Football vs. Mercer Postgame Quotes
11/18/2017 2:56:00 PM | Football
Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening statement:
"There were two things we wanted to try to accomplish today and I was pleased with the way we did both of them. I wanted our players to play with a standard to try to create momentum as we move forward in the season here. Everyone understands the challenges we have ahead of us and the importance of all those games. The second thing is we really wanted to do a good job for the last game with the seniors that played here today. We kept the ball on offense for seven minutes at the end so we got a couple of defensive players in. I think every senior, every senior walk-on; we dressed every player that was eligible for this game and tried to get every senior in the game and I think we accomplished that. It will be a best memory for them.
"I am really proud of the way we played. Obviously, there are things we can do better. We got the chance to play a lot of players out there today and I think that experience is very helpful to their development and growth and to the depth on our team. I do not think anybody got injured today that is of significance. Andy (Pappanastos) did not kick because he has a little bit of a pull and we felt we did not want to push it. I think he could have kicked today but it would have pushed the envelope. It was bothering him last week at Mississippi State so we shut him down for a while and the doctor felt it would be better if he did not have to kick so we decided to do that."
On offense during first five touchdowns:
"We were good, I think we did a great job. We came out and ran the ball and we were pretty effective with that. We had a couple play-action passes and Jalen (Hurts) was pretty efficient with what he did, 7-for-7; Calvin (Ridley) made a couple big plays, it's great to see him continue to move up. Obviously, Julio (Jones) was a great player here and somebody we have a tremendous amount of respect for in terms of the culture of toughness that he left here. (The standard he set for the) receiving corps in the way he played here; for Calvin to move into that arena is pretty special, so I'm glad he had a really good day today. We executed well, their guys played hard. I have a lot of compassion for guys who play on those teams, and it's a great opportunity for them to come play in this kind of arena. I'm glad our players played to a standard, and I thought we were very efficient in our first line on the drives early. We were inefficient in the next one, and we fumbled to ball for an incompletion, so that has to get better."
On seniors playing their last game:
"This senior class has been phenomenal. I think that's their 51st win, which probably ties some kind of record somewhere? In terms of what they have been able to accomplish while they've been here – they've won three SEC championships and have been a part of national championship team. I think the players that play here develop a real affinity for the tradition and how special it is to be a part of the program here at The University of Alabama. It's something for them to know that, for two or three of the guys, they were walking out for the second half and saying 'this is the last time I'm going to walk down this tunnel with you'. I'm glad to see them do well. They played well today, and I think the other guys played well for (Mercer) and that was a big motivator. It's almost the old thank you I-O-U when you thank somebody for something and you think you owe them. We thank the seniors for their service, but we also owe them for all that they've done, and I want to help them with future as much as I can."
#6 Hootie Jones, DB
On being his last home game and the feelings it gave him:
"It's was a great feeling playing here one last time. I had four years that were great to me at The University of Alabama. The fans were great to me, the school was great to me. It was a great time wearing the 'A' while playing in Bryant-Denny. "
On last week's preparation:
"Everybody knows the final home game is a big game for us and for our fans, and the entire team came to practice focused knowing that this game was one of the most important for our season."
#17 Cam Sims, WR
On the feelings he had in his last home game:
"It was really emotional for me today. This being my last game, it didn't really hit me until we ran out to go get our family for the senior ceremonies. It didn't hit me until then, and I almost shed a tear, but I knew I couldn't shed a tear before the game. It meant a lot to my mom and my family, and I really appreciate my four years at Alabama playing for Coach Saban."
On the week ahead leading up to Auburn:
"It's going to be a tough week for us mentally and physically. We just have to go out to practice, starting Monday, and give everything we have to get ready to execute against a really good Auburn team."
Mercer Head Coach Bobby Lamb
Opening Statement
"Obviously it was not the result we wanted, but when you're playing the No. 1 team in the country and you don't execute the way you need to execute on offense and defense, you get exposed. We were exposed today early. Alabama is very powerful on offense and they have a great offensive line, a great system, and we couldn't seem to slow them down.
"I thought we moved the ball well enough on offense in the first half; however, we'd get across the 50 and we'd stall a little bit. The three turnovers really hurt. I thought we started playing a little bit better in the second quarter on defense, but there is a reason that Alabama is Alabama. They have a very good football team. I guess the only stat we won today was time of possession, and that's because they were scoring so doggone quick. You want to say it was a great experience for our football team, a great experience for our seniors, and one that we'll learn from and take into next year as we continue to build this program."
On the biggest difference between their game vs. Auburn earlier this season and this one:
"Well, if you look at the Auburn game early, I don't really think Auburn had found themselves yet. They were kind of spinning. They didn't know which way they were going. They racked up 500 yards on us, but we got five turnovers. We were able to move the ball a little bit better. This team here [Alabama] is really good in all phases of the game and you add their punter who can punt it to the moon and back, it's a very difficult football team."
On replacing QB Kaelan Riley with Tanner Brumby:
"Well, you're getting your brains beat out. Kaelan [Ridley] was struggling a little bit. Tanner [Brumby] is going through practice, he gets every other rep. This week he has gotten a lot of practice reps, so we decided to go with him and let him take a shot at it. It's nothing more than we were getting beat. We needed to see if he could make some plays for us."
#78 Thomas Marchman, OL
On Alabama's defensive line:
"They're the best. They're big and fast and strong; I haven't seen anything like that since Auburn. Playing against those guys, you're probably not going to get a lot of drive – you got to use angles and your body and use the double team well."
On the differences between playing Alabama and Auburn:
"They're pretty similar but with the Auburn game, we were in the game until halfway through the fourth quarter – we were down by seven with seven to ten minutes to go. The pressure was building, whereas today we fell behind early and were crawling back trying to get points on the board. As far as the crowd goes and the level of play, I thought they were pretty similar."
#2 Lee Bennett, LB
Thoughts on Alabama's offense:
"We knew going in their offense wasn't that complicated, they just stay consistent throughout the game and that's what separates them (from other teams). They have speed, size, strength and they capitalized on that and used it to their advantage. You have to tip your hat to them – they came out and balled in the first quarter and it got out of hand after that."
On the differences between Alabama and Auburn:
"Auburn is more of a spread type offense – trying to get outside and use their speed, whereas Alabama will try to use their strength and power it down your throat and that's what they did today."
