Postgame Quotes - Wake Forest 28, NC State 13
10/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 5, 2013
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Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe
On his team's performance...
"I thought our defensive staff did a heck of a job kind of corralling a pretty explosive group, and the offensively, I thought Tanner (Price) and those guys stepped up today. There was electricity in the locker room before the game. I just had a sense that this was different. There was a different feel, and I felt even better at halftime. When we were gathering up at halftime to come back out, you could tell that the guys were on a mission. (It is) just a really good feeling today and nice to see the guys on both sides of the ball play four quarters."
On how the team was able to overcome the high temperature...
"We talked about going into the game that it was going to be hot today - hotter than it has been. They talked about it possibly being as high as 90 at kickoff. We didn't hide from it. We just said, `It's going to be hot out there today guys, and you're going to have to reach down when that second half rolls around. You're going to have to find something.' I was really worried. As much as they were throwing the football, we kept rushing the passer and pushing on those big guys up front, but I never really saw our defensive front wear out."
On NC State's fast-paced offense...
"I was disappointed defensively when they started their speed ball stuff, but we ended up keeping them out and made them kick a field goal. That was a little disappointing. We just got a real good momentum boost with the touchdown, and they go right down in about two seconds and they're down in the redzone."
On the play of the offense...
"Our offensive staff did a really nice job in the throw game. We kind of mixed some draws - we knew we were going to get pressure out of those guys. I thought NC State tightened up on that stuff in the second half, as far as the draws and the run game inside. Tanner had a couple throws that were off. I was disappointed in the pick because I thought he had Camp wide open in the middle of the field, and I'm sure he'd like to have that one back. All-in-all, I thought that Tanner Price came out and led the offense, and we had an offensive group that had some energy today. It's the first really good feeling I've had about our O-line and receivers. That whole group of guys wanted to come out and prove they could play football."
NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren
Opening statement...
"My hat goes off to Wake Forest and their coaching staff and their players. I thought they played tremendously hard. (Michael) Campanaro, obviously we couldn't stop today, and even when we had him double teamed at times, we didn't stop him. We didn't play well. We didn't do what we needed to do. It starts with me obviously. I thought I had them ready to play today. It was just too many of the same things. We just talked about it. For us to grow as a team, we've got to be more disciplined from a penalty standpoint. We've got to be able to stay focused on the road. We're down a lot of players right now, unfortunately. When Rashard (Smith) and Jarvis (Byrd) went out that was tough. We're out some guys with (Marquez) Valdes-Scantling and Rob Crisp and (Logan) Winkles and Brandon Mitchell. There are a lot of people we're not starting and they need to step up their game, obviously. Wake did a good job. They changed up a lot of things today. They had some big splits on the line of scrimmage which was different than what we've seen them do. (We) just tried to get our D-line split out, and I thought they had a nice game today. (They) did a nice job getting the football to number three in some different ways and they lined him up in a lot of different positions. It's a learning experience. Obviously my goal was to go on the road and get a win this week, and we didn't do that. We'll go back and look at why. The season isn't even close to over for us. We've got a lot of building to do in our program. A lot of guys got valuable reps and we'll keep working, we'll keep working. Jim Grobe is a really good football coach, and I thought him and their defensive staff did a nice job stopping what we needed to do today. (We) just didn't get it going, unfortunately."
On the Wake Forest defense...
"They have a very good front which everyone knows. (Nikita Whitlock) played really well tonight. We felt like if we could get some extended drives which we had a couple longer drives that we could get them tired, use our tempo, and in one drive we were able to do that. They executed and played with depth in the secondary, so we couldn't get behind them and forced everything to be in front of them and had a nice game plan. If we could have got off the field on defense and maybe got them tired, we have a chance, but we didn't do that tonight."
On Wake Forest's late first half touchdown...
"We knew they were going to try to throw the ball. They slipped their tight end out across the field out of a protection and we didn't see him. We had a guy there for him but we didn't see him, and that play obviously opened up the floodgates, and the play they threw for the touchdown, we had two guys on him and didn't cover him."
Senior Tight End Spencer Bishop
On the team's mindset coming into the game...
"With the schedule we have ahead of us, we felt our backs were against the wall and we just came out with a lot of energy, and that's what we needed as an offense because we felt were lacking it. We came out with a lot of energy and it showed."
On his 54-yard reception at the end of the first half...
"There are different variations of the same play. I chip initially so I kind of get lost in the defense after I chip, but then I get out in my route. But yeah, I like the play so hopefully it will stay."
Senior Nose Guard Nikita Whitlock
On recovering from the NC State hurry-up offense during the game...
"They went hurry up at the perfect time and they had beaten us with it, but we called a time out. We slowed the game down a little bit, and we got focused and we just settled down. When we're settled down and we're playing the way we played today, I think we're pretty good."
On the defensive line's effort...
"I think we had control of the whole game. We started the game a little slow, but I don't think we were ever losing on the d-line. I think we had a great, great game on the d-line."
Senior Quarterback Tanner Price
On the play of Michael Campanaro...
"He's a great target to have on the field. I love the connection that we have out there. It makes it a lot of fun out there. He did a great job of finding the open holes and winning in man coverage. It was just him playing really well today, and he is capable of doing that every game. I was proud of the way that he played."
On Wake Forest's intensity throughout the game...
"We definitely came out with a lot of energy, and it was not just the players who were hyped up today but the coaches were really excited, too. From going into the game, having the players and coaches excited, it was huge. It's a team game and we all have to be on the same page, and it made it a lot of fun today."
On the offense...
"We did a lot of good things today, and guys were stepping up and making plays which is always great. The offensive line did a good job up front. It was fun to see us finally click on offense and now we just have to build on that and carry it with us for the rest of the season.
Senior Linebakcer Mike Olson
On the victory...
"It was huge and it feels so good to be a part of the defense. I think we are finally starting to get things right. It feels good to have a defensive coaching staff that really has our backs. This week was kind of do or die, especially for our morale. That was one of my most memorable wins here."
