2002 FBL vs. Washington -- Postgame Quotes
8/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Michigan Postgame Quotes
Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr
On the game ... "I thought it was a great football game. The two teams gave everything they had. Philip Brabbs made one of the most clutch kicks I have ever seen. I have tremendous respect for the way that they played that game. I quote the kids, 'Never think about losing, always think about winning.' I don't think (John) Navarre needs any defense. Offensively, we did a lot of good things."
On the team's performance ... "There were a lot of mistakes on both sides, we've got a lot to work on. The win gives us motivation and enthusiasm."
On kickers Philip Brabbs and Troy Nienberg ... "These two kids are tremendous young men. Brabbs has committed hours and hours. Not a day passed that I didn't see him out there kicking field goals. That was a dream come true today because Philip had an opportunity to knock down a game-winning field goal. I'm so happy for him."
On the game-winning field goal ... "I had confidence that he would make that kick."
On Tyrece Butler's recovered fumble in the final drive ... "That game was won five or six times and lost five or six times. Every guy will see that the hustle that Butler made to jump on that ball won the game for us."
On Washington's offense ... "I thought we did a tremendous job against Washington's running game. I give Cody Pickett a lot of credit; he played with a lot of heart."
On Marlin Jackson's performance ... "You saw what kind of player Marlin Jackson is. He is a tenacious defender, the real deal."
Sophomore Cornerback Marlin Jackson
On his performance ... "I went out there, played my hardest and had a good game."
On the game-winning field goal ... "My heart was in my stomach, but I knew he was going to make it. I just kept thinking we weren't going to lose. There is something special with this team and we showed it today."
On the significance of the win ... "It's the first game of the season and we just have to iron out the wrinkles and come back and do it again next week."
Senior/Junior Quarterback John Navarre
On kickers Philip Brabbs and Troy Nienberg ... "They are both good kickers. In practice they do it all the time. There was no doubt in my mind that [Brabbs] was going to make the kick."
On the confidence in Philip Brabbs ... "I know Brabbs and he has a very strong leg. The further we are out the better he gets. He has a bit of hook to his kicks and when I looked in his eyes I knew he had it locked in."
On the completion to Braylon Edwards in the game-winning drive ... "I thought it was a completion because Edwards had it for one step. (Tyrece) Butler came up and made a huge play that turned out to be the game-winning drive."
On the celebration following the game-winning kick ... "I didn't think the celebration was going to be that big. It's one of the greatest moments in Michigan history and in my life, but after tomorrow it's over and we have to refocus and look to Western (Michigan)."
On what head coach Lloyd Carr said in the locker room ... "Coach said he's proud of us and he didn't say much more than that. We all know it was a big moment in Michigan history and we celebrated it together as a team."
On the difficulty of getting this win out of their heads ... "Not very hard at all. Tomorrow in our minds it's going to be Western because we are a focused team."
Senior/Junior Placekicker Philip Brabbs
On the final kick ... "When I was running on the field I felt calm. I trusted myself and knew I could make it. I wanted an opportunity. My first couple kicks didn't go the way I wanted, but I wanted another opportunity and I got it. I kept a clear mind and went out there and did it."
On kicking in Michigan Stadium ... "Kicking in front of 110,000 people you think it would be loud, but it seemed quiet when I kicked."
On what head coach Lloyd Carr said to him before the kick ... "When we had the ball on the 52-yard line, Coach asked me if I could hit from here and I told him I could. In practice I was hitting from 57 with wind at my back so I felt strong walking on to the field for the game-winner."
Junior Running Back Chris Perry
On the first touchdown ... "It was a great play. It's been working against our defense all summer and we have one of the best defenses in the nation. So when we called it in the huddle I knew it could work against the Washington defense."
On what a loss would have meant ... "This could mean the national championship; you don't want to lose the first game. We came out there and played hard and expected to win and that's what we did."
On the running game today ... "We could have run the ball a lot better, but we did what we had to do to win the game. Our offensive line did a great job today; they pounded the Washington defense and opened the holes for me today."
On the game-winning field goal ... "I was thinking he was going to hit it. I was planning on running up the tunnel to celebrate following him making the kick."
Washington Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Rick Neuheisel
On the game ... "Congratulations to Michigan. It was a hard-fought game. It was probably exciting to all who watched it. It was a heartbreaker for the University of Washington. We played really hard, but there are probably a thousand things to correct, a thousand things that we can improve upon, but I was proud of the effort, especially given the fact that we started out down 14-0."
On the programs and the rest of the season ... "I have great admiration for the University of Michigan's program, and I think that Lloyd Carr and his team are going to have a great year. I have great admiration for our program and the way the kids fought. I just said to the team, there are a thousand things that we can correct, but it would be unfair to point at the last mistake and say that was the reason we didn't win. We have 11 games left in our season, it was a great opener, and we're heartbroken that we couldn't come out of here with a victory."
On the way the Huskies played ... "We're all disappointed with the drama that unfolded at the end, but the truth of the matter is we had two turnovers. We fumbled and we threw an interception. We had a missed extra point, we had a missed field goal. There are a thousand things we need to get better on. I'm anxious to do all the coaching that we can to get better on it. I'm very proud of our football team, and I'm sick to death."
On the defense ... "I thought the defense was, at times, outstanding, and at times needing work. But it's the first game, and that's the Michigan Wolverines."
Junior Quarterback Cody Pickett
On Michigan's defense compared to last year ... "They were a great defense last year and the same this year. On offense, we were a little more experienced. We had seven guys start for the first time last year at home. This year we were a lot more confident and knew what we had to do. We felt confident the whole game."
On the tough loss ... "We had an unfortunate loss today. I've said this before with (last year's losses to) Texas and Miami, but it's a learning experience. I'm going to take the learning experience and start winning."
On the team's success on third down ... "On first down we try to pound the ball at them, stay conservative. On third down our backs are against the wall. You have to get a first down. You have to go downfield farther and make some big plays."
Sophomore Wide Receiver Reggie Williams
On the loss ... "We've got 11 games left. It's just one game. Of course you want to win it, but you can't win all of them. We're going to try to win all the rest of them."
On U-M cornerback Marlin Jackson ... "He's a good corner. He's a great cover corner and he can shoot the moon. We battled all day."
On the rest of the season ... "There will be more opportunities. We might see them in the Rose Bowl, but I think we still have a shot at the Fiesta Bowl."
