Fresno State Athletics
UIW-FS Post Game Quotes
Fresno State Postgame Quotes
Fresno State vs. Incarnate Word
Sept. 2, 2017
HEAD COACH JEFF TEDFORD
Opening statement…
“I thought the team went in to the game tonight with the focus they needed. We needed to stay focused on this game and on ourselves, and we did that. It was great for me to return to Bulldog Stadium and run down the ramp again, but tonight was about watching the players run down the ramp and the energy they had tonight.”
On tonight’s defensive play…
I thought they played really physical on the attack, ran to the ball and did a nice job tackling. There was a couple interceptions that we dropped but overall for the first time out on the field we were clean on defense. We will go back and look at the tapes to see what we will need to clean up.
On the play of the two quarterbacks…
“There’s no specific plan for how we are going to handle the quarterback position throughout the season. Every week we will evaluate how every position plays and go from there. I thought Chason (Virgil) made a few good plays and he also missed a couple balls. I know that he is capable of making the plays that he missed tonight, but it was the first game and he’s getting his timing down. Marcus (McMaryion) did a good job. He’s worked really hard to learn the offense and get caught up to speed. He was able to handle things pretty well.”
On what it was like to have Derek Carr at the game tonight…
“It was great. He came to our pregame meal and said a few things to the team that hit the nail right on the head with what we want the guys to do. He really touched on how important all the little things are that people don’t see. Touchdowns and wins all start with the preparation that goes into that. As a staff, we talk about how important all that hard work and preparation really is. Derek is really brought that to life for them. He is really well respected in this community. I congratulate Derek on being honored tonight. It was great to have him back, as well as David and their entire family.”
On the double pass for a touchdown…
We wanted to run it as the first play of the game but we couldn’t get it on the right hash mark, so we had to wait a little while. When we got the opportunity to run it, we had the coverage that we needed to make the play work. Josh (Hokit) threw a beautiful ball that was right on the money. The play was executed perfectly. It all started with the snap, the first throw from Chason (Virgil) and the guys blocking. It happened just the way we drew it up.”
On the crowd…
“I loved the large crowd tonight and I hope it becomes a habit. We want to make the Red Wave happy and proud by putting a good product on the field. It was great to have Bulldog Stadium full, because that’s how I remember it.”
On Dejonte O’Neal coming back from his knee injury…
“He did a great job tonight. Not only on the return game but he made some really special plays on the field. He showed a lot of quickness and speed. It was nice to see Dejonte (O’Neal) come back from his knee injury and have some success, because that isn’t easy. We are in a good position in regards to running backs with Rivers, Hokit, Mims and O’Neal. We have some quality depth though.
On the helmets…
“We have the ability to switch the decals in and out. The players like the Bulldogs script decal and that’s important. I thought the helmets looked great with the script and the green “V” on the back. Yes, it was a nod to Coach Sweeney. It was his birthday yesterday and it would have turned 88.”
RONNIE RIVERS, RUNNINGBACK
On playing his first game in Bulldog Stadium and starting…
“It was a great feeling. I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. When Coach Tedford told me I was going to be starter, I wanted to stay humble and really focus. I’ve always dreamed about playing as a true freshman out of high school, so I worked really hard for it.”
On the advice his father gave him before the game…
“He told me to stay to myself and play the game the way I’ve been playing it my whole life.”
On what it was like to score his first collegiate touchdown…
“I was so excited. It was a great feeling.”
On having Derek Carr talk to the team…
“He told us play hard and create our own legacy with your teammates. He told us to focus on this team and bringing this program back to life.”
On the other runningbacks…
“We are all a big runningback family. We are so supportive of each other. We all just want to do our best to succeed and make plays.”
On starting the season off with a shutout…
“The whole team was going crazy when we blocked their kick because we wanted a shutout so bad. They were so close to scoring and our defense did a great job.”
On playing Alabama next week…
“We just have to treat it like any other game. They put their pants on just like us. We just have to play to win.”
ROBERT STANLEY, DEFENSIVE END
On starting the season off with a shutout…
“It feels good, it feels good knowing that all the hard work you put in, especially through spring ball into the summer and fall camp, it didn’t go unnoticed. It feels good to come out here and execute and put up that goose egg.”
On the defense tonight compared to last season…
“Yeah, there is definitely a difference. I feel like tonight it was a collective effort. A lot of guys running around, bringing energy. It definitely makes a difference to the momentum that we bring to the game.”
On playing Alabama next week…
“I’m looking forward to it a lot. I know a lot of guys on the team are. A lot of guys have been looking forward to it for a long time. We just have to put in the work this week.”
On changing positions…
“I think it’s working out well. Guys being shuffled around and trying to get used to new spots. I think that everyone has adapted to it pretty well.”
On the large crowd…
“It was a big change from last season. When we were coming down the tunnel you could hear the crowd screaming. When we were on the field every time somebody would make a big play, you could just hear the stadium rocking. It’s a good thing to hear and hopefully it can continue to be like this the whole season.”
KEESEAN JOHNSON, WIDE RECEIVER
On Derek Carr being here tonight…
“It is definitely a great feeling to have a player like Derek come back. He talked to us at our pregame meal and gave us some quick inspiration. We had to go out there and give him a show.”
On what he remembers most of Derek Carr’s speech…
“He talked about how people always remember what he did on the football field, but not all the hours he put in in practice, in film and behind the scenes. He told us not to take those things for granted because those are the things that make you a better player.”
On tonight’s offense…
“The energy and the will were different. We had been practicing for a lot of days straight and we were looking forward to coming out here and bringing something new. Everyone came out and played hard tonight.”
On tonight’s full stadium…
“It was definitely a different feeling and that gave us a lot of energy, too. There were over 39,000 fans in the stands watching us, and that gave us an extra boost. We look forward to keeping it going.”
On facing Alabama next week…
“I look forward to it. They are Division I athletes just like we are. I don’t see them any differently, even though they might be the number one team that people always talk about, they are still just Division I athletes and we are going to go out there and play like they are just another team.”
On the locker room environment after the game…
“It was a different feeling in there, everybody was happy and not down. That is the way we have to keep it going, we have to keep the positive energy and keep practicing hard.”
On how Jeff Tedford was presented with the game ball…
“Our Athletic Director, Jim Bartko, presented the game ball to Coach Tedford. It wasn’t his first win as an assistant coach or offensive coordinator, this is his first win as the head coach as a Bulldog and he really liked it and we hope we get more.”
On what was more impressive about the 66-0 score…
“Definitely the zero, that was big. Our defense played a great game, but our offense also played a great game. We need to keep it rolling and we need to make sure everything stays that way.”
On the blocked field goal…
“Everyone on the sideline was saying how we didn’t want them to score any points and it was a great feeling when it was a blocked field goal. We got what we wanted which was to have no points on the board for the other team, it turned out to be a great feeling.”
CHASON VIRGIL, QUARTERBACK
On the offense tonight…
“I think we looked good, obviously we had some mistakes that we can clean up and fix at practice during the week, but overall I think we moved the ball pretty well, we were able to put up some points and it just felt good getting back out there with those guys.”
On playing in front of large crowd…
“You definitely notice it as a player, we were able to see in warm ups all the people that were standing around waiting for us to walk down the ramp and the stadium kind of fills as the warm ups go on, coming out and to walk out you hear the fans screaming and it was definitely loud and it was good to see the stadium packed.”
On scoring 66 points…
“Definitely, obviously we wanted to win, but to do it in the fashion that we did was pretty good and I think that gives us confidence and we’re just able to move forward.”
On Derek Carr…
“I think his speech hit home for all of us, all the players, just basically talking about everything that we go through, how we work, non-stop when people aren’t looking and people only see the finished product on the field, I think his speech hit home and kind of got us pumped.”
On his performance…
“It definitely could be better, I wouldn’t really put a grade on it, I definitely know I could hit those throws, the biggest thing was just being able to stay positive for my team, it’s not really about my performance, I was just happy that we were able to get the winning feeling back, we haven’t had a win in so long, just to be able to go out there and get a win in the fashion that we did, that’s all that matters.”
On competition with his position…
“It is going to always be a competition, whether we are in week 10, it is still going to be a competition, you are still going to have to come out there and strive and play better, get better every day, that’s what we are all doing, everyone on the field is doing that, so it’s a good competition for ourselves and against the other team.”
On how important it was to get a big win before next week’s game…
“Definitely, I think this was the biggest win that we have had since I have been here, it didn’t matter if it was a lower division school or not, to be able to get that win gives us a little confidence and lets us know that we are a good team and we are ready to play.”
“Going into next week we are going to put our heads down and work and we are not going to really worry about the outcome.”
On Josh Hokit…
“Josh (Hokit) has an arm, he’s been working in practice from the first day in practice, I was kind of surprised. I told him to come out and do warm ups with us, he was ready to go and he made a beautiful pass to Jared and he was able to get a touchdown out of it.”
Fresno State vs. Incarnate Word
Sept. 2, 2017
HEAD COACH JEFF TEDFORD
Opening statement…
“I thought the team went in to the game tonight with the focus they needed. We needed to stay focused on this game and on ourselves, and we did that. It was great for me to return to Bulldog Stadium and run down the ramp again, but tonight was about watching the players run down the ramp and the energy they had tonight.”
On tonight’s defensive play…
I thought they played really physical on the attack, ran to the ball and did a nice job tackling. There was a couple interceptions that we dropped but overall for the first time out on the field we were clean on defense. We will go back and look at the tapes to see what we will need to clean up.
On the play of the two quarterbacks…
“There’s no specific plan for how we are going to handle the quarterback position throughout the season. Every week we will evaluate how every position plays and go from there. I thought Chason (Virgil) made a few good plays and he also missed a couple balls. I know that he is capable of making the plays that he missed tonight, but it was the first game and he’s getting his timing down. Marcus (McMaryion) did a good job. He’s worked really hard to learn the offense and get caught up to speed. He was able to handle things pretty well.”
On what it was like to have Derek Carr at the game tonight…
“It was great. He came to our pregame meal and said a few things to the team that hit the nail right on the head with what we want the guys to do. He really touched on how important all the little things are that people don’t see. Touchdowns and wins all start with the preparation that goes into that. As a staff, we talk about how important all that hard work and preparation really is. Derek is really brought that to life for them. He is really well respected in this community. I congratulate Derek on being honored tonight. It was great to have him back, as well as David and their entire family.”
On the double pass for a touchdown…
We wanted to run it as the first play of the game but we couldn’t get it on the right hash mark, so we had to wait a little while. When we got the opportunity to run it, we had the coverage that we needed to make the play work. Josh (Hokit) threw a beautiful ball that was right on the money. The play was executed perfectly. It all started with the snap, the first throw from Chason (Virgil) and the guys blocking. It happened just the way we drew it up.”
On the crowd…
“I loved the large crowd tonight and I hope it becomes a habit. We want to make the Red Wave happy and proud by putting a good product on the field. It was great to have Bulldog Stadium full, because that’s how I remember it.”
On Dejonte O’Neal coming back from his knee injury…
“He did a great job tonight. Not only on the return game but he made some really special plays on the field. He showed a lot of quickness and speed. It was nice to see Dejonte (O’Neal) come back from his knee injury and have some success, because that isn’t easy. We are in a good position in regards to running backs with Rivers, Hokit, Mims and O’Neal. We have some quality depth though.
On the helmets…
“We have the ability to switch the decals in and out. The players like the Bulldogs script decal and that’s important. I thought the helmets looked great with the script and the green “V” on the back. Yes, it was a nod to Coach Sweeney. It was his birthday yesterday and it would have turned 88.”
RONNIE RIVERS, RUNNINGBACK
On playing his first game in Bulldog Stadium and starting…
“It was a great feeling. I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. When Coach Tedford told me I was going to be starter, I wanted to stay humble and really focus. I’ve always dreamed about playing as a true freshman out of high school, so I worked really hard for it.”
On the advice his father gave him before the game…
“He told me to stay to myself and play the game the way I’ve been playing it my whole life.”
On what it was like to score his first collegiate touchdown…
“I was so excited. It was a great feeling.”
On having Derek Carr talk to the team…
“He told us play hard and create our own legacy with your teammates. He told us to focus on this team and bringing this program back to life.”
On the other runningbacks…
“We are all a big runningback family. We are so supportive of each other. We all just want to do our best to succeed and make plays.”
On starting the season off with a shutout…
“The whole team was going crazy when we blocked their kick because we wanted a shutout so bad. They were so close to scoring and our defense did a great job.”
On playing Alabama next week…
“We just have to treat it like any other game. They put their pants on just like us. We just have to play to win.”
ROBERT STANLEY, DEFENSIVE END
On starting the season off with a shutout…
“It feels good, it feels good knowing that all the hard work you put in, especially through spring ball into the summer and fall camp, it didn’t go unnoticed. It feels good to come out here and execute and put up that goose egg.”
On the defense tonight compared to last season…
“Yeah, there is definitely a difference. I feel like tonight it was a collective effort. A lot of guys running around, bringing energy. It definitely makes a difference to the momentum that we bring to the game.”
On playing Alabama next week…
“I’m looking forward to it a lot. I know a lot of guys on the team are. A lot of guys have been looking forward to it for a long time. We just have to put in the work this week.”
On changing positions…
“I think it’s working out well. Guys being shuffled around and trying to get used to new spots. I think that everyone has adapted to it pretty well.”
On the large crowd…
“It was a big change from last season. When we were coming down the tunnel you could hear the crowd screaming. When we were on the field every time somebody would make a big play, you could just hear the stadium rocking. It’s a good thing to hear and hopefully it can continue to be like this the whole season.”
KEESEAN JOHNSON, WIDE RECEIVER
On Derek Carr being here tonight…
“It is definitely a great feeling to have a player like Derek come back. He talked to us at our pregame meal and gave us some quick inspiration. We had to go out there and give him a show.”
On what he remembers most of Derek Carr’s speech…
“He talked about how people always remember what he did on the football field, but not all the hours he put in in practice, in film and behind the scenes. He told us not to take those things for granted because those are the things that make you a better player.”
On tonight’s offense…
“The energy and the will were different. We had been practicing for a lot of days straight and we were looking forward to coming out here and bringing something new. Everyone came out and played hard tonight.”
On tonight’s full stadium…
“It was definitely a different feeling and that gave us a lot of energy, too. There were over 39,000 fans in the stands watching us, and that gave us an extra boost. We look forward to keeping it going.”
On facing Alabama next week…
“I look forward to it. They are Division I athletes just like we are. I don’t see them any differently, even though they might be the number one team that people always talk about, they are still just Division I athletes and we are going to go out there and play like they are just another team.”
On the locker room environment after the game…
“It was a different feeling in there, everybody was happy and not down. That is the way we have to keep it going, we have to keep the positive energy and keep practicing hard.”
On how Jeff Tedford was presented with the game ball…
“Our Athletic Director, Jim Bartko, presented the game ball to Coach Tedford. It wasn’t his first win as an assistant coach or offensive coordinator, this is his first win as the head coach as a Bulldog and he really liked it and we hope we get more.”
On what was more impressive about the 66-0 score…
“Definitely the zero, that was big. Our defense played a great game, but our offense also played a great game. We need to keep it rolling and we need to make sure everything stays that way.”
On the blocked field goal…
“Everyone on the sideline was saying how we didn’t want them to score any points and it was a great feeling when it was a blocked field goal. We got what we wanted which was to have no points on the board for the other team, it turned out to be a great feeling.”
CHASON VIRGIL, QUARTERBACK
On the offense tonight…
“I think we looked good, obviously we had some mistakes that we can clean up and fix at practice during the week, but overall I think we moved the ball pretty well, we were able to put up some points and it just felt good getting back out there with those guys.”
On playing in front of large crowd…
“You definitely notice it as a player, we were able to see in warm ups all the people that were standing around waiting for us to walk down the ramp and the stadium kind of fills as the warm ups go on, coming out and to walk out you hear the fans screaming and it was definitely loud and it was good to see the stadium packed.”
On scoring 66 points…
“Definitely, obviously we wanted to win, but to do it in the fashion that we did was pretty good and I think that gives us confidence and we’re just able to move forward.”
On Derek Carr…
“I think his speech hit home for all of us, all the players, just basically talking about everything that we go through, how we work, non-stop when people aren’t looking and people only see the finished product on the field, I think his speech hit home and kind of got us pumped.”
On his performance…
“It definitely could be better, I wouldn’t really put a grade on it, I definitely know I could hit those throws, the biggest thing was just being able to stay positive for my team, it’s not really about my performance, I was just happy that we were able to get the winning feeling back, we haven’t had a win in so long, just to be able to go out there and get a win in the fashion that we did, that’s all that matters.”
On competition with his position…
“It is going to always be a competition, whether we are in week 10, it is still going to be a competition, you are still going to have to come out there and strive and play better, get better every day, that’s what we are all doing, everyone on the field is doing that, so it’s a good competition for ourselves and against the other team.”
On how important it was to get a big win before next week’s game…
“Definitely, I think this was the biggest win that we have had since I have been here, it didn’t matter if it was a lower division school or not, to be able to get that win gives us a little confidence and lets us know that we are a good team and we are ready to play.”
“Going into next week we are going to put our heads down and work and we are not going to really worry about the outcome.”
On Josh Hokit…
“Josh (Hokit) has an arm, he’s been working in practice from the first day in practice, I was kind of surprised. I told him to come out and do warm ups with us, he was ready to go and he made a beautiful pass to Jared and he was able to get a touchdown out of it.”