Oct. 28, 2006
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Duke vs. Vanderbilt
October 28, 2006
Wallace Wade Stadium
Vanderbilt Quotes
Head Coach Bobby Johnson
On the early start:
“We were executing extremely well. Chris [Nickson] was doing a great job, making plays that sometimes only Chris can make. He pulls it out and runs it. Sometimes they were designed runs, but we had it rolling pretty good. Playing good defense. They were running the ball pretty effectively, but we were making them get some third
downs and we were stopping them. We were very pleased. We got a bunch of people hurt in the first half. Curtis Gatewood was hurt, Reshard [Langford] was banged up. Marcus Buggs was banged up. Brandon Bryant, Marcus’ backup was banged up. So we were holding on there for dear life at the end, but our guys responded and came back. Had a great score there to seal it.”
On the fourth quarter:
“We had some guys that were struggling, that were bruised up and banged up. They did a good job of getting the quick score and after that, they had the onside kick. That was the key. You give up 14 points and you’re going to get scared a little bit.”
On Quarterback Chris Nickson:
“All of his troubles [last week] weren’t his fault. He was pressured, we were throwing some long passes instead of short, easier to complete passes so that’s why we weren’t completing the high percentage last week. We still have confidence in him and he had a great week of practice. We were very pleased with him last week and glad he was in the game for us this week.”
Duke Quotes
Head Coach Ted Roof
“We just dug ourselves too big of a hole. We couldn’t tackle their quarterback and we couldn’t cover Bennett. As a result of that, we were trying to dig ourselves out of the hole. We have to do a better job of containing the other team’s best players. At times we had guys come free and he [Quarterback Chris Nickson] made them miss. He got them out of some jams and he was just better than we were today.”
“As bad as we played at times, if we stick that two-point conversion it is a one-possession game. As many of the things that went wrong. Everything we do matters, every play matters. When we have opportunities to make plays we have to make plays.”
On Clifford Harris playing quarterback at times:
“I thought he did a nice job. He does some good things and takes care of the football. He can throw it a little bit better than what people think. He is not just a runner. I thought he did some good things.”
“I thought Justin Boyle played really well today. Not only with the ball but on protection and without the ball as well.”
On Justin Boyle:
“You are talking about a guy who gets a lot of yardage after contact. He is a guy we have to keep on the field. He is being more patient and when he is signaling it he is hitting it. He is doing a great job without the ball in pass protection. He is catching the ball better too. He has been playing better and better for us and I expect him to keep doing that for us.”
On the final onside kick call:
“Here is what the situation was. If we would have converted the two-point to make it a one possession game we wouldn’t have onsided it. When it was still a two-possession game, I felt like we needed to do that to have a chance to win.”
Running Back Justin Boyle
“We kind of dug ourselves into a hole in the beginning of the game, just giving them that many points on some mistakes. We never quit, we always come back and fight every play and hopefully come out with a win.”
“Our offensive line was doing a great job all game. They were blowing off their front four. I knew if I stayed patient the holes would open up their selves. So I give all the credit to the offensive line.”
“We have some young guys making some great plays. They have also had some freshman mistakes. Eventually everything is going to work out and we are going to be firing at all cylinders.”
On the last run breaking through tackles:
“I didn’t want to be denied. I didn’t want to let my teammates down. I just wanted to hopefully come out of here with a win today.”
