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Football
vs Blue & White Game
Quotes: Duke 51, Pitt 48
11/1/2014 5:20:00 PM | Football
Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe
Opening Comments:
“That was a classic college football game. I am certain that will be on ESPN's long list of classics. I want to congratulate our team because that was a team victory. We were resilient, continued to fight and believed down to the very end. I certainly want to congratulate the Pittsburgh program and I have to say that James Conner is a special football player.”
On calling two time-outs at the end of regulation:
“Well I had three of them left. I was just trying to break a rhythm and maybe set our own rhythm. I knew I wasn't going to take the third one and I told our team that too. I think about how to manage the end of games and I was trying to give our players the best chance to win. It seemed like the right thing to do.”
On the improvement of quarterback Anthony Boone and wide receiver Jamison Crowder's play:
“I think our practices have been great. Both of them are healthier than they've been and I'm very proud of both of those guys. It has been really positive in practice and it showed on the field today.
On deciding to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal at the end of the first half:
“If I would've called for a field goal, I think our players would've taken a timeout and told me no. When you have the ball inside the one yard line I thought for sure it would've been ruled a touchdown. I knew we had a good play, and during that timeout there was no discussion about it.”
Duke Quarterback Anthony Boone
On the excitement that arises when Duke plays Pitt:
“They execute very well on offense and defense. They do a great job and are great players on both sides of the ball. It just came down to the last possession.”
On how the kickoff return for a touchdown changed the momentum in the game:
“Any time you get a big play in special teams it is a momentum boost, whether it's a punt within the twenty, blocked punt, or good punt coverage. Any time something like that happens it swings the momentum of the game.”
On what it means to have the most wins for a Duke quarterback all-time:
“I have not really thought about that yet. Obviously, when I am done playing it will hit me, but until then I am just trying to help my team win.”
Duke Defensive End Dezmond Johnson
On how it felt to limit Pitt to a field goal in the second overtime:
“It felt good. It was a glimpse of how we should have been playing at the beginning of the game. The game did not go the way that it should have. We did not play as well as we would have liked, especially prior to overtime. Limiting them to a field goal rejuvenated us and let us know what we should have been doing since the beginning of the game.”
On whether or not the defense did their job for the offense to go out and win:
“Our offense was playing exceptionally well. They were on point. We knew that if we could hold them to a field goal that would leave us with a high chance of winning the game.”
On the changes the defense made after half-time:
“We just got back to playing Duke football and playing Duke defense. If we were going to come out and win the game we knew we would have to play like that. We came out flat in the first half, but Coach rejuvenated us and let us know that this would be a physical game. Pitt is a physical team and they have a physical running back, so we had to come out more physical and mentally focused.”
Duke Wide Receiver Jamison Crowder
On his big game:
“We had a good week of practice. Coach came to me before the game and said that he was going to go to me early in the game, and he did.”
On being called out at the one yard line towards the end of the first half:
“There was a lot happening that made it hard to see what was going on towards the sideline. I could feel myself drifting. I could feel I was getting close which at that point when I caught the ball I wanted to make sure that I let my legs go dead and to stay in bounds. Looking at the replay I thought that it was a touchdown and so did most of the guys.”
On his coverage during the game:
“Once I caught the first ball my confidence went up helping me catch the second one and that led me to tell coach to give me a chance for the third one. I just needed to make the play. In the end it helped my confidence out during the remainder of the game.”
Pitt Head Coach Paul Chryst
Opening Comments:
“I'm certainly proud of the effort that the guys gave us today and all week. It did not finish the way we'd like it to finish. Give Duke credit. They are a good football team. There were lots of plays in that game and it didn't come down to one or two plays.”
On setting up field position for the end of regulation field goal:
“With that personnel group in and the clock going, it gave us an opportunity for a run that we had numbers on. We had a chance to run to the short side and get out of bounds, but we didn't.”
On problems with snaps to the quarterback and field goal opportunities:
“I saw the first one, and we snapped another one that was inside. I noticed the last couple of snaps were better. I remember one shotgun snap was a little high.”
On the performance of James Conner:
“I thought he ran hard and ran well. He was a bit winded during the first overtime. He played well.”
On the thought of potentially going for two points in overtime, after a touchdown:
“I thought our defense was coming on a bit. The first time, I liked the energy and was confident. But absolutely, we thought long and hard about it and in hindsight I wish we would have.”
On his confidence in Chris Blewitt and the kicking game:
“I've got a lot of confidence in him. There is not one player on that field that played a perfect game, on both sides. I have a ton of faith in him. We're going to need him again.”
On putting the loss behind them, and preparing for the next game:
“I had a lot of respect for Duke going in. You always have to be prepared. I don't think there was any carry over from last year's win. We've got to find a way to get over the hump. It doesn't always turn out the way you want it. We've got a bye week and we have to keep going. We've got to finish this season outright.”
Opening Comments:
“That was a classic college football game. I am certain that will be on ESPN's long list of classics. I want to congratulate our team because that was a team victory. We were resilient, continued to fight and believed down to the very end. I certainly want to congratulate the Pittsburgh program and I have to say that James Conner is a special football player.”
On calling two time-outs at the end of regulation:
“Well I had three of them left. I was just trying to break a rhythm and maybe set our own rhythm. I knew I wasn't going to take the third one and I told our team that too. I think about how to manage the end of games and I was trying to give our players the best chance to win. It seemed like the right thing to do.”
On the improvement of quarterback Anthony Boone and wide receiver Jamison Crowder's play:
“I think our practices have been great. Both of them are healthier than they've been and I'm very proud of both of those guys. It has been really positive in practice and it showed on the field today.
On deciding to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal at the end of the first half:
“If I would've called for a field goal, I think our players would've taken a timeout and told me no. When you have the ball inside the one yard line I thought for sure it would've been ruled a touchdown. I knew we had a good play, and during that timeout there was no discussion about it.”
Duke Quarterback Anthony Boone
On the excitement that arises when Duke plays Pitt:
“They execute very well on offense and defense. They do a great job and are great players on both sides of the ball. It just came down to the last possession.”
On how the kickoff return for a touchdown changed the momentum in the game:
“Any time you get a big play in special teams it is a momentum boost, whether it's a punt within the twenty, blocked punt, or good punt coverage. Any time something like that happens it swings the momentum of the game.”
On what it means to have the most wins for a Duke quarterback all-time:
“I have not really thought about that yet. Obviously, when I am done playing it will hit me, but until then I am just trying to help my team win.”
Duke Defensive End Dezmond Johnson
On how it felt to limit Pitt to a field goal in the second overtime:
“It felt good. It was a glimpse of how we should have been playing at the beginning of the game. The game did not go the way that it should have. We did not play as well as we would have liked, especially prior to overtime. Limiting them to a field goal rejuvenated us and let us know what we should have been doing since the beginning of the game.”
On whether or not the defense did their job for the offense to go out and win:
“Our offense was playing exceptionally well. They were on point. We knew that if we could hold them to a field goal that would leave us with a high chance of winning the game.”
On the changes the defense made after half-time:
“We just got back to playing Duke football and playing Duke defense. If we were going to come out and win the game we knew we would have to play like that. We came out flat in the first half, but Coach rejuvenated us and let us know that this would be a physical game. Pitt is a physical team and they have a physical running back, so we had to come out more physical and mentally focused.”
Duke Wide Receiver Jamison Crowder
On his big game:
“We had a good week of practice. Coach came to me before the game and said that he was going to go to me early in the game, and he did.”
On being called out at the one yard line towards the end of the first half:
“There was a lot happening that made it hard to see what was going on towards the sideline. I could feel myself drifting. I could feel I was getting close which at that point when I caught the ball I wanted to make sure that I let my legs go dead and to stay in bounds. Looking at the replay I thought that it was a touchdown and so did most of the guys.”
On his coverage during the game:
“Once I caught the first ball my confidence went up helping me catch the second one and that led me to tell coach to give me a chance for the third one. I just needed to make the play. In the end it helped my confidence out during the remainder of the game.”
Pitt Head Coach Paul Chryst
Opening Comments:
“I'm certainly proud of the effort that the guys gave us today and all week. It did not finish the way we'd like it to finish. Give Duke credit. They are a good football team. There were lots of plays in that game and it didn't come down to one or two plays.”
On setting up field position for the end of regulation field goal:
“With that personnel group in and the clock going, it gave us an opportunity for a run that we had numbers on. We had a chance to run to the short side and get out of bounds, but we didn't.”
On problems with snaps to the quarterback and field goal opportunities:
“I saw the first one, and we snapped another one that was inside. I noticed the last couple of snaps were better. I remember one shotgun snap was a little high.”
On the performance of James Conner:
“I thought he ran hard and ran well. He was a bit winded during the first overtime. He played well.”
On the thought of potentially going for two points in overtime, after a touchdown:
“I thought our defense was coming on a bit. The first time, I liked the energy and was confident. But absolutely, we thought long and hard about it and in hindsight I wish we would have.”
On his confidence in Chris Blewitt and the kicking game:
“I've got a lot of confidence in him. There is not one player on that field that played a perfect game, on both sides. I have a ton of faith in him. We're going to need him again.”
On putting the loss behind them, and preparing for the next game:
“I had a lot of respect for Duke going in. You always have to be prepared. I don't think there was any carry over from last year's win. We've got to find a way to get over the hump. It doesn't always turn out the way you want it. We've got a bye week and we have to keep going. We've got to finish this season outright.”
Players Mentioned
NFL Combine: Brian Parker II
Saturday, February 28
NFL Combine: Chandler Rivers
Thursday, February 26
NFL Combine: Vincent Anthony Jr.
Wednesday, February 25
NFL Combine: Wesley Williams
Wednesday, February 25
