Arkansas-LSU post game quotes
ARKANSAS HEAD COACH BOBBY PETRINO QUOTES
Opening statement …
“It was tough a loss for us. I’m certainly proud of our players, our assistant coaches, our preparation and how hard we competed. It was a very tough, physical football game. Unfortunately, we came up on the wrong end in overtime. We certainly did a nice job of making the adjustments at halftime, coming out and competing hard. We got in the position where we had the chance to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done.”
On the hit by Chad Jones on WR Joe Adams …
“It was a pretty vicious hit. They hit him like that early in the game to, so that’s two on him. You hate to see that on anyone.”
On the quarterback’s decision in overtime …
“We had a play called, and he checked out of the play. Basically, they just beat our center.”
On K Alex Tejada …
“He had to go out there and kick the ball through the uprights. He did it all game long and made some nice kicks during the game. I have a lot of confidence in him. Unfortunately, he just missed.”
ARKANSAS OFFENSIVE PLAYER QUOTES
QB Ryan Mallett
On the drive that put them ahead late in the game…
“That just shows how much character our team has. We battled back; we played our butts off. Everybody on the team did, but we didn’t pull it off tonight.”
On the difference between the teams tonight…
“We started too slow on offense. I take full responsibility for that. We can’t start like that against a decent team. We have to start faster than that.”
RB Ronnie Wingo, Jr.
On the offense scoring only to have the defense give up the game-tying FG…
“It’s really frustrating, but we had our chances throughout the game to take the lead.”
ARKANSAS DEFENSIVE PLAYER QUOTES
DE Jake Bequette
On not getting a stop on LSU’s final drive in the fourth quarter …
“There is no excuse. They had some time, but we have to stop them there. I thought we were getting a pretty good rush on them for three guys, but they kept completing those short little passes. They have an excellent field goal kicker, and they sent us into overtime. It was all on us to finish the game off there, and we couldn’t get it done. ”
DT Malcolm Sheppard
On the heartbreaking loss …
“Every time you get a game that you should have won it cuts deep. Everybody gave their all and everyone competed. It just didn’t fall in our favor at the end of the game.”
On the attitude on the sideline after the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter …
“The energy was there. We felt like we were going to win the game. There wasn’t a doubt in any of our minds. Everyone felt like we were going to win that game. At the end it just didn’t fall in our favor. The defense was ready to go back out there and keep playing, but we didn’t make the field goal and the game was over.
LSU HEAD COACH LES MILES
Opening statement…
“I’m proud of this team. They fought like hell in an area where there is a swirling backdrop and agendas. It didn’t bother them. They got the distraction behind them and came out and played as a team. I’m very proud of them. I’m proud of this coaching staff. This coaching staff helped prepare a team and pointed them downhill at a game. We knew that this team was a very, very talented team. Arkansas has a great quarterback (Ryan Mallett) and the ability to throw and catch. We knew it was going to be a very competitive game. It was very fitting that we get into the back half of this game, and we have to play well in tight quarters, which is what this team does and how they operate. For us to come out with victory, I’m just happy for my team. I’m happy for my players and my staff.
“The way I looked at it is I thought that defense played so well in the first half and fought and hung in there in the second (half). If Trindon (Holliday) didn’t muff that punt, we might get away from them. He hit a home run and gave them the ball on a short field, but that happens. Offensively, I felt like we played well, but we still sputtered at times. But we’re talented. Stevan Ridley, a guy who was injured and standing on the sidelines really hoping to get some special teams reps, ends up being our starter and leading ball-carrier. He plays a tremendous game, again in tight quarters.
“You have to give it to Josh Jasper for a guy who comes onto the field and gets us into overtime and gets us the win in overtime. You count on a guy like that to play big at big times, and he does. We’re looking forward to the opportunity at the 10th victory and a bowl game of our team’s liking.”
On his bowl preference…
“Any opponent, any great warm environment, this football team will look forward to playing the best opponent that we can get.”
On if Ole Miss’ loss earlier in the day fired the team up…
“I don’t think so. I really think that the bowl picture was something that unfolded and was again something that we understood. The opportunity to play this one and win and send 24 seniors out with victory, to play well in Tiger Stadium in front of our fans and friends is more important and more important than any bowl destination. Our football team could well have had a 10th victory tonight, and the opportunity to be one of the elite teams in this conference is really what we want to be. You look back, and you say this injury, that injury and so forth and wonder how different this season could have been. I certainly like how we played today and look forward to bowl season.”
LSU OFFENSIVE PLAYER QUOTES
RB Trindon Holliday
On his last game in Tiger Stadium …
“Tonight was senior night, so I told myself I wanted to come out and do something to remember my last game in Tiger Stadium. That punt return is something I think I’ll definitely remember.”
On preparations at running back …
“The coaches told us earlier in the week that the running backs were going to play a big part in this game. We prepared all week and we were able to come out and play well.”
RB Stevan Ridley
On the final drive …
“We were prepared. We practiced those plays in a situation like that. We had to get out there and execute and move the ball down the field. When you put in your mind that you’re going to come out and win, it usually turns out that way.”
LSU DEFENSIVE PLAYER QUOTES
PK Josh Jasper
On the game-winning kick in overtime…
“I knew if I missed my kick in overtime we weren’t necessarily going to lose, but I had a feeling that it might come down to them kicking a field goal too. I knew it was pretty important to get at least three on the board.”
LB Perry Riley
On the defense’s performance…
“We came out in the first half fired up. We played a really good first half, but in the second half we kind of let it get away from us. We got it back when it counted and came out with a victory.”
