Louisville Student-Athlete Quotes
Syracuse Football
Syracuse vs. Louisville
November 10, 2012
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Teddy Bridgewater, Sophomore Quarterback
On Syracuse’s execution and play style:
“It was nothing that we hadn’t seen all week. We missed Senorise (Perry) today, We missed him a lot in the running, but we have other guys that could step up also. It was just a lack of execution today.”
On Syracuse’s defense:
“It was nothing that we hadn’t prepared for. They played loaded coverages. They played the deep ball, but we still had guys who were able to make plays underneath.”
On end to perfect record:
“We have to move on from this game. Tomorrow when we come back to work, it’s all about UConn and Rutgers now on. There was no pressure at all [coming in undefeated], we just got out played today.”
On playing from behind:
“The game plan changed a lot. We had to go into more passing sets and things like that, but there was nothing we weren’t ready for. The receivers were blanketed a lot today. I guess they [Syracuse] were prepared to stop the pass and we have some of the best receivers, but those guys played loaded coverage.”
Preston Brown, Junior Linebacker
On his individual contribution:
“A lot of their plays were downhill and something I could have stopped, so I have to work downhill to get down there faster. There were some plays today I could have made that I left out there.”
On what was lacking:
“I’m not sure there was anything lacking today, we just never got things going. Third downs – we couldn’t get off the field and things like that. There were little things that led to big plays, big pass plays. We have to cut that down.”
On feeling and playing like a dominant 9-0 team:
“I don’t know if we were ever dominant, we just found ways to win and we didn’t get that done today.”
On muffed punt and Syracuse recovery:
“We practice sudden change all the time. We had to step up and at least hold them [Syracuse] to a field goal, but we gave up way too many touchdowns today, which led to the big points.”
Mario Benvides, Redshirt Senior Center
On not playing like a 9-0 team:
“I think there’s obviously a lot of things that need to be corrected, things that we’ve been doing wrong the whole season. But I think with any football team, you’re not perfect in any area and the good teams find ways to win. In areas where you may lack discipline and things like that, good football teams are extraordinary or better in other areas and today we weren’t able to do those things that we’ve normally done. I give all the credit in the world to Syracuse. They had us planned up and they played hard. There’s obviously things that need to be corrected and we’ve known that and were working towards that and when you have a team that’s maybe not used to having success like this, I think sometimes you go through moments like this.”
On a setback like today’s loss:
“I think when you’re winning every game and your undefeated, each game gets bigger and bigger regardless of who your playing and because you get closer to having that undefeated season. Being undefeated was never our main goal – our main goal is to win the BIG EAST and we can still do that if we work out. I think for a moment there, you lose a little bit and your heart drops and it’s tough. We’ve been playing football for a long time. These are the worst types of experiences we can have, but I don’t think the air has come out of the balloon. I think guys are hungry. I think we had our moment in the locker room, guys were upset, but as far as I’m concerned everybody is ready to get back on the field and do what we have to do in a couple of weeks.”
On postgame reactions:
“Upset – we have a really close team. That’s one thing that I’ll stand by. Nobody was pointing the finger. As a senior you make sure things like that don’t happen and we don’t have guys that are immature who would do something irrational. You have guys saying ‘That’s on us,’ and other guys saying ‘No, it’s on everybody,’ and I don’t think anybody pointed any fingers. I think everybody was willing to take the blame themselves and it just shows you what kind of guys we have on this team.”
On moving forward after today’s game:
“I think we’ll bounce back fine. We don’t have guys that hang their heads. If anybody’s experienced adversity it’s me, it’s the seniors that I’m here with. I’ve seen a 4-8 season, I’ve seen 7-6, 6-6 and a 9-1, so we’re still going to work towards our goal and that’s winning the BIG EAST. You just have to put your head down and keep pushing forward. I don’t think that the younger guys look at it any differently; they were here last season, the year before. We’ve been in the position that some of the teams we’re playing have been in, so we understand what it feels like and we don’t ever want to go back to that so I just think guys are eager to get back to work.”
Syracuse vs. Louisville
November 10, 2012
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Teddy Bridgewater, Sophomore Quarterback
On Syracuse’s execution and play style:
“It was nothing that we hadn’t seen all week. We missed Senorise (Perry) today, We missed him a lot in the running, but we have other guys that could step up also. It was just a lack of execution today.”
On Syracuse’s defense:
“It was nothing that we hadn’t prepared for. They played loaded coverages. They played the deep ball, but we still had guys who were able to make plays underneath.”
On end to perfect record:
“We have to move on from this game. Tomorrow when we come back to work, it’s all about UConn and Rutgers now on. There was no pressure at all [coming in undefeated], we just got out played today.”
On playing from behind:
“The game plan changed a lot. We had to go into more passing sets and things like that, but there was nothing we weren’t ready for. The receivers were blanketed a lot today. I guess they [Syracuse] were prepared to stop the pass and we have some of the best receivers, but those guys played loaded coverage.”
Preston Brown, Junior Linebacker
On his individual contribution:
“A lot of their plays were downhill and something I could have stopped, so I have to work downhill to get down there faster. There were some plays today I could have made that I left out there.”
On what was lacking:
“I’m not sure there was anything lacking today, we just never got things going. Third downs – we couldn’t get off the field and things like that. There were little things that led to big plays, big pass plays. We have to cut that down.”
On feeling and playing like a dominant 9-0 team:
“I don’t know if we were ever dominant, we just found ways to win and we didn’t get that done today.”
On muffed punt and Syracuse recovery:
“We practice sudden change all the time. We had to step up and at least hold them [Syracuse] to a field goal, but we gave up way too many touchdowns today, which led to the big points.”
Mario Benvides, Redshirt Senior Center
On not playing like a 9-0 team:
“I think there’s obviously a lot of things that need to be corrected, things that we’ve been doing wrong the whole season. But I think with any football team, you’re not perfect in any area and the good teams find ways to win. In areas where you may lack discipline and things like that, good football teams are extraordinary or better in other areas and today we weren’t able to do those things that we’ve normally done. I give all the credit in the world to Syracuse. They had us planned up and they played hard. There’s obviously things that need to be corrected and we’ve known that and were working towards that and when you have a team that’s maybe not used to having success like this, I think sometimes you go through moments like this.”
On a setback like today’s loss:
“I think when you’re winning every game and your undefeated, each game gets bigger and bigger regardless of who your playing and because you get closer to having that undefeated season. Being undefeated was never our main goal – our main goal is to win the BIG EAST and we can still do that if we work out. I think for a moment there, you lose a little bit and your heart drops and it’s tough. We’ve been playing football for a long time. These are the worst types of experiences we can have, but I don’t think the air has come out of the balloon. I think guys are hungry. I think we had our moment in the locker room, guys were upset, but as far as I’m concerned everybody is ready to get back on the field and do what we have to do in a couple of weeks.”
On postgame reactions:
“Upset – we have a really close team. That’s one thing that I’ll stand by. Nobody was pointing the finger. As a senior you make sure things like that don’t happen and we don’t have guys that are immature who would do something irrational. You have guys saying ‘That’s on us,’ and other guys saying ‘No, it’s on everybody,’ and I don’t think anybody pointed any fingers. I think everybody was willing to take the blame themselves and it just shows you what kind of guys we have on this team.”
On moving forward after today’s game:
“I think we’ll bounce back fine. We don’t have guys that hang their heads. If anybody’s experienced adversity it’s me, it’s the seniors that I’m here with. I’ve seen a 4-8 season, I’ve seen 7-6, 6-6 and a 9-1, so we’re still going to work towards our goal and that’s winning the BIG EAST. You just have to put your head down and keep pushing forward. I don’t think that the younger guys look at it any differently; they were here last season, the year before. We’ve been in the position that some of the teams we’re playing have been in, so we understand what it feels like and we don’t ever want to go back to that so I just think guys are eager to get back to work.”
