Nov. 26, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
Arizona State v. UCLA 11/26/10
Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson
On what the problem was getting going in the beginning of the game:
"Who knows what went wrong. We did lose the football the first couple of possessions, we got a punt blocked and then they throw a long pass for a touchdown. Now we're sitting 17-0 but our guys never quit. We kind of felt we got the momentum back in the second quarter and we started moving the football, stopping them, you could feel the momentum change. Even when they kicked that field goal we still kept the momentum going. My hats off to the football team and how they fought back and won the football game."
On the players, especially the seniors:
"It is, it's great for the 13 seniors that played to go out with a win. It was a great team effort. We played well on defense. Cameron Marshall had an outstanding game. Brock [Osweiler] came in when Steven [Threet] got a concussion and played extremely well so you are lucky to have two quarterbacks like that."
On backup quarterback Brock Osweiler's play:
"Well he was just outstanding. He didn't turn the football over and he threw it accurately. He missed some throws but he didn't make any mistakes. He didn't turn the thing over and he just read his reads. He made some first game mistakes but he came in and the guy is a tremendous athlete and a great competitor. He started running and giving himself a second chance. It was a great effort by Brock."
On how the Devils shifted the momentum their way:
"I think we just started hitting them. They were doing a few things up front, moving, stunting their defensive linemen and we're zone block. Once our front guys got an idea what they were doing and picked up those things then all of a sudden things started to break out. We felt that. We went in at halftime and we felt that we knew what they were doing and our guys just had to see and they did. Of course, we got some big runs and that made a big difference."
On UCLA trying to come back:
"They did just after the half. They came after us on that drive and scored a touchdown. We picked it up pretty well and moved the ball down the field, that probably got them out of blitzing a lot."
On the senior class and their contributions:
"Yeah they did. They've all contributed in the time that they been here, contributed a lot. It's just great to see them all go out when they played well and had opportunities. I was glad to see Thomas Weber get back and kick the football how he's capable of kicking it."
On what's next:
"We're back in early in the morning to get ready for Arizona. There's not much rest for us."
On next week's game against rival Arizona:
"Yeah it's a rivalry. They are a good football team. Mike Stoops has done a nice job down there. They have a lot of seniors. This is their year and so we're just going to have to go down there, play our best and see what happens."
Quarterback Brock Osweiler:
On if this was his best play in a Sun Devil uniform:
"Right, you know things just kind of happen like that. Steve [Threet] went down and I just went in and did what I was coached to do all year. Steve has done so much for the football team this season. He was our guy and my role for the majority of the season, was to just work as hard as I could during practice and just continue to get better. It is really cool be able to go out there and have a performance like that because now you see all that hard work paying off. It is true, you work hard and great things will happen."
On how much he has progressed since he stepped foot on campus:
"I am two different football players. Since back in January of '09 when I first got down here, Coach Mazzone has done so much for myself as an individual as well as a quarterback. I am very thankful that he is here and I have been able to work under him as well as continue to get better."
On what did he said to the rest of the team coming in during the first quarter 17-0:
"I just flat out got the offense together on the sideline and told them we are not losing this football game. We do what we do and we are going to go out there and win it. And that's what we did."
On what it felt like to be able to put up 35 points in 2 quarters:
"That is what we have expected since day one of this new offense coming into ASU. It really did not take anyone by surprise I don't think. That's what we have been striving for and that's what we have expected, so to finally have it all come together was pretty special. Although we still had some throws out there that I missed today, and there were a couple things like that we need to clean up. But we are finally showing signs of where this offense is supposed to be"
On whether he expected to play at all today:
"No, there was no plan for me to play today. Steven [Threet] was our guy coming in and I was the back up like it has been all year. But in saying that, each week this season I prepared like I was the starter, with all the film study during the week and just studying our opponents, so when that time came I could make the most of my opportunity."
On whether he deserves to start against Arizona next weekend:
"That is for our coaching staff to decide, and my job is to play when my number is called. Our coaching staff will make that decision and whatever they go with, that will be the best decision for our team."
On what the message Coach Erickson kept the players going all season:
"Obviously your head coach is going to take the heat when your not having a good season, but coach has done everything in his power to put us in a position to be successful. A lot of those losses came down to us players not making plays when we needed to. We have all stayed as a tight family, with the coaches, players and training staff, and we have all believed in each other all season and it definitely paid off tonight."
On what it meant for the defense to have his back:
"It was huge, when our defense when out there and had a goal line stand and we answered back, I feel like that was the turning point in the game. That was when the entire sideline looked into each other's eyes and we knew that we were not going to lose this game. No matter what we did today we knew we were going to win it. For our defense to go out there and put up a goal line just speaks for how hard we are willing to work, even in the off-season."
Running back Cameron Marshall:
On what the difference was offensively:
"Things just started clicking for us a lot, from Brock [Osweiler] throwing all those touchdown passes and the running game up and down the sides, everything was just coming our way. The whole [offensive] line did a great job, during the first half we were getting a lot of short yard plays and the sidelines kept telling me to be patient cause it would open up eventually."
On what the message Coach Erickson kept the players going all season:
"It is the passion that Coach E has for the us, the game and its players. He tells us that he doesn't care about all the heat that he is taking because he loves us and he has faith and confidence in us and he knows what we are capable of. He has been in the game for a while, longer than I have been alive, so he knows his team and what we are all capable of. We love playing with him."
Defensive end Lawrence Guy
On winning on Senior Day:
"We wanted to give the seniors the win they deserve, make sure their last game at Arizona State University was the best game of their lives. That's our whole goal for the whole game."
After the double unsportsmanlike penalties:
"We wanted to play our hardest after that. After got those two unsportsmanlike [penalties] we were like let's go out and play our hardest. Don't say anything to the refs. Don't say anything to the players. Just play football and have some fun."
On watching the offense's success:
"It was awesome. It was the best feeling in the world to see that happen. It gave the defense motivation to go out and play harder and harder. As we started playing harder, the offense started playing harder. It became this fun game to play. Everyone was not worrying about anything. We were just out there playing football like we were little kids."
Linebacker Brandon Magee
On being down 17-0 in the first quarter:
"The defense had to step up and make some moves. The offense will feed off of us. So we just thought we would go out there and make some plays. We started rolling."
On the fourth and inches goal-line stand:
"I just knew someone had to step up and make a big play right there. I saw their motion receiver and I just saw it on film this morning. I knew exactly what to do. We handled that really well."
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel
On the game:
"Congratulations to Arizona State. They certainly played a whale of a ballgame. Their quarterback was outstanding. [Brock] Osweiler, when he came in, we couldn't find a formula to stop him. It started out wonderfully. Our team was ready to play, got off to a quick start, and unfortunately could not contain them. The game got away from us. I'm really disappointed about not being able to punch it in there on fourth and inches. It was a turning point in the game, especially when they responded with a 99-yard drive."
On why they threw more today than usual:
"We knew they were a very stout defense, and we wanted to make some plays down the field. We took some shots, and we hit some and missed some. Then, when the game got to be lopsided, we had to throw. We tried to get back in the game via the throw."
On what he can point to as progress since the team is not bowl-eligible this year:
"Obviously, as I said at the outset of the season, we wanted to be in postseason again this year, to keep the momentum. This is a little bit of a setback, but I think when the dust settles, we'll look at see exactly why we took this step back and what we could have done to avoid it, and we'll be a better program for it."
UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow
On why they passed more today:
"We try to do whatever it takes to try to win a game. We felt like today that's what we needed to do, and we didn't get it done."
On if this offense is what he hoped it would be:
"We made up our minds that, after the first two years, we weren't running the football well enough. So we decided to run the football better. As the season wore on, people know how to defend it. This is a tremendous league, and when people adjust, we have to be able to adjust back. This team was 18th against the rush, so we felt like we had to throw some."