Nov. 14, 2009

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Postgame quotes following Maryland's 36-9 loss to Virginia Tech

Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On the game:
"We played a good football team. They made some plays and we had some opportunities to make plays that we didn't make. Our kids fought hard and we got some more injuries we are dealing with. It is what it is."

On the team's energy:
"I didn't think we had a lot of energy in the first half. It seemed like they had a pregame warm up but they came out in the second half with a lot of energy. We are playing for pride right now."

On Jamarr Robinson's performance:
"He makes plays with his feet. His throwing game has to get better. He made some throws people couldn't make plays on that would have helped them. I don't think he sees things as well as he needs to and that has to improve. Overall it was okay."

"I'm seeing plays I haven't seen in my whole coaching career. We are going to have to improve and I'm sure he (Robinson) will as he gains experience."

On what could have been done better:
"There were some opportunities for interceptions that we didn't get. We have to make those plays. They are a good football team. They had good team speed on defense."

"Overall I didn't think our pass protection was that poor, but we didn't handle a couple of situations that we could have handled a little better."

On tacking:
"We have been tackling so much better than we did today. We missed so many tackles and they went through a lot of big plays. We haven't been doing that."

On moving forward:
"There is a gap right now. One of the things I'm hoping will change it is when some of our younger guys mature and grow up. That's the biggest area we have to work on and we still have to go out and recruit. We have to find players that want to be successful here at Maryland."

Maryland Players
Sophomore Quarterback Jamarr Robinson
On Virginia Tech's defensive pressure:
"We did our best to protect, and the rest of the time I just had to make something out of nothing or use my ability to escape."

On nerves during his first start:
"At the beginning, I had some nerves because it was my first start, but once I got a couple of plays in, I was calm and comfortable."

On the inability to score in the red zone:
"It was very frustrating. I felt like we were moving the ball fairly well, but we just couldn't get it into the end zone."

Senior Offensive Lineman Phil Costa:
On the team's emotions:
"Guys continue to stay positive, and it's really unbelievable on their parts, how resilient they are. But it is difficult, being 2-8 with two games left."

On pass protection:
"I thought we protected a lot better in the second half. We did throw the ball a lot today, and in the first half, we had a few miscues and missed assignments. Besides a couple plays, in the second half, I thought we protected pretty well."

On Jamarr Robinson's first start:
"I thought he played well. He ran great, and he really took control of the huddle in there. I think he's got a bright future."

Sophomore wide receiver Torrey Smith
On today's game:
"We played a tough Virginia Tech team. Pretty much, we just didn't make the plays we needed. Virginia Tech did a good job, made a bunch of good plays. They made plays that we didn't."

On Jamarr Robinson's first start:
"Jamarr played his heart out. He played well enough for us to win. We had to make a few more plays for him, especially myself. He had about three plays that I probably could have made for him, that would have given him more confidence. He played his heart out and I don't think there's another player on the field that played like he did today."

On looking ahead to next year:
"I think it's good that we understand that we're kind of working toward the future night now. Jamarr definitely showed today that he can play at this level. Our offensive line is still young; they're all getting experience. It feels like every time you look in the huddle you see a different face, it's someone young, someone getting more experience, and that's not going to do anything but give us more confidence heading into next year. We're going to go from being one of the baby teams in the conference to being a team with a whole lot more experience, so that's going to be a change for us."

Junior linebacker Alex Wujciak:
On Virginia Tech tailback Ryan Williams:
"He's not really big in stature but when you tackle him you can feel his thighs are big like tree trunks. And he keeps running his feet a lot, finishing plays. He isn't going down on first contact. I think he has a good combination of speed and of toughness."

On the defensive touchdown:
"I think it's a huge buildup. Coach Brown told us once we get one everything's going to kind of trickle into place because it's just momentum with the defense. It keeps carrying over week-to-week."

On Virginia Tech:
"They're very good. They've got experience on the offensive line. They've got an experienced quarterback and they've got a running back that was up for the Heisman a few weeks ago. They're a real good team and they've got good receivers too, so that's always a problem. They're a good team and well coached and they play special teams, defense, and offense pretty well."

Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer
Opening Statement:
"It was good to come in here and get a win. I thought Maryland played hard and they had some tough injuries and the quarterback came in and made some big plays against us. He did a nice job. They played tough throughout. We had a couple tough losses and we've hung in there and stayed together and hopefully we'll play our best football at the end of the year. That's what we are trying to do. We'll keep on moving in that direction."

On quarterback Tyrod Taylor's performance:
"He made some nice plays. He had some nice throws and had a couple he'd like to have back. We didn't get him well enough protected in the end zone there and that was a tough play. He gives us a chance to be successful every offensive play. I'm glad he's on our side."

On Virginia Tech's receivers:
"I saw them make three or four nice catches out there. I mean tough catches...go out there and get it. And that's what you want to see out of those guys. We've got some guys with some height and when they go up and battle and come up with the ball, they are becoming more of a complete player for us."

On not being able to win the ACC Coastal Division:
"We talk about needing to be as good as we can be. We still have a chance for 10 wins. We've got work to do now and it's not going to be easy. We are still going to continue to do that and to become the best football team we can be right now. Whatever happens, happens. I can tell you this...I'm disappointed in the two losses right there in the middle, but I'm not disappointed in how much effort and how much caring and how much this football team has tried to be a good football team."

Virginia Tech Players
Junior Quarterback Tyrod Taylor
On the opening drive:
"I still think that it was a touchdown, but the referees made the call and we had to deal with it. Ryan was able to put it in for us. It was a great way to set the tone for the game."

On the second half:
"Our plan for the second half was to put more touchdowns on the board, but we ended up going with field goals."

On the wide receivers:
"They played great today. They made a lot of plays against great defenders. It's my job to put the ball around them, and they did a great job going out there and just making a play. My eyes light up when there's one-on-one coverage because I know they can go up there and make a great catch; they are hungry for catches."

Junior Corner Back Rashad Carmichael
On two losses this season:
"After those two losses, we were able to have more fun. It's the same game we've been playing since we were five years old, that's what I tell the guys."

On playing in inclement weather:
"Just slow it down. You have to relax more and let the game come to you. You can't be too aggressive because that's when you start slipping. Other than that, you have to go out there and play football."

Freshman Tailback Ryan Williams
On the game plan:
"We come out with the same mentality every week, which is just to play our game. When we do that I think we can beat anybody."

On his touchdown (opening drive):
"It felt good to get back in the end zone. The smell of the end zone is one of my favorite smells. With the crowd roaring, you just feel it, you just get happy."

On his adjustments playing in mud:
"You just have to run hard. I tried to be less agile than I usually am. I think it was in the third quarter when I tried to cut back and slipped. That was a touchdown right there, I saw nothing but green. You just have to get downhill as fast as you can; get north and south."

On being taken out:
"I really don't like being taken out early. It's the fourth time this has happened, but it's cool. You get to relax and save your legs."

Sophomore Wide Receiver Dyrell Roberts:
On his touchdown catch:
"It was a simple bubble call. I ran the bubble and Danny Coale laid a great block on the corner, which made it easy for me to do the rest and just go into the end zone."