University of North Carolina Athletics
Postgame Quotes From Torbush, Welsh & Players
September 5, 1999 | Football
Sept. 5, 1999
UNC Head Coach Carl Torbush:
"The first thing I have to do is congratulate Coach Welsh and his football team. A lot of mistakes were made on both sides of the football, but the name of the game is to win and they were able to do that.
(On the Virginia field goal) "When the ball was kicked at the end, I thought it was five or 10 yards short. I really didn't have an idea it was good until I saw the official raise his hands.
(Virginia TB)"Thomas Jones is a great football player. I've got a great deal of respect for him. I think if he stays healthy he'll be a first-round draft choice.
"Defensively, I was very impressed with the play of our two safeties. Billy-Dee Greenwood and Quinton Savage both made some nice plays. I felt like our cornerbacks really competed. They gave up two plays and were in a position to make one of those plays, and we've got to be impressed and pleased with that because we'll improve and get better from it. We were able to play some of our young guys on defense and get them some experience.
"Offensively, without a doubt, Ronald Curry had to make too many plays. In the first half, we moved the ball fairly well, but in the second half we didn't have much rhythm at all on offense, other than Ronald making some plays on his own.
"We competed exceptionally well. I felt like our guys fought hard and Virginia did, too. But, we've got to get better. I'm interested to see how we'll bounce back from this."
UNC Player quotes:
"I was hurrying at times. We just didn't get into a rhythm out there."
"I felt we would find a way to win the game. It seemed like d?j? vu with the same thing happening with the field goal [referring to the Miami, Ohio game to start the 1998 season]. I hope we don't get off to the same start. We have a whole lot to improve on and a whole lot to learn."
"I'm prepared for the challenge of leading the team. Hopefully, we can get better. I wish we could build upon a win and
not a loss. I think we can come on next week and be a totally different team."
"I think I threw the ball OK, but not well enough. I don't think I put the team in a position to win as far as getting the ball
to where we needed to be."
"I was happy with the way the defense played. We have a lot of inexperienced guys and a lot of young guys, but we played well and hung in there the whole time. We knew coming in we had to stop Thomas Jones. We knew if we didn't, it would be a long day for us. We give credit to their offensive coordinator and their system. They got the big plays when they needed them.
"We're upset, but we know we have to stay focused. You know, next week's a new game. We can't be
worried about this loss next week.
"I was happy with the way the defense played today. You know we've got a lot of young guys. We had a
lot of question marks coming in, but I thought we played well. We hung in there the whole time, but we've got to focus on keeping them from making big plays. You've got to give credit to their offensive coordinator. They got the big plays when they needed them.
"We're pretty disappointed right now, but we understand this is just one game. We've got to get our
composure back and play well next week."
Dauntae Finger
"We've got to go out and polish up. We did some good things and some bad things, but the one thing we didn't do was give up. We've got to feed off that. We've got to pick up the intensity in practice this week and just go out next week and try to win."
"We weren't consistent on offense. We have the b ig-play capability, just not the consistency. We didn't protect Ronald very well, but he did some great things on his own. That's what makes him a great player. I'm very upset, but I have to put this game behind me and prepare for another opponent."
"We took this loss to heart, but we've got to get ready for the next game. We hope we'll do a better job this
year than we did last year. I thought the last kick was going to fall short, but it was a great kick..
"The defense played well today. We're very well conditioned. We played like we've practiced. The locker room is very quiet right now."
Virginia Head Coach George Welsh:
On the game:
"My back is killing me from the tension. It was worth it though. I can't explain this one. One of the strangest games I've ever seen. Except for Thomas Jones there was no consistency on offense on either side really."
On his confidence in Braverton for last kick:
"I wouldn't send him out there if I didn't think he had a chance. If it was into the wind I wouldn't have done it, I would have gone for it. I guess we were due for one. How many last year did he go for and not get it. I happy for him. Boy he hung in there."
On the injuries on defense:
"We didn't have anybody left on defense. We're going to cancel the Clemson game."
On QB Dan Ellis's debut:
"I think Ellis had a typical first game. He kept his poise going and he didn't get rattled He said the one interception when we were going in he threw to Jones and Jones didn't stick his hands up for it or something like that. I'll have to see the tape. Jones's gotta learn to just pull that ball down and go."
Talk to kicker?
"No I didn't. I was upset that we didn't get three more yards, or five more yards. We're always making those long 49's or 48's."
On the third down before the last field goal:
"We had a long discussion. I tried to get four yards closer. I figured we'd have a better chance to give the ball to Thomas but we knew they were going to front the linebackers."
On Jones's carries:
"That's a lot. He had to take himself out a few times for the first time in his career. That's a lot. But I though he was the difference today."
On Curry:
"That's a lot of offense out of one guy. I hope he holds up. He's going to get hit."
On Virginia's defensive INT's:
"That was a surprise. The defense did well. I thought we could have contained Curry a little better. Gave up only one touchdown. That's pretty good. He's more dangerous just running around ."
