Nothing I need to say less than 24 hours after that heart-breaker, so on to the quotes:
WILLIE FRITZ
What was your take on the non-touchdown call, the play and everything that happened on the final snap?
"Well, you know, I wasn't down there, but when I looked at the big screen, I thought it had a chance to be a touchdown, but those are tough ones for them to I guess overturn. I don't know. Not my call."
Did you want Jonathan Banks to throw on that play? If he doesn't get it in the end zone, the game is over instead of you having another crack at it.
"Exactly right. We were going to go for it on fourth down, but I felt like he had a little room in there. Shoot, he did a good job of driving us down there, and sometimes it comes down to inches."
You were so close to a bowl game in your second year. How does it feel to have inches separate you from a win?
"Well, we're disappointed. I'm not real patient. I've had to learn to have patience this year and last year. We're going in the right direction, there's no question about it, but that would have been a nice one to have."
You're up 8 and a Cameron Sample grabs the face mask on what would have been a huge third-down sack deep in ECU territory. Are you going to be thinking about those plays for a long time?
"Well, there's a bunch of them. There were a couple of missed assignments where we had some big-time opportunities, too. It's part of the growing process and learning how to play in big games, but as I've mentioned many times before, we've got be hitting on all cylinders. When we're not, it's tough for us. But one thing I'll give our guys, we fight and play hard. Most of the time we play pretty smart, too, so I'm really proud of the guys and the seniors and the effort they've given us all season. I would have really liked to have had it for those guys."
How does it change your outlook for next year knowing that you have Banks and what he can do?
"He got better and better throughout the year. The guy gets more comfortable in the offense, plus we learned what he can do, what he's good at. That's important as well. He did some good things throughout the season. We'd like to have a few more practices with him, but he did a good job."
Did you hear from the coaches upstairs that the play was going to be overturned and ruled a touchdown?
"Yeah, they thought we had a chance. The coaches in the box saw it and they thought it was a touchdown, but heck, it's got to be beyond a shadow of a doubt."
Darius Bradwell gave you some big plays. What did you like about the way he ran today?
"He's got a chance to be a really, really good back for us. He's tough, he's just hard to bring down, he's got good vision and when he learns the other parts. he's going to be a dynamite back. He had a big run for us today. He's a guy that got better throughout the year as well."
When SMU trailed by 8, they had holding penalty on a third-and-5 play where they threw an incomplete pass. It was a 50-50 call, but you elected to take the down and make it fourth rather than backing them up, and it didn't work. They scored a touchdown on the next play. What was the thought process?
"That's exactly what it was. It was a 50-50. Analytically we kind of look at all that stuff, and unfortunately we went ahead and took it. Coach (Chad) Morris (of SMU) was running down the sideline trying to call a timeout. They were going to call time with a second (left on the play clock) and I think they were going to attempt a field goal. Unfortunately we jumped (offside) and then we didn't keep playing."
Your guys jumped offside three times, which is uncharacteristic. Was it something SMU was doing?
"Yeah, they did a good job. They did a lot of double claps. We've got to look at the ball. That's what we're supposed to be looking at."
Do you feel like this team did enough today to deserve the bowl bid that would have come with a win?
"We didn't win. If we get in there, I'd be telling you yes right now."
How are your players taking it right now?
"They're taking it tough. You put everything into something and don't get the results you want, it's difficult. It's difficult. I just feel for those seniors. I've got a lot of games left to coach. Most of those guys, this is the last time they are ever going to play, so they've been awesome. I've been very impressed with them on and off the field. I just would have loved to have gotten it done for them."
After getting down 27-14, you converted six straight third downs and got ahead. Are those the signs you like?
"Yeah, they play hard throughout the game. There was a half against Memphis I wish we would have played a little bit different. Besides that I thought we played hard throughout the year and showed a lot of grit. That's something I'm very proud of."
You're all about right now after a game like this, but how bright do you think the future is?
"I think the future is very bright. You have to step back and reflect on everything, but this would have been a nice win to get."
WILLIE FRITZ
What was your take on the non-touchdown call, the play and everything that happened on the final snap?
"Well, you know, I wasn't down there, but when I looked at the big screen, I thought it had a chance to be a touchdown, but those are tough ones for them to I guess overturn. I don't know. Not my call."
Did you want Jonathan Banks to throw on that play? If he doesn't get it in the end zone, the game is over instead of you having another crack at it.
"Exactly right. We were going to go for it on fourth down, but I felt like he had a little room in there. Shoot, he did a good job of driving us down there, and sometimes it comes down to inches."
You were so close to a bowl game in your second year. How does it feel to have inches separate you from a win?
"Well, we're disappointed. I'm not real patient. I've had to learn to have patience this year and last year. We're going in the right direction, there's no question about it, but that would have been a nice one to have."
You're up 8 and a Cameron Sample grabs the face mask on what would have been a huge third-down sack deep in ECU territory. Are you going to be thinking about those plays for a long time?
"Well, there's a bunch of them. There were a couple of missed assignments where we had some big-time opportunities, too. It's part of the growing process and learning how to play in big games, but as I've mentioned many times before, we've got be hitting on all cylinders. When we're not, it's tough for us. But one thing I'll give our guys, we fight and play hard. Most of the time we play pretty smart, too, so I'm really proud of the guys and the seniors and the effort they've given us all season. I would have really liked to have had it for those guys."
How does it change your outlook for next year knowing that you have Banks and what he can do?
"He got better and better throughout the year. The guy gets more comfortable in the offense, plus we learned what he can do, what he's good at. That's important as well. He did some good things throughout the season. We'd like to have a few more practices with him, but he did a good job."
Did you hear from the coaches upstairs that the play was going to be overturned and ruled a touchdown?
"Yeah, they thought we had a chance. The coaches in the box saw it and they thought it was a touchdown, but heck, it's got to be beyond a shadow of a doubt."
Darius Bradwell gave you some big plays. What did you like about the way he ran today?
"He's got a chance to be a really, really good back for us. He's tough, he's just hard to bring down, he's got good vision and when he learns the other parts. he's going to be a dynamite back. He had a big run for us today. He's a guy that got better throughout the year as well."
When SMU trailed by 8, they had holding penalty on a third-and-5 play where they threw an incomplete pass. It was a 50-50 call, but you elected to take the down and make it fourth rather than backing them up, and it didn't work. They scored a touchdown on the next play. What was the thought process?
"That's exactly what it was. It was a 50-50. Analytically we kind of look at all that stuff, and unfortunately we went ahead and took it. Coach (Chad) Morris (of SMU) was running down the sideline trying to call a timeout. They were going to call time with a second (left on the play clock) and I think they were going to attempt a field goal. Unfortunately we jumped (offside) and then we didn't keep playing."
Your guys jumped offside three times, which is uncharacteristic. Was it something SMU was doing?
"Yeah, they did a good job. They did a lot of double claps. We've got to look at the ball. That's what we're supposed to be looking at."
Do you feel like this team did enough today to deserve the bowl bid that would have come with a win?
"We didn't win. If we get in there, I'd be telling you yes right now."
How are your players taking it right now?
"They're taking it tough. You put everything into something and don't get the results you want, it's difficult. It's difficult. I just feel for those seniors. I've got a lot of games left to coach. Most of those guys, this is the last time they are ever going to play, so they've been awesome. I've been very impressed with them on and off the field. I just would have loved to have gotten it done for them."
After getting down 27-14, you converted six straight third downs and got ahead. Are those the signs you like?
"Yeah, they play hard throughout the game. There was a half against Memphis I wish we would have played a little bit different. Besides that I thought we played hard throughout the year and showed a lot of grit. That's something I'm very proud of."
You're all about right now after a game like this, but how bright do you think the future is?
"I think the future is very bright. You have to step back and reflect on everything, but this would have been a nice win to get."
