Football vs. Auburn Postgame Quotes
11/26/2016 7:36:00 PM | Football
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening statement
"This was a great win for our team. I'm really proud of our team, especially the way that they played in the second half. We turned it around on offense and really dominated the game in terms of time of possession. We had some really good drives. We didn't always finish, but we really executed a lot better in the second half.
"This is a game that means a lot to a lot of people in this state. I'm certainly happy for our supporters, our fans and the people who support The University of Alabama that they can be happy about the victory we had today.
"Auburn has a really good team, and we knew this was going to be a tough game. I'm really proud of the way our guys competed. I'm proud of our seniors for the career that they've had here. They're going to have more opportunities to play, just not here in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Those guys have had a fantastic career. They've contributed vitally to the program, not only as football players, but the kind of the people they are with the examples they set as leaders and the good job they've done academically with having success academically.
"I really can't say enough about the great feeling that I have in terms of the way our guys competed in the game today. This is a great win, and I want our players to enjoy it, but we also have a big challenge coming up next week. This is sort of like being in the playoffs, so we've got to play the game next week and we'll get ready for that starting on Monday and go from there."
On the defense not allowing a touchdown for the fourth-straight game
"Our defensive players really play well together. Auburn presents some tough issues and challenges with personnel groups, motions, and formation adjustments, so I thought our guys did a really good job for the most part adjusting to those.
"The defense was put in some really tough spots in this game. I think there was a point in the game where they had only one or two first downs but had nine points because of turnovers, poor punts and poor punt coverage they had a big return on. So, we had some really challenging field positions in this game and our players responded well to it.
"Look, we just play one play at a time and try to prepare our guys the best we can to go out there and play well. Losing two guys in the secondary today – Tony Brown and Marlon (Humphrey) – was really difficult. I think Marlon (Humphrey) will be okay. We just didn't put him back into the game. After losing Eddie (Jackson) a few weeks ago, we're pretty thin back there (in the secondary), but the guys that went in certainly did a good job for us and didn't hurt us in any way.
"I was really proud of the way the guys competed. I can't tell you about the scoring touchdowns thing. I know our guys are very competitive and have a lot of pride, and they have played at a really high level – especially in these past three or four games."
On the adjustment of the offensive line in the second half
"I think in the second half they responded really well. We didn't run the ball great in the first half. I think that was part of the issue. We put a lot on the quarterback, and he was struggling a little bit, turned the ball over a couple of times, and we weren't executing the way we needed to. I guess everybody thought I was going to throw a fit (at halftime), but I just said, 'Look guys. All we have to do is go out and play with some poise and confidence. Trust and believe in how we do things, what we do, and everybody needs to go do their job because we have too many guys that are making mistakes, not blocking the right guys.' We needed to control the line of scrimmage in the second half and control the game.
"I think our offensive line a good job of that in the second half, especially. Bo Scarbrough did a really good job in the second half, and I think all of our other backs did too, but he hasn't played for a while and he was a big boost getting in there and gaining 90 yards. He had some big runs."
#13 ArDarius Stewart, WR
On his touchdown-scoring play
"It was like two reads in one. If the guy is playing press, I had to slant it out; if the guy is playing soft, it was like a regular hitch. He came up, and I saw he was playing outside, so I had to go out a little bit, cut in and get open. Jalen (Hurts) threw a perfect ball, and I just turned it up the sideline, tried to tight rope it, and it worked out."
On which play he enjoyed best in tonight's game – his touchdown catch or his passing play
"It's kind of neck and neck. I'm just glad we got the win. It's really not about me. I just try to keep Jalen (Hurts) going and keep the offense's head in the game. It all starts in the lineup, a pre-game talk, and I guess it worked out."
On growing up in Alabama and getting the win against Auburn
"It is crazy. Growing up watching the games and crying when Alabama loses and not wanting to go to school the next day. It's just crazy. When I came out, I told myself I refuse to lose playing against them, and it's been working out so far."
#75 Bradley Bozeman, OL
On the opportunities this year has brought
"I've had this dream of playing against these guys for as long as I can remember. This is just a blessing to be able to play with these guys. These guys are like my family, and I wouldn't change anything about them in the world."
On the changes made for the second half
"We didn't really come out and execute like we needed to in the first half, and at halftime we kind of had a 'come to Jesus meeting.' We got everything rolling and got the ball rolling."
Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahn
Opening Statement
"Obviously, it was a tough loss for our team. I am proud of our guys, the way they competed. Our defense played extremely well until they got worn down. It really stands out to me that the time of possession is doubled. They just got worn down. Offensively, just didn't get first downs. Really just didn't get it done. You know, (we were) 2-of-12 on third downs, I really think that really caused the problem. Twenty plays in the first half. And really, if you look at it, 20 plays in the first half; even with 20 plays we had a chance. I mean we were right there in the game, we went three-and-out, I think they scored, and then it was kind of an uphill battle from there on. But third downs, we didn't hit explosive plays, defense was on the field too long. That was really the story of the day. Obviously, we've got players in there that are hurting, coaches are hurting. This is a tough one. We didn't play well. Give them credit. They're a good team. We really expected to play better, and we didn't."
On putting quarterback Jeremy Johnson in a position to be successful
"We had some opportunities, but we just didn't execute. I am not going to blame Jeremy or anybody else, because anytime you go 2-of-12 on third down then it becomes a collective group effort. We had a couple good opportunities, but we just didn't seize the moment. This is not one person's fault in that regard."
On being in a passing situation and dealing with the Alabama defense
"Our goal was to try and put ourselves in third down situations where it was six yards or less to go, and we just did not get that done. We had the 20 plays in the first half, and I think that three or four of those were negative plays. Alabama's defense is the best in the country on third down with seven plus yards to go. That was tough sledding to face. We had a couple opportunities but it didn't work out the way we wanted."
On when the decision was to not play quarterback Sean White
"He practiced this week, but he wasn't 100%. We had to make a decision, and we just felt that he was not healthy enough to play. Jeremy had a good week of practice last week, and the plan was to play him (Jeremy) and John Franklin III a little bit more. Towards the end of the game we just felt we needed a spark, and John did a good job of that. John moved us down the field a couple times, as he got a first down with his legs on third and 10. He also aired the ball down field to get some pace and tempo going for us."
#55 Carl Lawson, Defensive Lineman
On freshman defensive back Daniel Thomas coming in and making impact
"Daniel really stepped up big and made big plays for us. He's going to be a big time player."
On Alabama's use of different formations
"(Alabama offensive coordinator) Lane Kiffin is a really good at what he does. He does a lot of good stuff like that."
#38 Daniel Carlson, Kicker
On the frustration of seeing the offense struggling
"It's obviously real tough. Whenever I do get called upon, I got to do my job. It's tough on this team because we didn't come out with a win. It's frustrating because we had opportunities. At the end of the day, it's a team game."
On his missed kick
"I think I just pulled it to the left. Besides that, I hit them pretty well. I think I just pulled that one a little left."
