David Shaw
The heart of this football team really showed tonight. It doesn't have to be pretty ... or go to script. But when anything happens to us, I tell the guys, 'It's not what happens to you, it's how you respond.' Our guys responded today and I'm extremely proud of them."
Winning without Christian McCaffrey and then losing Keller Chryst: "Our base, our foundation, is really two things. No. 1 (is) the tightness of our locker room. These guys like each other, they trust each other, they battle for each other. That's a special thing. And as a coach I have to be smart enough some times to step out of the way and let that happen. It's not about me. It's about how hard these guys play for each other. I recognize that and I point it out to them all the time that's our strength. And right next to that is how hard we work. We don't expect anything to be given to us. We don't expect it to be easy. We know we have to work for everything we get. I think you saw both of those things today -- a team that played really well together. Bad things happened and just got tighter and tighter and you saw how hard we played. We put a lot of work in to finish this game the way we did.
How much effect did losing Chryst have: "It did. Keller and Ryan have some similarities but they are different so we had to make some adjustments. And at halftime, in front of the team I asked Ryan Burns, 'Who was the starting quarterback when we beat SC? When we won a last second game at UCLA. When we we went into Notre Dame and beat Notre Dame.' It was Ryan Burns. He didn't play perfectly today but he made just enough plays to give us a chance to win. And I'm grateful to him for that.
Penalties in the red zone: "We got a little sloppy. Some of those are judgement calls that can go either way. But it's on us not to put the official in that position. Never blame the officials. The onus is on us to play the cleanest game we can. But at the same time there's a reason why Conrad Ukropina is up here. We had to go backwards a couple times and had some huge field goals. Ended up being the difference in the game.
On play of Solomon Thomas and comment from UNC they couldn't block Thomas: "Solomon exemplified this football team -- toughness, heart, effort. And they said they didn't block him, but they tried. Sometimes with one guy, sometimes with two guys a couple times with three guys. Solomon never stopped. He kept fighting and pushing. He made it (easier) for other teammates to make plays, because of the attention that he got. Once again, when the game is on the line, great players make great plays.
Tom Firzgerald asks about thought process on third-and-goal option play: "The thought process was hopefully the pitch play works. (Some chuckles in room)
So that was it? No, if you saw I was actually trying to run out and take a timeout because it wasn't set up the way we wanted it. But hoping Bryce can make a play out there. Really unfair to him when the defense didn't line up the way we wanted them to. Was going to try to take a timeout. The bottom line for us we were trying to take another shot at the end zone, let the clock run if we're in bounds, make the field goal and make it an eight-point game.
The reverse pass: We talked about it really starting about five weeks ago. It was one of those things we saw on film. For those who have watched Stanford football a long time you saw that play at USC Andrew's last year to Ty Montgomery. You saw that play a year ago to Francis Owusu against UCLA when he caught the ball behind the guy's back. We've run it a few times. I want to say we're 100% on it. When you run it in a bowl game you might have to wait a little bit longer to run it again. The protection was outstanding and Ryan came back around and gave Francis a chance to make a play. And Francis made it.
There have been nine 10 or more wins seasons in 120 years of Stanford football, you've been a coach for five of them, can you react to that? And if someone told you as a player that was possible at Stanford, what would you have said? First of all, I'm a football so I'm still mad about the one that wasn't a 10-win season. But, for me I believe what we do at Stanford is special. I believe that the people we do it with are special. I believe that we are an example of what college football is supposed to be about -- scholar athletes. Some of these guys are going to move onto the NFL, God bless them. Some of these guys are going to be CEOs, doctors, lawyers, etc. That's what we're doing. That's what college football is supposed to be about, outstanding education and outstanding football. So, for us, the guys know it. I say it ad nauseum we want to play great football and graduate our guys. Everything else is great.
Solomon Thomas
Describe two-point conversion: "The play was to react off the linemen's movement. I got off the field and Mitch was coming to me and I was able to make a play. All my teammates were in the right position. It was a team effort. I was happy to get that win for my brothers.
Did you feel unblockable? The mentality that you have is you don't ever want to be blocked and I try to have that mentality every play. There were definitely plays I messed up on. I wasn't perfect in this game so I wasn't unblockable. Credit to my teammates. Dallas had two picks and a pick-six. That's unheard of. Harrison had nine tackles and 2.5 TFLs as a nose guard. That's unheard of. It's just a testament to our team, our fight, our perseverance. I love these guys to death and we work harder than anyone I know. It's an honor to be able to win a 10-win season with them.
Still planning to decide about coming back a week after game: Yes, sir. I'm in no rush. I just want to enjoy this win with my teammates. I love these guys more than anything. They deserve that. I deserve that.
Does having a great bowl game change your thought process at all? Same process.
Dallas Lloyd
Mostly inaudible question but gist of being in Trubisky's head: I just want to give him credit and their offense credit. They have a phenomenal offense. And for the past three weeks as a defense, and especially defensive backs, we knew that we were going to have our hands full. A great quarterback, great receiving corps and a very good offense. That really inspired us to put a lot of work in and watch extra film, to spend extra time with our coaches, extra time together as players without our coaches and our coaches gave us a great game plan. And like our coaches say, 'You're in the right place at the right time doing your 1/11th -- because everyone has to do their job -- when you're in the right place at the right time good things will happen.
Describe pick-six: "We blitzed our dime linebacker, one of our inside linebackers, and usually when we blitz in that situation the running back has to stay in to protect because we're blitzing six and they only have five offensive linemen. But I saw the running back release and he didn't stay into block, so our dime linebacker put the pressure right away on the quarterback and he had to throw it hot -- he had to to get it out of his hands. I saw the running back and was in the right place at the right time.
Giving up big plays but not touchdowns and keeping poised as a defense: I think how Solomon was saying it's a testament to who we are as players and people at Stanford. And that's what life's all about. You're going to deal with adversity your whole life and football is so symbolic. And it means that much more when it's not just you going through the adversity. You're with your teammates. That's the perfect training ground for life. And after a play like that maybe one player is rattled. Maybe I'm rattled but sure enough Justin Reid, Solomon, anyone will come up to me and calm me down. We can rely on one another and I think that's the most beautiful part about the team that we have.
Conrad Ukropina
On breaking school records (most made FGs in a season, career FG% and bowl points): It feels great. I love winning. I love winning with my teammates. Obviously one of those kicks I want to have back, without a doubt. But, like Dallas said, with adversity life is about how you respond. One thing that I like and has helped me grow as a person is whether or not I miss a field goal or make it, every time I go back to the sideline Dallas, my teammates, my coaches are still very positive. And I know that they support me regardless if I make it or I miss. That's really, really comforting and it helps me stay calm and focused.
What did you think you get called up to the stage after the game? I thought it was a mistake at first. (Laughter) Come on, I don't know of any bowl or game that has special teams MVP but I walked up there and I saw writing on one of the trophies. I was so happy. It was really great.
Bryce Love
Describe the 59-yard run: We decided to go with an inside zone play and read it out. I just got the ball, kind of set up outside, O-line did a great job blocking, setting everything up and I just saw green grass and I just took it.
The touchdown catch: We had been going through it all week. And it was open every time. I was ready, looking for it and it just happened.
On losing quarterback: We have that next-man-up mentality. We trust Ryan Burns. He's a great guy, great quarterback and he stepped up to the occasion.
Rewarding to have a great game with extra pressure with absence of McCaffrey: Definitely. I mean, I would say so. But more so than that, being able to be out there with my teammates like everyone up here has said. Being able to go out there and compete -- even if I didn't have a good game, to trust them, my offensive teammates to step up, make plays.
The heart of this football team really showed tonight. It doesn't have to be pretty ... or go to script. But when anything happens to us, I tell the guys, 'It's not what happens to you, it's how you respond.' Our guys responded today and I'm extremely proud of them."
Winning without Christian McCaffrey and then losing Keller Chryst: "Our base, our foundation, is really two things. No. 1 (is) the tightness of our locker room. These guys like each other, they trust each other, they battle for each other. That's a special thing. And as a coach I have to be smart enough some times to step out of the way and let that happen. It's not about me. It's about how hard these guys play for each other. I recognize that and I point it out to them all the time that's our strength. And right next to that is how hard we work. We don't expect anything to be given to us. We don't expect it to be easy. We know we have to work for everything we get. I think you saw both of those things today -- a team that played really well together. Bad things happened and just got tighter and tighter and you saw how hard we played. We put a lot of work in to finish this game the way we did.
How much effect did losing Chryst have: "It did. Keller and Ryan have some similarities but they are different so we had to make some adjustments. And at halftime, in front of the team I asked Ryan Burns, 'Who was the starting quarterback when we beat SC? When we won a last second game at UCLA. When we we went into Notre Dame and beat Notre Dame.' It was Ryan Burns. He didn't play perfectly today but he made just enough plays to give us a chance to win. And I'm grateful to him for that.
Penalties in the red zone: "We got a little sloppy. Some of those are judgement calls that can go either way. But it's on us not to put the official in that position. Never blame the officials. The onus is on us to play the cleanest game we can. But at the same time there's a reason why Conrad Ukropina is up here. We had to go backwards a couple times and had some huge field goals. Ended up being the difference in the game.
On play of Solomon Thomas and comment from UNC they couldn't block Thomas: "Solomon exemplified this football team -- toughness, heart, effort. And they said they didn't block him, but they tried. Sometimes with one guy, sometimes with two guys a couple times with three guys. Solomon never stopped. He kept fighting and pushing. He made it (easier) for other teammates to make plays, because of the attention that he got. Once again, when the game is on the line, great players make great plays.
Tom Firzgerald asks about thought process on third-and-goal option play: "The thought process was hopefully the pitch play works. (Some chuckles in room)
So that was it? No, if you saw I was actually trying to run out and take a timeout because it wasn't set up the way we wanted it. But hoping Bryce can make a play out there. Really unfair to him when the defense didn't line up the way we wanted them to. Was going to try to take a timeout. The bottom line for us we were trying to take another shot at the end zone, let the clock run if we're in bounds, make the field goal and make it an eight-point game.
The reverse pass: We talked about it really starting about five weeks ago. It was one of those things we saw on film. For those who have watched Stanford football a long time you saw that play at USC Andrew's last year to Ty Montgomery. You saw that play a year ago to Francis Owusu against UCLA when he caught the ball behind the guy's back. We've run it a few times. I want to say we're 100% on it. When you run it in a bowl game you might have to wait a little bit longer to run it again. The protection was outstanding and Ryan came back around and gave Francis a chance to make a play. And Francis made it.
There have been nine 10 or more wins seasons in 120 years of Stanford football, you've been a coach for five of them, can you react to that? And if someone told you as a player that was possible at Stanford, what would you have said? First of all, I'm a football so I'm still mad about the one that wasn't a 10-win season. But, for me I believe what we do at Stanford is special. I believe that the people we do it with are special. I believe that we are an example of what college football is supposed to be about -- scholar athletes. Some of these guys are going to move onto the NFL, God bless them. Some of these guys are going to be CEOs, doctors, lawyers, etc. That's what we're doing. That's what college football is supposed to be about, outstanding education and outstanding football. So, for us, the guys know it. I say it ad nauseum we want to play great football and graduate our guys. Everything else is great.
Solomon Thomas
Describe two-point conversion: "The play was to react off the linemen's movement. I got off the field and Mitch was coming to me and I was able to make a play. All my teammates were in the right position. It was a team effort. I was happy to get that win for my brothers.
Did you feel unblockable? The mentality that you have is you don't ever want to be blocked and I try to have that mentality every play. There were definitely plays I messed up on. I wasn't perfect in this game so I wasn't unblockable. Credit to my teammates. Dallas had two picks and a pick-six. That's unheard of. Harrison had nine tackles and 2.5 TFLs as a nose guard. That's unheard of. It's just a testament to our team, our fight, our perseverance. I love these guys to death and we work harder than anyone I know. It's an honor to be able to win a 10-win season with them.
Still planning to decide about coming back a week after game: Yes, sir. I'm in no rush. I just want to enjoy this win with my teammates. I love these guys more than anything. They deserve that. I deserve that.
Does having a great bowl game change your thought process at all? Same process.
Dallas Lloyd
Mostly inaudible question but gist of being in Trubisky's head: I just want to give him credit and their offense credit. They have a phenomenal offense. And for the past three weeks as a defense, and especially defensive backs, we knew that we were going to have our hands full. A great quarterback, great receiving corps and a very good offense. That really inspired us to put a lot of work in and watch extra film, to spend extra time with our coaches, extra time together as players without our coaches and our coaches gave us a great game plan. And like our coaches say, 'You're in the right place at the right time doing your 1/11th -- because everyone has to do their job -- when you're in the right place at the right time good things will happen.
Describe pick-six: "We blitzed our dime linebacker, one of our inside linebackers, and usually when we blitz in that situation the running back has to stay in to protect because we're blitzing six and they only have five offensive linemen. But I saw the running back release and he didn't stay into block, so our dime linebacker put the pressure right away on the quarterback and he had to throw it hot -- he had to to get it out of his hands. I saw the running back and was in the right place at the right time.
Giving up big plays but not touchdowns and keeping poised as a defense: I think how Solomon was saying it's a testament to who we are as players and people at Stanford. And that's what life's all about. You're going to deal with adversity your whole life and football is so symbolic. And it means that much more when it's not just you going through the adversity. You're with your teammates. That's the perfect training ground for life. And after a play like that maybe one player is rattled. Maybe I'm rattled but sure enough Justin Reid, Solomon, anyone will come up to me and calm me down. We can rely on one another and I think that's the most beautiful part about the team that we have.
Conrad Ukropina
On breaking school records (most made FGs in a season, career FG% and bowl points): It feels great. I love winning. I love winning with my teammates. Obviously one of those kicks I want to have back, without a doubt. But, like Dallas said, with adversity life is about how you respond. One thing that I like and has helped me grow as a person is whether or not I miss a field goal or make it, every time I go back to the sideline Dallas, my teammates, my coaches are still very positive. And I know that they support me regardless if I make it or I miss. That's really, really comforting and it helps me stay calm and focused.
What did you think you get called up to the stage after the game? I thought it was a mistake at first. (Laughter) Come on, I don't know of any bowl or game that has special teams MVP but I walked up there and I saw writing on one of the trophies. I was so happy. It was really great.
Bryce Love
Describe the 59-yard run: We decided to go with an inside zone play and read it out. I just got the ball, kind of set up outside, O-line did a great job blocking, setting everything up and I just saw green grass and I just took it.
The touchdown catch: We had been going through it all week. And it was open every time. I was ready, looking for it and it just happened.
On losing quarterback: We have that next-man-up mentality. We trust Ryan Burns. He's a great guy, great quarterback and he stepped up to the occasion.
Rewarding to have a great game with extra pressure with absence of McCaffrey: Definitely. I mean, I would say so. But more so than that, being able to be out there with my teammates like everyone up here has said. Being able to go out there and compete -- even if I didn't have a good game, to trust them, my offensive teammates to step up, make plays.
