Football vs. Florida Postgame Quotes
12/3/2016 7:53:00 PM | Football
COACH SABAN: First of all, so very proud of our team for, first of all, having an undefeated season, but secondly, for winning the SEC Championship. I think to do that three years in a row is a really significant accomplishment, especially these guys who have been challenged all year long by playoff game after playoff game, but this was the first championship game we had, and they certainly responded well in the game, and I'm very proud of them.
I'm happy for our fans. I'm happy for our university. I'm happy for Reuben for being the MVP of the game. The 25th anniversary of this game, I think this is a great competitive venue we started 25 years ago. Coach Stallings and Coach Spurrier were here today and great to see them back. This is something I've participated in a few times, and other than a National Championship Game, there's nothing better. Just can't tell you how proud I am of our players.
Q. Coach and Reuben, I want to ask you each the same question. After Shaun went out of the game, Rashaan had to come in and be next man up. If you all could describe the job he did for you on defense. Rashaan Evans.
COACH SABAN: First of all, we've looked at Rashaan Evans as a starter on our team all year long. He's played a significant amount. He's always the first guy in if anything happens to Reuben or Shaun Dion. And Shaun Dion has a knee. He's probably going to be out for the year. He'll be missed, but we have a lot of confidence in Rashaan, and he did a good job for us today.
REUBEN FOSTER: He summed it up.
COACH SABAN: Reuben is really a man of few words.
REUBEN FOSTER: Yeah, yeah.
Q. What did you see from him today?
REUBEN FOSTER: I seen greatness in him, savage mentality. That's it.
Q. For both Coach and Reuben, when they scored on their opening possession and you were down 7-0, could you talk about the way the defense kind of took things over, and you had a big play on special teams that kind of just took control of the game.
COACH SABAN: You want to go first this time?
REUBEN FOSTER: It wasn't perfect, man. We had to persevere, overcome some hard times, but it came through. We overcame.
COACH SABAN: In both of their scoring drives, they did a lot of stuff in the opening script. I think everybody knows what the opening script is, a lot of formation stuff. They moved number 4 around, who is really a receiver, but they made him a back, and that created some mismatch situations.
But we had three third down situations, third and 8, 7, and 14, that they converted on the first drive. And the other drive that they scored on, they converted two or three first downs as well.
First drive of the second half, same thing happened -- a little confusion, had some matchup issues relative to things that we hadn't practiced. But when we got things adjusted on the sidelines, the players did a good job of adapting to it.
I think there were some crazy things that happened in the game, from the blocked punt to the three interceptions in the first half, to their fake field goal not working, a fake punt not working. So there was a lot of things that happened, but we left a little money on the table too because we missed a field goal and didn't always convert in the red zone.
Q. Coach, what does it say about the resourcefulness of your team in that things weren't going great offensively, but you get an interception for a touchdown, a blocked punt for a touchdown. Your guys seem to find different ways to get things done.
COACH SABAN: This group, we've scored more nonoffensive touchdowns this year, I think, than any team I've ever been associated with. I think it speaks to the playmaker type guys that we have, the good job the coaches do putting them in position. When you block a punt, it's always a schematic thing based on their protection, and the guys did a good job of executing it. Gore did a great job of hitting it. And Josh, the ball went right to him, and he ran it for a touchdown.
We had a chance to get another interception that we didn't get. Minkah is really good. When he gets them, we work on them, go down the numbers, man. They head there and everybody heads there to block, and that's something that's been effective for us. We needed it because we were struggling offensively, especially in the first quarter.
But once we started to control the line of scrimmage and be able to run the ball, I think it takes a little pressure off of Jalen, and he plays better, and we do better.
Q. Nick, if any of your staff were to get a different coaching job between now and the playoff, would you expect them to coach through the playoff, or would you want to make a change before then?
COACH SABAN: I think it depends on the circumstance and the situation, and I think those are things that people have to agree on relative to what their goals and aspirations are, the circumstance and situation that they're in, their commitment to our players and our team, and do we think it's going to affect our organization long term. So those things are always evaluated.
The job that I got when I was the defensive coordinator to the Cleveland Browns, I got early in December. We had four or five games left in the season. We were a really good team and made it to the playoffs. We won first round of the playoffs, lost in the second round. I stayed there the whole time, hired four or five guys, did the best job I could do for the players. That's the way I believe, but if somebody else didn't believe that, then that wouldn't be the right thing for them to do.
Q. Nick, they had a chance to cut it to ten, and you had a great goal line stand there. Then you take it 98 yards the other way and punch it in. How big was that sequence?
COACH SABAN: I think that was the turning point in the game because even -- when they scored right at the end of the half, that kind of gave them the momentum.
I felt like we were a little flat in the locker room at halftime. We came out and went three and out on offense. They drove the ball, and we had the great goal line stand, and that was a great goal line stand. Then we took the ball 98 yards. I think that was the turning point of the game psychologically for our team and for their team.
Q. What's the biggest thing for you guys as a team now that you have four weeks off before you're going to play next?
COACH SABAN: I think the thing that I told the players afterwards is that we play this game, we get a break. We probably won't practice until December 16th. They have finals next week. They need to focus on what they need to do to finish school correctly and do the best job they can academically.
But there's one thing to think about, even in the time when you're just working out trying to stay in shape until we go back and practice again. They created a situation for themselves where they have a chance to do something to create a legacy for this team. So that's something that they should think about, how important that is, what are they willing to do to do it. Because all the teams you play from here on out are really, really good. So that's just something to think about for now, but I think the players should enjoy this championship for 24 hours at least, focus on school.
When we get back to practicing, it will be like a one-game season for us.
Q. Nick, have you guys played your best game yet? If not, is that a reassuring feeling going into the playoff?
COACH SABAN: Well, I always think that we can improve. We certainly didn't play as well today, but I think there was a little confusion because of some of the things that they did that we hadn't practiced. Our guys usually do a really good job of whatever we prepare for, they do a really good job of executing on the field, and they're really good at adjusting to things during the game. But when we see things that are a little bit different, sometimes it creates a little confusion, and I think that was the issue today.
We didn't start the game very well offensively although we finished the game well. I think, if we can create balance offensively and be a little more efficient and effective to how we pass the ball relative to how we can run it, I think that would make us better. So there's a lot of things I think we can improve on. Red zone. I thought special teams was a little better today. That was something I was a little concerned about after the Auburn game. Ball security was not good in that game. It was very good today. We won the turnover battle by three. So we had the three interceptions, and we always say that we want every drive to end in a kick, and that's certainly what happened today.
Q. Nick, how important is it for you to have a conversation with Lane Kiffin about his job possibilities to get that settled as quickly as you can?
COACH SABAN: Well, we've had conversations about it. He wants to be a head coach. I want him to be a head coach. I want to help him to get a head coaching job. The rest of it, we have not discussed, and I don't think it's the right time. Maybe the right time will be sometime in the next couple weeks, but right now we're focusing on him trying to get a head coaching job.
Q. This is for Reuben. Talk a little bit about just the defensive performance overall. You guys obviously gave up just 16 in the first half and then shut them down completely. Talk about your dominance in that area.
REUBEN FOSTER: Man, it was a rough start at first, but we had to overcome it, show mental toughness, and really just dominate for real. Like we don't like that. We don't like giving up points. We don't like giving up first downs. We hate that. So we had to overcome that and step up.
COACH SABAN: We have open locker room today. I'm surprised you all are here. You have the opportunity to go talk to our players, some of whom we don't let you talk to. So I thought it would be just me and my family here.
COACH McELWAIN: First of all, I'm proud of this football team. I'm proud of our guys, what they've gone through this year, this season. You know what, they came and laid it on the line today.
Obviously, you're not going to beat anybody giving them the ball four times, especially a team like Nick has put together, which in my opinion, is the best team top to bottom that he's had since he's been there. That's a credit to him, his coaching staff, their commitment, their commitment to him, and what he's able to do.
We had a pretty good plan, I felt. We put some dents in them. Would have liked to have pounded that one in there. Realize maybe, take the field goal, get it to a two-score game. But at that point, I felt momentum-wise, we could bang one of them in there -- I don't know what they were at, 33 or something like that. I felt we could maybe get them puckered up a little bit.
I will tell you this. I didn't come here to be close. We came here to be champions of the SEC. That's what you do when you're at the University of Florida, and that's the expectation, and I understand that. I'm proud of those seniors that chose to come back. I thought what Jarrad Davis did today was fantastic. That speaks a lot about a guy who was willing to lay it all out there for his team and for his family.
Q. Coming in, you knew you had to take care of the football. What happened with the turnovers there in the first quarter? Bad reads? A bad decision?
COACH McELWAIN: I think the first one, you know, felt a little pressure and let it hang high over the middle late. That's the number one rule of playing football there, not a good deal.
We knew we had to get them off balance, and we tried to do that with some of the play action stuff. They've made some other teams turn the ball over, I think, this year, and I knew going in we had to take care of the ball. I talked about that, and we didn't.
Q. You had said this game was kind of a measuring stick for you guys. Where does that leave you guys in terms of what you need to do?
COACH McELWAIN: I'll tell you what I saw. Obviously, the depth was a huge issue, and where it really shows up, guys, you know. You've been around a long time. It's in special teams. Obviously, we got our tails kicked in that area. When you're thin like that, that's the nature of it.
When you're building a program, taking over a program, you run through some attrition. Your body count isn't always there. We've got to get that back up. I'm not saying those guys on those teams didn't try now. That's not what I'm getting at at all. They tried their tails off. Sometimes you go against players that, you know, are pretty good, right? That's the way it goes.
Again, my credit is to what Coach has built and the commitment that they've given him and the trust they've given him to keep it going.
Q. Jim, you mentioned this might be Nick's best team. What is it about this team that makes them a little bit better than some of the other great ones he's had?
COACH McELWAIN: I think -- I don't see a lot of weaknesses, even in the depth piece, you know. And the thing I see is they're built a little different. I think overall, just the overall team speed is different. There aren't a lot of teams that can run even with us. We've got fast guys. And they've really accumulated a lot of speed at some spots where they were always big.
But I think that that's the one thing I see, and obviously the element of what they've done with that quarterback.
Q. Coach, what was the feeling on the sideline after that first drive that you guys took it right down the field and --
COACH McELWAIN: Defensively, what did they have, six plays, zero yards, or something there, on a couple of series. Their guys -- but trying to -- you can't -- you know, when that happens, when you shoot yourself with the turnovers, and they're getting cheap points, which got them into the game. But with that being said, our guys came here to win, and I think it showed.
Q. Moving forward, how imperative is it to -- I mean, Appleby and Del Rio were, I guess, sort of stop gap quarterbacks -- to develop a quarterback?
COACH McELWAIN: Yeah, that's something we've got to do. We've got to make sure that happens sooner or later, and that's my responsibility, and it will get done.
Q. Jim, going off of that, this month for the Bowl game that you guys are going to be in is going to give you an opportunity to potentially get one of the freshmen ready. Is that something that you would consider, or is it too late to burn a redshirt this late in the season?
COACH McELWAIN: I don't -- I mean, I haven't really -- you know, that's one of those deals I think we have to sit down with them and their parents and handlers and all that. I'm not sure it's fair, but at the same time, I know they want to play. So we'll see.
Q. And then whether it's one of those guys or even some of the younger players, you talk about developing depth and trying to build for the future. How do you weigh that, getting ready for this Bowl game, where you want to play the guys that give you the best chance of winning but also kind of set yourself up for the future and get some young guys?
COACH McELWAIN: One thing I do know, we've got to go to win this Bowl game wherever we do end up. We're going to put a plan together and get the players out there to go play that and go win a game.
Q. Just how critical is the ball game to come out and put out a good performance in that game?
COACH McELWAIN: I think it's good. Obviously, we open up with a big opponent next year in Dallas. So the Bowl game itself, we've got to go play hard and put a plan together and win. The guys have got to go compete, not be afraid.
And I was really disappointed, obviously, in the effort last year, but this is a different team. We've got some guys that are in it for a lot more than just themselves.
Q. And you mentioned -- I mean, you guys were down, I think, 17-9 after the Reese play, which was a pretty spectacular play, but they still hadn't even had a first down. Does that kind of show you how they can beat you in so many ways?
COACH McELWAIN: Yeah, it goes back -- and credit them for the amount of guys that they've recruited and the bodies they've recruited and the quality they've recruited. They keep -- they never slow down in anything they do as an organization. They're always pushing for what the next thing is, and when they finish one thing, it's on to another that's already been planned. It's the same way they do in recruiting. It's the whole organization itself believing, aligned, and they trust Coach, and they've given him -- he's done a great job with it.
Like I said, I do, I think this is the best 85 that they've probably traveled with to the SEC Championship game. I mean, that's a real ball squad.
Q. Obviously, it was a disappointing day, but what's the biggest positive you can take into a Bowl game and into spring practices next year?
COACH McELWAIN: Well, there's a lot of positives when you look back at the expectations that were there that weren't much for this team, right? As I told them, they've just got to close out the noise from the outside and bond together, and let's just go win and not worry about anybody else.
Q. Commitment to the program has been a big theme this week for you. Are there any specific steps you'd like to see taken in your own program to get you to the next level?
COACH McELWAIN: You know, I'm just happy to be here and coach my tail off with the guys we've got. It is what it is. I mean, you guys have been there. You see it. I'm proud of this football team because I know what they've been through, and they're a good group of guys that play their tails off for the Gators, and I'm proud of them.
