Oct. 3, 2009
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson
On the game:
“I don’t know the last game that had so many penalties and errors committed by us. It was disheartening for the team and our fans. We have a lot of work to do and figure out some of the good things we did in the game and improve on it. We have to eliminate errors starting tomorrow.”
On Mississippi:
“They had a good game plan in the first half with throwing short passes. We played fairly good on defense but they had a good plan to run the ball if we had their passing game covered and executing it. We were able to take some of their throws away in the second half but weren’t able to capitalize on offense because of mistakes.”
On Mississippi defensive players distracting offense:
“Our players said they were but you have to stay focused. It’s not an excuse.”
On offensive errors:
“Maybe we’re trying to do too much on offense trying to set up things. We may need to simplify it and take advantage of the players we do have and execute. I thought that Warren Norman ran the ball well for us tonight and we had some positive plays but the negative plays by the team hurts us more.”
On play of Larry Smith:
“Its tough when the opposing defense knows that you’re going to throw the ball when you start on first and 15 often. He’s still our quarterback and can do good things for us. Tonight’s struggles were a group effort.”
On time of possession difference and defensive effort:
“I’m sure that the defense was tired but we made good plays in the second half with the two interceptions. Mississippi had a lot of third and short situations that were taken advantage of. ”
Vanderbilt Cornerback Myron Lewis
On the defense in the first half:
“On defense we didn’t compete on third and long, and that hurt us tremendously on the field.”
On the team staying in the game despite early deficit:
“We were making some big plays, but we were also giving up some big plays. We were definitely in the game, but we just couldn’t stop them on third and long to get us off the field.”
On the team having seven interceptions against Jevan Snead in two games:
“We’ve got some good defensive backs in the secondary with good ball awareness, good ball skills.”
Vanderbilt Safety/Linebacker Brent Trice
On the team’s penalties:
“Vanderbilt is known for playing smart football. I don’t know what to say about our penalties tonight, we normally play smart football. That is just something we have to get better at.”
On Vanderbilt holding Ole Miss to six points in the second half:
“The coaches came in with some schemes for us to work on at halftime. In the second half, we got some pretty good stops, and we just kept feeding off that.”
On Vanderbilt holding Ole Miss to six points in the second half:
“The coaches came in with some schemes for us to work on at halftime. In the second half, we got some pretty good stops, and we just kept feeding off that.”
Vanderbilt Running Back Warren Norman
On the offensive penalties:
“It basically came down to mental errors. The defensive line was doing a good job of throwing us off, but it we just made mental errors.”
On how hard it is to get a rhythm going with penalties:
“It is pretty tough, we don’t plan on getting penalties. It is a minor setback and we will get ready for the next game.”
On how hard it is to take the loss:
“Personally, they are all tough for me. A loss is a loss, so it doesn’t matter what the cause is or who it is against.”
Ole Miss Head Coach Houston Nutt
Opening statement:
“There is nothing like a celebrating locker room after a big win. Our team prepared well this week and they worked hard for this win. Last weekend at South Carolina was very disappointing for us so we had to pull it back together. We needed this win tonight in the worst way. It’s always difficult whenever Ole Miss plays Vanderbilt because it’s always a tough and close ballgame between the two schools.
Anytime you play a Bobby Johnson team we know we are in for a battle because they play sound football here and they are well coached so this is a good win for us.”
On the offense:
“I was proud of our offense in the first half and I thought we executed our game plan. Jevan Snead was on fire right out of the gates and Shay Hodge made some great catches for us. Brandon Bolden was a warrior for us tonight. He is very physical when he has the ball and when he is clicking he does a lot of great things for our football team.”
Overall outcome:
“We still have some work to do and there is still room to get better in all phases of the game.”
On Jevan Snead losing his touch in the second half:
“Both Jevan and I know that he is better player than his performance in the second half. I think he would be the first to tell you that we can’t have some of those mistakes that he made in the second half. We were executing the offense very well to start but than we started forcing things and he needs to either drop it off to the back or throw it away.”
On the defense tonight:
“I thought our defense was outstanding. We put their offense in some bad situations tonight and I thought a bunch of guys stepped up on that side of the ball.”
Offensive Coordinator Kent Austin
On rhythm of offense:
“We are always happy to get a little offensive rhythm. That’s a good football team. They have a hard-nose defense. They play very hard on every snap and we knew that we would have a tough game tonight. I thought our guys showed up and played well.”
On Snead-Hodge connections:
“It just worked into the overall game-plan. Jevan got off a couple good runs for us at the end of the game as well. I’m proud of the way he protected the ball.”
Ole Miss Quarterback Jevan Snead
On interceptions:
“I forced a couple of them. One came off really bad right when I let it go. I think that had I not been hit, it would have played our way, but that’s just something I will have to work on.”
On third downs:
“That’s one of those things that we knew we needed to work on and we needed to do better at. Unfortunately, we did get into some 3rd and long situations and I think we did a great job handling them. I owe it to the offensive line.”
On leaving with momentum:
“I think as an offensive unit, we leave here with momentum. This will be a great film to watch to see how we can play when we do things right. As far as the interceptions are concerned, I don’t think as an offense that will hurt us. That’s just something I will have to watch film for and just throw the ball away next time that happens.”
On throwing the ball:
“It was the plan to throw the ball a lot coming in. I really enjoyed it and I like getting some rhythm when I able to throw the ball around a lot.”
