Q: What did you learn about yourself and your team last Saturday?
A: I don’t think it’s anything I’ve learned from this game. Our team has a whole bunch of heart, a whole bunch of players that care about the game, care about each other, care about the coaching staff and care about the program, care about the fans. And it’s just a big combination of all of those. We never gave up, that’s the main thing. We had a bunch of fight in us, and that’s what really drove us on that last drive, and we came out with a win.
Q: Can you single out one thing that’s really key for you to take off this win over Tennessee?
A: That’s just keeping the confidence with the players around me. I think if something doesn’t go my way, they look at me so I can’t get too much down on myself, down on other people. Little things like that I think are really what’s going to drive our team and keep our confidence up moving throughout this season. I think it’s going to be a big thing for us.
Q: How much did spreading things out and hitting some of those quick RPOs (run-pass option) help the rhythm of the offense?
A: Yeah, it helped us out a lot, just taking what they gave us. So it’s definitely what coach Mac says a lot, just take what the defense gives you and eventually they’ll give you the game. And I’m sure some of you have heard that before, but it’s definitely true. You get seven yards on first down, that’s not a bad thing at all. Little quick throws like that and we have, in my opinion, the best receiving corps in the country. You know taking little throws like that and they might take it, I hit BP (Brandon Powell) on one and he took it 30 yards. It’s a 30-yard play on a five-yard throw. Little things like that are really big in that game.
Q: Did you feel more comfortable with the quicker tempo, especially at the end?
A: Well, that’s what we try to push, we try to push the tempo in our offense. And it helps out our line and it’s disruptive for defenses. Yeah I think that’s one of the things we try to emphasize in our games, the tempo.
Q: Getting the run game going early, how much does that help you out when the defense isn’t zeroing in on you?
A: That’s very important when you can have a run game. Our line did a great job all night. I can’t speak highly enough of them. They did a great job in pass protection, but obviously in the run game, opening up holes for every single running back that was in to hit, and I think all three running backs did a great job. Specifically, Malik (Davis), he’s a great running back, a freshman. You have little mistakes here and there, it’s part of the game. You know, quarterbacks are going to throw interceptions, running back might fumble here and there, you might get a holding call here and there. It’s part of the football game, it’s why you play. But, just something that we can work on this upcoming week and improve throughout the week and prepare for Kentucky not to have those same mistakes.
I like the kid but, he needs coaching and lots of work.