Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Postgame Quotes
11/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Doc Holliday, Marshall Coach
Opening Statement
"It's obvious we didn't get it done out there tonight. And I thought Western Kentucky came in and played extremely well. I have to give them credit and we didn't do a very good job of stopping them. At the end of the day we turned it over too many times and they made one play there at the end to beat us. Give them credit there for getting it done."
On Marshall's defensive strategy and what, Western Kentucky was able to do, to counteract?
"They just made plays. We didn't do anything defensively we hadn't done all year. And bottom line is they made plays and we didn't and at the end of the day it got us."
On if the loss is seen as crushing?
"Well they're disappointed and in that locker room there are a lot of broken hearts, but the bottom line is we have to put it behind us because we are playing for a championship next week. And we have to do a good job; the leadership on this football team has to do a tremendous job, of putting this game behind us and moving on to whomever we happen to play next week because there still is the ultimate goal to win a championship and we still have that out there for us."
On if he was considering attempting to score a touchdown instead of attempting the field goal following the overturned touchdown of Steward Butler's in the fourth quarter?
"We were down 10 (points) there and the one thing that couldn't happen was you couldn't come away with zero points. You have to get points right there and we were able to go down and tie it up at the end. I think in that situation right there you just couldn't take that chance and come away with nothing because you had to score twice to get it into overtime."
On the defensive strategy implored during the timeout called prior to Western Kentucky's two-point conversion
"We had a bracket on them and the kid (quarterback Brandon Doughty) rolled out there and they put the number three receiver out into the flat and it looks like Corey (Tindal) got picked off there. But bottom line is we didn't fight through it to get to the third receiver and they made a play."
On running back Devon's Johnson status and Steward Butler's ability to carry the load after his exit
"I thought Stew went in and played extremely well and Devon, he is not real good shape right now, so we will see where he is tomorrow, but I thought Butler went in and played well."
On offensive lineman Michael Selby's condition going into the game and after playing the first series
"I thought he was going to be okay, because he practiced yesterday and did a little the day before (Wednesday), but he got out there and couldn't go but I thought Cody (Collins) did a nice job, so I am not sure that affected us."
On quarterback Rakeem Cato's four interceptions and what caused those
"He just didn't make the right reads a few times and we turned the ball over there. We can't have that and we just can't turn it over four times and expect to win and that's what happen."
In regards to the team being possibly too "ramped" up due to the fact the team is playing in the Conference USA Championship Game (Saturday, Dec. 6)
"I didn't see that. I thought we were prepared and we had a great week or preparation. I thought practice was extremely well, I didn't see anything at the hotel where I didn't think they were prepared, but ultimately we didn't play well enough to win and that's disappointing."
On whether the he was considering attempting a long field goal, instead of a pass play, on the final play of regulation
"No, no. There is no way from that distance and that would have been a 60-some yarder and I don't have anybody on that team that can do that."
In regards to the mood on the sideline as the team fell behind and worked its way back to tie the game
"I didn't see a lot of panic. They (the team) fought back into it, tied it up, got it into overtime, went ahead. Unfortunately at the end of the day they made one more play then we did, so I don't think there was any panic was involved in it. Ultimately we didn't play well enough to win the game, so that's what cost us."
Rakeem Cato, Senior, Quarterback
On the game
"This was my fault. The whole game came down to me being the quarterback of this team. I can't throw four interceptions and spot a team 21 points. It can't happen. It just comes down to that. I threw four interceptions and that cannot happen for me. The last time I threw four interceptions was my freshman year at Ohio. It can't happen. It's as simple as that. This whole game comes down to me. We aren't in this predicament if I don't throw four interceptions. It's point blank. Everything that happened today falls on me. We lost today because of me."
On WKU's defense
"They were doing simple stuff. Things that I know they were doing in the back of my head. It just comes down to me not making the plays. I had a terrible game today. Four interceptions is unacceptable from a quarterback standpoint and unacceptable for our team. We have to try to shake this one off and head for the championship game. That's the only thing we can really do right now. As far as this game goes, it was a terrible game by me."
On WKU DB Brandon Leston
"He made some great plays, but it's on me. He made his plays and I didn't make my plays. They scored one more point than us and that all had to do with me. We got the ball and could've scored easy, but I threw that last pick in the end zone. It all comes down to me. I didn't make my plays today and I'm mad at myself. I have to deal with it, but hopefully Sunday I bounce back and have a great week next week."
On bouncing back next week
"With the team we have right now, we have to bounce back. It's mandatory. I'm going to give it my all and keep coming out and practicing every day. I have to give it my all. I owe it to these guys, this senior class, to every living human at Marshall University and Huntington, W.V. I owe it to them. We deserve a championship. It's been a long time. This is a great team, and we have to get it done. We fell short today because of me. This game is my fault. I want all of you to know this is my loss. But if I up my game and elevate my game next week, we'll be okay."
James Rouse, Red-Shirt Senior, Defensive Lineman
On WKU neutralizing the defense
"We couldn't get the pressure on the quarterback like we wanted to. He was making good throws and the receivers were making the plays. We just couldn't get them off the field on third down."
On struggling with execution
"The last game I remember struggling like this was Ohio a few years back. We had too many mistakes by all of us. He [WKU's quarterback] was rolling out and we lost it a couple times. Their wide receivers were rolling out and making plays on the ball and we just have to make those plays. We just have to watch film, get better from it, and move on to the next game. The championship game is what we set out for and that's the goal in mind."
Tommy Shuler, Senior, Wide Receiver
On Cato
"We have to play another game. We have a championship next week. This was like a championship game. We came out and played hard, but we have to play another game. We win as a team and we lose as a team. It isn't that one man lost the game, the whole team lost the game. We're 11-1. But, it is what it is. We live to play another game."
On tying the game late
"We made mistakes, but that's all football teams. We came out flat and missed some opportunities, but we fought. That tells what type of team we are. We are a great team and we fought back but they won the game. They are a tremendous team. Their offense was on fire today. You can't take anything from the defense, they held their ground too. They just won the game. It was a great game. My hat goes off to Western Kentucky, they played a great game. You can't take anything from them. We went out and fought back, but it was too late. That's our fault as a team. We win as a team and we lose as a team."
Neville Hewitt, Senior, Linebacker
On the Herd defense
"They were probably one of the best offenses we have played against all year, but we didn't play good defense. It's frustrating but what I'm telling these guys is overall, this game never should've come down to one point. We played bad defense in the beginning and had four turnovers. We should've lost by more than what we lost by. But I've told everyone to keep their head up. We lost by one point but we have to play a championship game next week. We have to go back, look at what we messed up on and fix it.
On moving on to the championship
"We have to move on right now. We have to let it go. It's over and there's nothing we can do about it now except go look at what happened and fix it. Now we know what losing feels like. We don't want to feel that again."
Jeff Brohm, Western Kentucky Coach
On overall game
"I think we have played pretty well on offense all year. We have a great quarterback and some good receivers. We try to be aggressive. One thing we like to do on offense is we are going to be wide open. We are going to take our shots. We are going to go for the juggler when we get the chance. Our guys like it. They practice well because of it. They like practicing and making plays. We rotate a lot of guys. So a lot of guys are involved. Marshall is an outstanding team. We hit our shots and they hit theirs. Both teams slowed down a little bit in the second half. We found a way to make it in the end."
On being involved in a game like that
"No, I haven't. I mean the first quarter was on pace for ridiculous numbers and the second quarter slowed down a tad bit. Obviously the second half they played better and we regrouped. It was a back and forth game. They are a good team and know how to win. For us to find a way to win in the end on a two point play which, I knew we had to go for it or the game would keep going on. So we went for it and we are lucky we made it. We try to be aggressive and we will go down swinging."
On winning on the road
"It was great. They have great fans here. We wanted to try to go for the win."
Brandon Doughty, Redshirt senior, quarterback
On the two point playââ'¬Â¦
"Well we had no doubt. We had some confidence going into it. We thought Coach Brohm called the right play. I knew right when we scored (the touchdown) he was going to call it. It was a blessing. God's done so many things in my life and I can't thank Him enough.
On losing his voice
"I was trying get everything out there and get all my calls and make sure everyone heard me. They were a little loud out there so I had to be a little louder than I wanted to be."
On what the wins means to the seniors
"It's amazing. We've been through so much. I relayed that to those guys and said 'Hey, we've been through so much. Why not do this for one more game?' One game at a time. One play at a time. I think that's what we did today. We took it as one game at a time."
On having the talented receivers he hasââ'¬Â¦
"It's gives you confidence (as a quarterback). Those guys can go up and get it no matter what happens. I have a lot of confidence in all those guys. They make me look good. I'm really excited about their future here."
On playing in a hostile environment
"It was pretty crazy. The Marshall fans were yelling and screaming, but it was cool. It was good for us. It was good for our team to go through a little adversity and come out on top. I'm really excited about what the future holds."
On what the game does for him personally
"It's just a confidence booster. I'm trying to compete with myself. They made a couple of comments before the game that shook me the wrong way and it motivated me to put up a big performance."
Tyler Higbee, Redshirt Junior, Tightend
"I kind of like the hostile environment. It kind of gives you a little extra edge. It's exciting. That was the most points we have made in a first half. We aren't done yet.
