Post-Game Quotes
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 15, 2003
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Notes
Missouri Head football coach Gary Pinkel
"It certainly felt good to win again. A goal of our program is not to lose two games in a row. My football team does not handle success well. Texas A&M fought hard till the end. It feels good to be 7-3."
On the switch from McNeal to Long...
"They run the quarterback a little less with Long. Long just throws the ball a little more, but they still run the option. In the end they went into the two minute offense and we chose to lay back."
On the team intensity...
"The defense was not crisp without intensity our team is an average football team. If we have our intensity we can beat anybody. I am very excited to be 7-3. This program is starting to work, but still a work in progress."
On turnovers...
"We kept the football today. I think we were plus one in turnover margin, but we want to be better. Last week was an uncharacteristic performance. We have problems where we need to back off. We are a work in progress."
Jumping Out...
"It was good to jump out to an early lead. After we went up 16-0 we had other chances, but we ended up making mistakes and moving backward. We have mistakes to fix, but it is better to fix them after a win."
Senior offensive tackle Rob Droege
On Zack getting close to the MU career rushing record
"It's in our minds. We know he is up for it, and he got the record for most touchdowns today so that was nice for us. It's kind of our way of getting recognized."
On the improvement of Abron
"He's improved 100 percent. It's unbelievable the maturation he's been through and all the stuff he's done in his life, and be able to come out like this."
Sophomore tailback Damien Nash
On offensive line
"When they're on point, nobody can stop us. It's unbelievable with Brad, myself and Zack, I don't think a defense can stop us. With a receiving core and offensive line like we have it's hard to be able to keep up with all those players."
Sophomore nose tackle C.J. Mosley
On losing intensity with lead
"It was real hard. You get careless and penalties will come flying everywhere, so you have to keep your composure and concentrate."
Sophomore quarterback Brad Smith
On offensive line
"They were big time at the end of the game. We were willing to put the ball in their hands with Zack and Damien and run the ball and they did a good job."
On playing Kansas State and possibility of playing for the Big 12 title
"It's big. It means a lot to us now from what we've experienced and so its going to be fun for us."
On difference between this year and last year against Kansas State
"This is a different attitude. I don't think we had the right attitude coming into that game last year. It's a whole new attitude (this year) and why we are excited about where we are and looking forward to (next week)."
Senior running back Zack Abron
On blocking
"The offensive line did a heck of a job with blocks. Our receivers did a good job blocking downfield enabling me to break a few for a few yards."
On rushing record
"I think it's pretty close. But right now I'm pretty much focused on next game against Kansas State."
On scoring record
"It means a lot. It hasn't sunk in yet. It probably won't kick in until later on tonight, but right now I am just happy with the win."
Texas A&M Head Coach Dennis Franchione
On being down 16-0 in the first quarter:
"As a coach you say this is not what we need to happen, but our players weren't fazed by it and that is some mental toughness right there. They kept battling and played every play."
"A lot of times a team will let a tough start like that bother them, but they didn't do that. They kept battling and fighting."
On the halftime talk:
"I was just disgusted with the mistakes we made offensively... We were our own worst enemy as much as anything. I just told them that they were hurting themselves far more than Missouri was hurting them."
On A&M's play:
"We needed to turn our field goals into touchdowns. We moved the ball fairly well."
"They came out and played hard and they battled."
"We protected better as the game wore on."
Quarterback Dustin Long
On confidence at the start of the game:
"You always have to have confidence. We knew in the first half that we were making mental mistakes, little things here and there that stopped us. But we knew after halftime that we would get the ball first, that we would have to drive down there and get something going."
On coming in the second half:
"I felt pretty good out there today. I was just trying to go through my reads and get it to the right guys, try to make something happen. At halftime Reggie [McNeal] got a little dinged up. So coach said they were going to go with me and see what was wrong with Reggie. Hopefully he is alright."
On Texas A&M struggles in the first half:
"There wasn't just one thing, everyone was just messing up. We tried to get those tuned up in the second half. "
Wide Receiver Jason Carter
On Making a Comeback:
After last week you just want to come out and play hard. We wanted to set an example and show people what we could do.
On Changing Quarterbacks:
It doesn't matter who's out there, we just want to come out and play hard. Dustin came out and did a good job. We just needed to step it up in the second half, and we did.
On Building on the Second Half:
I think we can build on it. There's always room for improvement, we just have to come out and play hard. We just have to get prepared to play our arch rival Texas next week.
On Throwing the Ball Again:
Yeah, it felt really good. I just wish it could have been a touchdown.
Wide Receiver Terrence Murphy
On Stepping Up From Last Week:
We definitely did step up, but we still need to find a way to win. We played hard today we just need to keep plugging.
On the Offensive Performance:
When we get in the red zone, we need to score. We really need to go out there and help out our defense. They never really stopped us, we stopped ourselves with our miscues.
On Plays Opening in the Second Half:
We really did a good job of making adjustments at half time. Dustin (Long) is one of the best people I know at reading a defense.
Offensive Back Jaxson Appel
On Improving After Playing Oklahoma:
We played better, but a loss is still a loss. It's always disappointing to lose, but we have some things we can improve on, and we definitely can move on from here.
On Brad Smith:
He's a really good football player. My hat is off to him. I just wish him the best of luck with his career.
