Nebraska Player Quotes

#6 Nebraska 17, South Dakota State 3
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)

Quarterback Taylor Martinez
On if South Dakota State did something unexpected
"They're a good defense, really well coached. They just had our number that game."

On if South Dakota State's defensive confidence grew
"Yeah, especially when we got put back on the first series before the 20. We just couldn't get a rhythm going at all throughout the whole entire game."

On if he tried too hard to make plays at times
"Sometimes I tried too hard to try to make the offense get a play. I try my best and obviously it didn't work very well."

On the mindset going into this game
"The mindset was just come in like every other game. Come out and play like we're going to play Kansas State two weeks from now and just keep playing hard like Nebraska plays. But we didn't play like we normally play."

Running Back Rex Burkhead
On what South Dakota State did defensively
"They just outplayed us, hands down. They came to play, we didn't. You know, they came ready to go and we just didn't execute, that's what it came down to. I don't know how to say it. They just outplayed us."

On what worked in the 96-yard drive in the first quarter
"The offensive line. They did a tremendous job and, like we said, once you have success you get into a rhythm and when the offense gets into a rhythm it's really put together well."

On if this is an example of the offense's reliance on the run
"Yeah, I mean, we didn't run as well as we have the past few games of course. I think we still ran the ball pretty well and at times we passed the ball really well. We just have to concentrate on the little details and finish drives. I think that's the biggest thing. Not just go out and start off or have a few plays here and there, but really finish."

On whether this was a wake-up call entering Big 12 play
"Oh, definitely. You have to head into Big 12 with that chip on your shoulder. Teams are coming after us; you have to be prepared, so it's definitely a wake-up call, but give credit to South Dakota State. They came in ready to play and they took it to us."

Linebacker Lavonte David
On having 19 total tackles against South Dakota State
"I don't even believe that stat right now. It doesn't feel like it. Everybody was flying to the ball, but I don't feel like I had 19 tackles."

On who he felt was to blame for errors
"As a player, I feel like it was on us. (Coach) gave us calls, we have to execute our responsibilities. Sometimes they came at us with things we'd never seen before, but still. We have to apply our rules and adjust to it. Coach Pelini did a great job preparing us this week; I just think we didn't execute the way he wanted us to."

On the importance of the defense's first goal-line stand
"It was real big. We take pride in that, when somebody's down on the goal line, we have to up our energy level a little bit. That's the thing every defense will want to do: up their level when [the offense] is on the goal line. Then again, they're not even supposed to be on the goal line."

On what he expects upcoming practices to be like
"Very intense practices. We're just preparing like we would prepare for any other game. We still have to have a great week of practices, still have to go hard."

Sophomore Quarterback Cody Green
On if SDSU pressed Nebraska into doing things they didn't want to do
"We just weren't prepared. You have to give it to them. They came out here and knew what they were going to do and they did it pretty well. It was an old-fashioned, hard-nosed, earn whatever you get type football game."

On what he attributed the lack of preparation to
"I don't think we came in there and had the same mindset we had against Washington. You hate to have that but I think I could see it. We went out there thinking we were going to break a few runs. We couldn't look at it like that. You have to let the game come to you."

On what it felt like to come in and be the stabilizing force
"I've been ready for it. We had to do that against Texas Tech. You just go in there not trying to be Superman. Don't hunt for ghosts, just go in there and run the offense."

Redshirt Freshman Offensive Lineman Jeremiah Sirles
On the frustration caused by SDSU
"Hats off to them first of all. They played a hell of a game and came out with their hair on fire. They played us very hard fast and strong."

On if SDSU played harder than Nebraska
"I wouldn't say they played harder. They came out and played fast and strong, but we had problems all around the board. It was just a bad game. I can't think of worse. It was just frustrating. It's a win, but a frustrating win."

On if SDSU's demeanor changed after the first few possessions when they realized they could stop NU
"They came in here wanting to win this game, and they thought that they were going to win it. They had that attitude and that's the way they played the whole game. I don't know that they made a change from start to finish. I do know they came in hungry and just kept going."

Sophomore Linebacker Alonzo Whaley
On if he was disappointed with the way the game turned out
"We didn't come out and play the way we wanted to, but you have to give credit to South Dakota State. They came out and played hard. They outplayed us and they outcoached us. We definitely didn't play our game today and have to fix ourselves more than anything."

On the touchdown he saved in the first quarter that turned out to make a difference
"I just wanted to be aggressive and play downhill. I had Eric (Martin) cleaning up everything behind me so I wanted to be aggressive. That was pretty much it. I wanted to take away the ability to run the ball."

On how important that play may have been
"Every play during the game is important. I never really thought that it would make a difference. When you step out, you have to play for your team and that's what I was trying to do. I wanted to be that guy that makes plays. Every time you step on the field, it is for your team, and you might as well be relentless while you're out there."