Wisconsin Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. LSU
Lambeau Field College Classic presented by Carmex
Sept. 3, 2016
Lambeau Field – Green Bay, Wis.

Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Opening Statement:
COACH CHRYST: Well, very proud of the way our team, not only the way they played, but the way they prepared and the way they went about everything. And I'm really happy for them. It was a heck of a game against a really good opponent. And thought they just kept playing and maximized this opportunity. It was a good atmosphere and appreciate everything the Packers organization did. The fans, they came, just riding on the bus from the hotel, it was pretty special. I wanted the kids to be able to enjoy this moment but also wanted them to maximize what happened on the field. The one thing is that there were a lot of questions thrown out about this team. We've only played one game, we didn't answer them all, but the one thing I have been telling Justin (Wilcox) and Jimmy (Leonhard), two new coaches, I said 'the one thing you'll like about this group of guys, they'll be ready to play.' I thought that guys were ready. And I didn't think they were over the top. But they have been fun to be around. I think the challenge… let me back up, I want them to enjoy this. The opportunity we had because of this game, I wanted them to enjoy it. But it's also a great challenge for this team. What we do with this and how we move forward, that'll define who we are as a team this year. But we certainly wanted to enjoy this day and all that went into it. And like I said, very proud of them. Far from perfect, but they just kept playing and found ways to make plays.  
 
Q. Did you play with the physical nature that you hoped on both sides of the ball? And how important was that against a team like LSU?
COACH CHRYST: Yeah, I thought guys did have a good mindset. And I thought there were times where we really were physical and where we needed to be today. We'll look at the film and see a lot of areas where we can get better but I thought that both offensive line and defensive line, front seven defensively, I thought there were times they were coming off the ball and that was good to see.
 
Q. What was your favorite moment after the game?
COACH CHRYST: Once I knew that we won it. It really was.
 
Q. Did you have a moment with Barry Alvarez?
COACH CHRYST: It was when I knew we secured that last kneel down. I'm really happy for this group of kids and what they did and how they did it. And I don't think anything will top that.
 
Q. What are your thoughts on Bart (Houston)'s performance today?
COACH CHRYST: I thought he was himself. I thought that he competed. I thought he made some plays. Obviously, a couple plays that we've got to learn from and you'd like not to do. But I thought he kept his poise in it and did some good things.  
 
Q. How did you think Jon Dietzen played at left guard coming in to play?
COACH CHRYST: We knew coming in, Dietz was going to play and have liked his growth. And when Micah (Kapoi) ended up not being able to finish the game and therefore. I thought up front we did some really good things that Dietz was part of and we'll be able to go back and look at it. And every one of these players did some really good things and some things that we've got to clean up. I'm sure Dietz will be in that category, but I thought that they kept their poise and I thought they competed. And that was fun to be around.
 
Q. What do you think (Corey) Clement and Dare (Ogunbowale) were able to give you throughout the game?
COACH CHRYST: There were times we were able to run the ball and I think it takes all 11 to do that. I think they've got an edge to them. I thought they played with that today, at least. And there's a lot of good stuff. We're going to look at this, and there's a ton that we've got to get better at. But I thought guys competed.
 
Q. Is that what (Troy) Fumagalli can give you making plays down the field?
COACH CHRYST: I thought Fume played well and made some plays. I thought there were a couple other ones we might be able to get on them. But I think that's where he's at in his development. I don't want to say he needs to be that guy but for us to be as good as we can be, Fume has to make plays. I thought Rob (Wheelwright) stepped up and made some plays. We're going to need this whole group. That's what's fun about…Vince (Biegel) said it well about Ryan Connelly stepping in. And I thought that our coverage units did a really good job. That's what was fun about today, was it took everyone. And guys put it out there.
 
Q. What went into the decision to let (P.J.) Rosowski handle punts after (Anthony) Lotti was named the starter earlier?
COACH CHRYST: We kind of knew all along that's what we were going to do.
 
Q. What kind of identity are you seeing this new defense establish out there?
COACH CHRYST: Well, we're one game into it, right? You know, Vince said it well. It's a group that's played. There's a number of guys that have played and they've got confidence and I thought rose up to the challenge. I thought they did what they were supposed to, in the sense they didn't try to do too much. We were facing a really good offense and obviously a heck of a running back. I felt like they had a number of weapons. I thought the corners competed on some balls downfield and we were able to do a good job of tackling and getting guys to the ball and we have a chance, at the end of the year, you can say who we were. And this is one game, but I thought they did some really good things to start with. 
 
Q. Did you see the play that Connelly on the screen there to Fournette?
COACH CHRYST: I saw the way he tackled him on the sideline there. That was nice. You saw more, you were up top.
 
Q. You had dominated time of possession in the first half, but only had a couple field goals to show for it. How concerning was that?
COACH CHRYST: Yeah, it always concerns you, when we're down putting together a good drive and we threw the pick in the end zone, we could have had more points and that's hard. Then we had the two turnovers that quickly changed momentum and that's where the group was tested. I thought they handled it and all three phases did something to get us back into it and that was big.
 
Q.You don't listen to the crowd, you said you don't really hear crowds the other day, did you notice it today or not?
COACH CHRYST:  Yeah. I mean, it was loud. And TJ Watt came off and he made a comment about how fun it was and he goes, 'I don't think they can hear the cadence.' And it was a great atmosphere.
 
Q.What's your confidence level in Rafael (Gaglianone) right now?
COACH CHRYST: The confidence level, I think we played to it. Once we felt like we were in field goal range we were going to put it in his hands. And I think it's very high in him right now.
 
Q. You talked about Justin Wilcox. How pleased were you with the defense and the ability to stop Fournette?
COACH CHRYST: It was a heck of a challenge today. And if you just focus on Fournette, who is a heck of a running back, I think you can leave yourself exposed to other things and I thought guys played their assignment. And when the ball declared, we got more than one hat to it. And I thought it was a good start to this year. I thought not just Justin, but Justin's defensive coaches, he had them prepared. I thought all the coaches had guys ready to go. And the kids got themselves ready. That gives you a chance.
 
Q. Do you think there was some extra juice because (Dave) Aranda was on the other sideline?
COACH CHRYST: No. I was with Dave for a year and we had some players that were with him for more than that. There's a ton of respect for Dave. And yet, I thought our kids did a great job focusing on the game. We talk all the time about trying to control the controllables, the things that are in your control, how you approach it, what you do. And there's a ton of respect for Dave. And yet, it wasn't going to be about that. Our kids took that approach. Like I said, I'm proud of the way they played, but there wasn't, I don't think, anything to that.
 
Q. What did you make of the hit on D'Cota (Dixon) there at the end?
COACH CHRYST: Honestly, I didn't see it. Some of the kids were talking about it. And…for me to comment on it…That's a crazy time. It was a big play by a lot of guys. And it was a good way to finish the game.
 
Senior QB Bart Houston
On coming from behind and what that says about this team:
"Having the confidence to keep striving to, as Coach says before our games, score one or more points than the other team. I was talking with the line, talking with the receivers and running backs and just keeping their heads up and don't let them slack off or anything. But yeah, just keeping confidence, that's what I did with the offense."
 
On how valuable this experience was in battling back to get the win:
"It's good experience, like always, but, you know, hopefully it never happens again."
 
On what he learned facing adversity from the first week of practice until today:
"Yeah, it's just 'wash the last play off,' no matter how good or bad it was. Yeah, it's in the past. The only one that matters is the next one."
 
On what it felt like being on the field after the win at Lambeau Field:
"It was a lot of fun. First thing after congratulating all the guys, I went straight up to my parents and, you know, I wouldn't be here without them. And I wouldn't be here without the rest of these players, so I was just thanking everybody. Especially this guy (Vince Biegel)."

Senior LB Vince Biegel
On coming from behind and what that says about this team:
"You know, I think it was, not necessarily looking at the whole season. We want to break it down one game at a time, and that started today, September 3, against LSU. We played a great LSU team today and I think both sides of the ball really executed well. I think we saw a lot of zeal and confidence in our players when we were down 14-13 in the third quarter. As a defense, we were confident, but just watching the offense and how they prepared and how they went down the field and got that last three points was, for us, motivating to put the last stamp on it and get this win."
 
On the job of the defense and keeping Leonard Fournette out of the end zone:
"Yeah, I think Justin (Wilcox) put a great defensive game plan in. And it was for us just continue to go out there and executing…kind of what we did in the spring and what we did in the fall camp and continue to build upon what we did. You know, we've got a lot of guys returning on our defense and we've got guys who played in a lot of ballgames. We're confident in what we can do and, you know, I'm very confident in our inside backers, our D-line, our safeties. I'm excited about what the future holds for this defense and this Wisconsin Badger football team."
 
On the play of Rafael Gaglianone:
"Yeah, I saw Rafael make three solid field goals today with a lot of pressure. I think he was the unsung hero in this game too. Our offense played well, our defense played well, our special teams played well, but give Rafael a lot of credit for making big-time kicks in big-time moments, and we're going to need that the rest of the season from him."
 
On the message in the defensive huddle at the end of the game:
"You know, there wasn't really a message. It was hurry up at that time, we didn't really have much to talk about it or hey, let's get a pep speech at this point. It was, you know, we've been there before. We've been in games where we've had our backs against the wall, where we need a stop. Hey, give credit to our defense. We made a big-time stop in a big-time game against a big-time team. We're going to build upon this."
 
On the last play where he came unblocked at the quarterback:
"Yeah, Justin (Wilcox) radioed in my favorite blitz call. It's called a 'Psycho Track' and I came inside the tackle and I was surprised I was unblocked. I actually thought it was a screen at first because I was unblocked so much, but give credit to No. 6, he's a very shifty quarterback. He ended up escaping my grasp and made a pass that fell right into D'Cota (Dixon)'s lap. Give D'Cota the credit, he was exactly where he was supposed to be at the right time. We're not going to discuss what happened after the play. We're happy to get a win today and move forward."
 
On what it felt like being on the field after the win at Lambeau Field:
"It was electric. It was everything I thought it would be and more. I grew up in Wisconsin. I went to Green Bay Packer games, I said that before. I'm used to the stadium being green and gold and for it to be red and white was a special moment. And give credit to our fans, we really needed them today to be electric and they are as advertised. They were a great crowd today and we really rallied behind them and it's fun to play in front of them."

LSU Head Coach Les Miles
Opening statement:
COACH MILES: Congratulations to the Wisconsin team. In the first half we couldn't convert third downs on offense. The defense played their behinds off. They played hard for four quarters. We had a third down and one (right before half) and we felt like we had a call to get us a first down and get some points before the half. It would have given us some nice momentum. I brought these two guys (Ethan Pocic and Tre'Davious White) because I thought they played their hearts out. I thought they really made a difference.
 
Q. How disappointed are you to lose this game?
COACH MILES: Tremendously so. These guys had a brutal camp, they busted their tails and we were right in position to win it. It's not what we wanted.
 
Q. What did you see from the offensive line?
COACH MILES: I really would have to see the film because it seems to me that there were some guys that were not necessarily blocked. I don't know if it was the safety stepping down in there or not. I know some guys had a heck of a day and blocked extremely well. We will have to see how it goes.
 
Q. Did the things that you worked on with offense this spring translate today?
COACH MILES: At times we moved the football well, but at times we turned it over on offense. We were two out of 10 on third-down conversions.
 
Q. Is the Leonard Fournette injury a concern?
COACH MILES: I didn't see the injury, but I don't think it would be anything that would keep him out for some time.
 
Q. What did you think of Brandon Harris' late interception?
COACH MILES: He dodged extremely well. He was getting sacked and really got out of the grasp of the defender, but then he didn't make the play that he wanted to make, that is for sure.
 
Q. What did you think of Harris' play overall?
COACH MILES: It is more than a quarterback. It is a team issue.
 
Q. What were your thoughts on the Wisconsin defense?
COACH MILES: I think that Vince Biegle is a really good player. I think they just played really solid defense. They had some really good concepts and they are a very strong defense. I think Biegle could play for a long time in the NFL.
 
Q. Why did you use two timeouts early in the second half?
COACH MILES: It was a first-game communication issue. One of them was our headphones dropped and the guy that was doing the signaling did not have headphones and we were communicating and the guy with his headphones off did not get the signal because he wasn't getting any feed.
 
Q. How do you keep the guys up after losing the season opener?
COACH MILES: I don't know how you keep them up. I think they are just going to have to come back to work and find a resiliency.