Football vs. Arkansas Postgame Quotes
10/14/2017 10:52:00 PM | Football
Alabama
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening statement:
"I'm really pleased (with tonight's win). I think that this was a really good team win for us. It was a goal to go out there and play for four quarters, to finish the game the right way and to continue to create an identity for the team in terms of how they compete – commitment to discipline, execution, effort, intensity, and the kind of toughness we want to play with. I was pleased with the way the players responded.
"Obviously, there are a few things to clean up. We turned the ball over a couple times on special teams and offense. We took too many penalties, especially at the end of the game when we were trying to play some other players. We had three 15-yard penalties on their touchdown drive. I thought we had good balance on offense, and I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage for the most part. Defensively, we did a good job against their run and forced them to be one-dimensional. We did not do a good job on third down on the field goal drive. I think they converted three third-down opportunities on that drive to extend it, and they ended up scoring points.
"All in all, there were a lot of good things out there, and we were able to play a lot of players, so we are really happy about that. It will be a learning experience and helpful for (those players) in their future."
On how the team responded:
"I think we learned a lot of lessons in the Texas A&M game. I think we gradually responded. I didn't know how the team was going to play today, to be honest with you; I didn't know how exactly we would do it. I think we had a little better week of practice, and I was pleased with their effort today. We did prepare a little bit better for this game."
On fast starts relating to a team's energy:
"I think its huge, but I have also been in games where you do that and then all of the sudden everybody has relief syndrome, thinks it is going to be easy, you kind of let up a little bit and then you sort of run dry for a while. I've seen it work both ways, but I was pleased that we were able to sustain after that and continue to play. We had a few bumps (in tonight's game). They started pressuring us quite a bit, but I think once we settled down and got back into the rhythm, we did a nice job finishing the game in the second half."
#34 Damien Harris, Running Back
On his big rush on the first play of the game:
"Yeah, it was a good play. That was how we wanted to start the game off. We wanted to start fast and set the tone on offense. We got the ball first, and we took advantage of that. The line did a great job getting movement, wideouts were blocking on the perimeter and I was able to get an explosive run. There are a lot of parts that went into it, everything was working in the same direction, and so we were able to have a lot of success there."
On the Tennessee game next week:
"The Tennessee game means a lot to us, but we're not going to get caught up in the hype. We're not going to get into any of the external factors and let those affect us this week. Tonight, we just want to enjoy this victory after a win over a good Arkansas team. They came out and gave us a battle, but I think the offense really had a good night, was able to put some points on the board, and I'm happy to get out of here with another win in conference play."
#29 Minkah Fitzpatrick, Defensive Back
On the win tonight:
"It was a good team win. We did a lot of good things, but we still have a lot of room to improve. There was a lot of improvement from last week, but I think we had a good game plan and it showed tonight. We're going to enjoy this win for 24 hours and get ready for Tennessee this week. The Volunteers are a tough opponent, so we're going to have to work in practice to continue to improve and be prepared for a big game."
On the improvements made last week going into tonight's game:
"We focused on finishing all week, doing what we're supposed to do, especially at the end of the halves. There's a lot of small things that we could have done better at Texas A&M, and we really focused in on that this week of practice. The leaders expressed the need to improve, the coaches spread that to their position groups, and we took that into the practice week and made sure to get better."
Arkansas
Head Coach Bret Bielema
Opening Statement:
"Very disappointed as our guys put in a lot of good prep. Obviously, a tough situation for a new quarterback to walk into, but [quarterback] Cole [Kelley] makes you excited about some things. I thought our guys were excited to play for him, play with him. We knew during the course of the week that [quarterback] Austin [Allen] was not going to be there. We got some good news early in the week that it wasn't as bad as, well, wasn't one of the worst diagnoses. He got lucky in the fact that it's not anything that needs surgery. We'll get him back, and there's a chance for next week, but if not it may be a couple of weeks yet.
"I thought Cole [Kelley] did some things that were very, very positive. He's a fighter, a competitor. Just asked our guys to keep swinging, swing for swing, fight for fight. The way we started defensively was just very disheartening. Just a routine stretch play to our left, and we had some people just get caught up in the moment, get a little over zealous in their pursuit. They cut it back, and it goes for a score. Just something you can't do. All plays that bend back behind the backside linebacker, if they get a hit, turn into big plays, and that was frustrating. I thought they rebounded and played pretty good in the first half. Wanted to get some points on the board right before the half. Unfortunately, obviously, didn't get points. Would go for it a hundred times over again. I just thought we needed a touchdown there to stay where we needed to be and make a big statement. Obviously, didn't get points.
"Came back in the second half, fought. I thought when we had the pick early, we'd change that into something and make some points off the turnover. We'd have a chance to swing momentum back to our side, but we didn't do anything with that drive. And then just really back-and-forth. Defensively, I thought our guys, for the most part, battled even though they gave up a couple of scores there at the end. It just seemed like it was steam-willed against us. We had a turnover. The one that Cole [Kelley] tried to do a little too much. We knew that going in. He rides the highs and tries to do too much. There's some good teaching moments. The first start for a quarterback, obviously, there's going to be the good and the bad. We'll make some strides with him and keep moving forward. I don't think there's anything we can't correct on film.
"We'll lick our wounds, go back and try to make it as positive as we can for the week. Get ourselves ready to play Auburn. The only other thing I shared with the guys there at the end: The only people that can change this answer are the people in this room. Everybody on the team, all the coaches, all the people involved can change the answer in a hurry, and we can't give up free plays on every aspect of the game. It was a solemn, quiet locker room, but we'll get back and strap up and play."
On Freshman Cole Kelley's performance:
"I was excited to watch him play today. There's a lot of positives and some things he can build off of. At halftime I said let's just keep going two-minute (offense). I thought his poise was good. I felt his confidence level was there. We thought we could limit what they were doing defensively. I think the part that Cole has to understand, and he will make these strides, is just play every play for what it is. You can't hang onto that last play too long. He's such a competitor and if anything goes wrong, he wants the answer right now and you have to flip the page and move forward."
On the running game versus the Alabama defense:
"I think, in the first half especially, it's part of the reason that we went tempo. It seems we weren't getting any movement … obviously we had some new guys in new positions and we knew there would be some growing pains there. I felt at halftime that we couldn't do anything in the run game so let's just try and see what we can do in the throw game and play with a little bit of tempo."
#15 Cole Kelley, QB
On playing No.1 Alabama in his first game:
"On offense we have 11 people and it's 11 verses 11. I can only do my job. I can't be Superman, but also you can't make mistakes and stuff like that. It's just football, man. It's just a football game. That's my mindset. Have fun and play football."
On his thoughts on the game:
"We lost, and that's not good. I thought we started to do some things offensively, which was good. But I don't care who we're playing. I don't like to lose, so I'm not very happy."
#8 De'Jon Harris, LB
On his thoughts on the game:
"It always hurts to lose, man. Especially, on defense. You've got a certain amount of things that you work on in practice and you always execute throughout the week. And to see it come the way you do it in a game, and we do it wrong, that always hurts. But we finished strong. That was the big thing. Didn't go out like we did last week. Put good things on film when you're down. That's when guys start to put their head down or just go out there and just do whatever. I think we finished strong."
On the opening play being a 75-yard touchdown:
"It's always tough to see because you picture yourself making plays throughout the game. You know, making that snag and imposing your will. To see them go 75 [yards] the first play of the game really hurt us."
