SMU Coach June Jones Quotes
On how they can make a bowl game: “We’ve got to win. Every game is like an NFL playoff game now. Hopefully we can hold it together and do that.”
On coming back from a 1-4 start: “We over-scheduled and had a very difficult schedule to begin with. The kids played hard and hung together. To win with your backup quarterback says a lot about the team.”
On backup quarterback Neal Burcham “He did some good things. I was glad he got that touchdown. He throws the ball very accurately deep. I was surprised he threw that one pick. Usually he throws that ball right on the money. He’s just like a rookie quarterback getting in there now. Next week will be a big test for him.”
On running on USF’s defensive line: “They have a very good front four. I thought it was the best front four going into the game… I knew we were going to struggle blocking them. My answer to that was to run it and slow them up.”
On losing the shutout: “I was disappointed for the defense. But it’s still a defensive shutout. I told the guys at halftime that if we didn’t let them score on defense we would win the game.”
On not allowing Burcham to run: “Neal can actually run, but they are a big, physical, fast team, and I didn’t want him to carry the ball and have them knock it out.”
On winning on the road without their starting quarterback: “You find out about yourself when you overcome adversity. Some people it breaks and other people you kind of just find out your destiny. That’s kind of what happened with this team. They know they want to be in a bowl game and their destiny is to do that.”
SMU player quotes
#8 Jay Scott
Comments on the defensive performance. We always want to see a zero on the board. Our motto is if they don’t score, then we win.
What was said on defense after Jared (QB) got hurt? Neil got in there and did his job. On defense we just needed to keep doing what we were doing, continue making plays and having fun.
Anything surprise you about the USF offense? We knew they were a downhill football team. They want to run it at you and if they got behind they would open it up and start throwing. We played just like we expected.
Did you see USF get deflated after your two interceptions? Yes for sure, but then they came back with that punt return. It was a game of momentum and they came back with it, so we had to just keep playing.
