Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Illinois
11/11/2017 5:26:00 PM | Football
Indiana vs. Illinois
November 11, 2017
Postgame Quotes
Indiana head coach Tom Allen
Opening statement…
"I just want to first of all say that I am really proud of our team and just so happy for them. They've worked so hard. They've been so close, played such a tough first part of our schedule. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, playing a team that has competed with everybody. Went to Iowa, and their offense with George being a quarterback, threw it, ran it, did all sorts of things. I knew what we were up against. Their defense has been solid all year long,. Bottom line was when you play on the road, you gotta execute and play 60 minutes and I thought our kids finished well. Getting those takeaways at the end was big, we got three of them on the day which we emphasize so much. We ran for 140 yards, threw the football for close to 300. Very encouraged by our kids. We had a couple of things, I hate the opening drive of the third quarter defensively we hate to give that up. But the bottom line is that we stayed the course and our kids are being rewarded for being very resilient an everybody's been asking about how these guys are doing and the fact is that they believe. They believe in each other, they believe in themselves, and they believe in what we are doing. Its just a matter of "Hey, you need to win" because it makes you feel different and that's all the hard work coming together and coming to fruition. I'm really happy for our guys I know how hard we've been working so. It's tough to win on the road, so every win is a big win."
On Jacob Robinson…
"I love it for him, as I said, way back, one of the hardest things I've had to do was the sitting down and make the switch and it's awesome to see him respond and he had a great attitude throughout it and when Peyton went down, he responded. And rises to the occasion and I'm really really happy for him and he has to keep studying and working and now we gotta take care of business next week as well."
On his defensive strategy…
"When you eliminate the run game, it puts a lot of pressure on an offense and I think that was pretty much key to this game."
On the win…
"It's called a team mentality, you have all three phases working together and complimenting each other. And that gave us the win."
Indiana Players
Senior wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr.
On his confidence going for jump balls…
"That's a free play right there just because we got the defense to jump offside. When the ball is in the air, you definitely want to make the best of the opportunity. I want to provide the team with the best opportunity as well. I had to make a big play. The opportunity was mine, and I made it."
On quarterback Richard Lagow embracing the opportunity to play…
"When the situation happened with the change, Richard kept his head high. He still stayed a leader. He still did everything he normally did at practice. We always emphasize next man up, and when Peyton (Ramsey) went out, Richard stepped up like we expected him to. His confidence always stayed the same. He's just out there being himself."
On going into next week after a win…
"It gives us a lot of confidence because each team we're going to face, is a great opponent. It's hard for road wins. We're glad we got the win today, and we're going to watch film tomorrow and prepare for Rutgers."
Redshirt senior quarterback Richard Lagow
On getting the win and the confidence it builds…
"It has been a while since we won a game and to get a road win in the Big Ten is always tough. To start with this three-game run. We've got one more next week, and we'll focus on that."
On getting the offense going…
"It's just playing in rhythm – everyone just doing their job. The plays are there. Everyone – all the other guys can focus on their job and execute that the way it's supposed to be executed, then the plays will work out well. Obviously, sometimes the opponent will make plays, but we trust and think our guys are good enough to make plays on anybody in the nation. Just execution has led to it the most."
On responding after Illinois cut the lead to 17-14…
"Just keep playing, keep playing and keep your foot on their throat. The game is far from over at that point. Just make sure the energy was up, make sure everybody was focused and locked in and wasn't already moving on to next week, already thinking we have this one in the bag. Let's get home and focus on next week. That's the biggest thing, is when you're at that point in the game and one or two more key plays can end it, you really have to focus and treat it like it's a tied ball game."
Junior defensive lineman Jake Robinson
On stopping the Illinois rush…
"Absolutely, I think we did. We could have even been better in some spots, I know I would have been better in some situations and I think a left a little bit out there but it's never gonna be perfect."
On takeaways…
"We've been in tough spots on takeaways. We had two on the ground last week and they just didn't roll our way but that's huge. Takeaways are a huge part of the game and stats show when you create them your chance of winning the games goes up."
Senior defensive back Rashard Fant
On the defensive line getting to the QB…
"It makes your job so much easier as a corner knowing its gotta to come out quicker. They are disrupting the quarterback and we couldn't do what we do without them."
November 11, 2017
Postgame Quotes
Indiana head coach Tom Allen
Opening statement…
"I just want to first of all say that I am really proud of our team and just so happy for them. They've worked so hard. They've been so close, played such a tough first part of our schedule. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, playing a team that has competed with everybody. Went to Iowa, and their offense with George being a quarterback, threw it, ran it, did all sorts of things. I knew what we were up against. Their defense has been solid all year long,. Bottom line was when you play on the road, you gotta execute and play 60 minutes and I thought our kids finished well. Getting those takeaways at the end was big, we got three of them on the day which we emphasize so much. We ran for 140 yards, threw the football for close to 300. Very encouraged by our kids. We had a couple of things, I hate the opening drive of the third quarter defensively we hate to give that up. But the bottom line is that we stayed the course and our kids are being rewarded for being very resilient an everybody's been asking about how these guys are doing and the fact is that they believe. They believe in each other, they believe in themselves, and they believe in what we are doing. Its just a matter of "Hey, you need to win" because it makes you feel different and that's all the hard work coming together and coming to fruition. I'm really happy for our guys I know how hard we've been working so. It's tough to win on the road, so every win is a big win."
On Jacob Robinson…
"I love it for him, as I said, way back, one of the hardest things I've had to do was the sitting down and make the switch and it's awesome to see him respond and he had a great attitude throughout it and when Peyton went down, he responded. And rises to the occasion and I'm really really happy for him and he has to keep studying and working and now we gotta take care of business next week as well."
On his defensive strategy…
"When you eliminate the run game, it puts a lot of pressure on an offense and I think that was pretty much key to this game."
On the win…
"It's called a team mentality, you have all three phases working together and complimenting each other. And that gave us the win."
Indiana Players
Senior wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr.
On his confidence going for jump balls…
"That's a free play right there just because we got the defense to jump offside. When the ball is in the air, you definitely want to make the best of the opportunity. I want to provide the team with the best opportunity as well. I had to make a big play. The opportunity was mine, and I made it."
On quarterback Richard Lagow embracing the opportunity to play…
"When the situation happened with the change, Richard kept his head high. He still stayed a leader. He still did everything he normally did at practice. We always emphasize next man up, and when Peyton (Ramsey) went out, Richard stepped up like we expected him to. His confidence always stayed the same. He's just out there being himself."
On going into next week after a win…
"It gives us a lot of confidence because each team we're going to face, is a great opponent. It's hard for road wins. We're glad we got the win today, and we're going to watch film tomorrow and prepare for Rutgers."
Redshirt senior quarterback Richard Lagow
On getting the win and the confidence it builds…
"It has been a while since we won a game and to get a road win in the Big Ten is always tough. To start with this three-game run. We've got one more next week, and we'll focus on that."
On getting the offense going…
"It's just playing in rhythm – everyone just doing their job. The plays are there. Everyone – all the other guys can focus on their job and execute that the way it's supposed to be executed, then the plays will work out well. Obviously, sometimes the opponent will make plays, but we trust and think our guys are good enough to make plays on anybody in the nation. Just execution has led to it the most."
On responding after Illinois cut the lead to 17-14…
"Just keep playing, keep playing and keep your foot on their throat. The game is far from over at that point. Just make sure the energy was up, make sure everybody was focused and locked in and wasn't already moving on to next week, already thinking we have this one in the bag. Let's get home and focus on next week. That's the biggest thing, is when you're at that point in the game and one or two more key plays can end it, you really have to focus and treat it like it's a tied ball game."
Junior defensive lineman Jake Robinson
On stopping the Illinois rush…
"Absolutely, I think we did. We could have even been better in some spots, I know I would have been better in some situations and I think a left a little bit out there but it's never gonna be perfect."
On takeaways…
"We've been in tough spots on takeaways. We had two on the ground last week and they just didn't roll our way but that's huge. Takeaways are a huge part of the game and stats show when you create them your chance of winning the games goes up."
Senior defensive back Rashard Fant
On the defensive line getting to the QB…
"It makes your job so much easier as a corner knowing its gotta to come out quicker. They are disrupting the quarterback and we couldn't do what we do without them."
Players Mentioned
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