WMU vs USC Quotes
USC vs. Western Michigan Quotes
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Sept. 2, 2017
Western Michigan Coach Tim Lester
“I’m proud of the guys and how they played. We came in here knowing we had to worry about us. It was unique to play with new coordinators and a new head coach and we were really just focusing on executing one play at a time. We had some ups and downs. They landed some punches and we landed some punches and the guys kept swinging. You come here to win, so it’s frustrating we didn’t. But we learned a lot. So it’s tough, we have to finish. We have to handle the heat better. We ran out of juice a bit and have to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
Does it help that team played in the Cotton Bowl last year
“I think it did. Coming off a BCS game after playing in Jerry Jones’ stadium last year, people asked about playing here. And it’s a beautiful stadium. But the Coliseum didn’t get guys off their game. You could see it in their eyes. The biggest thing I tell them is you see belief in your eyes. Not with their mouths or bodies but in their eyes. They came out swinging. USC landed the first punch and I’m proud of our defense to fight back and our offense was able to do what we do and that’s control the run.
“Their running backs are special and we knew that. We knew we had to stop run. That was the frustrating thing at end. They’re gonna score and move the ball. They’ve got a really good quarterback who made good throws. But our job is to stop the run. We need to do a better job stopping run in last 4 minutes. That’s what we have to get better at.
On the heat and if it was a factor
“It was 60 most mornings in Kalamazoo. Lucky for us, thanks to our administration we were able to come out Wednesday. We practiced in it Thursday and Friday and it helped us. We were a lot more comfortable early on in the game. Thursday in the walk through our guys faces were like “wow”. Lucky we could get acclimated and it helped us. We we literally rotating every play at the end. We were trying to keep guys upright and I think we ran out of juice and missed some tackles at the end. You can’t play 56 minutes. You’ve gotta play 60.
On the false starts.
“That was frustrating. Going into the drive we discussed we were going to eat up 6-7 minutes and score and go for 2 and go win this thing. Then (LeVante) Bellamy breaks off big run and it changes our thinking. Luckily our young guy (Josh Grant) was able to cut it to 4. It keeps us in it. The crowd got involved at that time and it was a great opportunity for Jon to get in the atmosphere.
On running throughout the game
“That was the plan. Were not going to back down from anyone. Our guys have a ton of heart and they’re talented too and we have more heart than anybody. We had them on their toes which was good. The first drive of second half was probably the biggest drive I’ve ever seen. I told them they’ll come out as best USC team you’ve seen. And we drove down and scored and I was really proud of them.”
Western Michigan CB Darius Phillips
“I didn’t get that many returns throughout the game. I talked to (my teammates) and said we’re bringing it out. I trusted the blocking and the scheme.”
Western Michigan RB Jamauri Bogan
“It was a good feeling today and the guys came out to play. We know that the country would expect us to fold, but our guys came to play. We played physical. We ran out of gas a little at the end but I’m proud of how we played. We laid it all out on the line and we’ll be ready for next week.
On stalling out on the late field goal drive
“That’s tough. We had some momentum. We were at the 20 but we came up a little bit short. We made a few minor mistakes. Our kicker made a huge field and we were in the game. We weren’t tapping out. We had all the confidence in the word but came out a little short.
“USC at the end of the day, they felt us and at the day at the end we want every team to wake up and know they felt us.
On his success on the ground
“I go through my progressions. I trust my line and they’re really good. They take care of business up front and my job is to burst through the holes that they give me.
Western Michigan QB Jon Wassink
“Our line and and backs were phenomenal. They made it easier on me in my first start. I could turn around and hand off and put together drives without throwing. We were matching them and a tribute to line and our running backs.
On the loss
“It hurts. Michigan State doesn’t really care that we made it close. They don’t care we played with USC, they’ll come out just like we will. We found out what we ‘re made of and USC found out what they’re made of.
“I didn’t think there was any invincible. At the end of the day, it’s one on one matchups and I didn’t feel like stadium or anything made them invincible. We played with them and had a chance to win.”