Football vs. Tennessee Postgame Quotes
10/21/2017 6:59:00 PM | Football
Alabama Quotes
Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening statement:
"I was really pleased with the way our team came out and played in the second half. I thought we were more physical, we had better energy, and we played faster on offense. Defense did a pretty good job all day, especially on third down getting off field so they couldn't sustain drives. We have a lot of respect for their running back and their running game, and we did a pretty good job, except for a couple draws in long-yardage situations, of stopping the run. This is a big game for us and a big game for a lot of our people. It's a traditional game that means a lot to a lot of folks that we have a tremendous amount of respect for. I'm excited, pleased, and happy that we were able to win this game, and I'm really pleased with the way we played in the second half. We were a little sluggish in the first half. I thought we were a little sluggish in practice this week, which carried over, but I'm really pleased with the way the guys responded in the second half. We got to play quite a few players, which is always good, too. (We got those players) valuable experience out there and even had the opportunity to bounce back after throwing an interception that they ran back for a touchdown. We stuck with (Tua Tagovailoa) so he could see that we had confidence in him, and he continued to play well. (Tua) moved the team well and did a nice job.
"All in all, this was a great team victory. We had a lot of guys contribute out there, even on special teams, even though we made an error on special teams today which could've given them a score. (We had) a great goal-line stand in order to keep it out of the end zone. There were lots of positive things to build on going into the bye week. Obviously it helps to get some of our guys that play a lot a little extra time to recover. We certainly have a lot things that we can improve on. We'll look at all the opponents that we have, especially our SEC opponents, and see if there's things we need to try to work on for them during this bye week, and we will get more of our younger players to hopefully improve to where they have a better chance to succeed when football starts up again (in two weeks)."
On Tua Tagovailoa's response to his interception:
"He played great, and I know he was fine (after that). You probably don't know Tua very well, but he apologizes, says 'thank you', and apologizes for everything; he was apologizing for that. If you asked Tua how he is doing, he would say 'thanks for asking', so sometimes I say that to him now. He says, 'How's it going coach?', and I say 'Good man, thanks for asking'. He has made me more polite. But he felt bad, any player would. I think he got hit right as he was throwing the ball. I couldn't tell whether it was a good decision or not. I think the most important thing is that he went right back into the game and played well, he made plays. Even though he felt bad about what he did, it didn't affect his confidence, and I don't think it affected the players' confidence in him."
On going for the touchdown on fourth down:
"When the ball is inside the one-yard line, I don't know if there has ever been a time where we didn't go for it. Maybe, if we had to win the game, we wouldn't go for it, and one day we will get stopped. I think that if you have a good defense – even if you don't make it – if you can keep them down there, you will get fairly good field position. Chances of being able to get a field goal, which is what you're willing to settle for, are pretty good if you can stop them. I just felt like from a momentum standpoint it is always a good thing to score a touchdown."
#3 Calvin Ridley, WR
On the Tennessee rivalry:
"There is a lot of tradition around here with this game right here today. We just have to follow up on this win and continue to play how we can at a high-level for all these great fans. This game is really important to them, and it means a lot to get them a win."
On beating Tennessee:
"It feels good to get a great win against a really good Tennessee team. We practice real hard every week so that we can come out there and dominate the game like we did today."
#32 Rashaan Evans, LB
On the overturned touchdown:
"Basically what we wanted to do was stop any type of play that they were going to run. We knew that they were going to come at us with a big play to try and score. Based on what we studied all week, we knew as a defense that they were going to spread out and do something crazy. I knew that they were going for the score because they needed to get on the board. We ended up getting the interception and after that the rest was history. I'm really proud of the way we answered with them being so close to score. It was a great job by all of us on the defense to keep them out of the end zone there."
On the Tennessee rivalry:
"It is probably one of my fondest memories that I've been a part of during my time at Alabama. Just to be able to have your team get the win and be able to celebrate in a great rivalry game means a lot to me as a senior. This is a great rivalry game that my teammates and our fans will remember for the rest of their lives. That is the reason why this game against Tennessee is so exciting to me."
Tennessee Quotes
Head Coach Butch Jones
On the apparent gap between the two programs:
"First of all, when you play a team like Alabama, every mistake you make is magnified. I think that was evidenced in the first half. I want to say there was six or seven minutes to go in the first quarter and it was 7-0. We're off the field twice, and we get a couple of penalties and extend drives and it can change on you in a hurry. The big thing is when you make a mistake it's magnified, and I thought we came out and did some good things. But again, we can't make mistakes and extend drives for them. Obviously, offensively, you have to put drives together. You know, there's a couple of times we were trying to play the field position game, and I thought we were able to do that. But again, coming out, situational football. Even though, we were able to get off the field, you've got to force a three-and-out. That changes the field position. We weren't able to do that. I want to say we got the ball somewhere around the 30-yard line, and again, if we force a three-and-out we probably have the ball at midfield field or the plus-45. Those are all things, when you play a good team like that, it just, you know, it accumulates."
On the offensive struggles:
"Well, first of all, they've been doing that to everyone. They're a very, very talented defense and a very talented defensive front and as good as we've seen in the back-end. But that's no excuse. We have to execute. The thing that's just, it's absolutely tearing me up, is you know, we have second-and-goal on the one and we jump offsides. Now it's second-and-goal on the six when it's really second-and-inches. Those are things that's winning football, that's discipline. We're not executing in those situations. The ability to beat man coverage and protect the quarterback. I thought they controlled the line-of-scrimmage all day."
On the hardest part of the past month:
"It's all about our players, you know, about our kids. They're working very, very hard. I hurt for them because they invest so much in it. Like I told them, right now our leadership's being challenged, our maturity's being challenged. But we have to continue to stay together and work. How you feel in that locker room right now, you have to apply it to during the week, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. All that in terms of sacrificing and committing. Taking pride in your preparation. But I hurt for the players because we expect to win. That's why you play the game."
#7 Rashaan Gaulden, DB
On his gesture:
"First off, I want to make an apology to the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama for my gesture after the pick six by Daniel Bituli. That remark that I showed was very out of character. That's not how my parents raised me. That's not how a leader of the team should show their emotions on the field. I sincerely apologize to the student section of Alabama for disrespecting them."
On his defense's performance:
"It does come down to being on the field a lot … Alabama did really well with the time of possession. Being on the field a lot builds on you can fatigue you a little bit."
#39 Kendal Vickers, DL
On the physicality of playing Alabama:
"The games are always physical. You expect that going into games like this. You just have to prepare your mind and your body for 60 minutes. They are a great team and they showed it today so hats off to them."
On giving up two touchdowns late in the 2nd quarter:
"You have got to keep playing. They put up all those points, 21 in the first half, and so we went in and felt like we could get back in the game. We felt like everybody was ready to get back out there after halftime, but it just didn't happen."
