Upcoming Event: Football at Connecticut on November 8, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.
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3:30 p.m.
Football
at Connecticut
Quotes: UConn 45, Duke 14
9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Duke Coach Ted Roof
On today's game:
“It was disappointing especially with the way we were at halftime. We hadn't done a lot of things in the first half that I wanted us to do but we had fought through it. Defensively, we were holding them to field goals instead of letting them punch it in, then in the second half we didn't get many first downs, turned the ball over and did a poor job punting the football. I was pleased with where we were at the end of the first half because as a football team I thought we fought through some adversity and still had the lead, but like I said, what happened in the second half is a recipe for disaster and I'm very disappointed.”
On consistency:
“To be a good football team, you have to be consistent, and today we were not consistent. We have to go back to work as a staff and as players and as a football program and works to get better and get ready to play Virginia next week.”
On keeping the players focused:
“Win, lose or draw, you have to put it behind you. We have to learn from it though. We had some guys that got big eyes out there, and when you start looking around instead of focusing your eyes on what you're supposed to focus on, from a defensive perspective anyway, that's when the big plays occur. We can't do that. In the first half we were fighting through some adversity and hanging in there and we did not have a good performance in the second half. We give credit to Connecticut, as well.”
Duke Cornerback Leon Wright
On today's game:
“We started out great and then towards the end, I don't really know what happened. I guess the offense couldn't get a rhythm going and the defense was wearing down. We started to fall apart. I believe that we'll come back stronger next week.”
On the stop on Connecticut's last drive of the first half:
“We're going to fight to the end. We just kept fighting and we knew we couldn't give up a score there. Coach always told us that three field goals can beat a touchdown but if you keep them in the blue zone, they can't do anything but kick a field goal and they need three to beat a touchdown. We knew we had to hold them.”
On regrouping:
"We just have to keep at it. The second string has to step up. We just have to keep playing. We can't worry about this week and we have to keep moving forward.”
Duke LB Charles Robinson
On his first career interception:
“I knew we needed the play right then and there. The first thing that went through my head was that I needed to score. Unfortunately, I didn't, but that was the plan that went through my head.”
On the momentum shift in the second half:
“Honestly, I feel like we weren't playing like the team we were capable of playing like. We weren't doing the things that we normally do as Duke. This wasn't Duke football today. I think we fought with them hard in the first half and made plays when we needed to. That's one positive.”
On what the team needs to improve on:
“We have to play hard all four quarters.”
Connecticut Coach Randy Edsall
On today's win:
“I'm happy that the kids came down here and focused on just playing and winning, and understand that it usually takes 60 minutes to win a ball game. I was really proud and happy with the way they responded in the second half. In the first half we kind-of shot ourselves in the foot a little bit. All in all, it's a great win but we have a lot to do yet. We understand that and we won't sugarcoat it, but I'd rather be 1-0 than 0-1 and be able to learn from the corrections that we're going to be making. Most importantly, I'm extremely proud of my team because it's all about them.”
On Tyler Lorenzen's performance:
“I thought that he did a lot of the things that I thought he would do in terms of running the team. I thought he was very poised and composed and I thought he, for the most part, did a lot of the things that we wanted him to do. There are mistakes that he did make, but like I said, he made enough plays. The only really bad play was the interception that he threw and he'll learn from that.”
On the first play of the game:
“That was more my fault than anybody else's. We came into the game and if they got in a certain personnel group, we wanted to play an eight-to-nine-man front because of what their tendencies were from a year ago. We made a call that really put the kid in a bad position. After that, I thought the kids on defense played a really good game. They were relentless. I thought Lawrence Wilson did a really great job in there for his first start. There were some things there in the first half; we gave up some yards but we didn't give up the big plays. Anytime you hold somebody to 189 yards and only 15 yards rushing, I think you're having a pretty good day.”
On passing offense:
“We might have been a little bit stubborn early on with running the football, but again, we wanted to be able to see what could happen and we said, hey, we're just not getting the holes that we need so we just have to make the commitment to throwing the football. I think if you can be two dimensional it helps your overall production and balance on offense. That's what we have to continue to do.”
On getting a lot of people involved in the passing game:
“That's what we have to do. We have to utilize everybody. We have to utilize the length of the field, the width of the field and all the different people that we have in the passing game and spread it around so nobody can end up keying on one guy. The more that we do that, I think the more effective and productive we can be offensively.”
Players Mentioned
LB
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CB
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