Wisconsin vs. Michigan
Nov. 18, 2017 • Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wis.
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COACH CHRYST: Extremely proud of our team and the way that they played today, battled and fought a really good Michigan team. I feel like it took everyone, and it certainly was a good team win.
Like I said, proud of the way the guys played and prepared during the week and went out there. I thought they put it all out there, and that was good, and I appreciate that as a coach, certainly.
Q. Paul, I think you've been asked this before, but can you explain why your quarterback can go from a difficult situation where he throws a pick to the next series and the series after that making big throw after big throw?
COACH CHRYST: Alex [Hornibrook] does a good job of being in the moment. That was a heck of a play that [Devin] Bush made on that, and certainly knew we were going to have to try to get some things down the field. It's a really good defense.
I thought Alex just stayed in the moment. And those next couple drives, he gave guys a chance to make plays, and I thought they competed and went and got the ball. Certainly, those were big.
Q. How impressed were you with Alex on the touchdown throw where he stepped up to avoid pressure and fit it in the window there?
COACH CHRYST: It was really good. We had a penalty on that [drive]. We were a little bit further back. I thought he did a really good job of stepping up and [being] decisive in his throw. Those are big plays.
I think he was good in a lot of — even some of the ones that were incomplete, he did a good job of, if it wasn't there, getting it in and out of his hand. I thought he did a lot of really good work today.
Q. [T.J.] Edwards and [Ryan] Connelly were always valuable players in the linebacking corps. How much more valuable have they become now that they don't have Chris [Orr] and Jack [Cichy] there? What did you think of their performance?
COACH CHRYST: I thought those two were noticeable, and they played fast and made big plays. Quite honestly, they were fun to watch, and certainly a big part of this defense.
I thought defensively, we played really well. I thought it was a huge stop, you know, after the one pick, able to hold them to a field goal. But the defense put pressure on the quarterback, and they were really good in the run game. They were fun to watch.
Q. Might sound weird, but do you think that the Michigan field goal was the best thing for Wisconsin, because it finally allowed you guys to get some good field positioning?
COACH CHRYST: I was really proud of the stop that the defense made. It was a game of field position.
You know what, I thought early, I thought Anthony Lotti did a really nice job in our punting game, and certainly the coverage units. It's all part of it. That's why it feels like everyone had to contribute, and they just kept playing no matter what was happening, the adversity. And that's why I'm proud of them.
Q. You alluded to this in your first answer, but they were clearly selling out to stop the run. How badly did you think you needed to get something going in the passing game? Do you think that opened things up a little bit for Jonathan [Taylor]?
COACH CHRYST: Yeah. We knew going in it was going to be hard. I thought that we did a pretty good job. We got some runs going.
Yeah, we knew he had to do both. They did such a good job of getting after the quarterback. Very similar type defenses, and so you didn't want to panic. You just knew you had to kind of be persistent and kind of get a feel for how the game was playing out.
Q. Paul, [Kendric] Pryor and A.J. Taylor and Davis have made plays before, but what have they done since [Quintez] Cephus has gone out to help compensate for his loss?
COACH CHRYST: Certainly, there's a little bit more on them, and each one came up with big plays. I thought, obviously, K.P.'s run on the reverse, guys blocked it up and he finished it. Danny and A.J. made big plays. They need to do that, right? That's who you've got. Proud of them. It's fun seeing their growth and you know they can continue to get better. I still feel like this whole team's that way. Doing some really good things, but we can still get better and need to find ways to get better.
Q. As well as your defense has played all year, it seems to find another notch in the second half. What do you think's going into that? I think it did it again today.
COACH CHRYST: I think you're right, Tom, in that they certainly, all year, have played well. But I think that there's a competitiveness in them and I think there's a pride in it.
They know that it's all of them doing it. I think there's a little bit of they want to make sure they're doing their part individually. But collectively, certainly, I think the coaches have done a really nice job of giving them good plans. But they're playing and executing. They're making plays.
Every guy, you can kind of look at, and it's hard just when you're watching the flow of the game, but I can kind of think of every guy making a play that was big. And so I think they're just challenging themselves and certainly challenged by the opponents. But I think they're challenging themselves and not settling on we've arrived.
Q. Speaking of guys making plays, [Nick] Nelson on the punt return, did it look like he didn't know whether he should pick it up? What were you thinking when it was laying on the ground?
COACH CHRYST: Pick it up. (Laughter.)
You know what I mean? We've been excited about Nick and we don't always get those opportunities. We'll look back at it and there's a lot of guys that helped. That was, obviously, first score, that was a huge play and certainly gave everyone some energy.
Q. This may be tough to answer, but do you consider this to be your best coaching job through a season as a head coach? How would you evaluate the job you've done as coach of this team?
COACH CHRYST: That has never crossed my mind, and I think that collectively, players and coaches, I'm proud of the way everyone's staying in the moment and trying to help get better.
We're not done yet. You want them to enjoy this victory — they're not easy — and then come back and get ready for next week.
Q. Paul, you've had some high level defenses here the last few years. What's the characteristic about this defense that stands out the most?
COACH CHRYST: Well, I think that I've been fortunate. We have had good defenses, and the characteristics are names, to me. It's Leon Jacobs, it's Garret Dooley, it's Conor Sheehy, it's Alec James, it's Derrick Tindal. They're putting their spin on it and certainly have been fortunate. They've been really well coached.
But it's the player's opportunity, and they're the ones putting their stamp on it, and I think that it's fun to see this group doing what they're doing and continuing to be challenged as the season moves on.
But I think the stamp is those guys. It's their moment, and I think they're trying to do everything they can to maximize it.
Q. Paul, your defense has been particularly good in situations where they're backed up and in bad situations. How big was forcing a fumble inside the 5 there in the first half for you guys to stay ahead?
COACH CHRYST: Oh, it was huge. You're talking about points. And I think shows, too, you just keep playing. You don't know whether you're -- wherever it's at, I think they've done a nice job of just continuing to play. And certainly that was a big play.
Q. There were times today that Maurice Hurst almost single-handedly killed your guys' drives. How much did you change your game plan to deal with him?
COACH CHRYST: Ton of respect for him as a player. Certainly, I think they've got a number of guys that you've got to try to account for. But it's not like there's not some other good ones if you overcommit to something. So you just try your best, and we feel good about our guys and you've got to rise up to that challenge.
Certainly, he made a number of plays. Like I said, he's a heck of a player. You've just got to keep going. There's a lot of good players there, and you try to help your guys with schemes so they've got to give them a chance.
Q. Paul, did you feel that this was the toughest test for your team so far this year now that it's all said and done? And did you learn anything new about your football team today?
COACH CHRYST: I think every time you go out there, it's an opportunity to either learn more about them or see them in different situations, how they respond.
Michigan's a really good football team, really well coached, and really good football players. And yet, I also feel like every week's a heck of a test. And at the end of the year, we can look back and say which one was most difficult, but we knew going in it was a heck of a football team, and still feel that right now.
Q. Paul, Tyler [Biadasz] came back after going out early last game, and D'Cota [Dixon] was finally back in today. How good was it to have those guys back in for a game as intense as Michigan, and were you proud of kind of the way that they handled themselves for their first game back?
COACH CHRYST: Very proud of every one of our guys. And any time that you get one of your players that can come back and play, you feel good as a coach.
They spend so much time preparing for these moments. To be able to play and participate in those moments, that's what it's all about. And certainly, Tyler and D'Cota are examples of it this week. But when Chikwe [Obasih] came back, that was big deal. When Danny [Davis] came back, it's a big deal.
The games are limited, and you want them to be able to have as many opportunities as they can. And, certainly, I think our whole team gets energized when you get another guy back because they care about each other.
Q. The hit by [Andrew] Van Ginkel that ended Peter's night, what was your vantage point on that, and what did you think of that play?
COACH CHRYST: You know, I really didn't see it, and I didn't see a replay where I was at. I knew he got hit, but I couldn't see much.
Q. Coach, the seniors have set the bar so high here at Wisconsin and today was their last day at the Camp. Have they set the bar even higher as they go out?
COACH CHRYST: Well, certainly, really I thought what a great way to finish out their time playing in Camp Randall. I thought Alec James said it really well that, you know, when they were younger, there was older players that taught them how to go about it and how to play and kind of led the way. This is how you win.
And I think this senior group that's with us here has done a great job of leading our younger players. And for that, you're forever grateful and appreciate it.
And it's certainly memorable when you play your last game. And to do it in the fashion that they did, in my opinion, a really good team win. It was big.
Q. Coach, as the wins begin to pile up, the talk outside grows about college football playoff. What do you do to try to control it inside the locker room so that the guys stay focused?
COACH CHRYST: Stay inside the building. (Laughter.)
We were just talking about opportunities, and you want them to enjoy this one tonight, and all the work and effort that goes into it by everyone on that team and the coaches, and you appreciate it. And then we get an opportunity to come back and get ready for next week. That's a pretty good world.
Wisconsin Player Postgame Quotes
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On Pryor's end-around touchdown:
"It's a pretty awesome feeling when that play works like it did. For me, I know that if I get my guy, we're scoring. There's a little bit of pressure that goes along with it, but as long as we capitalize it feels great."
On how the running game improved in the second half:
"I think it was part schematic, and part us wearing them down. But I think the biggest things was us keeping them honest in the pass game. Obviously they know we are going to run the ball, so if they sell out for the run they're going to make some plays. Once they weren't overcommitting to the run, things opened up for us."
On the play of the defensive front:
"When T.J. (Edwards) and I are running around untouched, it means that the D-line is doing a great job. They've been doing that all season. We've been running free because they're eating up double-teams down there. Today, especially, we had a lot of room to run, and that's really a testament to what they were able to do in the trenches."
On stopping Michigan's running game:
"We knew that we were going up against a great running team, and all week in the inside linebackers room that was our main focus — stopping the run. We wanted to get them into third down so we could get into our pass rushing stunts, and that starts with making plays in the running game on the first two downs."
On his touchdown pass to A.J. Taylor:
"They started off with two safeties and we were basically running four verticals. I was keying that safety, and as soon as he attached with Troy (Fumagalli) in the middle of the field, I knew it was a one-on-one for A.J. (Taylor), and I just threw it up to him, and he made a great catch."
On the plays made by the young receiving corps:
"They are tough, competitive guys. They love playing the game, and I know that they are going to do whatever they can to make the play for our team. And they keep coming down with the football, so they're very valuable for our football team."
On his ability to shake off interceptions:
"I think you guys (the media) get more stressed out by the interceptions than I do. I just figure out what went wrong, figure out how to fix it, and then not think about it anymore."
On the feeling of beating Michigan:
"It's incredible, after last year, feeling like we were barely hanging in the game. To come out and be the enforcers the whole game was huge. It was a big-time win and we needed it. We came in with high confidence and we kept it rolling."
On keeping Michigan's offense in check:
"There are always things to clean up. It's nice to enjoy now but Sunday we are going to look at the tapes. Our main objective is to hold the other team to one less point than our offense scores … we did what we needed to do to get the win."
On coming out of the gates fighting on defense:
"It was Michigan. We woke up early, too, so everyone was a little cranky. We knew we had to get after it from the start. Everyone had a little edge to them."
On his big third down catch:
"It was a go-route. We were trying to take advantage of the pressed safety and win with speed."
On quarterback Alex Hornibrook bouncing back all season:
"He's the same guy. He is always focused and detail-oriented. He knows we have his back and I have his back. We just keep playing football."
On thriving in the second half:
"We do so well because we're a family. I told them, I am playing for the seniors. We are a family, we are a brotherhood. No one gets down on each other. All we do is pick each other up."
On his forced fumble:
"I thought he scored. I did not even know I forced the fumble. I knew from looking at the big screen."
On whether or not he thought he had a play to strip the ball:
"I was just trying to bring him down."
On limiting scoring chances in tough positions:
"It was a short field for us, so we just want to stop them. We did a good job of that."
On how the defense limits scores in those tough spots:
"Resilience."
On Senior Day:
"It was nice. We didn't want to be too emotional because we started off slow against Minnesota last year, so we kept that in mind."
On picking it up in the second half:
"We knew it was going to be a tough game. We started off a little slow, but we just wanted to come out in the second half. As the young guys, we wanted to send the seniors out on a high note, so we knew we had to pick it up in the second half."
On quarterback Alex Hornibrook:
"Especially at quarterback you have to be able to forget things quickly, because if you remember an interception that's going to haunt you for the rest of the game. If that happens, it's over now we can't do anything to change it, so he forgot the interception and came out and brought it the rest of the game."
On the end of the season feeling:
"We always talk about focusing on the now. So, week one we were just focusing on Utah State and now since we're closer to the end of the season we have those goals in the back of our minds, but each week we just try to focus on who our opponent is and what we need to do that week to beat them. Last week our focus was just Michigan, not worrying about Minnesota, Big Ten championship or College Football Playoff."
On Michigan's defense:
"Definitely was tough. We knew it was going to be a tough team. They have a great defensive front, so we knew we had to fight every single play for four quarters and we'll come out with the W."
On the Badgers coming back in the second half:
"We're a team that's going to fight no matter what and definitely during the second half we know it's time to tighten up. So, we go in at halftime and say it's time to play Badger football, that's one thing that we really harp on."
On quarterback Alex Hornibrook:
"We're working every day, but we know we've got his back, so whatever situation we're in we're going to fight. Like I said, this team's a fighting team, so we're going to work through any situation."
On his 50-yard punt return for a touchdown:
"It was a great feeling. I tried to get two (punt return touchdowns), but they caught me on the sideline. When he tripped I went and got it and the rest is history. I wouldn't say I was dying to get it, but I'm trying hard. I didn't want to force it, but just let it come naturally."
Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Opening Statement:
"… We weren't able to get any big chunks in the running game. They made more plays. We had some opportunities but couldn't get it done today."
On if the big plays allowed Wisconsin to prevail:
"Two big throws and then they got a few runs out too. That ended up being the difference in the game. We weren't quite able to crack those runs in the running game offensively or get enough plays to win it. The punt return hurt us and the touchdown Donovan (Peoples-Jones) scored and not getting credit for that one hurt us."
On the punt return:
"Well if the guys thought that, they thought wrong. Give him credit, he picked it up and maneuvered it for a touchdown. That hurt. We can't let that happen, but it did."
On missed chances:
"I really thought it was a touchdown from the reviews that were on the scoreboard and what the guys said in the press box, it looked like the left foot got down first. As far as the fumble, that was a mistake. We shouldn't be reaching with the ball for the end zone or the pylon unless it's fourth down."
On Brandon Peters:
"Brandon I thought was very good. We can't get him hit as much. I thought we needed to get better at that. They played a three-man pick stunt that was effectively holding our center and we weren't able to slide off of that and that got us beat a few times. Brandon was good though. It was good to see us make a few contested catches. Donovan made a good contested catch. Could've used a few more of them that we didn't make on the receiving end. That was pretty much the difference, the punt return and not getting credit for the touchdown. They were able to get their running game going there and we really didn't get ours going as well as we would've liked to. They made more plays. Give Wisconsin credit, they made the plays and won the game."
On his message to the group after the game:
"Just keep fighting. This one hurts but keep fighting, keep battling."
