USF Football Post Game Quotes
USF 30 (6-2, 2-2 BIG EAST) vs. No. 20/20 West Virginia 19 (6-2, 2-1 BIG EAST)
Friday, Oct. 30 2009, 8 p.m.
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

USF Head Coach Jim Leavitt
 
Leavitt Opening Statement...
"We didn't do everything right, but we did get the win so that was good. I thought the team played so much better than they had in the past few weeks. We had the same opportunities in the Cincinnati game, we just didn't make the plays. There were about three or four catches where I thought B.J. put the ball right there and they were dropped. We were fortunate to get out of this one and win with dropping that many balls.

"I was really happy with our defense. Those guys played a lot better and we played so bad against Pittsburgh. West Virginia is a very good football team. We didn't let Noel Divine get out and that is something we really focused in on this week, because he is such a great runner.

BullsVision Free Postgame Interviews: B.J. Daniels | Jim Leavitt | Carlton Mitchell | Sterling Griffin | Kion Wilson

"(Eric) Schwartz had a tremendous night. We had some substitutions problems and there is no doubt that is on coaching. A couple of times I had to call timeouts because I didn't want to have a broken play or our defense wasn't set.

"The fourth down plays are something you will probably ask me about. It was probably stupid to do what I did. The first time it was probably foolish but we got it. You don't usually punt at that part of the game at the 50-yard line, but I really wanted to get a spark going. With the second one I just wasn't going to let that ball placement stop us, because that just bothered me. That was more me being angry. I thought we had that first down and I was little disappointed."

On the maturity of a quarterback and how big of win it was for BJ Daniels...
"I hope a lot. It is my fault. I handcuffed him in the Pittsburgh game, and I didn't let him go out there and play. I told Mike in this game to let him go and let him do what he does. I said we will just have to hope he grows and makes good decisions. He always wants to make plays and one time I told B.J. to throw the ball out of bounds when he lost three yards and he was so mad. He feels like he can conquer the world and a lot of times he can."

On containing Divine...
"We talked a lot about it. We didn't want to let him get outside. We wanted to keep him pinned up inside. He is such a great back and if he gets out, he is gone. Also the quarterback we really wanted to keep him up in there, but then he stepped up and then got out. He is hard guy to get sacks on. Noel Divine is a great running back though. I think we have faced two of the best running backs in the country these last two weeks."

How important was it for the defense to rebound...
"We hadn't really played good defense in six quarters. We played poor in the second half of the Cincinnati game and we played horrible against Pittsburgh. We just didn't play smart against Pittsburgh, so for them to come back and play well will do a lot for them. It will give them their confidence back."

West Virginia Head Coach Bill Stewart

Opening statement...
"I just talked to the football team and they are some hurting end guys in there both physically and mentally as there should be. That was a hard fought game. I cannot fault our effort. I can sometimes fault our intelligence, but I can surely not fault our effort.

"You look at stat sheets and you see it's 7 to 14 on the third downs. You see 31 minutes of time possession, you see you did better in the kickoff, you did better in the punt, all that stuff. It doesn't mean a hell of beans without that 'W.' So understand that's what this program is all about at West Virginia.

"I told you guys this, real simple, to all our believers, fans, and West Virginia nation, it's a four game season, number 1. Number 1 it's a four game season, that's what we have waiting for us. It all starts with Louisville. After that I don't know what and I don't really care. It's a four game season. That's what we have left. It starts next Saturday at home, University of Louisville. Four game season, that's first and foremost.

"Number 2, they remember November. There's a lot to fight for in this program, we are 6 and 2. We had a chance to really shine tonight, and we didn't. We did not shine the way we wanted to shine. So that being said, it's a 6 and 2 football team. I told them we were down here two years ago, and we got beat in a heck of an effort, and came back and almost played for the national championship. We got beat, but they remember November. That's all I can tell you, that's point number 2.

"Number 3, each and every man here before they left that locker room, let me tell you something, we grabbed hands and said 'I will do more.' It starts with Bill Stewart, I will do more. Each and every staff member, 'I will do more.' Each and every football player offensively and defensively, 'I will do more.' Guys, we are not finger pointing, we are going to pull from the ranks, we are thumb pointing, we are in a closed rank, and it's all about Mountaineer pride from here on out.

"Once again, four game season, remember November, and I can do more."

On if he was surprised Daniels got away so much like he did...
"Yeah, it surprised me. We lost containment. I mean, you chase the upfield shoulder and the deepest back, quarterback or tailback. It's basic elementary football. You chase the upfield shoulder and the deepest back. We didn't do that as well as we should. Now does his athleticism have something to do with it? Now you bet, he's a great player."

WVU DB Robert Sands

On Daniels throwing the deep balls...
"He looked me off a few times. They caused a situation where they had a one-on-one on the outside. Their receiver made a good catch, and the quarterback made a good throw."

On the road the rest of the season...
"We have to go back to the drawing boards. A loss like this is a tough loss, but we are a tough team. We just have to go in on Sunday, practice and practice hard like it never happened. We have to move on. We have to forget this loss. We have four more division games this month coming up. We just have to go out there and win."

On giving up the big plays...
"It was tough. Our corners did a good job all night of running with their receivers. You can't defend sometimes a perfect ball. A quarterback puts the ball where the defender can't get to it. It's just hard to defend."

WVU DL Josh Taylor

On trying to contain B.J. Daniels...
"He is a really good player. He is quick. It was pretty rough trying to contain him. We just have to do a better job containing when you are playing a quarterback like that."

On not being able to bring Daniels down...
"Sometimes that happens in football. Sometimes missed tackles happen. We just have to play through it."