Post Game Quotes From Ohio State vs. North Carolina State – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 13, 2003
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Ohio State Quotes
Maurice Hall, junior tailback
On the game vs. North Carolina State
“N.C. State played hard for the entire game. Even though they were down by 17 points, they never gave up. We made some mistakes toward the end of the game, but we still got the win and that’s all that matters.”
On the Buckeyes’ running game
“The running game did not look good today. We need to take a step back, watch some film and focus on next week.”
Dustin Fox, junior cornerback
On NCSU quarterback Phillip Rivers
“He is the real deal. He is an excellent quarterback who can make some great plays.”
On the fatigue factor
“I was fatigued out there. Chris Gamble and I took every opportunity we had to try and catch our breath, but even though you are tired you still have to suck it up and play your best.”
On playing in pressure situations
“I think playing in a lot of close games last year really helped us out today. We have faced adversity before and we know when we are in tough situations, we can’t tense up.”
A.J. Hawk, sophomore linebacker
On the OSU defensive effort
“We never let up. I think that type of attitude has been proven to be one of our trademarks.”
On his third-quarter interception
“They ran a pass route that we had prepared for all week long. I just went right to where my coaches told me to go and I got lucky.”
North Carolina State Quotes
North Carolina State Head Coach Chuck Amato
On playing Ohio State
“What a great game. It hurts more to come out on the short end in such a close game and of this magnitude. Nobody gave us a shot, but we came here to win and went up against the longest winning streak in the nation, in one of the biggest houses in the nation, in front of one of the biggest crowds in the nation, and I am so proud of our kids. We grew up a lot today.”
On the atmosphere in Ohio Stadium
“What a great atmosphere. The people up here in Columbus were so nice and gave us a great ovation when we walked off the field. It was great for our people to see that and for the Atlantic Coast Conference to see that.”
On traveling to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes
“This was great for our kids. It was against a physical, Midwest football team. We accepted the challenge. In five years this game will be on ESPN Classic.”
On the change in momentum in the game
“In the first half we got down 14-0 and I’ll bet a lot people might have switched the TV to a different game. I probably would have, too, if I didn’t know the kind of kids we have.”
On Ohio State’s second overtime touchdown
“In the second overtime on third down when their quarterback found their tight end in the back of the end zone, we had a chance to get their quarterback on the ground. If we had, they would have been forced to kick a field goal, but we didn’t do it.”
On comparing Ohio State’s Craig Krenzel and NCSU’s Phillip Rivers at the quarterback position
“That kid (Craig Krenzel) is a winner, just like Phillip Rivers is a winner for our team.”
Pat Thomas, junior linebacker
On N.C. State’s defensive game plan
“All we wanted to do was stop there running game. That was our main focus of the game. If we did that then we thought we had a chance.”
On stopping Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel
“I just knew I could beat the tackle and get to (Ohio State quarterback Craig) Krenzel. So, I put my hands up and hoped for something good.”
T.A. McLendon, sophomore tailback
On being stopped of the goal line on the final play of the game
“I saw the opening and I remember someone hitting me. I remember throwing my hands in the end zone. Then, I was just waiting on the call and the game was over.”
On being more productive offensively on the second half
“The coaches saw something in the defense we could target. We just executed better and read the defense better.”
On the excitement of the game
“It was fun to me because I have never played in a game that close and against a big team.”
Jerricho Cotchery, senior wide receiver
On playing Ohio State “They showed why they are national champs. They have been in these kind of games before. They didn’t budge one bit. They came back and scored.”
On what the Ohio State secondary brings to the field
“They all had a lot of speed and they were tough. I didn’t expect them to be that big but they are great players.”
On playing against OSU defensive back Chris Gamble
“I was looking forward to going up against (Ohio State’s Chris) Gamble. He is an All-American and I was looking forward to the challenge.”
Gregory Golden, junior cornerback
On the coaches’ reaction after the game
“They just told us that they were proud of us and that we played a great game. Like I said before, we have our ups and downs and this was a down game, so we will just have to pick it up next week.”
On the intensity level in Ohio Stadium
“There was no pressure. You just have to go out and do what you have been doing all game. It wasn’t more hostile than being at home, it was just more people.”
On NC State’s thoughts after its second touchdown, which brought NCSU within 10 points of Ohio State (24-14)
“Once we scored that second touchdown and you looked into the guys’ eyes, they weren’t going to quit.”
Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay, junior linebacker
On the Ohio State game
“We knew they were going to play smash-mouth football, but when we shut down their running game they beat us with another aspect of their offense. We played hard, but Ohio State is a great team. We dug down deep offensively and defensively the whole game and played well. It was a long game and everyone left it on the field.”
Phillip Rivers, senior quarterback
On the last play of the game
“It was close. I can’t complain about it. It was the right play and it was so close. It was a great game and it came down to a few inches.”
On the game
“Every play was a battle. We would get good field position but then kept digging ourselves into holes. We got into a rhythm in the second half, but Ohio State is a great team. It hurts, but you move on. We’re going to keep our heads up. We just kept fighting and never quit, even when it was 24-7.”
On NCSU’s quarterback sneaks at the end of the game
“They were spreading it out and nobody was in there (linebackers in the box). We can analyze those calls over and over. We had our chances.”
On the last play of the game
“It came down to putting the ball in T.A.’s (McLendon) hands. When he turned up, I said, ‘He’s got it.’ It was the right call, our coaches made them the whole game. We thought about going the other way with it, but we decided to give him a little more room. I was hoping the defense would overrun it and T.A. would cut back and maybe go airborne, but that’s one of the things our trainers said before the game that he couldn’t do.”
