Mizzou / Kentucky Post-Game Quotes
Mizzou Head Coach Barry Odom
On the loss:
“We didn’t play strong enough run defense. They were able to get a few formations in that we didn’t stop. The name of the game is that you’ve got to get off the field defensively. Offensively, we didn’t do well enough extending drives on a consistent basis. This is a very elementary statement but we’re not a good football team. If we work together and continue to follow the plan we have in place, then we will get there, I promise you that. I’m frustrated but I’m going to get this done.”
On dealing with injuries as the team approaches the final month of the season:
“We will piece it together. We will get 11 guys out there that will be well-coached and ready to play. Everybody in the country will be banged up, and that’s just college football. We will be alright.”
Mizzou Players
Quotes to come
Kentucky Coach Mark Stoops
Opening Statement:
“I’m very proud of our team. It’s about our preparation, it’s about the way they go to work each day throughout the week, starting on Mondays. I enjoy coaching these guys and that is why. They take to coaching and they take to criticism and they know we can do so many things better. We did good things today on all sides but the beautiful thing is that there is still so much more we can do and will do. That’s what gives us the push moving forward. Plays are going to happen but I felt like we were in very good control of this game and we knew they were not going to go away. They are too good offensively and they move the ball so quickly that we knew that it would be a challenge in the second half. I was proud of the stop we made early and the offense really controlled the football during the long drive that gave us 35 (points). It was a long drive that took a lot of thought but we got the touchdown and it was big. There were some momentum shifts late but we still felt like we had it under control. There are things we all can do better and we can’t give up the ball on a pass. There are things I can call better but we were going to fight and stay aggressive the whole way through. We were going to compete for six wins and that was our mindset. It’s a very good group and we are excited. This is about how much more we can do and that is what is fun about this program.”
On this particular Kentucky team:
“We’ve been through some ups and some downs but they have been fun to coach. You are never going to be satisfied as a coach but we know we are making progress in a lot of areas. We know we have good kids that are growing up and getting some experience. The staff has done a wonderful job. Every coach and every player has been fun to work with.
On success in the run game:
“You see the run game and you see how it helps make programs. We have to be able to have that physicality. It’s a process to get there that nobody wants to go through but we want to stay the course and get better.”
On the offensive line:
“You have to give credit to the offensive line. Those guys are finishing blocks. I saw them really playing physical. They are playing extremely hard and smart. They really set things up nicely for the offense and that is what teams do.”
On winning on the road:
“I think it’s very important but I loved our guys’ preparation. I asked them if they are satisfied with this or are they going to take this to another level. I told them to go home and relax but we are going to get back to work on Monday. We are finally in a position that we are not satisfied and are still hungry to win.”
Kentucky Players
QB Stephen Johnson
On Boom Williams’ 13-yard touchdown…
“The play was just a designed screen right the middle to Boom. He slips the defender and gets behind him, but me and him both just recognized the blitz. So I tried to drift away as far as I could and he expedited the route.”
On Coach Stoops telling his players to not be satisfied with this win…
“He is exactly right. We want to win the rest of our games. We cannot be satisfied with what we have done so far. We have to go out and finish what we started and win the rest of these games.”
On Kentucky’s offense versus Missouri compared to past games…
“We did a phenomenal job on offense today. We were able to move the ball the way we wanted to. We’re not there yet, but we’re pretty close.”
RB Benjamin Snell Jr.
On how the offensive line helped his game today…
“I made the most of it. Those guys are great. Guys are down on the sideline and the line is yelling, getting us hype and I’m just grateful for the line we got.”
On how the rest of the team reacted to this win…
“Without a doubt there is way more we can get better on. Way more we can do in the future. Were going to get our rest and Monday we will prepare for the next team.”
RB Stanley “Boom” Williams
On how Snell and Williams “feed off each other” when having so much success…
“It’s fun. Benny and I doing this thing. He keeps going, going, going and I am waiting for him to get tired. And then it’s my turn. I want to get in there. Offensive line, wide receivers, everybody did their part and did a great job of blocking. So that’s how me and Benny are able to do what we do once they do their part.”
On if Kentucky is thinking about the division title….
“We are not thinking about it. It is what it is. For us, we just want to do our part and do what we need to do for us to be in that conversation. For now, our main focus is Georgia and looking forward to the next opportunity we have at home next week and for our home fans.”
Mizzou Players
Senior DL Rickey Hatley
On Mizzou’s tackling…
“We have been going for the kill shot. You have to wrap them up and just get them down before they go for a long run or a touchdown. That’s real frustrating right there when you’ve been doing good each and every series and all of a sudden you come down and miss a tackle. That can be a real momentum killer.”
On the defensive preparation…
“It felt pretty good to me the whole week, just getting back to the old defense, the D-line getting up the field, not just reading so much.”
Freshman WR Dimetrios Mason
On what it will take to right the ship…
“We just have to keep playing and focusing on the game and everything that we can control, because at the end of the day you never know what could happen towards the end of the game.”
On staying locked in and ready to contribute as a freshman…
“I’m just focused. Every time I go out there I just believe that I can make big plays and I’m ready for the ball at all times. I’m just ready to score and ready to make a play, that’s all.”
Junior DL Charles Harris:
On Barry Odom being more involved with the defense…
“When you have the head coach, the main man, comes down to help us out you want to make him proud. We want to make sure his contribution is well paid off.”
On what the defense needs to do to be successful…
“We talk about it all the time on defense, just shooting your shot. The next man behind you is going to have your back, so we just have to continue to take our shots whenever they are there and be smart about wrapping up.”
