Nov. 11, 2002
Head Coach Guy Morriss
On Saturday’s loss to LSU…
“I got up yesterday and watched the film and got it out of my system pretty quick. There were so many good things that happened in that game. You’re always going to remember the bad, but if we can play hard, keep our focus and learn from these mistakes we’ve made, we’ll only get better. I’m really excited that we have two more opportunities to win two more games.”
“We dwelled on the positive aspects of the game and how we need to build on them. My biggest deal was that we had to get out of the dumps because everyone was down and rightfully so. But after they watched the film, after we talked to them, after they worked out and got up a good sweat, I think everyone left here yesterday anxious to get back out on the football field to play another game.”
On the decision to kick a field goal with 15 seconds on the clock…
“We were talking on the sideline about maybe Jared (Lorenzen) getting in the shotgun, or taking the snap and scrambling around buying some time, or chucking it into the end zone. I’ve just seen too many bad things happen. The footing on the field wasn’t the best in the world. Jared could fall down and not be able to stop the clock, the ball could get batted up in the air – too many bad things. I just thought let’s kick it and whatever amount of time is still on the clock, come out and play defense. That’s the way we arrived at that decision.”
On the fans at the LSU game…
“First of all, thank you for your great support. You have to get out of the tank too. We need you here Saturday making a lot of noise.”
“They were great Saturday. I think it’s one of the best crowds since I’ve been here. I know they wanted to win as much as we did but it didn’t work out. Let’s get out of the tank and go get the next one.”
On the seniors keeping the team up this week…
“We really didn’t have to address the seniors. They’ve done a great job all year in providing the kind of leadership we need.”
On Artose Pinner being a candidate for SEC Player of the Year…
“I think what he’s done deserves tremendous consideration. Any time someone leads this particular conference in rushing, that says quite a bit. That’s really not for me to decide, but I think he would be very deserving, as deserving as anyone else in the conference at this point.”
To kick off the week before Senior Day, Jackie Morriss brought in a picture from Guy’s senior year at TCU. |
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On Vanderbilt…
“They’re kind of like us. They have a new coaching staff in place. You can see that they’re playing extremely hard. They’re not always going to take the field as the most talented team athletically, but you can see it in the way they play that they believe in their coaches and they’re playing with a lot of emotion. They have good athletes – enough to beat us if we’re not ready to play.”
On the seniors…
“They’re a good bunch. You go through trials and tribulations and you’re in that foxhole together, you get close. I think we’re a pretty close bunch. I’m sure there will be a lot of emotion.”
“They’re going to look back years from now and say ‘We’re the ones that laid the foundation to get this program turned around. We learned some things about life and how to deal with adversity.’ That’s what the game of football is all about at this level – to prepare the kids for life. Certainly they’ve been dealt a lot. They’ve handled it well and responded well and it’s going to help them get through life.”
UK PLAYERS
Ronnie Riley, Linebacker
On thoughts after LSU game-winning pass…
“After it ended I was pretty upset. I think they had me all over TV just being upset. Sunday I was also pretty mad and I was doing my best in the weight room to encourage guys to not talk about the game. It’s extremely disappointing – it’s a memory that will go on forever.”
On handling the tough LSU loss…
“I think I’m handling it well as anyone – as well as I can handle it. I don’t want to lose my last game to Vanderbilt. I’m trying to get over it so I can go out there and play against Vanderbilt and win the game. I want to go out of Commonwealth as a winner.”
On last home game….
“I conveyed to the team that I wanted to win my last game at home – I’m a senior. I want to win this game. We have to refocus during practice and make sure everybody is focusing.”
On a “curse” contributing to LSU loss…
“I don’t know. It’s just one of those things that happened. It’s 50-50, you throw it up in the air and there’s a chance somebody will come down with it. Who knows – hopefully this is just a building point for the next Kentucky teams.”
Antonio Hall, Offensive Tackle
On Artose Pinner being considered for SEC Player of the Year…
“I think he should. There hasn’t been an emphasis on running at Kentucky the past few years, but now we have a guy like Artose who can run the ball, catch the ball – he’s pretty much the complete package. I think he’ll get consideration for what he brings to every element of our offense.”
On senior OL Keith Chatelain…
“Keith is one of my best friends – we’ve played beside each other the past couple years. He’s opened up and loosened up since he first got here. People have to love Keith because he’s such a great guy. He has a big heart and will after anyone on this football team. I’m going to miss him.”
On offensive line cohesiveness…
“We’re a very tight-knit group. We know when we can clown around and when we have to get serious. You can’t go out there with a tight jaw every day in practice, you have to be loose but focused and I feel we do a very good job at both.”
On LSU loss…
“Just like Coach (Guy) Morriss always says, you control the things you can control and the ones you can’t, don’t worry about. I still can’t believe it happened. It’s like a bad dream I’m trying to wake up from. We gained from the game – from the experience – it will make us a stronger team. No more adverse situations will break this team. We’ve been through too much together.”
On success of the team…
“I give all the credit to the seniors and coaching staff on this team. They’ve been tremendous keeping everyone together and focused through everything that has happened the past two years. I think they laid a good foundation for Kentucky football – it’s just not a basketball state anymore, it’s a football state which it needs to be.”
Aaron Boone, Wide Receiver
On the team’s attitude following the LSU loss…
“This team has shown so much character all year – I don’t doubt that we’ll bounce back. Coach (Morriss) gave us a couple of days to deal with this, but come Tuesday’s practice, it should be out of our system. This team is full of survivors.”
On the impact of the seniors…
“I think we have set a foundation here, especially for the young guys that we have this year – they know what it’s like to win. We’ve been successful this year; this program has made some great steps. We’re 6-4. We’ve won some big games and lost a few close ones, so we’re right there.”
Chase Harp, Tight End
On the direction of the program…
“Where this program has gone and where it’s headed now – things are heading in the right direction. I’m proud that I’ve been a part of that. I feel like [the seniors] have been the foundation of it all. Coach Morriss and his staff are the ones who will completely turn this program around.”
