Dec. 29, 2010
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On getting a win in his final game:
"If you have to go out, this is the best way to do it. I am happy to watch this team and I wish them the very best. I am with them in spirit every step of the way.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to win the football game. I feel that it is a privilege to work with these kids, and these coaches."
On the support he received:
"I really appreciate the fans' support, especially today. It means a lot to me. All the kind emails, texts and letters I have received the last 10 days have been very overwhelming. It has been an emotional week but I have really gotten to a point that I wanted to get this game over with and get on with the rest of my life.
"I really cherish these kids. We were 2-10 and now 9-4, I hope in the Top 25. They really have a chance to be something special. That is something I will miss, watching them grow and mature.
"It's been a little surreal. To be honest, I am a little bit overwhelmed. I had no idea that people even thought that much of me. Just even going down to the lobby of the hotel, people stop me for an autograph or a picture. I feel very special."
On his message to the team:
"I was hoping they would make a statement. Most of my talk last night was about being picked last in the ACC after finishing third. We needed to send a message so that this erroneousness could be put to rest.
"Our kids came out and played great against a good offense. They really showed up."
On what he'll take away from his time at Maryland:
"What I'll take away is...Maryland is an interesting place. The loyal followers you have here are very loyal. They will be with you through and through. You don't have as many as you have at other schools, but I have some great friends I will cherish for the rest of my life.
"We have great kids. When they can improve your life and make you smile, that is something you will miss."
On playing a bowl game close to home:
"There are a lot of pluses for playing this bowl. We got to spend Christmas with our families. We have a lot of area kids here and I think they got to see some parts of the area they might not have.
"We would like to thank the Military Bowl for inviting us. A lot of other bowls passed us over. We finished 9-4, not many teams coming out of a bowl can say that."
On if this was one of the more gratifying seasons:
"I would say this year and my first year [were the most gratifying]. Three years ago we graduated 31 kids and we underachieved that year. But when you lose 31 kids, it's not like the NFL, there is a hole in your program.
"We started 24 freshmen last year, so we needed to build up. It's hard to just sustain it for a long time. You have to have a good quarterback. I think that is very, very important. I would say this year [was most important of my career] because of the low expectations from everyone else. I knew we could do it this year."
On what was the most challenging part of the day:
"[The most important part of today] I wanted to savor being in the locker room with the kids. Wish them all the best and tell them that I would always be there for them. That was probably the hardest thing I had to do all day."
On the offensive game plan...
"Just trying to attack them anyway we could, just attack them on the ground and make some plays."
On being a Maryland football family...
"I feel like [Coach Friedgen] is a great coach, but it is a business and it was a business decision. I love him to death and I am glad I got to play with him for my last season. I am glad we could send him off with a win."
On the emotion involved in this game...
"At least we got a chance to play in the post-season. Being 2-10 last year, this was a huge chance this year.
"We just wanted to make sure we sent Coach Friedgen out with a bang."
On the Gatorade showers...
"Coach Friedgen was the first to get it. He was on everyone's list. Coach Brown got it too."
On stopping East Carolina's offense...
"I think we had a good game plan going in. We had three and half weeks to prepare for them, so we were able to watch a lot of film. "
On what Coach Friedgen said after the game...
"He didn't get as bad as I thought he would. He said our prayer after the game. He thanked all of us. He told us we could call him whenever we want and that he would be there for us for the rest of our lives. He just broke it down one last time."
