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Syracuse Student-Athlete Quote
Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes
Syracuse v. Connecticut
November 20, 2010
Carrier Dome
Nathanial Hackett, Assistant Coach-Quarterbacks/Passing Game
On not getting in the end zone today:
“It was horrible, and it unfortunately started with the first play. We thought we had (Van) Chew open, and he didn’t get the chance. It went out of bounds, and he didn’t have the chance to go get it. It was kind of the roller coaster of the whole day—something would look really good and we’d get a big gain and then we’d get stuffed for a penalty, and it has kind of been the story lately, so it’s frustrating.”
On things Connecticut was doing defensively:
“That’s what almost makes it more frustrating. The one thing we thought they were going to do was play a little more ‘man’ on third down. It looked like we had ourselves doing pretty well on third down situations except for the sacks we started getting at the end. But there were a lot of good things we thought we had and we just didn’t convert.”
On the poor execution of the offense:
“When you’re calling plays and you’re looking for that good play, and then you see it, it opens up how you talk about it with all the guys, and then, for whatever reason, it doesn’t convert you start questioning a lot of things. Was it the right call? Who was running it? Was it the right time? You look back at a lot of things. Like I said, there were some plays that were there that we wish we could have made and we just didn’t. We knew what we were going to get and it just didn’t happen, and it was obvious throughout the game.”
Van Chew, Junior, Wide Receiver
On running routes when Ryan Nassib has little time to look for receivers:
“It is kind of frustrating having bad field positioning, but we had a lot of chances to make a lot of plays and we just didn’t execute.”
On the sense in the huddle in the second half:
“We just tried to make some plays and tried to move the ball and just tried to get the first down. Once we got the first down. that was like a little hurdle. But we just couldn’t.”
On what Connecticut shut down in the run game that Syracuse was trying to exploit:
“They kind of slowed up our run game. Then on third down they brought a lot of pressure.”
On Ryan Nassib looking for certain routes when under pressure:
“Yeah, and also he looks for the quick routes if he can open the run.”
On the drifting hopes of the BIG EAST title:
“Today was a lack of execution, but we have to keep our heads up into next week and get a win.”
Justin Pugh, Sophomore, Guard
On how frustrating the loss was:
“Offensively, today was really frustrating for us because I feel like we didn’t hold up our end of the bargain. Our defense is out there playing their butts off. We just didn’t do enough to come out with a win. It’s just disappointing in that aspect. I think I let my teammates down personally and it’s just not how we should be playing football.”
On yelling at Connecticut players, how much emotion was at the end of the first half:
“It’s an emotional game and I kind of just got caught up in it. They were kind of talking and I just wanted to make sure that knew that we were coming back. I guess they can talk now because we didn’t really come out and do much to prove them otherwise. It’s just frustrating.”
On third down pressure from Connecticut:
“We kind of knew people were going to pressure us just because they had been showing they were going to pressure. It’s just everyone doing their thing. Dropped passes, missed blocks, missed hot reads, all these little things just adding up. We’ve got to get better and we will be better. It’s going to start on Monday.”
On whether there was a moment that they realized it wasn’t their day:
“You never want to admit that it’s not our day. Every time we go out there we are thinking we are going to score. Our defense played great, they’ve been playing great all season. We’ve just got to start holding up our end and doing what we need to do.”
On what contributed to lack of execution:
“I just take that as built up frustration and people not executing. When it comes down to it, everyone’s got to do their job. Everyone’s trying to make a big play, but when it comes down to it, I’ve got to do my job, the offensive line’s got to do their job, the quarterback’s got to do his job, and so on down the line. When that doesn’t happen then you see everything start building up and you see a bad deal.”
On when the frustration boiled over:
“Probably in the second half. We’d get a couple of good plays going and then a penalty or we’d get a dropped pass, or we’d let up a sack. Probably that first drive we had two 10-yard runs and then they get called back and we got put behind the sticks. It’s stuff we can’t be doing and we know that so we just have to get better this week and we’re looking forward to Boston College.”
On how down the team is after the loss:
“You can never get too down or get too high so we just try to stay focused and do our job. You put up six points, you put up six points. We just have to put this week behind us and just build off that.”
Ryan Nassib, Junior, Quarterback
On what is going on with the offense:
“It was just tough, we were playing in some situations that we needed to make plays and we just weren’t making plays when we needed to. I give credit to UConn, they came out and came after us today. We’ve just got to play better, especially on my part. We’ve got to just start clicking again.”
On how the team gets better and what was the contributing factor to the lack of execution:
“The lack of execution is really just focus. We had some new guys playing some different positions and trying to do some different things. It’s really just a lack of focus from the offense as a whole. It’s really just the little things and getting those little things right to start moving. They were exposed today and they turned out costly.”
On how devastating his fumble was:
“It was very devastating. It was a big mistake on my part and it really was the turning point of our game. I was just trying to make a play but when you’re in that situation a smart quarterback tries to hold on to the ball and tries not to do too much. It was a good learning experience for me.”
On whether pressure and lack of time was a factor in poor play:
“That’s just how it is. Every quarterback sees pressure and feels pressure. I’ve just got to start using my legs more and start making more plays at my position.”
On how much blame was his:
“I think a good amount. I think if you see an offense that’s not doing very well then it’s a direct reflection on how the quarterback is playing. Tonight I didn’t really play very well and you could see it in the whole offense.”
On how important a loss is in the last conference game of the season:
“We lost a game and it was a tough one, but we still learn from it. That’s the funny thing about this game. You’ve got to keep playing and keep going. We’ve got one more game and we have to send our seniors off right and it is what it is.”
On how serious (receiver) Van Chew and (receiver) Alec Lemon’s injuries are and how badly they affected the team:
“They’re definitely banged up; they’ve taken a lot of beatings during this year. They’re doing the best they can and they play as hard as they can for me. I can’t ask of anything more of them and I’ve just thought all year, make sure I get them in more manageable situations.”
Antwon Bailey, Junior, Running Back
On the loss:
“They all hurt equally. We were pushing towards a goal, one of our goals, and it can’t be accomplished now. We lost at home in front of the home fans. They all hurt equally.”
On playing time:
“That is something I can’t control, it’s out of my hands. When I get my hands on the ball I do what I can.”
On not being emotionally drained:
“We were not emotionally drained at all, we were ready to play this game. We had a great game plan but like (Coach Marrone) said, we didn’t come out and execute.”
On a possible lack of focus:
“Not at all, I do not think focus is the problem at all. We had a great practice all week, we just didn’t come out and do our jobs.”
On the importance of the Boston College game:
“It’s very important. It’s the senior last opportunity to play in the Dome. And there is a lot of time off before the bowl game so I think this game is very important to us.”
Doug Hogue, Senior, Linebacker
On the loss:
“It’s very frustrating. We missed a lot of opportunities out there, even for me, myself. I had a couple plays I possibly could have made and changed the flow of the game. We didn’t capitalize on certain opportunities.”
On what the missed opportunities were:
“Mistakes like missed tackles, an interception I feel like I possibly could have had, things like that.”
On being flat:
“I do not think we were flat at all. I feel like we came out there to play and we didn’t let up. We just didn’t capitalize.”
Delone Carter, Senior, Running Back
On missed opportunities:
“We definitely had chances and we’re definitely repeat offenders of not executing what we need to. It’s something we need to take and change as on offense.”
On struggling while playing at home:
“I can’t think of anything. I feel like we need to take a stand and look to each other.”
Andrew Lewis, Senior Defensive Tackle
On the loss:
“For the seniors it was frustrating because it was out last home BIG EAST game and our last BIG EAST game period. It was just frustrating that we couldn’t get a win.”
On whether the defense did enough to secure the win:
“Obviously we didn’t do enough because they scored 23 points. Anytime we go out there the defense’s objective is to prevent the other team from scoring points and it’s not what we did today.”
On the last game at the Dome:
“You always want to go out with a win. I am sure that is on every seniors mind and the whole teams mind, you want to go out with a win. We will look at the films for BC and come out with a good game plan.”
