Head Coach Dick Biddle:
On the offensive line: “I think they did a good job. Monmouth had nine starters back on defense and I think they had their whole defensive line back. This is the first start for four our five guys and we had 35 points. I thought they got better as the game went on and they got in their comfort zone but I think the thing that really helps is that we were able to keep them off balance. We were able to throw the ball, do some things put the pressure on their defense and that helps your running game. We weren’t just running the ball we were throwing the ball, we made some big plays in the passing game.”
On winning home opener: (laughs) “I haven’t won very many. All I know is every time we win one we’ve had a pretty good year. I think we won one in 2003, won one in ’97, so we’ve done pretty well. I’m going to enjoy it.
On the improvements on defense this season: “I think we played better team defense. We struggled a little bit but I think we’ll get better as the year goes on, as kids get experience. I thought they only gave up one big play and in the first half they were put in bad field position. They got two kick-off returns on the 50-yard line so they only had to go 50 yards. If we had done a better job than that, which we have to do, I think our defense could probably do better. But they did a nice job.”
Strong Safety Uzi Idah:
On how the defense performed: “We had a lot of mishaps this off season some freshmen had to come in and step up, people that don’t usually play. So we came together in camp, worked hard all camp pulled it together as a team and now we are getting ready to go in the next game next week.”
Quarterback Greg Sullivan:
On the offensive line: “They looked good, to be honest with you we wanted to see how they were going to come out and perform and they came out and they met expectations and beyond, they did really well.”
On his own performance: “I’m going to be modest, whatever I have to do to let our team win I’m going to do. So whether that means zero rushing yards or 200 I’m going to try to do whatever.”
Wide Receiver Pat Simonds
On the overall team performance: “I thought we looked pretty good, I think we have some work to do, a couple areas of our game. But for the first game I think we did alright, our offensive line did really well. Surprised a lot of people, I don’t think it surprised us, but it surprised a lot of other people so we’re excited about that.”
On his two touchdown catches from Sullivan: “Well the second one the defense was playing the run, we had been running it all quarter and we talked about it in the huddle and Coach Hunt talked about it upstairs. You know it’s something we practice everyday so it’s nothing that we weren’t expecting, nothing that we weren’t prepared for.”
