Wake Forest Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Wake Forest 20, Liberty 17
9/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 1, 2012
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Head Coach Jim Grobe
On his thoughts of the game...
"I think our coaches knew we were in for a little bit more of a battle for our players did. Our coaches were in a bit of a bind because on one hand, we want our kids to respect Liberty and know they can come in and play well. But at the same time, we want our players to feel confident and be able to go out there and play well. We were very fortunate to win tonight. I thought Liberty had a very good plan for us, that they were really well coached, that they had some good players, and that we were very fortunate to come out with the win tonight. What happened offensively is what I expected. Going into the game, I thought we would start off slow and have some problems early but that the offensive line would eventually settled down a little bit. However, our skill guys made some mistakes. There was minor mistakes, bad throws, not catching the football, not hitting the right gaps, and some running of the football that didn't go well so we have a lot of work to do there. Defensively, we just kept asking those guys to go back out too frequently. It was a long night tonight for the guys on the defensive line. We had some players that got banged up but I thought they hung in there and found a way to get it done. However, we didn't help them much. In order to play your defense, you need your offense to be a little stronger than it was tonight. We needed to keep them off the field a little bit instead of constantly sending them out there. For that reason, we had a lot of tired guys defensively. We had a lot of injuries tonight, none of them seem to be too serious. We lost Josh Bush to the concussion and we lost Sherman Ragland to a compound dislocation which left him on the sideline. We were just banged up on offense. Defensively, Riley Haynes his ankle, Zach Thompson got poked in the eye. But you know all in all, we faced a scare tonight, but it was good to get the win. For we the win is enough, I'll take a 3 point win or a 40 point win its just good to get a win. There are a lot of things we need to correct and things to work on before the Tar Heels come to town. We have some work to do."
On Orville's playing time...
"We were getting a lot of pressure from the Liberty players and Orville isn't a very big guy. There was several times early when Josh was in the game and Deandre had to pick up some pretty big guys' blitzes. I think more than anything Deandre was playing well. He was running the ball physically and aggressively. I think we just thought at the time that once he kinda had the high hand, you hate to put Orville in. We probably should have played him some more to be honest, he is good enough to go out there and play. I think this week we won't have much we can do with Josh so we will get those guys a bunch of reps. We are not disappointed in Orville at all, we need to get him on the field."
Liberty Head Coach Turner Gill
On the team's overall performance...
"I'm proud of the way our guys played. I think our guys made a good effort. We made a lot of good plays in this ball game and I'm proud of the way they played. The defense played a heck of a ball game; the offense did good things and we also did some things that we caused on ourselves. One good thing I think was quarterback [Brian] Hudson did a real good job. Mason did great. Our offensive line did a pretty good job for the most part. The defense played well. Quite a few guys; it was good to see we had a little depth."
On perimeter play...
"That's the thing I was hoping to do. I think that was the key. For the most part we played that pretty well. We gave little good plays and we knew they were a team that would have some gauges. We want to make sure we eliminate some of those things or minimize them anyways. I think the tackle was a part of the key thing. I think Josh Woodrum made some great calls. Our D-line they controlled the line of scrimmage."
On the quarterback situation...
"That was already predetermined. He [Hudson] was going to play the first two series and Josh would play the next two series and then we'd make decisions so it was all predetermined"
On Big South play and future games...
"Well we'll get the Big South sooner or later. We're looking at Norfolk State coming here. It's a non-conference team and they're a very good football team. We'll have our hands full for that one and our guys are hurting after this loss but we've got to rebound. We have some young people and they'll be able to rebound. We can take from this and learn and get better. That's what you have to do in every ball game. In most cases you improve the most from the first ball game and the second ball game. This is our first time seeing our team play so it's good to have a game so we can evaluate where we're at and what we need to do to correct some things.
Quarterback Tanner Price
On adjustments the team had to make...
"It was difficult going into the game because of the new [Liberty] coaching staff and we didn't really know what to expect, but I think overall there are a lot of things that we're going to look back on and wish we could get back. We're going to look at the tape, make improvements and move on."
On the first thing you wanted to fix...
"We hurt ourselves a lot offensively. We were having penalties, missed throws, dropped balls, missed blocks and that just killed us. Not to take anything away from them--they're a great team and will have a great season, but I think we shot ourselves in the foot at times."
On impressions of the offensive line...
"Overall, I think they did a good job. It's the first game, and of course you're going to have errors here and there. They're going to continue to grow each week."
On throw to Tommy Bohanon getting you in position for the winning score...
That was a great play by Tommy Bohanon, our fullback, who made a great catch and set us up for a touchdown so that was big and something that we really needed.
On the defense and how they performed tonight...
"I think the defense played well and they kept us in the game. They probably won that one for us. Offensively we're going to continue to get better every week, and we'll keep working hard."
On mindset to play North Carolina...
"We're going to look at this film and see where we need to improve. We're going to work really hard this week, and come next Saturday, we'll be ready to go."
Flanker Michael Campanaro
On whether you thought at halftime that you could get back in the game with the injury...
"I didn't. I'm not going to lie. It stiffened up on me and I kept working it and working it, and that medicine kicked in and I was so happy to get back out there with the team."
On if the game felt shaky...
"We didn't play well as an offense. I think the defense played great. They scored for us and they were playing great. I think with offense, we had a lot of plays left on the field with one guy doing something wrong. A win is a win and we're going to take it, but we definitely have to tighten up for next week."
On pressure felt to get the offense back in sync...
"It takes all 11 guys and we all have to be on the same page out there. Just being a part of the offense to try and make plays for those guys and to make plays for the team. As for Tanner, when he has time back there, he can play with the best of them as far as quarterbacks go. As receivers, we have to run our routes, get open, we have to block. Everybody has to do their job. We're going to get in sync together. It was our first game, and the positive thing is that we got the win and we have the film to dissect it and get better."
Nose guard Nikita Whitlock
On Liberty...
"We knew that they were a good team with number 1 in their conference just about every year. And we knew that they were going to come play like it was a championship. Every small school wants to beat that big school, just like when we play Florida State. They're not bad--they look great on film, they don't look small, they're pretty fast, and I knew it would be a fight. It was scary and shaky at times though."
On when the team came together...
"I would say the third quarter coming out of the half. We're always been a second half team, and that's something that we're trying to work on this year. Third quarter we came back out, ran the game, and as a defense, I think we played well. 17 points isn't a lot of points. A lot of people outside of the football world will probably think that they're a small school and shouldn't have scored, but when it comes down to it, if you have good players, you'll make big plans."
On thoughts on Chapel Hill...
"I don't know yet. Coming from last year, they're big, they're strong with a great running back, good O-line, so I'm ready to get in there and see the film."
