University of Massachusets Athletics
Postgame Quotes: UMass 49, Fordham 35
November 24, 2007 | Football
Nov. 24, 2007
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Head Coach Don Brown on the game:
Kind of a wild football game, we came out of the blocks ready to go, I give credit to Fordham, they got us on the fake punt which led to a touch, then we get a punt block which led to a touch Then we have the fumble which led to one which I still have a problem with. I don't know I haven't seen it on the TV so I will have to reserve judgment on it until then.
We thought we were down there but came out after the half. I give credit to Fordham, they came right down the field to even the thing up. You know, we just kind of continued to bang away, to compete and compete, just on the way to win the football game. It's funny when you look up at the end of the game and you look at the numbers and 646 yards of offense. Liam set the school record, over 400 yards throwing. Rasheed second, with catches, this guy is over the 150 mark, and just compete.
The game was still in doubt we were up seven, they get the ball back, we had just scored to give us some momentum. Charles Walker makes a great time top make his first interception. That puts us up 14 as we go in and score. Again, we can't stand for that, a little it because we found a way to mess up another punt but we were able to kind of wither that storm as well and go on to win the game.
Brown on the difficulties:
It was one of these games where we were a little thin on bodies at the end. This game certainly took its toll but it's one we feel good about. We found a way to win and in the tournament it's really all about surviving and advancing. At least we get a chance to correct some of the issues that are still in front of us. I say it every week, it seems, that we're not pretty but we find a way to win and our guys continue to compete at a very, very high level.
Just proud of our football team, how they pick one another up, the sideline was into it the whole day. I give credit to Fordham how they showed up ready to play football like we knew that they would. Skelton the quarterback stood in there, especially through the first three quarters, felt like we got to him a little bit and made some adjustments late but he certainly threw the ball well and we're just happy to get it done.
There are reasons that it was close but at the same time I'm very happy with the "W."
Linebacker
Charles Walker on the UMass Defense:
They had a nice game offensively they moved the ball around well. Going into the game we had the best red zone defense and with all of the traffic we had in the short field we didn't really step up and stop them in the red zone like we should have.
Quarterback Liam Coen on the success through the air:
We had some good routes and great play calling. We knew heading into the game, we were throwing the ball very well. One thing that gets overshadowed is I wasn't sacked. I didn't get pressured all day. Those guys up front [deserve credit].
Wide Receiver Rasheed Rancher on his diving touchdown catch:
I ad libbed and faked the slant. He went for it. Liam threw it up just right. Once I got past the defensive back, I stacked him and it was there.
Coen looking ahead to next week:
I'm happy to be into the second round, so as long as we keep throwing and catching and running the ball well, we'll be all set.
Coen on throwing for over 300 yards in the first half:
We knew we had the pass game there. We wanted to get the run game going. It was a wacky end of the first half, so getting the run game going in the second half was huge.
Fordham Head Coach Tom Masella on the game:
This one hurts. I'm proud of the way our kids played and the effort they gave. It was a heck of a football game. We knew coming in we would have to make some plays a whole bunch of different ways. The kids hung in there, but just seemed to wear down towards the end. Our quarterback and the kids on offense played and kept us in the game. We made a few plays on special teams, but give UMass credit. They're a heck of a football team; they're a heck of a football program. We just have to get a few more players to match up in a game that goes 60 minutes. I'm real proud of our guys and I tip my cap to UMass and Coach Brown and their players.
Masella on the team's mindset heading into the game:
We were playing for a national championship just like UMass. We knew we had to make some plays. We worked hard on it. We had as much to lose as UMass today. We just felt we had to make plays a different way.
Masella on the trick play:
If you know anything about the teams I've had the last few years, we've run a lot of fake punts. This year, we had a great punter and didn't feel like we needed to run a fake punt. Today, when we were down 14-0, we needed something to get our team going. Nick made a big play with it. It helped us get going. Sometimes, you have to do those things.
Masella on the way his team competed:
I love the way our team competed today. We knew coming in what type of team UMass has. Our offense showed today that we're capable of scoring points. Our O-line did a great job of picking up a team that has blitzed everybody. That 97 yard drive was a big-time drive by our offense. It was great to see the way our kids competed today.
Quarterback John Skelton on Charles Walkers' interception:
They had been blitzing all day. The last two guys dropped back in coverage. I didn't expect that guy to be in that zone.
Masella on UMass quarterback Liam Coen:
He's a good player. We were recruiting him when I was at UMass. He's been a great player for them over the last few years. He has a lot of weapons to go to. He's a real good football player.
