Fresno State Athletics
Postgame Quotes
Fresno State vs. Minnesota
Sept. 7, 2019
Fresno, Calif.
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State head coach
On the final chances in the double overtime period…
“We had a little too much air on the ball. I don't think there was anything wrong with the play call, but we just did not execute it the way that we needed to. It was something we have been saving for the game if we got into that situation. Unfortunately it didn’t work out.”
On Jorge Reyna…
“Like I told him, there is a lot of football left. He is going to have a lot more opportunities. He is crushed by what happened, obviously. But, not one play was a difference in that game. There was a lot of plays to be made out there. It is a team effort. We win as a team and we lose as a team. There is no laying blame on any one person at all. We are going to stick together as a family and we are going to go back to work.”
On Minnesota’s third down conversions…
“It is big. They converted on a third-and-18 and they converted on a fourth-and-12 to tie the game in overtime. You have to give them credit for making plays, but at that point we have to be able to get off the field.”
On the Bulldog defense matching up with the Minnesota offense…
“It depended on what they did and on their personnel. They are big and physical up front, have very physical running backs and are patient with the ball and make positive yards. It was a battle inside, some we stopped and some we didn’t but they were patient enough to keep putting themselves in manageable situations.”
On the emotions…
“On the field, you try to stay focused in the moment. When it gets to that point, every play is critical so there needs to be a lot of focus on each play. It was a really good football game and they made one more play than we made.”
On passing and rushing…
“We were just taking what they gave us. I thought we moved the ball extremely well. We didn’t punt very much, we only punted three times. You are going to take what they give you. I thought Coach [Ryan] Grubb did a great job calling the game. You just go with what you feel you need to do to be successful, run or pass.”
On the bye week next week…
“It is going to be a long two weeks not having another opportunity to play next week, I can tell you that. But we are going to go back and practice as we always do. I love these kids. I have a lot of confidence in these kids and these coaches. We are going to stick together. There is a lot of good football left to be played this season. There is a good football team in that locker room. Like I said, I have a lot of trust and a lot of confidence in how we are going to respond as far as our work ethic and I look forward to another opportunity to play again.”
On the crowd…
“At the end, I thought the crowd was awesome. I thought it was an electric football environment and everybody was into it. I am sorry it didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to for our fans and for our team, for the university and everybody involved.”
On the offensive momentum changing…
“We had a couple of penalties that put us in a couple of long yardage situations early on and you hate to have that. We settled in and I thought we were just hurting ourselves early in the game. I didn’t think it was so much of what they were doing, it was more we were hurting ourselves. Once we settled down, I didn’t think we had too many penalties in the second half. I thought it was a pretty clean game.”
On rebounding after two emotional losses…
“I think it is a learning experience, obviously. We have to put the ball on the guys. The speed of the game is too fast out there to put a lot of air on the ball, especially when guys are so wide open. It is hard for a quarterback when guys are so wide open. People move fast on the field and you have to put it on him. He was wide open. Again, we give Minnesota credit for making a great play and we will learn from it and move on. We had our opportunities, we just didn’t get it done. There is a lot of plays to be made that will make us successful and we will continue to grow from it. I have a lot of confidence in this team that we will take the right mental approach, we will stay together and we will find a way to win the close games.”
On the takeaways from the game…
“There was a lot of points scored. We rebounded and came back from a 10-3 deficit. We came back after halftime and made a few key stops on defense. The guys played hard, competed really well and had a chance to win it. I can never question our team’s competitive instincts and how hard we play. Sooner or later we are going to get over the hump because we have those attributes in that locker room. It is unfortunate, but it is what it is. Like I said, there is a lot of football left to be played and thankfully we have more opportunities to go out and play.”
P.J. Fleck, Minnesota head coach
Opening Statement....
"First of all, you have to give Fresno State a lot credit, I don't think Antoine Winfield, Jr. will ever be allowed back in the state of California. What a football game and I tip my cap to Coach Tedford, one of the best football coaches I have ever coached against. Very similar football teams, very physical and well-coached in terms of discipline. That was a very physical game and I remember watching Fresno State when David Carr and Coach Hill was here and anybody could have won that game and we are fortunate to win that game. That easily could have went either way and we are fortunate to be 2-0 and get out of here with a victory."
On Chris Autman-Bell's 20-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 28-28 at the end of regulation....
"They doubled Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman and it was 4th-and-13 and those are our guys and left Autman-Bell open to the field, one-on-one, inside, slant and go and that was our only shot. He didn't have a touchdown in a year-and-half and here it is and our young kicker and snapper finish it out. You hold your breath when you think you have tied the game in regulation or overtime, but it wasn't over and he came through. It took everyone and everyone found ways to make plays today and that is what this whole team is about."
On Antoine Winfield Jr. coming through with the game-sealing interception....
"He does it all the time in practice. He can track and cover so much ground so quickly and found a way to jump in front and make the interception. It is surreal. Nothing by coincidence and it is amazing that both times we have played Fresno State, he comes up with an interception to win the game. He is an amazing football player and our coaches put him in great position to be successful."
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tanner Morgan
On finding Chris Autman-Bell for the game-tying touchdown in regulation...
"He saw something out there and knew our playmaker, Chris Autman-Bell, was going to go up and make a play. It was an elite catch and an elite call."
On finding a way to win....
"That is what Coach talks about and I put the ball on the ground way too many times. That is unacceptable and not our standard. I love this team to death and would not want to go to battle with anybody else and they just find a way to win in a tough game. It shows our maturity."
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Antoine Winfield, Jr.
On similarity to last year's victory against Fresno State....
"It was very similar, it was like deja vu, and I saw the quarterback throw the ball and I was able to make a play."
On overcoming adversity in the game....
"There was a lot of adversity throughout the entire game and it was a great feeling to make a play at the end of the game to seal it."
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell
On making the game-tying touchdown in regulation....
"So we got in the huddle and Coach Fleck said it was coming to you and my eyes got big and it was coming to me so it is my time to shine. Sometimes in fall camp, I was getting down, but Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman told me your time is coming, and I made the play and it was crazy."
On overcoming adversity in the game....
"Like Coach Fleck says all the time, you have to keep rowing and adversity will happen. You just have to keep playing."
On Winfield, Jr.'s interception....
"Crazy. He is a baller-player and made the same play as last year and ball players make ball-player plays."