Fresno State-Boise State Postgame Quotes
Fresno State Head Coach Jeff Tedford
On tonight’s win over Boise State…
“Very proud of our team. We knew it was going to be a tough battle. They have worked really hard, they had a good week of practice, they were really focused. Its been a long time since the milk can has been here. We talked last night about if history was going to record this 2023 team as far as the Milk can was concerned. They were driven. It wasn’t a perfect game but you just keep battling back and forth until you win. I couldn’t be prouder of this group and what they’ve accomplished so far.”
On the effect of big plays tonight…
“That is what these games are about, that’s a championship game. Two 3-1 teams, really good football programs. The turnovers were big, big plays are huge. Tip your cap to Boise, they kept battling. The quarterback found ways to run, he plays with his legs and they’re never going to quit so you have to keep going. You’re never going to run away from that team, they’re way too good on defense to run away from them.”
On tonight’s offensive strategy…
“It felt like we could take some shots tonight, our receivers made really big plays. Josiah Freeman I think stepped up tonight. We had some shots we wanted to take, we knew if we ended up 2nd and ten we would be okay but we have to take our shots. I think Coach McCann did a nice job of calling that. Boise is very difficult to run the football on so we had to get the ball down the field.”
On Malik Sherrod embracing the culture of being a Bulldog…
“You talk about being a Bulldog… that guy played possessed tonight, I’m not kidding you. He was geared up and ready to go. Very passionate, very emotional and he has become a leader of this team. He has a very strong voice on this team. Boy, he played great tonight.”
On the importance of tonight’s win…
“The Milk Can is a rivalry game. It’s been a long time since its been here, our goal is to bring it back. The Milk Can is a big one. We’ve beaten them a couple times in championship games, but you don’t get the Milk Can for that. Just the ability to play a really good football team at home, I want to take this time to thank our fans. Our fans were totally different tonight. I’m really proud of our fans, it was great to see them into it tonight."
On the teams third down offense…
“I think first of all, Coach McCann and Coach Wade do a really nice job of planning it and then the team executes it really well. If you can be over 50% that’s pretty good.”
Malik Sherrod, Jr., RB
On his punt return...
“From the time I woke up I was ready to play honestly. Like Levelle said, the last time we played these boys here, it left a bad taste in our mouths. I just wanted to make sure I could do everything I can to put us in the right position to be successful. With the help of the O-line and the whole offense I was able to do that.”
On the last touchdown…
“Coach called a play and I knew I had to get a first down so I got the ball, saw the crease and hit it. I felt a little shoulder fly or something, I just brushed it off and kept running for the touchdown. I saw two guys on the side of me chasing me down but I knew I was faster than them, I knew I could get to the end zone. It for sure brought me back to the glory days. I’m just grateful that I got the opportunity here and I could make a play here.”
On the running back culture at Fresno State…
“I’m fortunate enough that coach Tedford took a chance on me and brought me in. Me being able to repay him in this way and being put in that group it's an honor.”
On Boise state…
“I had a little chip on my shoulder, I felt like they didn't give me an opportunity and then on top of that the running back coach was over there too. I just tried to show them that we have a better room over here and he shouldn't have left.”
On his game play…
“I’m a very emotional person especially on the field, I feel that's what takes me to another level. I just go out there and I play with emotion and with passion. Coming off the sideline, we were talking about some stuff that was going on in the field and some looks that we saw. I just had to tell the offense that we were leaving points out there, we have to convert when we’re that close.”
On the end of his punt return…
“I caught it, my guys made some beautiful blocks to spring me open to the open field. As soon as I made the cut across the field I looked at the time and saw triple zeros so I knew this was the last play. I had to get in the zone and no one was going to stop me. That was muscle memory, I didn’t plan it, it just happened.”
On the win being a statement…
“I wouldn't say that, I feel like we came into this game believing we were going to win so it’s not really a surprise to us, it may be to other people but we just keep our head down and we work one game at a time. We got this one and now its on to next week.”
On the Boise State defense…
"There was no manipulation, we had to stick to what we know and stick to what we do. We just had to execute, the thing that we preach every week is to be explosive in the run game and we have to firm up front. I feel like we did a good job of that this week so shoutout to my boys out front because I couldn't have done it without them.”
Levelle Bailey, S, LB
On the initial thoughts on the game and the win tonight…
“Amazing feeling, knowing that we beat these guys two years in a row coming off a championship game win. But we just fought till the end, the defense trying to limit the third down and trying to get the offense into a groove with the turnovers. It was such a well rounded game, special teams we finally cracked the kickoff return with Malik before halftime, a great momentum boost going into halftime.”
On winning the Milk Can for the first time…
“It means a lot this is my first time. We had a team meeting last night, he (Tedford) asked “Who in this room has ever held up the Milk Can?” and the only person was Matt Smith. It's an overwhelming feeling to know that it's staying home in Fresno.”
On Phoenix Jackson’s interception…
“Phoenix is the one that's going to hold onto that for the rest of his life, man. Everybody knows Phoenix is the most confident guy in our locker room. I’m glad he got the pick, I should have gotten mine, he’s got one up over me. I’m going to have to hear about this for the rest of the weekend, but he's got a great upside, always positive and he's a learner of the game. I say Phoenix Jackson has a high ceiling and be ready next year.”
On Al’zillion Hamilton…
‘AZ has always been that guy since the spring, I had the question at media days on who's going to be that one player to really branch out. I said it was Az and his opportunity came fast, when Lockridge went down and he’s been filling that role well. He's a guy that builds off confidence, once the confidence is going his way, he’ll be someone to reckon with.
On holding Boise State George Holani…
“George, as you've seen tonight he was a hard guy to bring down, he keeps his legs moving and he knows how to find a seam behind a well-rounded offensive line. Little do people know he’s got moves, he’s got a finesse game as well. He broke one of us down in the hole with a spin move. He’s been that guy, it's just unfortunate that he’s been dea;ling with injuries but showed that he left off where he was last year.
On what things the defense can still work on…
“Getting off on the third down, that's something we need to do and make that change right now. We’ve been having great first and second downs, but getting them on third and five plus. It seems like we can’t get off the field especially going into half, the past couple of games. Since Wyoming it seems live we’ve given up a touchdown before halftime, that's something we need to fix ASAP. You can never do too much tackling, just getting the guy on the ground, keeping the quarterback in the pocket.”
On the crowd tonight…
“It was great knowing the crowd stayed and helped, especially on the defensive side. It was hard to communicate on our side, so I know it was hard communicating on the offensive side of the ball. But knowing the red wave was always behind us, we didn’t get the chance to play them here last year, we know we need to rely on the home crowd advantage.”
On Erik Brooks team impact …
“EB is that vocal guy on the offensive, no matter what, he could have a “drop” and still have a smile on his face and be positive. Knowing he's a veteran guy and it's not going to his head, there's a lot of people that make a bad play and hold onto it the whole game. Once he makes that impact or gets his confidence up…he’s a person that's going to be positive no matter what.”
On mentally preparing…
“I want to say it was last night, we got a video from Jake (Haener) in New Orleans. The statement he made was “Remember what happened in 2021, the last time these guys came out here in front of a sold out crowd.” That really hit home knowing that I was a part of the 2021 team that laid the ball.”
On emotions during the end of first half…
“It felt like it was Nikko’s punt return in the championship, it really broke it open. The momentum going into half knowing it was a three point game before he scored. He gave us breathing room on the defensive side with a ten point lead going into half. We got thirty more minutes to bring the Milk Can home and that's what we did.”