Nebraska vs. Ball State
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Ball State Head Coach Brady Hoke<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Opening Statement
“We had some opportunities and we didn't capitalize on them. We need to make some plays when the time presents itself. Opportunities don't come every time you hit the field. We're very disappointed in the outcome. I'm proud of the guys on our football team, and the character of them and the heart with which they play on a weekly basis. It's a tough pill to swallow because we had opportunities, and we didn't capitalize on the opportunities that were there."
On if there were any moral victories on the day
“No. There were no moral victories. We work too hard and our kids work too hard 12 months a year, the coaches and their families and the kids and their work ethic, so there are no moral victories. You go to win, and if you don't go to win you might as well not play or coach or whatever."
On letting their nine point lead slip away
“I think they executed. I think we had an opportunity to execute on a couple of occasions. We missed a tackle on a third-down play back in the backfield, and you've got to make those plays. That's part of playing the game, and part of executing. The kids played really hard, and that's the number one thing that we want to do. We've got to play hard, and play well, and execute, and we didn't do that."
On going for the field goal at the end of the game
“Well, it was fourth down. Also, he kicked a 65-yarder on Thursday from the same hash. He's got the leg strength. The snap was a little high, and I don't think Tanner (Justice) did a great job of getting it down. We had plenty of opportunities before that to make the game more in our favor, in my opinion, than that one kick."
On the final two passes during the last BallState drive
“They were blitzing, and they were playing man coverage. We've got a guy who throws the ball pretty well and guys who normally catch the ball well. On both those shots I think the linebacker made a nice play on the last one to Darius (Hill). But we just got to execute, because what we wanted was there."
On having confidence that the final field goal would go in
“I don't regret (calling the play). I really don't. I thought he was going to make it, I can just tell you that. I felt really good about him and his confidence level. Hindsight is 20/20. If we go for it on fourth down and don't make it, then we never gave ourselves a shot. We thought we (had) the ball where we needed it, as far as the distance, we had the wind behind us, and he's got a good leg."