Maryland Interim Head Coach Mike Locksley

Opening statement:

"You have to give Wisconsin a lot of credit. They're a really good ball club. It's our fifth straight week of facing really good teams. We have another opportunity next week against another top team in this league. I have to start off by saying how much I love this team that I'm coaching right now. Words can't express how I feel about them because of the type of effort that they give. I'm sure you guys are getting tired of hearing about the effort but I think we got that part mastered, knowing how to play for sixty minutes and knowing how to fight. I'm sure that's something that all the guys that put on the jersey can take pride in. I talked to these guys on Sunday about finishing, the missing piece for us is just the attention to detail. The coaching staff is going to continue to coach these guys up, there won't be any ounce of quit in us. Defensively I think we played well enough to win the ball game. There were a few penalties at the end there that I'd love to see not happen. Offensively, we were a little too inconsistent. We missed some shots early in the game. We missed some advantageous field position opportunities that we didn't take advantage of. Again, as a coaching staff we're going to find a way to get it corrected and find a way to go to Michigan State next week and get a win."

On Wisconsin's second half adjustments:

"They got a few pass plays. They went to throwing the football. They were in a condensed formation and they hit a few deep over routes. We were in man free, our post safety has to go make a play. At the end of the game you saw one that should've been an interception. Their thought process was since they weren't able to run the football they would take a few shots. And they hit a few. We're going to be hit with some shots when you play as much man coverage as we're asking our defense to play. They made the plays and we didn't."

On the offense: 

"We missed some shots. When you play against the type of defense that Wisconsin runs, with all the movement and the run blitzes, we knew running the football was going to be tough. We were going to have to make some plays on the perimeter. He hit a couple early and we missed two or three shots. They had a corner actually fell down and we worked the wrong side. In the passing game, that's where we have to make improvements. I saw some improvements but we missed opportunities in the first half when we had the field position. I have to get it fixed, I have to get us making the right reads and to execute and take advantage of those opportunities. Because of our ability to run the ball, Perry is getting some looks where we should be able to throw the ball and get receivers open."

On the penalty on the onside kick:

"The first thing is, it's a guy on the back side of the play. It's a penalty that shouldn't happen. But you know what, I'm going to keep coaching them. It's a learning opportunity. We had the play, it was there to be made. We have to get the guys to understand the attention to detail, doing all the little things right. We're on the backside of the onside kick and there's no way that Jarrett (Ross) would do that on purpose. I put my arm around him and say 'hey, we'll get the next one.'" 

On Brad Craddock's injury:

"Brad dislocated a bone in his hand on the kickoff return for a touchdown and it couldn't reset. They took him up to shock trauma to do surgery to put it back in place."

On Adam Greene in relief of Craddock:

"Adam Greene came in and did a heck of a job for us. He made a field goal, we had him in a tough situation on the second field goal opportunity. He did a good job on kickoffs and then executed a perfect onside kick. Adam's a guy that has great ability. He's another one of those guys with the next man up mentality. We're going to use everyone on our roster to try to win games. I have no problem putting guys in that work their tails off from Sunday-Friday and Adam's one of those guys."

On the running game:

"Wes (Brown) does certain things well and Brandon (Ross) does certain things well. Today Brandon gave up two early sacks, it was very costly because we had two guys wide open. It was very unlike Brandon. Wes was part of the game plan. He's really stepped it up with his execution, his effort, his practice habits. The past few weeks he's played a few more reps. Both of those guys are available to us, both of those guys are capable. Today Brandon made a few mistakes and Wes had the opportunity to go out and get some things done. We'll get Brandon corrected, he'll be back out there next week." 

Maryland Wide Receiver D.J. Moore

On his touchdown catch going into halftime:

 "I was just happy to be able to make a play for my team. I wasn't focused on the drop I had earlier but I knew I had to make it up."

 On the mood after onside kick being called back:

"It was a huge momentum shift for us. We were all happy until the flagged got called and then there was nothing we could do about that."

 On the offense losing rhythm in the second half:

"I just think we didn't finish and execute on plays that we knew we could make." 

Maryland Safety A.J. Hendy

On Wisconsin's offense:

"In the first half they ran the ball a lot more. In the second hal, we were stopping them and then they switched to a passing attack and we just failed to make some plays on the ball." 

On the mood of the team:

"Obviously it's disappointing. It's disappointing to be on a losing streak like we are, but we're going to continue to fight. We have great leadership on this team and we're on to Michigan State now." 

On the onside kick:

"That's football. It's disappointing, but it was just one play in the game. We had probably 80-100 other plays that could have changed the game." 

 Maryland Defensive tackle Azubuike Ukandu 

On the mood in the locker room after the loss:

“We're disappointed with the outcome of the game but we fought for 60 minutes. I'm proud of the guys for the way we fought but we came out on the short end of the game again.”

On the Maryland game plan and the way Wisconsin adjusted to it:

“The first goal was to come out there and stop the run because that's what they do best. I think we did a good job of that in the first half but they made adjustments at halftime that any good team would do. They made more plays than us in the second half. They started passing the ball on first and second down more than they usually do. They didn't run the ball as much in the third quarter like they did in the first half.”

On the Wisconsin quarterback making adjustments in the second half:

“I feel like they started getting the ball out quicker than they did in the second half because we weren't getting a lot of pressure. They started going to 3-step drop backs so they avoided the pressure.”

On the disappointment of not winning a game they felt they could win: 

“We're very disappointed because this knocks us out of bowl contention. Now we just have to get ready for Michigan State next weekend.” 

Maryland Defensive Tackle Quinton Jefferson

On the team's execution:

“We had great effort out there but it comes down to us having to execute. That's what separates us from the top teams. If we want to be at that top level we have to execute and keep that same energy and intensity. It was a tough loss and there were plays out there that we could've made.”

On losing a game they believe they could've won:

“We just have to make those plays. The game is about inches and a few plays here and there. We were in this ball game and we just have to execute.” 

On Wisconsin quarterback making adjustments in the second half:

“I definitely feel like [Joel Stave] was getting the ball out quicker. I did get a sack in the second half, but we have to cover guys and keep putting the heat on [the quarterback].

Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst

Opening statement:

“I'm real proud of our team. They just kept playing and I told them after the game that football is a great game and you don't know how it plays out, you just got to keep playing. I thought our guys did that. I thought offensively we didn't do anything to really get in rhythm in the first half. We had a first series 3-and-out. Then Natrell (Jamerson) had the long kickoff return for a touchdown which was good. We were forced to punt again, then we had the fake. I thought our defense did some really good things. I thought in the second half everyone kind of started to play off each other and we did a bit of a better job than in the first half.  It takes a whole team. It doesn't take any certain area or group. Not every individual was perfect, but we were able to fight and get one against a very talented Maryland team. The guys just kept playing and I appreciate that from the group.”

On quarterback Joel Stave's play:

“He was good. We saw his competiveness, that resiliency at the end of the game. He made sure that we found a way to keep our offense on the field. I think Joel (Stave) knew too that it was hard to get in a rhythm with the way the first half played out. But Joel is resilient and he cares a ton about this team and he has a ton of confidence in himself that he is going to find a way, and he'll certainly contribute in a big way and I thought he did tonight.”

On playing better in the second half:

“We made a couple of adjustments on first down. First and third down is something that we talked about at halftime. I think we were able to get into a rhythm. There wasn't a lot to adjust from the first half because we weren't doing anything. We thought going in that Maryland had a heck of a front. I think it was better execution with some adjustments. You know any time you play, you get a feel of the game and you take some things off the list and you go with some others. We made some plays, especially on third down.  Special teams we were all over the place. We had some big plays; we had some not real good plays. I think we had two opportunities to widen the lead. But guys kept battling and playing and we appreciate that from this group.”

On the struggles of the run game:

“I think some of it was numbers, some of it was one guy being off. I think a little bit of patience would have helped out on some of those plays. Certainly in the fourth quarter when Dare (Ogunbowale) just got ahead of Derek (Watt). I thought we had a chance there, I thought Taiwan (Deal) had a chance on one. I think Taiwan did some good things coming in and running. I think everyone kind of took their turn. I was disappointed that we had the 5-yard penalty and we had the motion. There's a lot of areas where we can and need to get better, but I appreciate what the group did.”

Wisconsin Linebacker Jack Cichy

On playing and making an impact as a walk-on:

“I take a lot of pride in that. My family are hardworking people and I think my mom and dad instilled good values in us as kids. I take pride in being able to show them that their teaching wasn't for nothing. It meant something and I will keep persevering.”

On whether or not he surprised himself with his performance the last two weeks:

“Yes and no. I know what I'm capable of, but its intimidating coming out here the past two weeks and starting. You don't know what you're going to get. You don't know what is going to happen and it is a blessing to have things happen the way they have. My defense around me has been a tremendous help.”

On the big plays given up by the Wisconsin defense:

“We get a little greedy in the sense in that we want to be as tenacious as possible. That means not letting up big plays, especially toward the end of the game. At the end of the day a win is a win. It came down to the wire so we are happy to have the W. It is something we can always work on.”

Wisconsin Quarterback Joel Stave

On the absence of Corey Clement:

“We found out Wednesday or Thursday. I know it's a disappointing thing for him because he wants to compete, but his health is what's most important and if he's not 100%, he is not the player he needs to be competitive.”

On his ability to bounce back from miscues:

“That is just the name of the game. You have to make sure you're moving on the next play. I think that is something that every coach I've been with has always preached. That is something Coach Chryst is huge on. That is one thing that I take pride in. If things aren't going well, they will.”

On throwing more to Alex Erickson:

“We didn't throw the ball a ton in the first half because of the lack of opportunities. Once we got the chance to push the ball down the field, Alex did a great job separating in his 1-on-1 coverage and that is what you need when guys play man to man.”

Wisconsin Punter Drew Meyer:

On the blocked punt:

“The block was all on me because it was a great snap and as I went to hold it I lost my grip. The operation took too long, but it is something I will clean up, get fixed, and continue to get better with.”

On difference of punts in first half and second half:

“The first one was a bad kick because I didn't hit the ball where I wanted to. I was a little bit frustrated just because this is the best weather conditions we have played in in a couple weeks. Pre-game felt great and we stuck to the plan and tried to execute.

On Maryland's Will Likely returning punts:

“I just wanted to continue to swing up and think about hang time. He is a great returner and you have to honor that, but you can't do too many things different. I trust our coverage guys. They do a great job in our protection.”