UConn 29, USF 27
December 5, 2009
East Hartford, Conn.
Rentschler Field
USF Head Coach Jim Leavitt
Opening Statement...
"We battled but came up short. They make that 42-yarder with the clock running down. You've got to give credit to Connecticut. They did a good job getting the ball downfield. Our kickoff frustrated me. We wanted to squib it, not a line drive. That may have made the difference of 10 yards."
On the Bulls' defense giving up two leads...
"I thought our defense did some things well. They were working with a short field a lot, but you've got to be able to stop them."
On UConn's last offensive drive...
"I expected them to do that. With 40 seconds left, I knew it was going to be tough. I really wanted that two-point conversion because I knew they were probably going to get it on a short field with the wind. I knew that probably would happen."
On his team's struggles at Rentschler Field over the years...
"This one wasn't as bas as the last two, where we had the ball at the one-yard-line. We made some interesting calls, but this one, I thought we had a chance. We wanted to put the ball in Mike Ford's hands. I wanted to run him quite a bit tonight. I wanted to roll with him."
On quarterback B.J. Daniels' performance...
"I thought B.J. played well. He's a courageous competitor. I just thought he played extremely well."
On South Florida's bowl outlook...
"We talked about it briefly about a week ago. That's about it. We basically said we're probably going to a bowl. I don't know anything. I just try to get us to win football games."
On how he prepared his team to play in snowy conditions...
"You don't. It was tough for both teams. The key to this game was our attitude. They had a great game plan. They really kept focus."
UConn Head Coach Randy Edsall
Opening Statement...
"It was a great win. It was good to be on side of it for once this year. We can make something happen and be able to come back and win. Again, these kids are just unbelievable, just never gave up; they never stopped playing until the final whistle. There were a lot of guys today; I thought (Junior Quarterback) Zach Frazer did an outstanding job today. We don't turn the ball over, and even though our defense gave up some yards but losing (Junior Linebacker) Greg Lloyd, and then losing Robert Vaughn (Senior Free Safety), and losing Trevardo (Williams, Freshman Defensive End) during the game. They battled, but special teams were big. I'm just thrilled and happy we got the win."
How much confidence did you have in Dave Teggart when you sent him out there?
"Well, if I didn't have the confidence, I wouldn't have put him out there. Or I wouldn't have let him try that field goal. I have a tremendous amount of confidence in David; I just wish David had as much confidence in himself as I have in him."
How much does this win mean to the team after everything they've been through this year?
"It's hard because there's so much emotion that's been involved with this season. You just can't describe it, these kids have been through so much and these kids and coaches within the program but the thing that sticks out is just how these kids didn't succumb to the issues that people thought that they couldn't get over."
Senior Wide Receiver #29 Marcus Easley
On the game...
"We sure make it tough on ourselves but everything we've been through, we're playing for Jazz and just everything we've been through being able to end games and close games out it's just a tribute to our hard work and playing every play like it's our last play.
"It's good, it's crazy, especially with (Sophomore Kicker Dave) Teggart, and he's been struggling a bit lately. For him to make the game-winning field goal with time expiring was good for him and good for our team. It's good for our program."
Sophomore Kicker #38 Dave Teggart
Is this pretty much what you live for?
"Yeah, definitely. As a kicker, we don't get onto the field too much. Tonight I got on the field earlier and they blocked one. When that kind of thing happens, you really want to get out there again and get another kick. I was just lucky enough to get another kick at the end."
How were you staying warm on the sidelines before the kick?
"I was just trying to stay loose. It's not that easy. It's easy to freeze up out there. I was jogging, doing high knees, anything. I was standing in front of the heater, too. I'm the guy that stands in front of the heater the most just to stay warm. I knew we had a shot; our offense was good enough to drive us down the field. I got a good couple of kicks into the net. I got the shot, the opportunity and I'm glad I got it."
