Sept. 28, 2002
Arizona State Head Coach Dirk Koetter:
"We're really proud of the way our guys competed today. We talked about getting off to a fast start, and it wasn't the fastest start, but after the first drive when they went down and scored I thought we totally brought it physically. I'm real proud of the way we played, so many great performances, Andrew [Walter], Shaun [McDonald]. Defensively the hitting was great-there were just so many big hits-and the turnovers were great. I just couldn't be happier right now."
"Originally we talked about going no huddle because of the heat situation but as the week wore on the weather really changed on us and it wasn't nearly as hot today. We thought the no huddle would help us go up-tempo even if it didn't do anything to Stanford. We thought it would get us to play at a better tempo and it did that."
"To be honest, we didn't do a great job on offense of cashing in. We didn't finish off some of those drives with touchdowns and we had to settle for some field goals. Mike Barth was steady as always but we would have loved to finish off a couple more of those drives with touchdowns."
"So many guys made plays today and I think this team is developing some confidence. I really thought we were prepared as far back as Tuesday. I thought they were ready to play Tuesday night at practice. I'm just real proud of these guys. I like the way they act around each other, I like the way they can overcome adversity, I like the way they're physical. If we can keep that turnover thing going we'll be in good shape."
"Andrew [Walter] did make a couple guys miss early. With his knee not being 100% that's one thing I wasn't too sure of but that's one of the things Andrew has worked on. When he was a younger player he would have a tendency to take off and run for the sideline. He's doing so much better hanging in there and making guys miss."
"How great was it to get Daryl Lightfoot back into the fold and get that other playmaker on the other side. Justin Taplin made a couple nice catches today and Mike Pinkard made a great catch for his touchdown. I'm just really proud of these guys right now."
"We're going to need to run the ball a little better than we did today. But yet, in the first half we really didn't try to run the ball, Andrew was on fire and we just rode it. I'm pleased, you have to be able to execute and the guys did."
RB Cornell Canidate
On his first collegiate start:
"It was a great feeling being out there today. To have the support of my team when I was announced as the starter and from my family was great. The whole team gave me the confidence I needed to perform well. I was real shocked I was starting, especially because it was or first Pac-10 game. I felt honored when Coach (Dirk) Koetter announced me as the start. I knew I had everyone's support so I went out there and had fun.
"I was not as easy as high school. This is a whole level higher of play. There were times in high school when I had games like today, but I definitely wouldn't say it was easier out there today. The last time I had four touchdowns in a game was high school. That was a lot of fun, just like today."
On the team's preparation:
"We prepared well for Stanford with our bye week. We talked about our game plan and knew they would use eight-man fronts to try and stop the run. They tried to shut the run down but our passing game really stepped up."
On the offensive attack by the Sun Devils:
"I think our attack went both ways today. Our run helped set up the pass and the pass also helped set up the run. Once their eight-man front was not stopping the run, they dropped off and we had success with the play action. They really did set up each other."
DE Terrell Suggs:
"Once we start winning games we'll get more respect. It's something you earn. "They hit us on the first drive, but after that we opened up and played Sun Devil football."
QB Andrew Walter:
"You can't expect a game like this, but we're pleased and we'll enjoy it."
On the offense:
"Offensively we were really hitting on all cylinders. For the most part the receivers made their plays, the line held, and I did my job."
"I feel real comfortable with the schemes we're running right now. Coming off last week I felt good. I watched the style of their defense and I thought we could take advantage of it."
WR Shaun McDonald:
"They are a Pac-10 team, and they've got some great athletes too. Andrew (Walter) and I were really on the same page, and hopefully that stays with us through the rest of the season. Our offense started clicking a little bit in the second half of the San Diego State game, but now we're really on, and we need that to remain all season."
"Stanford's defense went for the fake on the play-action a lot which allowed me and the other receivers to play against the cornerbacks one-on-one. We have a lot of receiver depth in the roster and if we get the ball thrown to us, we're going to make the plays. We have great receivers all over the place, so you can't contain us for too long."
"I thought I was going to see a lot more coverage coming my way, but I guess they felt they had better athletes than us. We played a lot better today. I thought that bye-week came at the right time. It definitely helped me, and our team was mentally well-prepared."