Post Game Quotes
10/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 30, 2004
Duke Head Coach Ted Roof:
On offensive production... "We need to finish drives and get touchdowns. I saw a lot of improvement on offense and defense. I give Wake Forest credit, they play well and they are well-coached."
On Mike Schneider...
"Mike played well, he did a good job in directing the team. He made good decisions and hit a lot of guys for gain and put them in position to score. I am proud of his overall performance."
On playing against the rush...
"I am not satisfied with the way the players played against the rush today, and I don't think they are either."
On overall performance...
"We've got to take full advantage of opportunities once we get them downfield. Turnovers are costly and they certainly were today. Putting everything together and executing is the main thing. We made some good plays and the defense held up well. I'm proud of the take aways and blocked kicks."
Duke senior cornerback Kenneth Stanford:
On the game...
"The game was disappointing. We came to play but just played two points short. We knew they would come to play hard and it was a good game, but we lost. We did a good job early on, but they just kept pounding the ball at us. It's not offense or defense, we must win at all costs as a team."
Duke sophomore quarterback Mike Schneider:
On the execution of the game plan...
"We had a great game plan coming in. They did not do anything we didn't expect them to do, but mistakes hurt us. We cannot throw two interceptions and I take the blame for that. We still played a great game and everyone played their part. We have a good team, but we just have to step it up."
Duke junior wide receiver Ronnie Elliott:
On the confidence level of the team...
"I think we set a sustaining effort and the confidence was there today. Our game is improving, but it's still disappointing. We must do a better job of executing the coach's plays, especially in the red zone."
Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe:
On the first quarter...
"The first quarter felt awful to me, we let them have a good return and let them hit the long ball on the first play, that just kind of got us on our heels. I've got to give our defense a lot of credit, they hung in there and forced a couple of turnovers to give us a chance to hold them to a few field goals. Down the stretch, I thought we had a chance to make this an uninteresting game, but we couldn't. The blocked kick by Plackemeier and some other things happened, we are just glad to get a `W'."
On the quarterbacks....
"We looked at this situation this week in practice. Cory was hurt after last week's game, he couldn't practice Monday night. He might be one of the toughest kids on our team, he made it through Tuesday and Wednesday, but I don't think he was real sharp today. The first interception was unfortunate, he needed to make that throw, he just seemed rusty. The second one should have been caught by R.D. for a touchdown. We had planned on going 50/50 for this game between Cory and Ben and using the hot quarterback of the moment."
Is this win a sense of relief or excitement for the players...
"I think it's more a sense of relief, I told them they will look back and think this is a better win than they were thinking when they walked off the field. We have played so many tough teams and I don't think there is a more improved team than Duke, their quarterback is really playing strong. They played very well, made big plays when they needed to and I told Coach Roof after the game that I didn't think they could have been anymore prepared. I was very impressed with the way their kids fought for four quarters. It's good to get a win, we had some dumb penalties and made a few bad mistakes that hurt us but we found a way to win."
On the defense...
"I think sometimes you have a really good game like Florida State, and then games like today, but Duke did a great job, I don't want to take anything away from them, they really kept us on our heels. I'm disappointed that we didn't play better but at the same time I think Duke had something to do with that."
On Jonathan Abbate...
"We just couldn't get him off the field. That guy is a real warrior, there is no one with more courage on this team. We kept trying to send substitutes in and he wouldn't come off. He knew we really needed him this week, especially with the absence of Brad White."
Wake Forest R-Freshman quarterback Ben Mauk:
On the win...
"We were 3-4 coming into this game we needed a win. Two more wins gets us to six wins, and that's what we need to get a bowl. Like coach Grobe says, 'it's a one game season.' We have a bye week this next week, and we really needed a win and we got one."
On getting the first ACC win...
"There was a sense of relief and excitement. Duke was a good team; we knew that going in. They had Virginia and Maryland down to the wire. A win against them is a good thing, but now we're in a bye week and come out against North Carolina. I think everybody on this team thinks that if we can get these last three games, we can get to a really good bowl."
On the first quarter...
"Our defense the whole game played really well. They kept Duke from scoring there early in the first quarter. I wish our offense would have moved the ball a little better scored a few more touchdowns and put the game away early. Everybody on this team plays really hard, and our defense played well in the first quarter."
On increased playing time...
"It gives me confidence knowing that the coaches have confidence in me being out there. Going in, we're going to play every other series and down the wire, whoever has the hot hand and playing better. Fortunately when I got in there, Kevin Marion made a great play and the offensive line blocked really well and it kind of made me look good. It was definitely good to be in there. I just love playing football."
Wake Forest senior cornerback Eric King:
On the slow first half...
"As a senior, seeing how we played last week against Florida State, that was very disappointing with some of our playing, including myself. In the first half of this game, we should have come out fired up and ready to go, playing against a team like Duke. They are a much improved ball club, and they took it to us today."
On the game...
"We definitely got our bad quarter out of the way. We actually got a couple of bad quarters out of the way. One thing we preach is bend but don't break, and we wanted to make sure we got off the field on third down situations and get as many turnovers as we possibly could. Our offense ended up getting into a rhythm in the second half and we ended up coming out with a win, even if it was ugly."
On recovering the onsides kick...
"I've been in that position before. We practice that every Thursday. I know that anytime we go to hands team situation that I'm going to be in a position to make a play. I just tried to wait for the bounce and have the ball hit me right in the hands, and then get down as soon as possible."
Wake Forest junior running back Chris Barclay:
On the game...
"What really got me frustrated on the sideline was that I was not used to seeing that many hats in the box. I think at one point they might have had nine guys in the box which is kind of frustrating as a running back. It's tough to make two or three guys miss. Nine guys is a lot to block, and we don't have enough to block all of them. We established the passing game a little bit and running the hurry up offense which got them off balance. We were able to be successful after that."
On winning first ACC game of the year...
"We just needed a win. We've needed a win for a long time. We were on a three game slide. We just needed to focus on this game this week. It's a one game season, and it was important for us to get this first ACC win."
Wake Forest R-Freshman linebacker Jonathan Abbate:
On the game...
"Hats off to Duke. They gave it to us. We got their best effort. We're just happy we got out with the win."
On his tough play...
"I just try to play like I've always played since I was six. That's just running to the ball every play and if you have a chance to hit them, hit them. I've been taught to play that last play as if it's the last of my career. I try to play my last down like it's my last down. I just hate coming out of games. I was hurting a little, but I just stepped it up."
On goal line defense...
"Playing goal line is a blast. Our defensive line did a great job in those situations. They are staying low and creating drive into their offensive line. As linebackers, we're free and it's a blast to go and make a hit."
On filling in for Brad White...
"I like Mike [middle linebacker] better, but whatever I can do to help the team I will. Brad was out, and I had to step up. Brad's shoes are big to fill, and I just tried to do the best job that I could. You have to be patient and read out the play more."
