UCLA Quotes
September 16, 2000 | Football
Sept. 16, 2000
UCLA head coach Bob Toledo:
"This was a great college football game, in a great venue, with a great atmosphere and two excellent football teams. I told Ryan (McCann) this was your game to win, he did a nice job of responding."
(On McCann) "He started slow, but I had confidence in him. He made some nice plays. Going into this game today I had the utmost confidence that he could perform. I challenged him. I said this is your game to win, don't look behind you. This team is yours until the game is decided."
"This was a physical football game. I think if you ask Alabama and Michigan, they'd say those guys in baby blue jerseys are physical."
"I talked about this game being four quarters, 60 minutes. We never gave in. This game was for the program. We wanted to make a statement today and win this one."
"I think both teams wore down at the end of the game. This was like a war or a 15-round fight. There were guys down all over the field on both sides of the ball."
UCLA quarterback Ryan McCann (who was 15-21 for 150 yards in the second half):
"The first half was very close, we had a lot of dropped balls. I knew we could finish the job in the second half. I told the guys to hang in there. In the second half, we executed and showed what we could do."
(On Freddie Mitchell) "Freddie played an outstanding game. He did a great job. He finds a way to get open, and when he gets open, I throw him the ball."
(On Coach Toledo) "He stuck with me and told me to run my offense no matter what. When we execute, we're tough to beat."
"We showed them that UCLA and the Pac-10 are not soft."
"The home crowd was excellent ? it really got us going."
Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr:
(On John Navarre) "With game experiences like this, you'll make mistakes. It was hard for both teams. It was hot. Both teams came up with big plays. They (UCLA) came up with the turnover at the end."
(On kicking game) "Lots of plays could have determined the outcome. (Missing kicks) is just part of the game. That wasn't the determining factor. UCLA is a good football team."
(On losing Eric Wilson) "Eric Wilson is our captain, he's an excellent football player. Anytime you lost a great player it hurts, but give UCLA credit."
"They (UCLA) did the things we thought they would do. They mixed coverages. When you see it live (as opposed to practice), it is different. Seeing it under the spotlight is different. (Navarre) is just going through growing pains."
"UCLA threw the ball consistently. They did a very good job protecting their quarterback. As they protected him, he made big plays down the stretch."
(On the second half) "They ran a balanced attack. They stayed out of third and long situations. In the second half they came out and had a great drive that changed the momentum. We answered, but they came back."
"Both teams played hard. That was a good team. It's disappointing to lose, but we have to go on to our next game. That will decide what we're made of."
Michigan Quarterback John Navarre
"It's a learning experience, and it's not the way you want to learn. They (UCLA) played lights out. They are quite good and smart."
