Wake Forest Athletics
Post Game Quotes
10/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 22, 2005
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Quoting Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe
On the win:
"When they had the ball at the end of the game, I felt really good about our defense on the field. I think the defense had something to prove and they did a good job proving it. This is the day that if we were going to lay down we would have laid down after last weekend. I think this gives us good momentum."
"I can't be happier with the way we played. I think we gave up some big plays but that's expected against a good team. We had to make some plays and we did in the end. I loved the way we competed for four quarters today."
On Ryan Plackemeier:
"He was really upset with himself, and then to go out and have a couple punts like he had proved that he's a great one by the way he finished. He's a great kid."
On Alphonso Smith:
"I don't think we have anyone on our team right now that enjoys playing more than Alphonso Smith. He comes to practice, works hard and has fun. He's a special kid."
On the early lead:
"I think it's just good football players playing each other. I think there is an ebb and flow to every game. They can't get too excited about having a lead. I knew they'd have their plays and we'd have ours, I just hoped that we'd have more."
On Benjamin Mauk:
"We put him in some bad situations. We threw into the teeth of some blitz's today and that was hard. He got roughed up a little bit but he ran some great plays today. The thing about Ben I liked today was that he played for four quarters, he kept his concentration up the whole game. It didn't surprise me that he took the team down and led well. I was impressed with his intensity today. Ben Mauk has grown up a lot and that's a good thing for our team."
On the young guys:
"I think some of our young guys, like Alphonso and Aaron Curry are learning that you can't get anywhere. Our kids are more comfortable with our scheme and that sitting on their heels isn't going to get anything done. They have to make something happen."
On Steve Vallos:
"His injury was a real concern, especially when we needed first downs. We were very short handed, but once we had the ball near the end of the game was huge and without him in there says a lot about the character of those kids in there who had the ability to step up and make the plays."
Quoting Wake Forest sophomore quarterback Benjamin Mauk
On what he has learned in the last three weeks:
"I think I took time to learn and reflect and see things that I wasn't able to see before when I was playing the game."
On his long drive:
"I think it helped the team confidence. We put together the plays and executed well."
On the defense:
"The coach says just protect the ball. The defense is going to shut things down. I've really learned to understand the opponents defense in the last few years."
On the mindset of the team:
"We went out for a win. We were making plays and we were able to execute our plays."
Quoting Wake Forest senior running back Chris Barclay
On what this game means to Benjamin Mauk:
"The best thing for him for the last three weeks was to watch the game. It did a lot for him and I think he learned a lot."
On bouncing back after NC State gained the lead:
"We never quit. This team has a lot of fight. I think we learned a lot from the losses and made sure that we finished the game. It is a long game and it is important to finish and play until the end. We had enough confidence and went out and got the job done."
On the fumble:
"I made a mistake and was trying to switch it over. I just fumbled it around and it bounced off my thigh. I made a mistake, it was a rookie mistake. You have to take the next thing and bounce back."
Quoting NC State Head Coach Chuck Amato
"We had a great momentum swing right before half time. We have to hit people when they are open and we can't afford to throw interceptions or interceptions for touchdowns."
On stopping the rushing offense:
"They didn't have 100 yards rushing. That's the best rushing football team in the ACC. We did a fabulous job, they didn't take the football and run it like they normally do. They had to resort to the option and they had to do it out of the shotgun. A lot of the rushing yards came from maybe two or three plays but they all count. That's just the way it is."
On quarterback play:
"We know we can win with our quarterbacks. We are struggling. That's just about the most important position on the field."
Quoting NC State Wide Receiver Brian Clark
On the game:
"We've got to be more consistent and make more plays. We must consistently play as a team both offensively and defensively."
"I have no idea why we are struggling in the red zone. I must go back and look at the tapes."
"I feel like everyone played hard. It just didn't work out in our favor today. We are going to keep the same focus as if we were 6-0. We're 2-4 now and we are going to be focused on winning games."
