Sept. 23, 2006
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Final Stats |
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen
On Florida International's play:
"You have to give Florida International a lot of credit. They played very hard in the football game. They had a lot of skilled kids, and they should have a lot better record than what they have."
On the offense:
"I'm happy with the way we played, but I think we can play better than what we did. We had some opportunities on offense but it was one of those nights where we just couldn't make a play. We had a guy open and we couldn't hit him. We hit him and he dropped it. It was just two steps forward and three steps back."
On Hollenbach:
"Today it just seemed to be one of those days. He was late on things. He didn't see the open players, the timing wasn't right, and I just think he had one of those days. I think he has played better than he has in the past and I think he can play better then he did tonight."
On Florida International's defense:
"They were a very complicated defense. They did a lot more things then any of the other defenses that we have played. But they came in and had nothing to lose; they threw their all at us."
On Maryland's off week:
"I'm going to meet with the team on Monday and see what we need to do. If we need to practice then we are going to practice. We need to get better. We do what we have to do to get better. I think the team can be better than the level we are playing now. I have a tremendous belief in these kids and we will keep working to get better."
Maryland Player Quotes
Maryland punter Adam Podlesh
On finding a team identity:
"I don't think we've found one yet. We're still working on that. This bye week will give us the opportunity to take a look in the mirror and see where we are. We've still got a lot of improving to do if we want to deal with these ACC teams, but we have the capability to."
On his performance:
"I thought I punted alright. I had some good punts where I gave the defense a long field to play with, and that gives them the mentality that they can start making plays. But I definitely could have punted better. It was one of those games where I had some good punts and I had some ones that were just OK."
Maryland linebacker Wesley Jefferson
On the touchdown-saving tackle of Josh Wilson:
"That was a great play. To come all the way across the field like he did was amazing, and that definitely was a game-saving play right there."
Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey
On getting the win:
"All we wanted coming in was to get win number three. That was all we were focused on. We didn't like the way that we won the game, but a win is a win. It was big to get that third win going into ACC play. We have a chance to make a run at things this season, so getting that third win was big for us."
On the bye week:
"We'll be watching a lot of film on Georgia Tech. Going into ACC play, this is a great chance to get healthy and get some timing down with Sam [Hollenbach]."
Maryland running back Josh Allen
On watching the final plays from the sideline:
"My heart almost dropped. It seemed like we had it sealed up, and then that big play gave them a little more life. The defense did a good job of going down there and holding them. All kinds of fluke things happen down by the goal line."
Florida International Head Coach Don Strock
On the game:
"We played hard. We did not make a lot of plays. When you have a chance to make plays you have to make them it is that simple. When you play on the road you have to make plays, obviously we did not make enough."
On the team:
"We know how close we are. We will go back to work this week and work on the little things like we do every week. The guys have gotten better with the little things even in this game. We still need a lot of work with the offensive line and route running. We went to the shotgun in the second half and got a couple of big runs. You cannot try to trick people all the time. Sooner or later in football you line up, run at somebody, knock them off the ball and gain yards."
On the second half:
"We tried to do some different things in the second half. Some of it worked and some of it did not. If you are not blocking well none of it works. That is where we have to go back to work. In the third quarter we called three to six plays max and that is not winning football. You have to be able to establish the run and we did not do that."
Florida International Player Quotes
Sophomore Center Xavier Shannon
On losing four close games:
"It hurts. We know at the end of every game that we are the better team. It is one or two plays that make the difference."
On Florida International's offense:
"We came out kind of slow. As the game went on, we realized they are just like us. They put their pants on the same, and everybody wears helmets. We started picking up the running game. We just have to protect longer to give Josh [Padrick] time. That's the whole thing because we have playmakers on the team."
Senior Linebacker Alexander Bostic III
On the close loss:
"I'm still realizing that we just played Maryland. We could have had it. [Ralph Friedgen] came and shook our hands at the end of the game in the locker room and said `Good job.' All we have heard for the last four games is `good job.' I'm tired of it. I told our coaches to leave [the locker room] before the game, and I told my team that if they don't believe we can win, they shouldn't step on the field."
On the upcoming game against Arkansas State:
"Arkansas State is going to get this film. We're going to go into the next game strong. I'm tired of these moral victories. Before we came here, [Ralph Friedgen] called us the best 0-3 team in the nation. You can't be a good 0-4 team."
Sophomore Running Back A'Mod Ned
On practice:
"We had a pretty good practice, but obviously it wasn't good enough. We have to work harder in practice, and learn how to execute down the stretch. We're getting better. Our whole team is young, so we have no choice but to get better."
