Postgame Quotes - Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech
11/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Clawson
Opening Statement...
"I just want the team to keep playing hard and they obviously did that today. Our kicking game has been rock solid all year. I wish we had hit some early and not made it so dramatic. Offensively we are what we are. We threw the red zone interception early and I thought that could potentially really hurt us. There aren't a lot of style points for that game but in terms of effort and kids that really care and want to win and all those intangibles you want in a football team, we certainly displayed that today."
On the defensive performance...
"I've said it all year, we've got some pieces of the defense already in place that we can build around. It was great to win for our seniors, those two senior corners we have deserve that. The safeties and defensive linemen are part of a core of guys to build around on the defense. We need to find the same core on offense. This isn't the formula we want to try and win games with moving forward."
On what he said to Mike Weaver after early misses...
"I just said Mike, `it's going to come down to you again, be ready.' He said `Coach, I'm fine.' These things have a way of coming back around. The way that game was going there was a very good chance it would come down to a field goal kicking contest. Going in to the game our numbers were better than theirs. Before the game starts if it becomes a field goal contest we feel really good about it. Our numbers were better than theirs going in. That was part of the thought process with the last drive. I didn't mind playing for overtime because if you go by the batting averages of the kickers that is an advantage for us. Mike just had to let the early ones go."
Redshirt Senior Offensive Lineman Antonio Ford
On the team's win...
"We always believe in Weaver. We know how good he is and what he is capable of. We didn't worry about it, we just know he is a good player. I am just glad that the team was able to come together and win. This was my last home game. We will celebrate."
On whether he's seen coach Clawson that excited...
"No, I haven't. He wanted that win really badly and I am glad we got it for him. Coach Clawson was almost in tears during the postgame speech because he knew how hard we worked."
Redshirt Senior Cornerback Kevin Johnson
On the excitement of the game
"It was a little emotional roller coaster. Just how we did a good job on defense, it was 0-0 the whole game and a really good defensive game. It was a good way to get the W...Once you get that feeling, you know how hard you work and how hard you need to work to continue that streak. It's just a great win at home for the future."
On the team battling
"We kept fighting. That's something we talked about throughout the week, just being able to fight. I think we did that. I think we rallied. We ended up with the "W" so that's all that matters...It was kind of an emotional day for me. When I came to Wake Forest I was a two-star recruit. Coach Grobe gave me an opportunity that a lot of universities didn't. So just being able to leave here with the W and with a positive feeling [at] BB&T, me individually, it's a great thing for me."
Redshirt Freshman Kicker Mike Weaver
On the game against Virginia Tech...
"[There were] so many emotions. I just had to stay positive and keep pushing through it to help get my seniors a win. Everyone was behind me, staying positive for me and that definitely helped. I'm hoping just to prove to people that it was a fluke that I missed. I love going out there and performing. I just had to stay positive."
On the feeling of being mobbed by the team after the game...
"It was one of the greatest moments of my life, having my team support me. It's indescribable really."
Freshman Quarterback John Wolford
On his first ACC win...
"It's awesome. I don't know how else to describe it. The seniors and all the other guys made great plays. It's been a long time coming and we're happy we got the first one."
On Mike Weaver rebounding from missed kicks...
"I think he was fine. He kept his composure and was able to redeem himself in the end. That long kick in the first overtime where I put him in a bad position was huge. I'm thankful he was able to make that one."
On bouncing back from the loss at NC State...
"I just think that's a tribute to the resilience of this team. That was a rough game on both sides of the ball for us. Then to come back today, the defensive effort was superb...It's just awesome how well we responded after a tough week."
Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer
Opening Statement...
"Give Wake Forest credit. They played extremely hard as a football team, and played very well defensively. We're not going to spend a lot of time with this ball game. I want each of our players, coaches [to say], `what I could have done better,' [and avoid] pointing fingers or anything else. There were so many plays in that ballgame that you just kind of scratch your head at. I don't think that lingering on that is what this football team needs. I think everyone has got to figure out what they should have done better, and then let's get on to the next ball game.
"The way I see it, if we can get this next ball game, we beat our state rival, and we get to a bowl game. You get a reprieve in that regard. It was a tough day at the office, one that I don't think anybody in the organization is particularly proud of, but again individually you say what could I have done today and what should I not have done that hurt this football team, hurt our chances to win, and there's a lot of those for all of us. Again not just players, but coaches and as a whole organization."
On what was ineffective about the offense...
"I think Wake, they've got a couple good corners, they fly around on defense, but I don't think that is an excuse. I think when we look at it, it's going to be about not blocking them, not executing, sometimes they were putting their players in the best position to be successful. I don't think you take anything away from Wake Forest, they played good."
