Postgame Quotes - UCLA vs. Oregon State (Nov. 12, 2016)
UCLA 38, Oregon State 24
Pasadena, Calif. (Rose Bowl)
November 12, 2016
UCLA head coach Jim Mora
opening remarks
“It’s good to get a win. They have been hard to come by this year. These guys have stayed together and have kept a great attitude. So, they got rewarded for it. That was great. We have to get ready for a big week this week.”
on the first-quarter fumble and whether UCLA wanted a review
“The officials checked it. They review every play. They didn’t buzz. I checked with our coaches, and they said that it was a fumble.”
on what leads him to believe this team is moving in the right direction
“Getting a win, number one. Two, we were running the ball more effectively. Playing better defense, which we did tonight. The score was not indicative of how our defense played. I see these guys every day – their grit, their determination, their competitiveness. I should have said this when I got up here, but Mike Fafaul, after being here for five years, he could have left as a graduate transfer. He played behind Brett [Hundley] and then Josh [Rosen] got the job, and he has hung in there. He’s everything that you want in a quarterback in terms of studying the game and it being serious to him. It’s just great. We have only given away two game balls here in five years. We gave Marcus Rios one after his interception in the game against Cal, and we gave one tonight to Mike.”
on UCLA’s running backs
“With Jalen [Starks], just downhill running – powerful running. Brandon [Stephens], he has the ability to hit a hole, bounce out of it and skate to the outside. That run that got called back, obviously, that’s disappointing. I did not see the hold, I don’t know if it was legitimate or not. But Bolu [Olorunfunmi] is a downhill runner as well when he gets behind his pads. We have a good group of backs. I’ll stick with that. We have to find ways to be better running the football, and we’ll keep working at it. We should’ve handed the ball off a few more times and could’ve had a few more yards there. But, it is a step in the right direction.”
on playing multiple players at running back
“We just made a decision this week to get all of them work. We’d rotate them through the game to look for a hot hand. They were all playing pretty well. One of the big parts is your ability to pass protect. I thought that they all did fine. There was no revelation there. It was just a decision to play them all.” on playing younger players and that being a conscious decision “No, there really wasn’t [a conscious decision]. We aren’t going to put guys just to get them time, but we do put guys in there who can give us the best chance to win at that moment. We want to get Theo [Howard] reps, same with Brandon [Stephens], Jalen [Starks], they are good players. Josh Woods has been starting most of the year. He’s only 18. But we have a good nucleus of young players and we need to continue to teach them how to win and prepare for how to win. Tonight was a good step. We have a huge challenge coming up, obviously.”
on UCLA’s running backs and how often the Bruins plan to rush the ball against USC
“I’m not going to give that one up. In order to be good offensive football team, you have to be able to do both well. You have to run the ball when they know that you’re going to run the ball. It’s on a step in the right direction if you keep taking steps. One of the things that is helping us is a little more consistency with our offensive line. [Since losing Kolton Miller] Those guys have re-grouped and are feeling better about working together. The two areas that take the most communication are the offensive line and the defensive secondary. They’re getting a little bit better feel for that.”
Oregon State head coach Gary Andersen
Opening remarks
"Tonight was a lost opportunity. There are a lot of things I would like to say. Congratulations to UCLA. They found a way to win the game. We did some good things but we have plenty to work on. Let’s talk about the penalties right out of the gate. Something has got to get fixed. I refuse to be a part of an undisciplined football team on the field or off the field. I refuse and it will get fixed. Somehow someway, there is obviously some disconnect. There are some penalties there and we can all whine and we can cry about this or that but I am not going to stand up here and get fined either. So I am not going to do either one of those things. I am just telling you right now I refuse to be part of an undisciplined football team. Something has got to change. Me, the coaches, the players we will see. So we will figure it all out."
On using Conor Blount
"I didn’t think he could have helped us in this game. I don’t think Conor would have been able to step in and I thought Marcus had decent control. It was the best scenario. I didn’t feel that it was a need with the type of pass rushers coming at him. I didn’t feel that it was the best place to put a true freshman in.
On missed opportunities
We never had one drive on offense that was sustained that I can remember. We got the ball on the one or two yard line and you don’t score. It would have been a three point game at that point. That’s a huge missed opportunity. They block a punt for a touchdown. That’s a great play by an individual kid but I’ll be interested to watch that play on tape. There were numerous opportunities. You take a look at that defense. That defense plays hard. They battle and communicate well and they’re giving it they’re best shot. We lose another outside linebacker so guys have to play every snap, but those guys play tough.
On kicking field goal and not go for touchdown
I think you earn your right down there as a football team. To me that’s a two-score game and you’ve already had your chances down there to get it done as coaches and as players. So at that point it’s my responsibility to make a decision. I thought it was best to kick the field goal, right or wrong, to get it to a one-score game and after that we had our opportunities but couldn’t take advantage.
On play of Manase Hungalu
He played awesome. He made some big time plays in some big time moments. He had an opportunity to make a play down at the goal line and he did it. It means a lot to him. Football means a lot to him. Oregon State means a lot to him. If you had a 100 of him you wouldn’t have many problems. Fantastic game and great to see him be able to produce like that.