Wake Forest Athletics
Postgame Quotes - Wake Forest vs. Syracuse
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Clawson
Opening Statement...
"Today is as disappointed as I have been. Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and say, `Did I prepare this team?' Obviously I as the head coach did not have our team - especially our offense - ready to go today. It was disappointing all around. We gave up another two touchdowns on offense today. Again, I did not have our team ready. Sometimes you don't execute, sometimes you don't win match ups. Coach did not have the team ready, and I can certainly accept that responsibility. I will get better. We are in the first step of building the program. We will win, and we will win at a high level, but right now I want to thank all the fans and students that came out today. Again, I want to apologize because I did not have them ready."
On the team's quarterback situation...
"John got hit in the head. On the sidelines he did not have any concussive symptoms, but our head trainer suggested we not take any chances. He was unhappy and felt he could play. I think it is one of those issues you have to play extremely safe. Then Tyler got in there and struggled, then you have your third string quarterback, Kevin in there and he is running scout team all week. There are about half a dozen plays in the offense that he knows how to run. It is not fair to him, but it was who we had and we did not have him prepared to play, and that is on us."
On the offense...
"We get zero explosive plays. We are seven games into the season and our longest play is 36 yards. We do not have skilled players to make explosive plays to take the pressure off the offense to execute perfectly. We have very little margin for error. We have to stay positive and continue to coach these guys. There are no easy answers. We have a good defense, but our offense is not there."
On Noel's effort play...
"For Bud to make the effort play that he did, I mean what heart. You would think when you are losing a game like that, guys would take their foot off the gas, and I am so proud that he ran and made that play and then our defense held them to a field goal. Those guys are playing their hearts out. In a year like this with great defense, it is disappointing to not have a little bit more offense."
Syracuse Head Coach Scott Shafer
Opening Statement...
"My thoughts are - very pleased with this victory today. We always talk about adjusting to the elements. We've had a lot of kids injured, a lot of kids banged up, I really felt like we were going to have to gut this one out, and they did. A lot of things we have to continue to improve upon. But you know, with some of the youth playing, across the board I was pleased with the effort, and really obviously pleased with the way the defense played, creating two turnovers that turned into touchdowns and a great victory for our kids."
On satisfaction that all three phases were working for the team...
"There are some things we have to work on in all three phases, but just a good victory under the circumstances of where we are with our personnel. So, hopefully we can get a couple guys healed up this week before we go down to Death Valley, but, very pleased. Thought our kids did a nice job of taking coaching all week long. I thought our offense did a nice job moving the ball against a very good defense that's been playing very good defense all season, in Wake Forest, and very pleased with the victory."
On holding Wake Forest to under 100 yards rushing and passing for the game...
"We felt like we needed to, we really did, because we felt like we could. The kids, you know coming out of the Florida State game, our defensive kids were banged up, not going to lie to you. We had to be smart with the way we practiced during the week, but thought mentally they were extremely strong at working through some pain and then playing today exceptional football. Very proud of the job the defensive kids have done. Coach [Defensive Coordinator Chuck] Bullough and the defensive staff doing a great job and we'll have our hands full this week."
On the importance of getting the conference road win...
"It's always great to get a conference victory, on the road especially, and in this conference as you well know. Good victory. Looking forward to continuing to try to get to 2-0 in the second half of the season. Great effort by the kids, looking forward to watching the tape too."
Redshirt Sophomore Safety Ryan Janvion
On the team's situation...
"It's definitely frustrating but we can't point fingers. We gave up a 90-yard drive that shouldn't have happened. We gave up four third downs, we were horrible on third downs this game. So we are not pointing fingers. We just worry about one side of the ball. We don't focus on what the offense is doing. We focus on what we need to do get better. We are just going to continue to go back and continue to improve on those things that we need to improve. But we are going to stick together because that's all we can do is stick together to get this thing better."
On the effort the defense gives...
"That's just how we play. We always say on the sideline we only know how to do one thing and that's play. When we play, we are going to give it 100 percent we are not going to give up. We are not going to back down. That's what we do. That's the character of our defense. We just play ball no matter what situation or circumstance, we are just going to play."
On the development of Josh Banks...
"Josh has definitely come along way. We came on campus the same day. It's crazy to see him grow into the player he is today. He is a huge staple on our defense now. He definitely changed things around. Coming in, he wasn't as focused being redshirted. Now I've seen him step up into that role and embrace it. He literally puts himself on the line every play and gives it his all every snap. It's just is amazing to see. I am happy that we are in the same class so I will be able to hopefully play ball with him for the rest of my time at Wake Forest. It's amazing to see how much he's grown. He is a tremendous player. He takes care of business off the field as well. He's a great dude. He keeps his spirit up and he always fights."
On the inability to stop Syracuse on third down...
"We just didn't make plays when we needed to. We can't point fingers at anybody. We need to look at ourselves in the mirror and know that we can do better. We are great on third down and today we didn't show that. Defense needs to get better; offense needs to get better. Individually, each and every one of us needs to get better. The only thing we can do is work. We have no choice, we can't give up. In order for this to get better and this program to get better we have to continue to work and continue to get things were they need to be. The only way to do that is to keep grinding through and respond to adversity."
Redshirt Freshman Running Back Dezmond Wortham
On the offensive unit...
"We know that it's obvious right now that offense is struggling. You just have to keep coming to work every day and create new points for turnovers. I think today we balanced out the ball a little more, we had good runs, and of course John did well. We have to generate more drives like that, running and catching the ball. Obviously not the points you want to have, having turnovers result in Syracuse touchdowns. We just have to keep on working every day and hope for the best."
On what Syracuse did defensively...
"I can't really say. Their defense changed and things. They were squeezing in the end a lot and being fast. We were chopped down on some other runs that should have been bigger. We did a much better job protecting John for the most part, but still we could've worked harder. We still need to keep on working on the little things and I think that will make a big play happen."
On the play Wolford was hurt...
"We had a miscommunication on the slide. But, it's not John's fault and I don't think it's my fault either. Next time, we have to be on the same page and be aware that the defense is coming. It's the same look in practice. They brought out some amazing changes and did some things that we haven't seen before."
On the loss...
"It's frustrating. No one wants to lose; it's not on anyone's menu. Especially looking at our offseason and looking at how hard we work, especially during the week and Sundays. We came in with the same record; it was a good game for both. We are just coming off from two loses on the road; we were excited to get back home. But, we didn't finish the job. We have to finish the job."
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Brandon Chubb
On the effects of having a week off...
"It's just shaking that rust off. They had something we didn't have. They played a few days ago; we didn't. Just the physicality and the mental focus of being back in a game because we had a week off, getting back into the swing of things and it's definitely a positive that we got more preparation for it but the mental aspect is the negative part."
On if Syracuse's offense did anything unexpected...
"We had to make a couple of adjustments we didn't practice, but other than that all the things they threw at us, we saw on film."
On the defense's play overall...
"I definitely think we did well, and we're sound on our adjustments. But we have to do a better job of bringing along our backups so there is not a big drop off in the way we play when we when bring them in. At the end of the day, they are one player away from being starters so we have to do a better job of developing our young players. [We need to] continue to invest the time, not be satisfied and continue to grow because we can definitely be at a level where we are one of the best defenses in the nation. We are going to do our job and give our team the best chance to be successful."
