2002 FBL vs. Iowa -- Quotes
10/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr
On Iowa's performance ... "Iowa played a tremendous football game. They did a good job in every phase of the game. The turning point was when we mishandled the punt. You have to give Iowa credit."
"Iowa is an outstanding run defense. Our plan was to throw the football to get the linebackers away from the line of scrimmage. In the first half, we dropped some passes and our protection broke down at times. After we dropped the punt, we couldn't get anything going."
On Cato June's status ... "The only thing I know was that he was conscious when he left the field and was moving all of his extremities. We are hoping and praying that he is okay, but I don't know any more than that."
On concerns he has with the team ... "You've always got concerns. We've got to look at the film and evaluate where we are. Our problem running the football is that we couldn't make first downs and sustain the football. If you keep punting the ball, eventually the defense will break down."
"When you make a big mistake in a game like this one, you give the other team momentum and hurt your opportunities to win. The thing I was most disappointed with offensively was that we had trouble protecting the quarterback. We're not making any excuses or feeling sorry for ourselves. We're going to come back and be the best football team we can be. We're not going to change everything we've done. The guys played hard and worked hard. But we're not hanging our heads."
On Adam Finley's play ... "Adam kicked very well this week and he will handle both the placekicking and punting."
U-M Senior/Junior Quarterback John Navarre
On the game ... "We are both very good football teams, Iowa is a great team. They played a great game and were very fundamentally sound."
On the Michigan offense ... "We ran some good things and had a good game plan. We knew we had to throw the ball. I don't want to say that they out-schemed us. We had some opportunities and we didn't capitalize on some of them. If we prepare well and have a good week in practice, we can play well. My job is to take care of the football and put it in the right place; if we do that we can win."
On the Iowa pass rush ... "That is probably the most rush we've had all season. They had a great attitude and motivation. They pinned their ears back and came at us all day long. They played well against the run too and we wanted to soften them up with the pass. But we couldn't get in that comfort zone. It's hard to set up your game plan when you're behind."
On the Michigan running game ... "We're not concerned with it at all. We know we have the capability to run the football. It is something that will be addressed and fixed immediately."
On the loss ... "We have to keep our heads up and play with pride. We can't stay down because we have a big game next weekend. Our goals are still in front of us so we are going to keep pushing."
On facing Michigan State next week ... "It is tough to turn around and come back and play a big game following a loss. We did it last year when we lost to Michigan State and bounced back and beat Minnesota. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be ready to play on Saturday."
U-M Junior Running Back Chris Perry
On the running game ... "Any running back in the Big Ten that wants recognition has to take all the blame when things are going bad. Today it was my fault."
On where the team goes from here ... "We have to focus on next week. That is all we can do is focus on next week. This game is over and Michigan State comes in here next Saturday."
U-M Fifth-Year Senior Linebacker Victor Hobson
On losing at home ... "Any type of loss is bad, especially at home. We had goals coming here and we didn't reach them. We have to come out next week and battle harder."
On losing players to injury ... "That is the way the game comes. It is a physical game and a team is lucky if they make it through the whole season healthy. Guys have to step up and play hard now."
On the muffed punt return ... "That was obviously a big momentum change. We just had a big stop and were getting the ball back and to give them a short field like that hurt. But we cannot put this loss on only one play, you have to look at the entire game for that."
On facing Michigan State next week ... "That has been the way our schedule has been all year with us playing big game after big game all year. We have stepped up to the challenge in each game except for today. We will make corrections and come back strong next week."
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz
On the game ... "I'm just really proud of our football team, first and foremost. Our guys played a fantastic game out there, it was a good effort, a team effort all the way. We had great respect for Michigan coming in, we still do. They have a fine football team. Our guys were ready to go today, they are really proud of their effort. I always said, when we play our game, we're not a bad team. I think I might revise that -- when we play our game, we're a good football team. I can say that with confidence. We have more challenges in front of us, but we played a good football game today."
On comparing this year's and last year's games ..."I said last year it was almost the same circumstance. I think last year they blocked a punt. I told the guys, last year we let that affect us in an adverse way, and I was really confident at halftime that we've grown as a team since then. I think we're a more mature team than we were a year ago. I just told them we played a heck of a first half, there's no reason we can't go out there and do it the second time around."
On the offense ..."I think they did a heck of a job against the run in the first half. But it's a four-quarter ball game. We tried to take what was out there. I think our production was over 250 (yard) in the first half, with 10 points. I wasn't displeased at all with how our offense played. Our quarterbacks and receivers did a great job. You just have to hunt and peck and find something that works for you."
On the running game ..."We ran a couple in the game last year and didn't quite execute them, today I think our execution was better. We were hoping for the blitz and we didn't get it half the time that we ran it. When you execute you have a good chance of making something good happen."
Iowa Senior Defensive Back Scott Boleyn
On the game ... "We just take one win at a time. Our ultimate goal has always been [getting to] the Rose Bowl. It's nice to come in here to a big stadium and play well."
On Markus Curry's fumble that he recovered ... "Bob [Sanders] made the play. He jarred it loose. I just saw the loose ball on the ground. I wanted to get in for the touchdown, but I got tripped up."
On special teams strategy ... "We always try to force turnovers. Bob's the other gunner and he made the play. I just tried to finish it."
Iowa Senior Wide Receiver C.J. Jones
On the team's prospect of a bowl game ... "I'm smelling the roses."
On needing Ohio State to lose in order to play in the Rose Bowl ... "I'll definitely be rooting for Michigan."
On the game ... "We came out with a lot of fire. On the whole, we just made big plays when we needed to."
On the first drive ... "The first drive is always the best drive for our offense. We always score on the first drive."
Iowa Junior Tailback Fred Russell
On the running game ... "I knew if we kept pounding we'd wear them down. We wore them down in the first half and Jermelle [Lewis] came in and did what he did. Just keep pounding."
On the offensive line ... "They're the heart and soul of the team."
On the victory ... "We knew we were going to come in here and do our job. We take it as a good victory. But this victory isn't going to mean anything unless we win these next three games coming up."
Iowa Senior Quarterback Brad Banks
On the win ... "We were just going to come out and play our game. We wanted to move the ball down the field and try to make plays. It came out good for us."
On the play of tight end Dallas Clark ... "He stepped up as usual, making the big plays."
On the strategy ... "We tried to spread it around a little bit, get everyone to touch the ball. We did a great job moving the ball on offense."
