Post-game Quotes
11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2008
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe
On the performance of cornerback Alphonso Smith...
I know he was disappointed last week, he had a couple of opportunities and I felt watching him in practice this week that this might be a game where he did some things and of course the blocked punt was huge and the two interceptions tonight, certainly none bigger than the one at the end of the game. He's a guy that wants to be in a situation where he can make a difference and he did tonight.
On the productivity of the offense...
I'm very encouraged. If you had asked me before the game, if you had told me we would need to score this many points to win, I wouldn't have been real confident with that. We're still missing some guys, losing Jeff Griffin again now we've got a freshman tackle back out there and I thought Doug Weaver fought as hard as he could fight, it would be nice to get Ben Wooster back, we didn't have Josh Adams tonight, he couldn't go because of his sprained ankle, but I thought [Offensive Coordinator Steed] Lobotzke and the offensive staff did a really nice job, especially down the stretch. We were a little limited in calls at the end and they had seen most of the things that we had thrown out there and I think we did a nice job mixing up the run and the pass and getting points on the board.
On the performance of linebacker Aaron Curry...
I've never been more impressed with the effort of a player. I think he was banged up tonight. On one play, it took him a while to get off the field and there were three or four times in the fourth quarter when they were running the football, it was his responsibility to step up into the gap and take those guys on and he didn't back down a bit. He really responded like champion. A couple of times, he made a couple of really big plays coming off the backside. We really needed him at the end and he was there because he's such a tough guy.
Wake Forest Player Quotes
Senior Cornerback Alphonso Smith
On setting a new school interception record...
"Honestly, the win was more important. The win felt better. To be the all-time interception leader is great. I appreciate this and I appreciate the opportunity Coach Grobe and Ron Wellman have given me. I'm really blessed and I'm really fortunate."
On preparing for the game...
"It was probably the best offense we've faced this entire year, numbers wise and how tough they are. We knew Duke would bring an explosive offense. We weren't surprise they took it to us. It was a great game, we are fortunate and happy to come out on the winning side."
Redshirt Freshman Kicker Shane Popham
On kicking the game-winning field goal...
"It feels great to finally give back to the team. They are really working hard. I was really happy to contribute and do good things for them. Sam Swank's been on the sidelines talking to me, giving me pointers. I'm trying to become comfortable. I really slowed down my approach physically and mentally. I'm really giving myself time to get the kick off. That really helped. Also, they guys on the team are supporting me and that's really helped my mental state."
On his thoughts heading into overtime...
"When we went to overtime I knew I was going out there to hit a 42-yard field goal if nothing came up. I was feeling pretty confident. When Devon Brown came up with that big catch and moved it up ten yards and it made it a lot easier for me. I felt really comfortable. I know my teammates would to their job it was just up to me to get my part done."
Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe
On team's miscues and having a chance to win the game...
"Four turnovers - that's the story. Football's not that hard to figure out. We have four turnovers, they have one. What had been a plus for us in the kicking game turned into somewhat of a nightmare. We did play hard, we just didn't play smart enough. I feel really bad for our team."
On interception to end the game and field goal at end of regulation...
"We actually had a corner route called. They busted the coverage and Thad [Lewis] didn't see it as quickly as Eron [Riley] did. Eron broke the route off and Thad threw it off his back foot. If Thad had been able to maybe sit in there or see it earlier, it probably would have been a walk-in touchdown. And that's kind of the game it was. It was a game of inches. I thought Nick [Maggio] started a little early on the field goal try in regulation and it threw his rhythm off a little bit. We had a really fast time on that from the press box. Little things like that are just very frustrating, but we're becoming a good football."
On tough losses this season...
"I just hate it for our kids that we can't find that next step to win a tough game like this. We've let two - one against Northwestern and now this ballgame - get away from us where we had a chance to win at the end. Now we've just got to grow to the next level."
