Postgame Quotes vs. Wisconsin (11-5-16)
Ryan Field
November 5, 2016
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald
Opening Statement
“We played right into Wisconsin’s hands and they’re a very good football team. We knew how critical third down was going to be, and for us to be 5-18 and for them to be almost at fifty percent tells the difference in the game. They had a lot of time of possession as they always do. Similar to Wisconsin, when you play Iowa, teams that spend time in the huddle, you have to win on third down. It’s critically important and we failed at that today.
We still had a chance going into the fourth quarter against the number eight ranked team in the country, and then we [committed] self-inflicted wounds – critical error on the penalty and a decision that I think Clayton would love to have back, to take the sack and play field position. I think it shows how hard he’s trying to play to help us win, but sometimes you have to take the loss and live to fight another day. It’s the maturation of a young player and it’s not that one play, it was a team. We didn’t cover one punt well; their punter – maybe he came out early and worked his wedge – I’ve never seen a ball bounce the way it did for that young man, so congratulations to him. We had our opportunities, didn’t get it done, and it’s disappointing, but we have three big ones ahead of us to find a way to get into the postseason.”
On passing the ball often…
“I thought we had some good matchups. We came out with a solid plan to start and once we tried to establish the run game, it looked like we weren’t getting to the second level and their linebackers very often. Those guys had a ton of tackles.”
On the success of the touchdown drive before halftime…
“It looked like we executed from my vantage point. We threw it and caught it well. We were able to pop a long run and shorten the field. I thought Clayton made a hell of a throw to Austin Carr. We knew there were going to be small windows and he stepped up and made a great throw. We’re trying to do that every series but it just didn’t work.”
On Brett Walsh’s first career start in place of Jaylen Prater…
“I think Brett in his first start was competitive and fit some plays really well. I think there were some plays that he’ll learn from and grow. We have 11 guys down for the year and eight of them were starters at some point. You have guys like Jaylen that aren’t out for the year and quite a few guys have had to step up. Brett is one of those guys and I’m proud of him. A couple weeks ago at Iowa, how quickly we forget that he leaves the field on the cart. He’s out there starting a game about a month later. I think about what he’s been through and I’m really proud of him.
Northwestern Player Quotes
Clayton Thorson
On the touchdown drive before halftime…
“I thought we executed very well in the front and in the passing game and our receivers did a great job of getting open. We were just playing fast and we have seen that a few different times this year. When we play fast and we really play up to tempo and throw it all over the field, we can go down there pretty quick. In that drive, we did that and showed that we can do that a lot, so we have to continue to do that more consistently throughout the game.”
Austin Carr
On responding to the two losses moving forward…
“I think we are tired of being close. We want to push through what feels like his limit. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot against these really good teams. We have to give Wisconsin credit. They are one of the hardest working teams in the Big Ten, but when we face ourselves, we can’t beat two teams in the same day, especially against such a good team like Wisconsin. It felt like we either sputtered or slipped or the ball didn’t bounce our way and when you combine all those, it’s just tough. But I think we are going to respond. Like the beginning of the year when we didn’t have the start that we wanted, we responded.”
Anthony Walker
On wearing Matthew Harris’ No. 11 jersey…
“Andrew Scanlan actually came up with the idea and he said why not honor Matt by wearing his number and I decided to wear it for him. Number 11 means so much to him so why not honor him and his family that way. He can’t play anymore, but he is still our brother on the field.”
Kyle Queiro
On forcing turnovers…
“This week, we should have been able to make more plays. It was crucial for us to be able to do so. I don’t think all season we’ve punched the ball out. The only fumbles we create are from the defensive line and that’s point been a point of emphasis all season. It’s another one of those factors we have to focus on for the rest of the season.”
Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Opening Statement...
“The coaches and players all through the week gave us a chance today, and I love the way the guys competed and played together and found a way to get a victory. I thought there were some really good things that we did. I thought that we were fairly consistent running the football, and I know that they had the drive at the end of the first half but I thought we did a lot of good things defensively against them. We thought this was a really good Northwestern team.
“It takes everyone to win, and I appreciate their efforts, and obviously there’s some things we need to improve. We’ve got to do a better job, and it starts with me in how we finish the game. I didn’t like the way we closed it out there. But, you know what, it’s hard to win and I’m really thankful for what they did and I love seeing how they play together, even when there’s adversity or things are going a little bit not their way.”
On the Badgers defense...
“This defense has meant a ton to this team, and I think obviously they’ve been giving us chances to win when we’re not putting up a lot of points. I think that they also have an energy about them and a confidence that permeates through the whole team. It takes a team to win, and I think our guys know that. Certainly our defense gives us a chance when maybe we’re not as clean or as productive as we’d like to be on offense.”
On the team’s feelings after the first half...
“No, [the first half] didn’t go how anybody would want it to but you know, that’s the game. How you handle the swings of momentum I think is important… The things that we can control, we address them, and you know we do that on the sideline. I thought the coaches have done a really nice job of not losing their minds and just identifying the things that we can work on and control and adjust to. And as for the kids, I think they do have confidence. So it happened, but it didn’t shake them by any means.”
