Nov. 23, 2014

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Mizzou Players | UT Coach Butch Jones | UT Players

Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel
Opening Statement:
"Well, first of all, I think Tennessee's a real, really good football team, and he's done a great job with this football program. I say that, unfortunately, because they're really good and he's continuing to build, so you know, Butch is doing a great job. I'm very proud of our football team. You never know what's going to happen. You know, there's certainly things I'm disappointed in that I think created a lot of the drama at the end of the game. But, I'm responsible to get those things done. You talk about a team that battles and a team that makes plays and works off of each other, and we've been doing it more, probably the last 7-8 weeks, than we had at the beginning. We've matured as a team together. I'm very, very proud of our football team, and you know, it's going to be a quick week, a short week, and it's going to be a big game Friday at Mizzou."

On defensive line keeping team in game:
"The field position, and I don't have the numbers right with me, especially in that first half, I think they got the ball maybe five times inside the 50 yard line, and except for that one touchdown - the one touchdown was a fake field goal, and they out-executed us on that, which disappoints us - but other than that, they punted the ball and made a couple field goals, it might have been five times they did. If the defense isn't playing, playing like you said, at that level, then you're… so that first half was amazing in terms of providing the kind of play that we needed at that field position. We were struggling. We got the ball offensively, I don't know, maybe four times, five times inside the ten. So, we had those long fields there. Defense did their job like they have been consistently all year. And the offense, I think, played well and really made some big plays at the end to kind of pull away."

On the importance of Jimmy Hunt's touchdown catch:
"It's momentum. It's a huge momentum play. I mean, mammoth. And that's why big plays...they help control momentum if you make them on offense or defense. Certainly, that was a big play that we needed. I thought it was a good call. They were playing real tight coverage, and we did, on the next drive I think, did it with Bud Sasser, too, and we hit one down the sidelines with him and Maty made some good throws there. So, you know, it was a really good day, but yet things we need to improve."

On winning ten in a row on the road:
"Well, I think we focus well, and I say that, I would like to think better than we did at times today. I really felt today, that our players were feeling it today in terms of you know, when you get outside yourself a little bit, your focus is leaking a little bit. And then you make kicking game mistakes, you make penalties, a lot of little things that you're not because you're not keeping your focus in line with mental discipline, and it's difficult, I mean, they've had different things they've been going through. I don't want to use the word "pressure," but what they've been going through for several weeks now, we've got to maintain our poise better, and I think that we can certainly end up playing really better than what we did in terms of penalties and kicking. And I'm responsible for that. You can sit there and point fingers all you want, but I'm responsible that we're a good kicking football team, we don't turn the ball over, and we don't get a lot of penalties. We were plus two in turnovers today, which was awesome. That was huge for our football team, and we all know the impact that that has on winning."

On Markus Golden finally being healthy:
"I don't know, I think he feels a lot better now. I think he was afraid of opening up, that he would pull a muscle and miss four games. That's what he was afraid of , so he was kind of on edge a bit. But those two guys, and all those guys, we had some good play from a lot of defensive linemen today. We went against a very good quarterback and running back and receivers, so there were certainly some challenges out there."

On a chance at winning another East title:
"I feel - we didn't talk about that in the team room at all. All we talked about is game four against a real good Arkansas team that's coming up on Friday. I mean, that's really what our focus is on. I think that obviously that's what those guys are aware of, thinking about those things really don't help you play better. This isn't the time to be talking about the year and your program and you know, we've got a big game next week and it's game four in December, excuse me, November."

On the strong defensive and turnover margin in conference play:
"I think that's important, I think all those things are important, without question. I think running the football, I think turnovers, I think playing well on the road, being able to play in this type of environment and execute, I think all those things are critically important. There's a lot of components to winning. I'm very proud of our team and how competitive they are and how they battle."

On the chaos at the end with the onside kicks:
"Well, I think, you know, if you have a better kicking game, we wouldn't have been in that situation. I think that most importantly, I think they got it right, that's most important. Even if we don't get the ball, you want to get it right, because that's the way it is. I think that as it was explained, and even as I saw on the video, I think they got that right. And when it hit Hunt, they weren't aware that it hit Jimmy Hunt, they also had a penalty, so by them touching the ball we automatically get the ball first down. And then Jimmy Hunt, then they found out that he touched and utilized the penalty. And then we start all over again so....gosh. They asked me afterwards, `how you feeling?' and I said, `sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this for a living.' So it was pretty crazy."

On struggling to throw ball downfield:
"I think their secondary did a good job and had a lot of good coverage. We tried to run by them because they were playing such tight coverage. I thought that was a good decision on our part. You have to give them credit because they battled. They did a heck of a job. They have a good defensive team and their defensive front is very talented. They were playing without one of their best defensive players too, and didn't see the miss a whole lot. So, I think you have to give them a lot of credit."

On feeling toward bad offsides call:
"Well, he jumped off sides one time too and that was that. You have to get focused. We call it whistle to snap. You have to get your head right back where it needs to go and whether it's the worst play you have ever made or the best, that's what you have to do. We teach techniques to our players on how to do that. So, we don't just say, "Hey get your head right!" There's techniques we teach them in order to get to use them. I think those things help those players. We need you to get back and not take those problems into the next play. I think we stay pretty positive with them on the sidelines too."

On Maty Mauk:
"I've really thought the last three or four weeks have been a lot better. He's been on, his accuracy and we had some tight coverage but some balls that were catchable. He's great about that, he just comes right back. He made some big plays out there. He provided, they gave him a chance to throw the football, we had a couple sacks but he made the plays. He has kind of played the past couple of weeks like we all expect him to play every game. For whatever reason, you go through things and you mature. I told him weeks ago, that this will help him get better going through this. He didn't particularly like that but it's the truth, and it truly makes you better."

Coach Pinkel | UT Coach Butch Jones | UT Players

MU Player Quotes
Sophomore QB Maty Mauk
On Jimmie Hunt rebounding from the offensive pass interference:
"That just comes back to what we do year round, just forgetting what happened and moving on to that next play. Jimmie's one of our best guys at that. He does a very very good job of parking it and just forgetting everything and moving on."

On the offensive pass interference call:
"The pass interference? I thought there were a few questionable calls, but that's stuff we can't control. We've just got to worry about us and move on from it."

On what was going through his mind during the onside kick series:
"I mean, that was crazy. I mean, I'm sure none of us have seen something like that happen. I'm just glad we got the ball back."

On getting a win at Kyle Stadium and Neyland Stadium in consecutive weeks:
"It just shows how hard our guys fight. You know? It just comes back to practice. We've had a tremendous last really three or four weeks of practice, and doing a great job of executing our game plan. We've just got to block that stuff out. Control what you can control, and what we can control is on the field. Executing our plays and our guys did a great job of that tonight."

On going undefeated on the road in conference play:
"I think the big thing is when you look at third downs and how loud it is in these places that we're going to. Our guys do a great job of, like I said, blocking that out and worrying about what they're going to do on a route. If it's man-to-man, they're going to break them off. They just do a great job of finding that open area so I can get them the ball."

Senior WR Bud Sasser
On the success of the passing game:
"I think I kind of stung the offense a little bit. I kind of hurt us a little bit early on. We were able to overcome a lot of those things and be able to push the ball down the field. We're still throwing it down field and that's what we've got to keep doing."

On if Tennessee's corners playing tight was an invitation to throw down field:
"Yeah, definitely. Especially when a team challenges you, saying they're going to play press man all game, especially with me and Darius (White), we find it a little disrespectful to do that. When they challenge you, you've just got to overcome that and be able to make plays."

Junior DE Shane Ray
On playing a game in which lot of teammates contribute:
"It's great, because it's not about me. It's about the team. Regardless of what kind of game I have or what I see as far as blocks or schemes or whatever, if my teammates are doing fine, I'm okay with that. I'm okay with those guys making those plays and going and celebrating with them. So, it's fine."

On if stats are a fun competition between teammates:
"Always, always. You always want to be that player to have that kind of game. You want every stat that you feel like you earned."

On how they neutralized the read option:
"We just focused on our keys. Everybody had an assignment. Everybody played their assignment correctly and that's how we shut it down."

Senior DE Markus Golden
On why the defensive line was effective as a unit:
"Because we practiced hard. We practiced hard, we did everything our coaches told us to do out there and we just went out there and made it happen like we always do. We just take pride in just playing hard. I told the guys, `Let's get out here and play hard man,' and that's what we did tonight."

On how critical it was containing Josh Dobbs on zone read:
"It was real critical. Dobbs, he's a good player man. He's going to have a good future. So to stop him tonight and slow him down was great for us, because that's what we needed to do to win the game."

On what the key was to containing Josh Dobbs:
"Just playing hard, playing hard, playing the d-line the `Zou way. Getting out there and playing how we play in practice, playing how we play all winter and summer. Just getting out there and going hard."

Coach Pinkel | Mizzou Players | UT Players

UT Coach Butch Jones
Opening Statement:
"I'm very proud of our kids. They didn't quit; kept hanging in there, kept scratching, kept clawing, but as we all know winning is very fragile. There were too many mistakes in three series in a row. We had third in long and then got roughing the passer. Then we had third and long again and we got a holding penalty. We do a good job of rallying and forcing the field goal then we have a dropped pass and interception. Then third and long in the same series and goes for a touchdown and that's what makes winning so fragile. Again, we will continue to regroup, learn from it, cant turn the football over and everything is magnified against a quality opponent. Missouri is a very good football team and they didn't turn the football over and we had two turnovers. We had penalties that extended drives, which you couldn't do. I thought we were behind the field position battle, particularly in the first half. But, I'm proud of the way our kids scratched and crawled. Again, we started seven true freshmen, never been done here in the history of 118 years of playing football at Tennessee. Four on defense and I thought our kids were resilient but we didn't make enough plays and you can't turn the football over against a good football team."

On success running the ball:
"We knew it was going to be one of those games, a field position game. They are top in the country, top ten in scoring defense, and up there in total defense. I mean their front seven is the best we've faced all year. We talked about it and sometimes you have one defensive end that you have to prepare for but they have two, and they're very deep and very talented. So, we knew that yards were going to be at premium, we would have to earn every yard that we would get, and we knew it was going to be that type of game."

On capitalizing on field position:
"You have to take advantage of field position when you get the ball in scoring territory and when you get the ball at mid field at a minus 40, we need to capitalize and come up with some points. We knew it was going to be that type of game that's why we faked the field goal.Patrick Ashforddid a tremendous job. It was two players making a play and our kids protecting them. Alex Ellisdid a great job at catching the ball and we felt we needed a momentum change there. Points were going to be at a premium because they are a very talented football team."

On front seven:
"We dropped too many passes tonight. Again, they are a good football team. There's a reason why their record is the way it is. What are they 8 and 2? Now, they are 9 and 2. That's why they are challenging to win our side. They are a veteran group. They have played a lot of football. They had the luxury of playing a lot of man coverage even quarter coverage, which is basically man-to-man coverage. They break and drive on the ball well. We knew that it would be a tight game and knew we would have to earn everything."

On the onside kicks and final plays:
"I saw some resiliency. The ruling was we touched it before ten yards. I'm anxious to go back to the office and see how close we were in the offsides because obviously that's a pivotal call in a pivotal moment. I mean it is what it is. Our kids kept scratching and clawing and showing their resiliency."

Coach Pinkel | Mizzou Players | UT Coach Butch Jones

UT Players
Sophomore QB Joshua Dobbs
On Missouri's defense:
"They were a disciplined defense. We knew that coming in. They did a good job of getting some penetration up front, especially at the beginning of the game, but as the game wore on we did a good job of starting to move the ball, open up holes, offensive line picked it up, receivers picked it up and we but ourselves in a positions to tie the game so that's positive moving forward to Vanderbilt."

On Missouri's front seven:
"In my limited time I have only seen a couple of front sevens, but they definitely were an aggressive front seven. They did a good job working their hands, good explosive off the ball. We knew that coming into the game. We just have to pick it up, move on and keep our heads up."

On difficulty running the ball:
"They did a good job of containing me for the most part. I have to do a better job of keeping my eyes up and finding the open receiver when that happens. Just things we need to work on moving forward."

On Missouri's secondary:
"They did a good job of mixing things up, disguising some coverages, showing it late. They are a good disguise team, showing their pressure late, and bring them some depth. They did a good job disguising them. But when they threw us curve balls, more the most part we managed them and picked them up on the fly."

On not finding an offensive rhythm:
"They were a good defense. We definitely made some mistakes out there that we have to clean up. We knew coming into the game what was in front. of us. We have to fix the thing that we messed up on tonight and get ready for Vanderbilt. Our dreams, goals, and aspirations are still in front of us. So we got to get to win six and get to a bowl game."

Freshman RB Jalen Hurd
On Missouri's front seven:
"I would definitely say that is the best defense that we have played. Tops off to their defensive front. We kind of beat ourselves. There were many times when we were in three-and-out situations. That is something that can't happen as an offense. We have to take advantage of those red zone opportunities. We didn't, but we will fix that going into Vanderbilt."

On not finding room to run:
"You know, as a running back you're going to have that. I just fight for as many yards as I can get. Offensive line still did a great job, it was just a great team. I still think we played hard."

On not getting the onside kick:
"It is tough. If we get that ball, we can win the game. We are going to look at that as momentum going into Vanderbilt."