Nebraska Football Postgame Quotes
Nebraska 17, Kansas State 3
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009
Memorial Stadium - Lincoln, Neb.
Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh
On what it feels like to get this (Big 12 North titlte) crossed off their list
“It feels real good, but it’s not solidified just yet. We have to go to Colorado to cross that off our goals.”
On how it felt to perform like he did for his last home game
“It felt good. I don’t think it was one of my best performances, but I will definitely take it, especially since we won. We still have a lot of work to do and we can make it up with another chance at Colorado.”
On if that performance fit the season they’ve had
“Definitely, that is what we want to be known for, a hard-nosed defense and offense. We want to run the ball whenever we want to, pass the ball whenever we want to, go in on defense and get three-and-outs when we have to, if not every time they get a possession.”
On how far the team has come since Coach Pelini first came to Nebraska
“We’ve grown tremendously, but there is still a lot of work. His message when he first got here is embraced by everybody. I think it is embraced, but you have to keep working. We’re not to what he expects from us, but I think we are on a good path.”
On what the mood in the locker room is like
“Happy with the situation we are in. Obviously we accomplished one of our main goals to get to Dallas. We definitely have to go out and finish this at Colorado. We want to dominate the Big 12 North and the only way we can do that is to go down to Boulder and take care of business.”
Center Jacob Hickman
On what it means to get the Big 12 North trophy
“Obviously this is a big one. Everything around the day being senior day and everything, it was a big one. It was fun to hoist that trophy.”
On if the team feels like there is a lot more out there for them
“This was just goal number one on our team goals, it’s not like you only have one objective. You can’t overlook Colorado; they are a good team who plays hard. We have to go into that next week and we have the championship the week after. We all have high expectations and we expect to work hard and go out there to do everything we can to win the game.”
On the drive in the second half when they got up by two touchdowns
“We knew we couldn’t let them hang around us and be within one touchdown of us. We knew the best way to do it was come out right out of the half and score. All the coaches were fired up after halftime and it really transfers to players. We ran the ball a little bit, passed it, it was a good balanced drive and we got it in there.”
Quarterback Zac Lee
On how big it was for them to bounce back in the third quarter
“I tried to force the ball (with the interception). I should have just thrown it down and took the field goal. Honestly, it’s kind of out of sight, out of mind. As soon as it’s over you just go on to the next thing. We would have been ready for the third quarter regardless of what happened in the second quarter.”
On if he likes getting calls to throw down the field
“You always like when you get the chance to throw the ball downfield especially with a guy like Niles, who has speed and is a big guy.”
On how important the drive to start the second half was
“I think it was really important. It put us up by two scores and made it just that much more for them to have to come back with it. It was obviously important to get out there and give our defense a little more to work with too.”
On what Coach Pelini told him after the interception
“Just manage and be smart, especially in the red zone when we have points. Anywhere inside the 30 is field-goal range for Alex (Henerey). He wants me to be smart.”
Wide Receiver Niles Paul
On the 3rd & 1 play that was called to him at the start of the third quarter
“I was just thinking I had to make a play on it. Where ever Zac (Lee) put it, I knew I was going to have to catch it."
On how big of play that was when you look at the game
"It definitely gave us a lot more momentum. Roy (Helu Jr.) went out there and did what he does best."
On being the Big 12 North champions
"It's the first time I've ever been champion of anything in football, so I'm excited about this and I'm going to celebrate it with my team."
On what going to Dallas for the Big 12 Championship game means to him
"We get to play a good team in Dallas and I'm looking forward to that, but right now we have to focus on Colorado."
On how the game went
"Kansas State is a good team and they play good defense. We did what we could. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot a couple times, but we managed the situation and came out with the win."
Tight End Mike McNeill
On how it felt to get back into the end zone
“It was nice. I forgot what the end zone felt like, so it was nice to get a taste again."
On if he feels like he has gotten targeted more the past couple weeks
"Yeah, I mean I feel like I've had some more catches than I have had in the past. That's been nice."
On winning the Big 12 North
"It's awesome. Obviously, we've put in a lot of work and it's a great feeling. We're real ecstatic, but we still have games left, so we're not done yet."
On if he is surprised about how the season has gone
"It's been a little weird. I wouldn't have thought some of the games would have played out the way they did, but we still won the North and that's the important part."
On how this team responded after the Iowa State game
"It's just guys being resilient. You just have to keep fighting. It's kind of what you saw last year. We had our ups and dows last year. You just have to keep fighting and keep pushing through and things will turn out the way you want them to."
Defensive Back Anthony West
On if the season has been difficult for him
"Yeah, but the main thing I can do for myself is just stay positive. That's really all I can do and keep working hard."
On if it helps when the coaches tell you they are going to need you later in the season
"Yeah, it helps a lot. Telling you to hang in there, keep fighting, keep working hard, because obviously it was hard, but that's all you really can do. Just keep working hard and it helps having their support and having them say stuff like that."