Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest vs. Florida State Postgame Quotes
10/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 23, 2004
Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe
On improving...
"I think we're getting better as we go. I think the level of competition that we're playing is incredible. We're showing a lot of guts and determination. I wouldn't expect anything else the rest of the season. We're a good enough football team to win some down the stretch."
On Florida State...
"Everybody knows how good and talented Florida State is. I told our kids that we'll get back Monday night and look at the film. They'll be surprised at the number of mistakes and how many opportunities where we had to take care of. We just made so many youthful mistakes. What you find is that young guys will go through practice and do things really, really well, but when the pressure is on sometimes its hard to keep your thinking caps on. Those are things that you learn with experience and you have to learn."
On the long run late in the fourth quarter...
"We have them third and nine or 10. We're expecting them to throw the ball to get back in it. I thought to run the football down there was smart, not turn the ball over. I was disappointed that we let them get out the gate. They have a fast running back. To let him get out and get that kind of run was really disappointed. We weren't really playing a defense expecting them to run, but if they do run we can't let them have a big play."
On the team...
"I think we're not a bad football team. We have a chance to be a pretty good football team. There's no need to pout and make excuses. We're trying to play as hard as we can every Saturday. We're playing good people, its not like we're not playing good football teams. I'm proud of them, but on the other hand I'm not going to accept losses."
Senior center Blake Lingruen
On Florida State as a team...
"They're just amazing athletes. They are on another level right now. I think our offensive front is young and we're not coming along like we need to. We just have to keep plugging away."
On Wake Forest as a team...
"I think once you start winning, it's something that you keep doing. You get that ball rolling. Once we get that ball rolling this program is going to go places. Each year we're getting closer and closer. One of these days we're going to learn to close these games out. It's definitely narrowing."
On the Wake Forest defense...
"Our defense played absolutely amazing. I wish that on the offensive line we could have been able to help them out. They played outstanding today." #9 Eric King, CB "It is tough to lose 27-17 to the #5 ranked team in the nation. We came out tonight trying to make history, but unfortunately we came up short. Towards the fourth quarter we were getting tired and Florida State was able to go out and capitalize on that."
#2 Chris Barclay, RB
"The loss resembles the loss two years ago against Florida State. We played the game to win and we never want to lose no matter how close the score is. We will learn from our mistakes today and bounce back next Saturday against Duke."
Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden:
"I think the last drive we had all runs and got Beitia in a position to make a game winning kick. I'm very happy and lucky to be here to win this game."
"That was a good call because the time before that we were at third and nine and threw it they intercepted it, and made a field goal to tie the game. Since it was third and nine again, or whatever it was, we just didn't want to give them the darn ball. Let's punt and hang on for the tie. So we ran Booker off the tackle and he broke free."
Florida State Players:
#63 David Castillo, C
"Our coach had to challenge us to step up for the second half. That is why we are nationally ranked. When times get hard, we stick together, unfortunately we came out on top in this game."
#47 Xavier Betia, PK
On the first block kick...
"I don't know what happened on the first blocked kick. I thought I hit it well. It seems the field had a slight impact but sometimes you make them, sometimes you don't. I am just glad I made the one that counted the most. I felt I had something to prove and I felt I did what I had to do."
#21 Dominic Robinson, WR
"We knew we could win the game. A few passes were just a fingertip away from victory. This is where my career is going to fit and I plan to take advantage of these games to get to where I want to be. This is only the beginning."
#99 Travis Johnson, DT
"They were able to get some points off of us early but eventually in the second half we took over the game. At Florida State, we bend but we don't break. Home field advantage always has an impact on how we play but still the better team always wins. We are a tough team and take everything as a challenge, but we grow off that and become a better team each week."
