
MISSOURI WIDE RECIEVER JUSTIN GAGE
on a close loss:
"It was tough to be so close, hanging in there for the whole game. Those are the fun games, the ones you want to be in, but also the ones you have to win."
On MU's ability to compete:
"I think we can compete with anybody. I've thought that all year. As long as we focus and play hard we can compete with any team in the country."
MISSOURI QUARTERBACK BRAD SMITH
On the offense's performance:
"We had to believe the whole way - but it was hard when we got down by that much. I told the offense it was our turn, that we had to put the game on our shoulders."
On making big plays:
"I just do what the team needs me to do. If I have to make a big play, I'll try. I'm grateful for the opportunity for playing well against a great team, but the loss is all that matters in the end."
Oklahoma tight end Chris Chester
On Fake field goal touchdown catch:
"It's something we prepared for all week, and something we always do. It was a pretty gutsy call, and I'm really excited about making the catch, especially because I bobbled it a bit."
Oklahoma defensive back Matt McCoy
On Missouri quarterback Brad Smith:
"He's big time. He was just so mobile and makes so many plays. He's great quarterback, and he's going to win a lot of games for that team."
On the closeness of the game:
"It's just kind of one of those things that happens. You never expect it to be that close, but when the defense doesn't make a couple plays, that's what happens."
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops
On the improvement of the Missouri team:
"They're much improved from a year ago in the way they're playing. They're awfully good. Brad Smith did good individually, but their entire team did well."
On the fake field goal:
"I didn't feel that any kickers were kicking very well off the grass as high as it was as wet as it was. I felt that the opportunity was there, not just to Chester but the kicker would have been wide open. I did not want to leave it in the hands of a young kicker."
