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Vanderbilt/Alabama Post-Game Quotes
9/9/2006
VANDERBILT
Vanderbilt Coach Bobby Johnson
“We had opportunities but we didn’t capitalize on several of them that we had. We allowed them to make a few key first downs and keep the ball. It made it a little tough on our offense but these are the things we need to do to win. I’m proud of our team for fighting hard and scrapping hard, never giving up. A couple of times it looked like they were going to score and we got some turnovers. The offense at times executed extremely well, other times Alabama played extremely well on defense. They took us out of some things. That’s the kind of game we expect out of their defense every time you see them play. (There were) some good things and some not so good things. We’re just going to get back to the drawing board and go.”
Vanderbilt Player Quotes
# 47 Jonathan Goff, linebacker
On Jimmy Johns’ fumble
“They tried to run the ball up the middle. We were able to make a stop, get a turnover and change the momentum. I don’t recall the hit specifically, but I was able to get a little bit on him and the ball came out and we were able to get the turnover.”
On what they learned from UA vs. Hawaii
“Hawaii came out and played real physical and it was a typical game. We knew (our game) was going to be physical. Hawaii was able to come out and play physical and they were able to stay with (Alabama) the whole way.”
On improving against the run
“(It’s) everyone being on the same page and running downhill and being more physical.”
# 33 Reshard Langford, strong safety
On his interception
“It was a reaction because I knew I saw the quarterback drop back. My SAM linebacker got up the field and I just tried to drop back and do whatever I could.”
# 22 Cassen Jackson-Garrison, running back
“I’m kind of speechless. It hurts. We were so close. We had led this game the entire time. We just needed a little more time to pull it out. Hopefully we can just figure out what we did wrong and come out next week and play hard.”
“I take it as if I go anywhere and lose, I don’t like it. It doesn’t matter if it’s Alabama or Temple or anywhere. It’s another team that we have to play hard and win.”
# 3 Chris Nickson, quarterback
“The offense didn’t do the things that we needed to do regarding turnovers and things like that. We made a lot of mental errors and a lot of that falls on me being an inexperienced quarterback. We could have done a lot better and I could have made better decisions. It comes with the territory. We will grow and learn from it.”
ALABAMA
University of Alabama Head Coach Mike Shula
“Well we had another win. We are 2-0. We look at the positives from it. We were down 10-3 at the half and we had to find out about our football team, our young football team. They responded right away. John Parker Wilson did a great job on that drive. We got that turnover that got us the momentum. Unfortunately, we fumbled the ball at the goal line. We played with good field position in the fourth quarter. The big play in the fourth quarter was when John Parker found Nikita Stover on the third and long that got us into field goal range. We couldn’t get in the end zone again, which we need to work on. But what a great kick by Leigh Tiffin, especially after a sack.”
“We’ve got some work to do in the running game. I told my team we have to practice better and do a better job. Everyone has to contribute, not just the guys that are playing, but everybody, from the backups to the scout team. We’ve all got to do a better job of contributing.”
“We’re still finding out a lot about these guys. It was nice to see Nikita make a play after being fresh off the bench.”
“It was great to see D.J. Hall back on the field after missing two games. I think it gives the quarterback more confidence to have two go to guys on the field. John Parker is doing pretty well. He made some tough plays.”
“We’ve got to find a way to score more touchdowns. We practice a lot down there (red zone). Things are going to change though because sometimes the defense changes.”
“Defensively, Vanderbilt was good. It’s kind of like the ‘bend don’t break’ saying. They don’t make any mistakes, they wait for you to make mistakes. If they keep playing like that they will be pretty good.”
“Andre Smith is a big guy that plays quicker than most guys his size. He is a good athlete. He can change directions and bend. He is a good pass protector. He’s got a lot of things going for him physically.”
University of Alabama Player Quotes
Keith Brown:
“It was disappointing because we didn’t have as many points as we would have liked. The coaches told us to come out faster and stronger than what we did in the first half and we listened well on that 85-yard-drive. We came together better as a unit. John Parker (Wilson) kept his poise as well as the offensive line”
On Vanderbilt:
“It’s an SEC team. We expect to play four quarters, all the way through; they played hard the entire game.
Simeon Castille:
“Well, it’s kind of funny. I keep a notebook and I write notes that Coach Ball gives during the week. I had a goal of two interceptions. It blows my mind to be able to set a goal and the Lord allows me to reach it. Originally we were in man. We went to zone the second time and fortunately I was able to get the ball. It means God answers prayers, I guess. We work, Coach Kines and the defensive staff, to figure out what we are going to do. They like to throw across a lot and my first interception came from coming across the field.”
John Parker Wilson:
“We didn’t play very well at all (in the first half). We have a lot we didn’t show of what we are capable of doing. We have a lot to work on for next week. The positives, I think the biggest ones were we had three turnovers, two in the red zone. We found some way to win. That says something about our guys. We’ve got some fight in us. We dug down deep in the fourth quarter and found a way to win.”
“We didn’t come out fast. We came out slow, dragging around, and they were able to score a touchdown and a field goal. Our freshman kicker stepped up. I don’t know how long the field goal was but it was deep. That was good for him.”
Kenneth Darby:
On his injury:
“I’m feeling alright. I’m feeling normal. I’m still not feeling up to my top self, but I’m getting back to normal. I’m still kind of sore a little but it’s not anything really. It’s nothing that’s going to slow me down.”
On not having a break-out game:
“I’m kind of surprised, but at the same time I know there are a lot of teams that are always going to stop the run. They’re keying in on our run game a lot in our last two games. It’s getting better. I still think it’s getting better. It’s gradually starting to get better each snap and each start. I wasn’t really surprised but I know it’s going to be alright. We’ve got, what, 10 games left? And we’re going to have 10 more spectacular games coming up.”
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