Interim Head Coach Bill Lynch Quotes
9/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2006
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Sept. 23, 2006
Indiana vs. Connecticut
Interim Head Coach Bill Lynch Quotes
Opening Statement:
"We expected it to be a pretty physical hard nosed football game. Going into the weather conditions, we figured that the field position would be important and that it would be a windy day. I thought our defense just did a tremendous job making it that kind of game. Other than a couple of plays, they played great football and got some turnovers and made key stops. I think that they really played in a way they can build from."
On the special teams:
"I thought our special teams was solid and obviously the kickoff return by Marcus (Thigpen) - he's a darn good return guy - but we had a lot of guys block as well that gave us a chance."
On the offense:
"Offensively, we knew it was going to be a tough struggle. They are a very, very good defensive football team. We didn't play well enough, we didn't make enough plays and didn't score enough points. But I do think that as a football team we can grow from this one. I saw some guys that really prepared really hard this week and put a lot into it. It's a disappointed group right now because they put so much into it.
On whether or not the team now has a starting quarterback:
"That's of great interest to people, but there are some other things that we have to do offensively to help that position out. Blake (Powers) was finally healthy enough to play this week. That position, you need to have your legs under you and have your mobility so you can play. We felt this week that he was healthy enough to go. But we also thought that Kellen (Lewis) had some things that could help us in a game like this because of the nature of the Connecticut defense. So we planned on playing both of them. It was a case of kind of mixing it up a little bit like you do at tailback or other positions today. We will go back and look at the play, but there are some other things that we need to do offensively that will help that position."
On if the team is ready entering Big Ten play:
"I think we really gained something today, and obviously we are very disappointed. You only get to play once a week, and you don't want any opportunity to get away, but I think we grew in terns of how we prepared and how we played and how much it meant to us. That's what you've got to have when you go into the Big Ten season, because Big Ten football is a physical, hard league that you have to really prepare and be ready to play that kind of game."
On the play of Andrew Means:
"He is a guy that is continually making plays. He didn't get to play a week ago, but if you go through each of the first games when he was out there, he's made tough catches, made some runs after catches."
On the play of Tracy Porter:
"I thought he played great. He did so many different things - he had an interception, he covered people, he knocked balls down, had the blocked field go. Tracey is a player that we count on, and he played well today."
