Oregon State-USC Post-Game Notes
November 20, 2010 | Football
Nov. 20, 2010
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
Oregon State vs. USC
November 20, 2010
Reser Stadium
Oregon State Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Mike Riley
On the team's performance …
“I am really proud of the team for being able to bring this back and play like this after the last couple of weeks. I'm really proud of the coaching staff for the same exact reason. The guys went back to work and got ready for a game. That's what we asked everybody to do; to get ready for a game. Don't worry about what happened, what's going to come in the future; don't worry about it. Take advantage of Tuesday's practice and Wednesday's practice and get ready for the game. I'm really proud of them. They did a great job of overcoming a lot to get to that performance.”
On Jordan Poyer's interception …
“Games that are won like that against a team like that, you need that something there - a big play. The last two times we beat them we had big punt returns; big plays that set the tone and sparked the team to get going. Jordan's play was awesome and was a big factor in the game.”
On Oregon State's defensive performance …
“The coaching staff did a great job of preparing the team, and then they went and played. They really played. They made plays and kept playing hard throughout the game. As you can see, a team like that is always on the edge with that speed of making a big play, and we just turned them back time and again. It was a great effort.”
On Oregon State's offensive performance …
“They battled those guys from SC, and it wasn't easy. It was hard to have consistency. We had some series where we didn't really do much. But for the most part we took care of the football, and then we had some timely drives and made some timely plays. The team played hard and got the lead and finished. In the end, we won that game finishing strong.”
Quarterback Ryan Katz
On being flat last week and coming back from that …
“I think it was just the attitude in practice. They say you practice like you play, and we had a great week of practice. My teammate's energy was up, the intensity was good, and we executed all week.”
On problems that needed to be fixed …
“We got the running game going. It all goes back to the run, period. I feel like that was the best running period we have had all year. When the players set their mind to doing something, then I know we can be a really good football team.”
On the attitude changing …
“It should not have taken a couple of losses to get our team going, but unfortunately it did, and we have to take it game-by-game. We have said it all year. We are tired of talking about it, and need to just go out there and do it.“
Center Alex Linnenkohl
On the criticism over the last few weeks and the game today …
“We have had a lot of criticism over the week and I think we saw it all, but Coach Riley told us after the loss last week that we had to stick together; that that's going to be the most important thing. He said he's been there and that teams that stick together can still bring it around and that's exactly what we did.”
On being in control of the game…
“For one thing, the week of practice was really good. I felt the previous week was good, too, but this one was better. I think we had that 'nothing to lose' mentality, our backs were really against the wall. We didn't have anything. We just worked and stuck together and walking into the locker room before the game I saw that we were going to wear the orange and the white, I went to Katz and I said 'I'm feeling a lot better this week, I can feel it' and I told him he was going to look real nice in that orange and white, like I could see it on a highlight tape.”
On the offense …
“You can break it down to just five or six plays where there's either an inch of daylight or it's just not there and you have to go to the pass. Today our defense did great. They were just unbelievable in stopping them and I give them all the credit for letting us open up the playbook a little bit. We got to run the ball, do some sweeps and screens, we got some passes in and you know that's fun to get going like that.”
On the different atmosphere in the stadium …
“When we came out for warmups I looked around (the stadium) and it was kind of glowing, I saw a lot of orange which I love. The music was going and I was saying to people 'Hey, do you guys feel that? Look in my eyes right now, I'm feeling this. Harness that and let's go, right out of the gate. We can do this. We need to do this.' There was definitely a feeling around the locker room and around the stadium and I said the words 'It's a beaver evening right now.'”
Cornerback Jordan Poyer
On big plays made, feeling this was going to happen …
“Every game I come out and say I need to be the 'x-factor.' I felt that this game was one of the biggest in my career so far and we definitely need to celebrate our win tonight. But we need to focus and come back next week to get a big win over Stanford.”
On Coach Riley …
It was nice having him get fired up, because when that happens it gets the players fired up. Coach Riley and the coaching staff did what they could to put us in the position to win today.”
On last week's 'looking in the mirror' perspective. The affect it had on practices this week …
“We just came to practice focused this week. Obviously that loss against Washington State hurt us and hurt us deep. And we just had to come out and take it one day at a time. Our motto was to win each day, and we came out on Tuesday's practice where it turned out to be one of the best practices we've had all year. We won that day and then took it on to the next day and the next, and then took care of business today.
On how the attitude turned around in just one week …
“We just have dedicated guys, who do their assignments and execute it.”
Kicker Justin Kahut
On the game …
“This year has been frustrating for me personally? It's not what I was expecting and it felt good to come out and have a game where I kicked like I know I can.”
On a different preparation for this game …
“I'm not the kicker that I've been this season. I know I can make kicks. I came out with a chip on my shoulder, I needed to prove something.”
On the frustration level of early season kicking struggles …
“I was very frustrated. I was going through a lot of things; I was changing steps, making in-game adjustments and was thinking too much. You never want to do that as a kicker.”
On the play of special teams …
“Special teams played really good today. Coach (Read) was probably a little unhappy with our kickoff coverage today but for the most part special teams played really well today."
Running Back Jacquizz Rodgers
On getting into the end zone …
“It's all about execution. The line opened up holes for me. I told them at the beginning of the game I am going to stick with them no matter what. They are key to our success on offense; protecting Katz and opening up the running game.”
On beating USC at home for third time in a row …
“It's been five years since SC has won in Oregon, including (games against) the Ducks. I guess they just struggle whenever they come up here. Guys get pumped up for that game even though we are supposed to approach every game the same. With the history SC has, guys are just looking to knock them off and make history against them.”
On dedication for the week …
“We had three good days of practice. After the losses it is hard to come back to practice with your head up. Our captains led us; we just kept fighting this whole game. The defense played great and we finally finished the game off on offense.”
On Poyer's interception …
“That was the turning point of the game. After that we got this thing rolling. Kahut made some crucial kicks today and that really helped us out.”
USC Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Lane Kiffin
On the game …
“Obviously it was not a good performance by us after playing well for a couple of weeks in a row. I'm very disappointed and a little shocked. You go back over it, and you turn the ball over a couple times, and can't make third downs, and don't make hardly any fourth downs, and don't get any turnovers; it's going to happen.”
On the offense …
“Obviously, our offense was terrible today.”
On protection …
“One of our strengths had been not giving up negative yards in the running game, or sacks, too. We were one of the best teams in the country at doing that and today we give up four sacks and minus-43 yards.”
On OSU's defense …
“Yeah, by far, and that was to be expected. They get up for SC. And somehow, some way, we continue to have problems here and are down 20 in the first half.”
On USC's struggles in Corvallis …
“I have no idea. I don't think anyone's figured it out.”
On Matt Barkley's ankle …
“I'm don't know how serious it is. He's on crutches. We hope to get him back but we've got to move forward.”
On the severity of loss and what it means …
“We won't overreact over one game either way. Last week, we weren't the greatest team with no problems, and this week we're not the worst team with a million problems.”
Quarterback Matt Barkley
On his injury…
“They're saying right now that it's a high ankle sprain so I wasn't good enough to go back out there and compete. Not a good feeling, knowing that you can't doing anything about it but I've been in this situation before so we'll see what happens. I'll rehab the heck out of it and be back for this week but this stinks.”
On concerns that he could be out for the season…
“That's the last thing I want. I'm going to do everything in my power to not let that happen.”
On the play that caused the injury…
“I don't remember exactly how it was because it was kind of behind my back, it felt like. My ankle just got twisted out. I tried to roll out of the sack and it just rolled up. If I hadn't have worn my knee brace then my knee would have been blown out so this is better than that.”
On the first half…
“They were a good team. Their defensive line was getting after it and it seemed like on a lot of those passes their guys were just right there to make stops. I don't really know about the run game right now. We'll see on tape but we did not play well as an offense at all; not nearly close to how we needed to play to win. It just wasn't a good day for us.”
Quarterback Mitch Mustain
On when he found out that Matt was hurt what his mindset was…
“I was glad it was halftime. I had a little time to get ourselves, get our plan back together and get loose. It's always unfortunate but the cold went away real quick and some excitement came around and I was ready to go.”
On how he felt out there…
“I felt good. I think the toughest part was that I expected to come online a little bit quicker then what I did. Those first two drives I missed a couple critical throws. It was really just a matter of getting my feet settled and feeling comfortable. I hoped it would be a little quicker than it was.”
On if it felt strange to him to be in a game in that situation …
“It felt better honestly. It was nice to be playing for something. Not that it doesn't always matter - there's always something to put on film - but this was more then that. This was a chance to get in with these guys and really make a difference and a comeback is always a good story. It's always fun but it just didn't swing my way.”
