OSU-WSU Post-Game Quotes
November 09, 2014 | Football
Oregon State vs. Washington State POST-GAME QUOTES
November 8, 2014
Reser Stadium
Corvallis, Ore.
Oregon State
Head Coach Mike Riley
On the game …
“This is the story so far for us and the story for how the games are played in our league. It's another fourth-quarter game you have a chance to win. They made the plays and we didn't and I'm really disappointed about all of that.”
On penalties …
“I have already addressed that with the team. The ones that are totally unacceptable and we won't have, the guys won't even play if we keep doing it are the unsportsmanlike, the late hits, the (stuff) at the end that is totally unacceptable. I don't even know what happened over there, I couldn't see it. Obviously we made a stupid play or retaliated and we just can't do that.”
On the onside kick …
“We wanted to make that guy handle the ball by himself. We kicked it a little deep. With all their people up there for the onside maybe we could take a chance and pin them deep and get the ball back maybe with a minute to go.”
On field goals …
“We definitely would like to be 100 percent touchdowns in the red zone, particularly with the points that are needed in this conference to win. You also have to look at the idea that points are also good, and you have to make a tough decision about going for it and not getting any points or take a higher-percentage chance and get points by kicking the field goal.”
Senior linebacker D.J. Alexander
On WSU's Luke Falk …
“He did good – we expected him to do good. They are a good passing team, as we saw in the last three quarters. In the Pac-12 you have just got to be ready at any time. When your number is called you just got to jump up and I wasn't surprised. I knew he was going to come with his A-game and we had to come with ours.”
On the current Beaver streak …
“We just have to keep our heads on our shoulders – show up every week, keep practicing hard and there is no doubt in our team. We just keep fighting. We're going to have those ups and downs, but, like I said, we have to show up every week and play our ball game.”
On the loss …
“We just had too many ups and downs. We couldn't control ourselves at points, but we just have to come back next week and keep playing.”
On WSU's touchdown near the end of the first half …
“That was just a miscommunication and we have to take care of that – that's on us.”
Senior Running Back Terron Ward
On the losing streak …
“It's hard to swallow. All we have to know is these things happen in sports and not let it get to us, even if it's hard to swallow. I think as a leader that I need to set an example for the younger guys and not let it get to me and keep working hard at practice. ”
On having to kick field goals …
“I think our biggest thing is scoring touchdowns. We went in the game knowing we had to get touchdowns. It's kind of disappointing knowing that we couldn't get a touchdown and had to go for a field goal. Garrett Owens did a great job at kicking field goals and making them - I had faith in him.”
Senior Quarterback Sean Mannion
On the game …
“It's Disappointing to lose that one. I thought that offensively we battled hard all game. I know for a fact it was never a question of effort. I'm really proud of the way this team has been able to fight our way back in the game and fought our way back to take the lead in the second half. We have to be able to sustain drives early and late in games. It's just raising the level of execution. I think we have done that to a certain extent but we are still looking for that perfect play, perfect game. We are never going to get it but it's the pursuit that gets you close. I think we are getting closer to it but there is still work to be done.”
On leads in the fourth quarter but still ending in losses …
“It in a sense shows that are team can adjust and really battle are way back into a game. The way we fight to the very end and I think that is something to feel good about. I'm proud of the team's effort. In practice, in games, when we are working out, watching film it's never ever an issue of effort or tension or wanting to be good, we just have to go out there and do it.”
On the early lead …
“You can't think about the end of the game after the first drive. Certainly we were happy with how efficient we were, I think it was only four or five plays but you can't turn that into what you think the game will be like for the next 58 minutes.”
Washington State
Head Coach Mike Leach
On the play of Washington State quarterback Luke Falk…
“He played real controlled and calm and I think especially with the transition, I think that it calms our offense and our team as a whole. Because a lot of times, just the dynamic of the change, will stir people up a little bit. He has calmness about him on the field with his demeanor, which I think was very positive and made the transition pretty seamless.”
On whether he had a message for Luke Falk during the week…
“Go through your reads. Put the ball in play.”
On how Luke Falk reacts to a dropped pass or missed assignment brings out something for the team…
“I guess. He's just good at competing on the next play. I thought the best thing we did as a team is we competed every play.”
On whether it was Washington State's most complete game on offense, defense and special teams…
“Yeah, it sure could be. We played good on special teams and defense. Once we got out of the first quarter we played pretty good on defense.”
On whether they did anything different on special teams…
“We did the same stuff. Well, we simplified it, but a personnel change here or there.”
On what Oregon State did on defense…
“They ran a ton of stuff. I mean, they dialed it up. There was a point where 'what are they going to be in.' Well, shoot, they are going to be in everything, and they were. They just dialed it up and tried to keep us off balance. The important thing for us was to recognize it and respond to it. But they ran a lot of defense.”
Freshman Quarterback Luke Falk
On making his first career start …
“You know, things were different this week; I took on a new role. I've seen Connor (Halliday) do such a great job with it before, I just kind of modeled myself after him this week and came out really prepared as a team and played really well. The defense played great, the special teams played great and the offense played great.”
On early game jitters …
“I just took what the defense gave me. I missed a few reads which Coach Leach pointed out, I don't know if you guys saw that, but fortunately we came out on top. I thought our offensive line did a great job and I thought our guys did a nice job getting open, just a great team win tonight.”
On running the ball in a passing offense …
“If you get a good box you want to check into it to keep the defense honest. I thought when we did, they did a nice job up front. I don't know how many rushing yards we had, but I thought we did a nice job there. Like you said, we do throw it a lot but when you get the opportunity to run you've got to take advantage of it.”
On possibly the most complete game of the year …
“Yeah, and we finished, that was a big key in the offseason, and we finally finished this week. Like I said, great team win on all cylinders of the ball; offense, defense, and special teams. I just thought we finished really well.”
On nerves going into the game …
“There was a little bit, but once that first play goes by you kind of settle in. It was a different atmosphere, kind of hostile out there a little bit, but it was real fun. You just have to remember that it's a game.”
Freshman Running Back Jamal Morrow
On how it felt to get back in the win column...
"It's a great feeling after going through that tough losing stretch. It was great to just go out there as a team and a team W."
On Luke Falk's performance...
"Luke's a great competitor. He prepares for the game every single week. He was able to come out here, do his job, kept us going and got us a W. We knew what Luke was capable of doing. The confidence, swagger and demeanor he played with today was able to lift us up as a team."
On how the running game was effective early...
"Luke was able to get us in the right formations and make the right calls. After that it was my opportunity to make some plays and take care of my job. The offensive line was able to go a great job today as well."
Junior Wide Receiver Tyler Baker
On his Touchdown play in today's game...
"It was a play that we have practiced all the time. We set it up to where it was a look like a screen, then I just released off of it. They then bit down on it and I was wide open for six."
On how he has been able to build such a great connection with Luke Falk...
"During those times where Luke and I weren't really getting many reps in practice we would often stay after and do some drills together. I think that really helped with our chemistry, and now it's out there on Saturdays. It's pretty cool to have that."
On how there didn't seem to be any hangover on the offense without Connor...
"We were really motivated to go out there and get this win for him, he's in a really tough time right now. We were all playing for him in today's game."
