Postgame Quotes
10/1/2023 12:10:00 AM | Football
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes
Opening statement:
"Well, we are certainly very disappointed tonight. I've got to give West Virginia credit. They played really hard, just like we told our players all week they would. They did a good job against us making plays when they needed to and we didn't. We didn't do a very good job of getting our guys ready to play. It's been twice now at the end of the game that we've been able to put together a drive at the end of the game and kick a field goal or score a touchdown, and we just haven't been able to do it. It's inexcusable and we've got to do better."
On not being able to move the ball as effectively in the second half:
"I don't know why we weren't able to run the ball as well in the second half. We shouldn't have 318 yards at halftime and only 100 yards in the second half. We had some issues up front protecting. We couldn't run the ball or pass the ball either. I think when we did protect…(Chandler) left the pocket, and when he stayed in the pocket we didn't protect."
On playing without last year's quarterback, Max Duggan:
"I think we're still learning. We have a lot of new faces and a lot of moving parts. My hope was that it would've come together better and like I've said, it's looked really good at times. We took the opening drive right down the field and we looked really good, and I don't know how that same team can look like we looked in the third quarter. So, there is just a lack of consistency right now and our guys have got to do a better job of being consistent."
TCU quarterback Chandler Morris
On the second half:
"We obviously did not execute to our level. Three 3-and-outs, first three drives of the second half, we can't do that. I have to make plays. I have to move the ball, I have to move better, make better throws, and make better plays.
On the offensive line:
"They (WVU) brought a little more pressure in the second half. It went back to we had some missed assignments. I've got to give credit to West Virginia. They brought some more pressure in the second half and tried to create more stress on me."
On the West Virginia:
"I knew they were good defensively as a whole. It was something we were preparing for all week and trying to get ready for. I think there is going to be a lot of frustration when we watch this film because we missed a lot on the run and pass game, and that's going to show when we watch the tape."
TCU offensive linemen Andrew Coker
On the second half:
"I can't exactly put my finger on it. From the looks of it, it just seems like they wanted it more than us. Just from looking out there. That may or may not be true. It just seems like they wanted it more."
On the third quarter:
"Up front, they were just trying to pop the mic a little bit and get us into some different fronts. We started to handle them in the fourth quarter with the different fronts. They definitely had some different things going for us in the second half which probably led to a lot of the hardship that we had."
West Virginia head coach Neal Brown
On the game:
"I'm as proud of a football team I've ever been. And what a huge win. TCU, they won a lot of those games last year in their way to the National Championship, I have a lot of respect for them and Sonny (Dykes), and a really good staff he's put together and they do a great job. This was a fight. This was a fight. And we're a team. It's kind of built for training for other football fighters. We're a really tough team that's really close. And it's a group that's grown together with our backs against the wall. I don't want to hear anybody that's on social media say, 'Hey. I saw there being four more people that really believe in for us.' And I felt like that as we went from summer into fall camp, with a team that capable of what went in close football. And that's what we've been able to do. We've been disciplined. You know, we had what two blocked field goals tonight. And it's because of the way we play the way, how you chose to play, and it's clean. We're a tough team. It's mentally tough. And you saw that tonight. You know, we had multiple guys (suffer injuries), they're going to stay here overnight, and we've gotten some positive reports on those guys. When at times, you know we didn't play very smart, the last play shows that we know better. But I thought offensively we found a way, with zero turnovers, ran the ball for over 200 yards on these guys, which is achievement. We made enough plays in the passing game. I thought Garrett (Greene) was really gritty. Our guys believe in him. He's got a little swagger, comes out and makes every play. He's in trouble sometimes but he makes a lot of (plays), too.
"Defensively, I can't say enough about the second half from these guys. TCU has really good skill guys. We bent a little bit, but we never broke. We've got to work on our hands in bottling. We dropped four interceptions. Our defensive line is talented. We got pressure late. And then we got a really good push on the bulk load blocks over those other walls, too. It's not and those are those are tough field goals to make. We made two, and one of them got called back because of a penalty. But those are tough. And then special teams. I can't say enough about that. You know defensively, we played really good team defense. Special teams, think about it. If you look at the stats, we punted five times for 46 yards. And I don't think they had any (returning yards). I think they had one returning yard. And that kid is returning punts is really good. And you look at our kickoff, they were one of the top teams in the country kickoff return coming here. And we come in, and we run down fast and tackle, and block two field goals. And so, people are going to say, 'Well, they had 400 yards. Y'all had 343.' But we played clean football and we held the ball for almost 33 minutes in the game."
On shutting down the TCU running game:
"I thought they hit a couple (big runs) there in the second half. But if you would have told me that we were going to hold them to 135 yards, I'd feel pretty good about it. If you told me before the game that we're going to rush for 200 yards, not going to turn it over, and hold them to 135 yards rushing, I'd feel pretty good about it."
WVU quarterback, Garrett Greene
On safety Aubrey Burks:
"He's going to be okay from what I know. We have his back. He loves these guys and we love him."
On the road win:
"I think on the road, especially against a great team like this, is always tough. They have a healthy team - offensively and defensively. It's a testament to how gritty and how hard our guys work."
WVU linebacker Lee Kpogba
On the win:
"It feels great to come in here in the opposing team's stadium and come out with a win always feels good. It's a big win for us so it feels great."
On the many significant injuries today:
"You hate to see guys go down especially knowing how much work they put in. We just used it as motivation tonight. We wanted to keep going for those guys and use it for motivation to go get the win."
WVU defensive lineman Mike Lockhart
On his success this season:
"I attribute my success to Coach Meyer and Coach Mitch and working on conditioning on Saturdays and hills and extra conditioning after practice during fall camp and I know that I would be playing 40-50 snaps. I knew we lost some pieces from last year, so I would have to step up."
On the blocked field goal:
"We were going to hit right. I told them previously, that we come to get this third and stop they're going to hit a field goal. I told myself I was going to block it and it worked."
Players Mentioned
TCU Football | Frogs Take Care of Business at West Virginia (WVU Postgame Press Conference)
Sunday, October 26
Behind the Mic: TCU at West Virginia
Saturday, October 25
TCU Football | Sonny Dykes and Players Weekly Press Conference (at West Vriginia)
Tuesday, October 21
TCU Football | Sonny Dykes and Players Weekly Press Conference (at West Virginia)
Tuesday, October 21
