Mike Shula (Alabama Head Coach '03) Obviously, it was very disappointing. In a tough loss like that where we didn't play like we wanted to play, there were still some things that were positive that we're going to build on. That's going to be real important for our team to take the good things we did against a real good team. They're #1 for a reason and we found that out today. They're a well coached and talented team. But we've got to take those good things and grow. And we' ve got to learn in a hurry and correct the bad things. I thought we were a little sloppy early, for whatever reason. But we hung in there and our defense kept us in . kept the score low and gave us a chance. We got going there and got the touchdown after the missed field goal, got it back to 13-10. We held them again and then they come with the fake punt. What a gutsy call, what a great call on their part. That allowed them to stay on the field, and then they came up with a big play. But again, we've got to build on the good things and we have a lot of football left. It's disappointing, but I think we still have some great young men. Everyone on that sideline. There's not one person in there getting frustrated. Everyone was believing until that final second that we were going to be able to find a way to win it. That's what it takes. No matter the situation, that's what it takes. We can work with that.
Dave Rader (Alabama Offensive Coordinator, quarterbacks coach) These comments came following the Oklahoma game as Dave Rader answered questions from the press pool ... Tonight . what if the field were six inches wider? We had our shots. We had some big play shots. We knew against that defense we had to hit those big plays. Each one that didn't materialize just put us a little more in the hole. But we had those shots, and those were big momentum boosts that we miss. Was a little surprised that they brought as many dogs as they did. They had a little pressure and hit Brodie a couple of times, but he kept bringing it. They're just a good defense. But I think it also shows that we can be a good offense. Brodie Croyle (#12 So. QB, 6-3 200 lbs. Rainbow City, AL - Westbrook Christian) We lost. We don't see any good in losing. The number one team in the nation . who cares. We're Alabama and we' re supposed to win. We're never the underdogs. That's the way we look at it. It happens that we lost, but we can build off of it kind of like we did last year. We don't get another shot at them. That's the bad thing about it is we don't get another shot at them. Those guys are going to go a long way. You took some pretty vicious hits out there. How does your body feel? Ahh .. that's football. I expected it coming in. Those guys are big, fast, strong . that's the reason they're the number one defense in the country. They were bringing a lot of crazy blitzes at us, nothing different than we'd seen, but there's some things we can't pick up. As the quarterback, you have to stand in there and take it. We took some pretty hard ones, but I got a week to heal. Shaud Williams (#21 Sr. TB, 5-8 191 lbs. Andrews, TX - Texas Tech transfer) As a player, anytime you go into a ballgame there's no such thing as moral victories. We came into this ballgame expecting to win. I think the fans expected that too. It's one of those things where you feel good cause you played them close, but at the same time you want to come out with the victory. Justin Smiley (#78 Jr. LG, 6-4 293 lbs. Ellabell, GA - Southeast Bulloch) Is there any sense of confidence knowing that you played the #1 team down to the wire again this year? I don't really believe in moral victories. People talk about that. They're a really good team and you have to give them all the credit, but it's like last season after the OU loss, I really didn't think we were going to lose another game after that. That's how I feel. I don't think we're going to lose another game if we can play the way we're supposed to play. DeMeco Ryans (#35 So. SLB, 6-2 225 lbs. Bessemer - Jess Lanier) Do you guys feel like you measured up pretty well to the #1 team in the nation? I think it was an evenly matched game, you know. There wasn't a better team. There was just the team that made the big play at the right time. --------------------------------------------------------- "It wouldn't have been somewhere else," Shula said. "If it hadn't been Alabama, I would have stayed where I was." ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
