Postgame Quotes: Wisconsin vs. Hawai'i
September 26, 2015 | Football
Wisconsin vs. Hawai'i
Sept. 26, 2015
Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst Postgame Quotes
COACH CHRYST: It was certainly a good win. I thought we needed everyone to accomplish it and I thought we had a real good week of preparation. Guys were locked in and they were fun to be around tonight against a good Hawai'i team.
Certainly defensively in the game, if you can keep them off the scoreboard, that's not easy. Appreciate the effort there. I thought it was huge, coming out of the second half, they had the big play and guys just kept playing. Tanner gets a stop and certainly not what they want and ended up playing and not getting points on that drive, I thought that was big offensively. I thought Taiwan and then Dare ran well, but that doesn't happen without the guys up front. I thought our fullbacks, tight ends, did a really nice job. Some things we can build on. But looking forward to getting better with this group.
Q. The mileage out of the two fullback set, did you plan to use that as much as you did today?
COACH CHRYST: No, I think the first drive, we were back up and we got into it, and thought we got some mileage out of it. Like I said, I think our guys did a nice job of -- we were not quite sure what we were going to see. But the guys did a nice job of communicating and again up front, we were good but I thought the fullbacks, they got that rolling a lot. That part was fun.
Q. On that first drive in particular, more man than you've seen from recent teams. Is that something you game planned for ahead of time?
COACH CHRYST: First play was a gap scheme and pretty much ran the same types of runs that we've been running, just had a little different look.
Q. Going back to the first drive, did you intend to start Taiwan at running back or did your position on the field dictate your personnel?
COACH CHRYST: Probably the situation. I think we had two backs that are going to play a ton, and couldn't even tell you which one necessarily. I think they both, they know they are playing, and we need them both at times.
Q. What did you see from Taiwan tonight? A career night for him.
COACH CHRYST: It was good. He's been working. That's what I love about this game is it takes everyone. I thought that he's been growing with his opportunities. I think he's been a patient back and trusting himself, and that's good to see. I thought Dare did the same, and I thought Alec came in and did some good things, which means there's a lot of work going on in front of him.
Q. Do you anticipate Leon being out for any period of time?
COACH CHRYST: Not sure. Just talked to him on the way in. I don't believe so but we'll see.
Q. How is his mood, to not start this game and then when he finally gets in there and to go down, how much do you hate to see that and was his mood okay after the game?
COACH CHRYST: The one thing I've been impressed with Leon is he's got unbelievable character. And this week, the way he approached everything, he's a big-time guy, and he's not going to let I don't think any of this get him down.
I think he cares a ton about this team and he's got a lot of substance to him. So I don't think he'll -- I think every guy that doesn't play wants to -- that's what they do all this work for and they want to contribute. They care about their teammates. It's going to take more than that to get Leon -- in the short time I've loved getting to know him. I think he's a big-time guy.
Q. The defense, three points in the last three games, what does a number like that say to you about where this team is heading?
COACH CHRYST: It means we've been good the last couple games. That's what I love about sports is that you have to go do it again. I think that we've got some good players on that defense and some great leaders, and we've still got room for growth. And they know that and that's what I like about the group.
You know what, you appreciate the efforts and I think the defensive staff has done a great job of preparing the guys, the guys take that preparation to heart and we've been good. Each week, you've got to go do it again. That's what's great about the sport.
Q. What part of the team have you been most impressed with so far this season and what part of the team do you think needs the most improvement?
COACH CHRYST: I think we all, every area need to improve. I like being around the group. I think they like the game of football, and I like their approach of working to get better.
Q. How prepared do you think this team is for Big Ten play now that we're here?
COACH CHRYST: Ready or not, here it comes. On that note (Laughter).
Junior OL Dan Voltz
On going into Big Ten play next weekend:
"Yeah, I think tonight, you know, my message to the guys before the game was this is a statement game for us before going into Big Ten play. We've got Iowa next week and then Nebraska - two physical games - and we got to come out tonight and prove to everybody that we're going put up a fight like that. We did it, so I think that gives us a lot of confidence going into next week."
On how much more comfortable the defense feels together now compared to the start of the season:
"Yeah you know, Alabama was kind of just a whirlwind, it kind of just goes by so fast but now we've kind of settled into the groove of the season, I think we all feel way more comfortable with each other. And you know, heading into Big Ten play, we're right where we want to be."
Sophomore FB Austin Ramesh
On play of running back duo of Taiwan Deal and Dare Ogunbowale:
"I thought they complimented each other very well, Taiwan and Dare and even Alec [Ingold] at the end there. They came in and showed we have strength in the backfield still."
Senior wide receiver Alex Erickson
On his catch in the first half where the ball deflected off defender and into his hands:
"Well I turned out of my break and Joel [Stave] had pressure so he got the ball out of his hand pretty quick. I saw the guy try to make a play on it to try to intercept it and somehow it just flipped up and I grabbed it and was able to bring it in.
"It's one of those things you can't really practice. It's a lot of luck."
Freshman RB Taiwan Deal
On having a breakout game:
"It felt great. It kind of felt normal. I just kept running the ball. I didn't really look at my stats. I just kept pounding the rock."
On how he felt after the first drive:
"I just try to keep my confidence up, be patient. Big thing as a running back here, you got to have patience. I just kept my patience and just played football."
On establishing the run game early:
"It was really important. All week in practice, Coach [Chryst] wanted us to keep our edge. He wanted us to come out and hit Hawai'i in the mouth, so I feel like establishing the run game was something big today. We came out and we did it."
On possibility of being the starter next week against Iowa:
"We don't really look at that during the week. We just come out and practice. Me and Dare come out and practice. We compete against our defense, compete against each other, the scout team, things like that. We just come out and have fun and have a hard practice during the week. I appreciate Coach Chryst pushing us so hard on those grinder Tuesdays and things like that. When you get to the game, you can be confident in yourself because you put the work in during the week."
Senior FB Derek Watt
On the first drive of the game:
"Yeah, the first half was fun, we kind of set the tone for the game. I think that was probably our best drive of the season so far - running the ball, guys doing the drive up front, and just kind of as a whole unit that was great for us. It was a great way to chew some time off the clock and let them know what's coming the whole game."
On the importance of running the ball as well as they did tonight knowing they have a tough game coming up:
"You know, it was good. I mean, every game is a big game, and obviously the Big Ten opener next week against Iowa is going to be a big one, but we just got to look at the film and kind of build off it. There's still areas we can improve but we did some good things."
Senior Safety Michael Caputo
On giving up only three points in three games:
"It just shows how hard that we've worked and how much we love to play the game and run around out there. But you know, like I said to the guys before, 24 hour rule - just got to come back and we've got to focus on Iowa and just keep doing the same thing every week in preparation."
On what changes now going into Big Ten play:
"Not much changes, we prepare the same way for everybody. Me personally, I like playing Big Ten, it's why I came to Wisconsin, because I love how the Big Ten plays. It's exciting for the fans, the atmosphere is a little bit more electrifying, but in terms of our preparation and how we're going forth it doesn't really change much."
Senior LB Joe Schobert
On how he feels about the defense heading into Big Ten play?
"I think it just means we're taking steps in the right direction. There's still a lot of things to iron out on defense, but again, we allowed some big plays. But, we were able to battle back and push them back and take long field goals, three-and-outs to get them off the field, stuff like that. I feel like we're building in the right direction going into conference play."
On if he thinks they'll be ready for Big Ten play?
"Definitely. In the locker room there's already a clock that says 'Beat Iowa.' So as soon as tonight's over, everybody knows we have to flip the page and get ready for the physical play next week, because every week in Big Ten play there's the potential that someone can knock you off. We can't take a second off."
On his impressions of Chris Orr and what's impressed him most in the last few weeks?
"He's always in the right spot making plays and when he's there he's not missing tackles. For a freshman especially, the physicality of Division I football can be a little much sometimes and he's just stepped in and given it all he's got making plays all over the field. I'm excited to see where he takes it."
Senior QB Joel Stave
"It's exciting to win the way we are while still leaving as many plays as I think we left out there. There's a lot of room to get better and I think everyone knows that and appreciates that fact. We're going to continue to work and continue to focus on the details and get ready for next week."
On if the running game took a big step forward tonight?
"I thought the running game was very effective tonight. On first down we were able to hit those 6-, 7-, 8-yard runs we like to stay ahead of the chains. Then on those third-and-shorts and down on the goal line we were able to put our heads down and plow through the line of scrimmage for however many yards we needed."
Junior RB Dare Ogunbowale
On the RB situation with Taiwan Deal
"You know, it doesn't matter who's getting the carries. We just have to keep playing. He got the start tonight because of the situation, but that's totally fine."
On how important it was to assert the running game and prove that the two of them can handle the load?
"We just wanted to make sure that even though Corey (Clement) isn't there we're still going to pound the ball and that we're going to be good at it. Taiwan (Deal) did a great job going into those heavy personnel's and made sure that I did the same. That was a big thing me and Taiwan talked about was how we wanted to make sure that we showed everyone that we can still run the ball even with our guy out."
Senior DB/WR Tanner McEvoy
On how the defense hasn't given up a touchdown in the last three games?
"Yeah, it means something. It's nice to have that statistic, but we have some good teams and we have to be able to keep that going. I think we have a great defense, we just have to keep their offense off the field. This week they still got a few third down conversions just like last week, so we have to be able to get them off the field on that down."
On if there was more of an emphasis this week in practice on wrapping up tackles with arms?
"I mean, we've practice it every day since camp started. It's just part of the game. We're moving fast and every now and again it happens. Last week we had two (targeting) incidents and this week we had another, but it's part of the game and we just have to learn to avoid it."
Hawai'i Head Coach Norm Chow Postgame Quotes
On facing Wisconsin:
"Yeah, they're a good football team, they really are. They handled us up front a little bit."
On if it was frustrating when they got down to the one-yard line:
"Yeah, I really thought we could play with these guys. Obviously, they're a very, very good football team. Very well coached. I thought we could play with them. I knew we'd have to as play mistake-free football as we could. I don't know… we'll have to go see how it looked on the one-yard line when we got pushed back."
On the two targeting penalties in the game:
"They called targeting on them, which I thought was a late hit. But if you call targeting, then it's either all or nothing. If you call a late hit, it could still have been a penalty. But they called targeting, so it's either you get ejected like we did, or the penalty is nothing. I thought it was a late hit to begin with."
On if they had trouble stringing long pass plays together tonight:
"Yeah, we needed to play more consistently on offense, and we didn't do that. We had a couple of big plays, a couple of trick 'em's I guess. They're good. It's a good football team."
On if he'll advocate in any way against the targeting rule after tonight:
"I don't know. I don't really understand the rule. It looks like Max's head went that way. It kind of whipped backwards, which means it's a targeting deal. I think that Donald's was kind of legitimate because he kind of jumped at the defender. I don't know why one would be and one wouldn't be. We'll have to look at the tape and see."
On the amount of penalties tonight:
"That's what I told the players I'm most disappointed in. We play with toughness. We play with class. We play with style. That hurt us. Calls hurt us. The calls cost us some yards. You can't do that. We have to be disciplined. It was frustrating. It was very frustrating while it was happening. I honestly thought we had a shot. I really did."
