Oct. 28, 2006

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen
On tonight's game:
"What a win. I don't know where to start. We faced some adversity tonight in so many different areas. So many guys stepped up. Darrius Heyward-Bey made some big plays and Sam (Hollenbach) played really well. He managed the game really well and made plays when he had to. There were a couple of situations where he probably could have fumbled, but he didn't. I can see him getting better and better right now. I thought we ran the ball well early too."

On the team's defense:
"Defensively, we broke down a couple times and broke assignments, but we ended up getting the big play at the end."

On tonight's win:
"It's a big win for our team and a big win for our program, but we've still got such a long way to go. We've just got to continue to improve. We're not there yet. We're bowl eligible, but our goals are bigger than six wins. It's probably a relief for the team. That sixth win is a big monkey on your back, but it doesn't get any easier from here. We've got to keep our eyes on the next game and keep getting better."

Maryland Players
Senior Cornerback Josh Wilson
On getting the sixth win:
"We've been trying to get to six (wins) for so long, it's just a great feeling to finally get to six. We're on a roll, we still have a lot of games ahead of us and we've got a lot of things still to get better. We weren't great today; we were good and we were able to put up the W against a very good team. They had a lot of weapons. We came out and played our hearts out and left it on the field and got No. 6 today."

On winning despite mistakes:
"It's a good win, that's all that matters. We can make all the mistakes; as long as we come out with a W, that's all that matters. I'm just happy for my teammates and everybody in this area. People have been doubting us, but we're fighting back. We're a team. Everybody's still down on us but we're fighting back and doing things that nobody thought possible. I'm just glad to be here and get this victory tonight."

Junior Linebacker Wesley Jefferson
On getting the sixth win:
"Getting that sixth win against Florida State; Florida State might be 4-4 but they're still Florida State. Just to get the sixth win, period, feels good."

On the team's mindset before the blocked field goal:
"The guys were like, `Hey, we need to step up. It's do or die right here. They make it, we lose.' That was our attitude, and it just shows our character. We work on that at practice. We block several at practice too. It's something that we work on and it showed tonight."

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden
On today's game:
"Our kids never gave up and never quit. That was the good part. We should have kicked the field goal."

On quarterback Xavier Lee:
"I was very impressed. That is the best I've seen him since he came to Florida State in practice, the spring game, anything. Maybe it has to do with giving him the game, to say `It's your game.'"

On the blocked field goal attempt to tie the game:
"I knew he had the range. He has kicked a 52 or 53-yarder this season without wind. Someone told me it looked like he kicked it low."

On his feelings about the season so far:
"It's naturally disappointing. We spent so many years not in this category. We spent 14 years in the top five and now we're not even ranked. We have very few seniors on this team so our future is looking good, but we would like to do well now too."

Florida State Players
Sophomore Quarterback Xavier Lee
On the second half:
"We were throwing the ball, and our offensive line was blocking beautifully. I had all the time in the world. I could have eaten a banana back there. They blocked well for me."

On the running game:
"It's always good to establish the ground game. This was my first game starting, and I didn't want to come out slinging the ball around."

On his 50 rushing yards:
"When things break down, I try to use what God gave me, and that is the ability to run. I use it, and it helps out on a lot of plays."