Alabama Football vs. Charleston Southern Postgame Quotes
11/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening Statement: "I was really pleased with the way our guys came out today. Sometimes we have played a little lackluster in games like this, especially this time of year. With the players, I told them if you're not inspired to play every play that you play, then you're kind of cheating yourself because you're not who you are and how you compete. I certainly was pleased with the way we went out there and executed well.
"Their guys really played well when they believe in what they do, and they do it well. I was surprised that they didn't play No. 4 (senior Austin Brown) at quarterback. I thought our guys did a better job on the option today, which was hard to simulate. We got to play a lot of players on both sides of the ball, and I think that's something that we really needed to do in this game to get those guys some experience and to get more guys ready to play down the road.
"I thought it was great to recognize our seniors as they have made a tremendous contribution to the program not only on the field, but additionally in the way that they represented off the field with how well they've done in the classroom and the kind of ambassadors they've been for the University and the program. It's great to see the parents here, and it's nice to always honor those guys that have contributed and done so much hard work to help this program be what it is."
On getting Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris experience in this game: "We wanted to get those guys in the game and get them to play as early and as often as we could. Both guys, I think, got to play. We didn't end up playing Derrick (Henry) that much, but I think it was more important to get the other guys the experience."
On Derrick Henry having a limited amount of runs in today's game: "We were just kind of going by the scoreboard. We were going to play Damien (Harris) early and sort of roll him in, so he played early some. When we got ahead by 21 or 28 points, we were going to kind of shut some of the guys down and make sure we start giving other guys ample opportunities to develop."
On the play of Cyrus Jones today: "Well, we've had issues and problems in the past trying to get those balls fielded when they do a rugby punt. We really wanted to do a good job of holding the guys up at the line, and I think we did. We put two guys back there deep to keep the ball from rolling so much, and (Richard) Mullaney, and Cyrus (Jones) both did a good job of that. The one ball I think that actually hit, I saw the bean bag go down, it hit No. 21, and Cyrus picked it up and ran it for a touchdown. The other one, he did a really good job of getting a good hop and fielding the ball. Cyrus has got really good running skills as he was a receiver when he first came here, and he did a really good job at that. Last two weeks, we've made some big plays in the punt return game, and I think that's something that we want to continue to build on."
#5 Cyrus Jones, Defensive Back
On his game today: "It was a bittersweet moment with it being my last game here with the guys I came in with. Just with this team, it's been a special year. I felt good about that, making plays and doing what I had to do."
On his interception: "It was a good play. They were running that same play a few times earlier in the game, so I was just trying to jump it and get an interception or fumble recovery. I'm not sure what it's going to go down as, but I was trying to get in there. I lost my balance a little bit, but it was still a great play."
On how the team's effort in today's game: "We try to not look at what opponent we are playing, but we just try to play our stats. I know it means a lot to Coach (Saban) and it carried onto the rest of the team. We just tried to push this game as we would any other game."
#70 Ryan Kelly, Center
What pre-game was like as a senior: "It was special. Bryant-Denny has been good to me and a lot of the guys. It's just awesome to come back here and play your last game here. The atmosphere is incredible, and to have my mom and dad out there was awesome. I know it meant a lot to a lot of the guys, and it was a good way to finally end my career here at Bryant-Denny."
On how focused they were: "We knew they were a pretty good team for the level that they play in. They were 8-1 and are going to make the playoffs, but it wasn't about them. It was about what we did. We came out there and executed, did the game plan to a tee and had some big plays and a lot of explosive runs. We were just trying to go out there for senior day."
Charleston Southern Head Coach Jamey Chadwell
Opening Statement: "Well, the outcome was probably what we expected. I was hoping we would put up a little more of a fight there in the first half. Our other guys came out and competed in the second half, which was good to see. Our main goal was to come in here and not get hurt, not get injured. I think we accomplished that. They're obviously a good team."
On the game overall: "The main thing I was frustrated about was the punt returns. Obviously that's not something that has happened [this season], and we gave up two punt returns. We also turned the ball over. That's one thing that we talked about, not giving them extra opportunities to take advantage of. So that was something I was disappointed in. I wanted to see us continue to compete in the second half as well. I thought in the third quarter we played really well - I know they had some of their backups in - but we drove the ball and obviously scored. Our defense held them on a short field after a turnover and held them a couple of times on fourth down. So it was good to see us continue to fight and scrap, which was important to us."
On Alabama's defense: "They're obviously as good as anybody we've seen. I don't know if you could combine all of the teams we played and [equal] all of their best players. I do think we had more yards rushing than Leonard Fournette did, though, so you can check that. But we couldn't run up inside. They forced us to run outside, and when we ran outside, they could just rally to the football. We had no inside run game, and our offense is really predicated on inside running plays. They're just so good that they can dominate you, and they did that to us for the most part."
#19 Kyle Copeland, Quarterback
On playing against Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium: "It was a great experience. Not a lot of people get to say that they played against probably the best team in the country, the best program in the country, since we've been alive. It was a great experience. I couldn't ask for anything more. We hoped to be a little more competitive, but we were out there with our brothers. We were fighting and competing against the best team in the country."
On Alabama's defensive line: "They were as advertised. They're big, fast, strong and physical. They shed blocks really quickly. Our guys up front did a great job fighting, fighting as hard as they could. Those guys are where they are for a reason."
On being a backup quarterback and starting against Alabama: "As a competitor, that's what you live for, playing against the best of the best and seeing where you stack up. I knew it was going to be a challenge and a struggle all day, but playing against Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium, it doesn't get much better than that."
