.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
Postgame Quotes: UMass - James Madison Quotes
November 14, 2009 | Football
Nov. 14, 2009
Recap |
Box Score |
Notes |
Photo Gallery 
Coach Morris Opening Remarks
It's certainly a disappointing loss. I'm not very excited about that loss. The turnover right out of the gate where we gave them points and we weren't able to overcome those turnovers to win the ballgame.
Coach Morris on the decision to punt on 4th down with just under four minutes left in the game
We thought about it. It was about 4th and four and we decided to punt it and pin them in deep with the three timeouts, the defense playing well. The idea was to pin them in deep and we did that. We had them at 3rd and 11 and they threw basically a hail mary and the kid made a great play on it otherwise they would have had to punt it.
Coach Morris on the team developing some momentum following the early fumbles
Tony rushed for over a hundred yards I think. I don't know if it was so much the conditions as it was inconsistent play. It was a typical CAA football game. You turn the ball over you are going to struggle running. We turned it over and we struggled running.
Tony Nelson on protecting the ball when the defense is stripping at the ball and coming back in the game after an early fumble
They were definitely trying to grab at the ball but I know I can protect the ball. I knew that my teammates were depending on me so I just wanted to come back in the game and try to go as hard as I can. I just wanted to try and get to 70 yards. Everybody gave a great effort, everybody gave a 100 percent.
James Madison Coach Nicky Matthews Opening Remark
I thought we played very hard today. I think UMass is a much better football team at home than they are on the road. If you watch their tape they play very hard and very well at home and just the opposite on the road. I'm sure Kevin has been upset with them on the road, but they came out and played very hard today. I thought we beat a good football team. I thought Scott Noble gave us a shot in the arm offensively. I thought Justin Thorpe probably played his best game. The last thing, I thought our defense just played really well. UMass has been moving the ball; I think they average 385 yards a game and a lot of yards at home. I knew it would struggle to tackle Tony Nelson because I think he's a heck of a back, he's the best back in the league. We struggled to tackle him because he's a good player, but I thought our defensive kids really stepped up.
Quarterback Justin Thorpe on the playing conditions
All season we've been playing in the rain, so we're kind of used to it. Unlike most teams, we practice outside with full equipment all week and that really prepared us for this game and it showed.
Defensive end Arthur Moats on the defensive strategy playing in the rain
We feel defensive is going to be crucial, regardless of what the offense does. You definitely have to turn it up a little bit more when it's raining outside because you never know with the turnover situation, but I still feel like we played hard like we usually do.
Running back Scott Noble on getting the start
As a running back here, you never really know. We have three good running backs that can start anywhere in the conference, so you never really know. You just practice and you always prepare. Nobody says who gets the nod, everybody practices hard and if you play you play. I'll rate my play as a C because I had a turnover that was big and that can't happen.