Postgame Quotes - Florida State 59, Wake Forest 3
11/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 9, 2013
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Wake Forest Head Coach Jim Grobe
Opening statement...
"We went into the game defensively and wanted to make them work for what they got and not give up a lot of cheap touchdowns. Offensively we went in, like most games, trying to take care of the football. We had seven turnovers today, and I think we have gone a whole season before without seven turnovers. We had as many turnovers today that we nearly have had in a whole season before. I think we had five interceptions total coming into the game today. It was just a lot of errors today. I think the turnovers today led directly to 38 points or maybe even 45 points. The defense had hardly been on the field. I don't know what else to say but turnovers really hurt."
On the offensive play...
"I mainly would like to think that it was our mistakes, but I think we played a really good football team. One of the things that hurt us so badly today was that the turnovers were backed up. They either scored on defense or we gave them really short drives to score. I'd like to say that it was totally us shooting ourselves in the foot, but a big part of that was Florida State. I give them a lot of credit. That's a good football team."
On the play of Florida State...
"Coming into the game today we knew they were very explosive offensively. They have a great quarterback and a great supporting cast. I really like their offensive line and they have some big playmakers at receiver. I thought quarterback Jameis Winston might be the best player in the country. I don't know, but he's a great player. We knew that our defense had their work cut out for them, but a lot of people really overlooked Florida State's defense. My biggest concern going in was not necessarily taking care of the football but getting first downs."
On quarterback Tyler Cameron coming into the game...
"I think we got into a position where it was good to let Tyler come in. I think he has a good future for us, and it was time to let the young guy play. We think Tyler has a lot of ability, but he's just so young that he hasn't been doing it a lot. We will look at it next week and have it figured out in time for the Duke game."
Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher
Opening statement...
"(I'm) proud the way our guys competed in the game. I thought we got out early. I thought the defense was absolutely amazing. I thought the offense had a long drive early, and then the defense got those turnovers and got control of the game. The defense all day - what, seven turnovers, six interceptions and short fields. They were just outstanding - playing the run, playing the pass - they were absolutely amazing. On offense, we converted and did the things they needed to do. I thought offense on the day did not play as well. I thought we missed a lot of opportunities, a lot of little things. We need to clean up a lot of stuff, but special teams was really good. I'm proud of them. We won 59-3. This has always been a tough place for us to play. (I'm) proud of the way our guys came out and did their job."
On the mindset heading into today's game...
"Where we're at (in the BCS) should not matter. How we play and prepare is what should matter. If they ever believe in our system, if they ever belive in eliminating the clutter, if they believe in what we're teaching, then now is the time. Success, to me, reveals what you really are, where you're at, what you're doing. If you can keep the selfishness out of it and then (have) the ability to focus and play one at a time, then that's the key. And that's what we have to do."
On the offense and defense playing well together...
"They feed off each other. They really do - offense, defense, special teams. They really care for each other and they like each other. They genuinely just have fun playing football."
On the play of quarterback Jameis Winston...
"I thought he was solid. He did some really nice things, did some good things, but did some things I didn't like. I thought at times he made some decisions and got a little greedy. I think he needs to understand that. He's got to play the game. The game is bigger than me as a coach, bigger than him as a player. There's been a bunch of Jameis' before and there will be a bunch of them after and a bunch of whoevers. You got to understand how to play the game one play at a time and take what it gives you."
Senior Offensive Guard Frank Souza
On the game...
"We shot ourselves in the foot. Obviously, that's a great team. They're obviously the number two team in the nation. On offense, we just kind of killed ourselves with a bunch of turnovers. We just have to take care of the ball a lot better. I felt like defensively, we played well. We could have played better, but offensively, we really need to turn it around for the Duke game and start rolling on the field and score some points."
On looking to become bowl eligible...
"We have a job to do and we need two more [wins] to go to a bowl game. I feel like we've got the focus on our team, offensively and defensively. Everyone is focused. We want to go to a bowl game bad, and we're just looking for two more wins. We're going to play hard until we get them."
On the season so far and the final two games...
"We played well. We started off rough, obviously, and then transitioned into our offense. After that, we played Miami and had a great game. We could have had them and it got close, but it's too bad we didn't. After that, I think this bye week will be good, and I think we can come back and get these two wins."
Senior Nose Guard Nikita Whitlock
On the defense's play...
"As a defense, we did a good job any time you hold a team under 300 total yards. We got some turnovers, but they just had so many turnovers compared to what we did. It's hard to overcome a deficit of seven turnovers to two turnovers. Ball security was key to this game."
On looking to become bowl eligible...
"I feel like after these last two games, we've hit rock bottom. You can't do much worse than zero points and three points. We have nowhere to go but up. I'm just glad that we have a chance. As of right now, if we win two, we go [to a bowl.] We've got a chance and that's all you've got to ask for at this point and time."
Senior Linebacker Mike Olson
On keeping up with the Florida State offense...
"I think our defense is one of the faster defenses -- maybe not the biggest but definitely the fastest. They obviously were everything they were on tape. As far as running with them, there was a mismatch in that aspect. They probably didn't open their playbook up in the second half the same way they would have if it was a closer score, so we didn't see the depth of what they wanted to do. But they were just a good team."
On how the team can bounce back...
"You really can't worry about the offensive side of the ball. We control what we control. When both sides of the ball are firing, it makes it easier for both. We've got to do it as a team. It can't just be the defense or the offense."
Freshman Quarterback Tyler Cameron
On the loss to Florida State...
"Those are elite athletes. We can compete with them, though. We've done it before. There's no excuse to get beat like this. We've got to come back and try to get better and compete with those guys."
On the Florida State Defense...
"They executed well. They played good defense. They're fast, they're explosive, and we didn't make plays. They made a lot of plays."
On the Wake Forest Defense...
"Our defense has been giving us the best all year. Our defense has really been the backbone of this team, and they've been giving everything for us."
