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South Dakota State University Athletics
1017 FB vs. NDSU Quotes
10/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Thomas O'Brien, SDSU QB
Coach Stig said "One is good, two is great, but three is fantastic." Every time we beat these guys, it's great. When you get a roll going, it's great for recruiting, our standing in the conference.
Running Backs
Our running backs fought for every yard tonight. We got a lot of extra yards tonight and that leads to wins. Our line played phenomenal. We sat behind those guys and we rode them to a victory. The win is everything to the O-Line. I couldn't be more proud of them.
Footing
On really long drops you had to make sure that you stayed centered. It wasn't as bad as we expected when we went out there for our walk through yesterday.
NDSU adjustments
They played more man defense, maybe because of the footing. We didn't see much of that in their previous game. We figured they might do something like that with the footing.
Derek Domino, SDSU LB
Coach Stig always preaches playing in the present. Those were big games back then, but they don't mean anything now. They get bigger and bigger each time; sweeter and sweeter.
INT
I guess I just got lucky being in the right place at the right time. I just tried to get in my drop and play ball.
Biggest change
Experience. You have that first year of starting under your belt, playing every game, adjusting to the speed. Those other guys, Isaiah, Jim, Chris, really took me under their wing and let me work out with them and taught me the tricks of the trade. Hopefully I can get to their level some day.
Late Fumble
I have confidence in the offense that they can pound the ball and run the clock out, but we just had to go out there and stop them again. And that's what we did.
Kyle Minett, SDSU RB
I don't think we have played a perfect game this year. The first couple of home games we had were big wins, but the first half, we did execute like we should have and that happened today too. One point of effensence was to get first downs and win the field position battle even if we didn't get touchdowns. It helps our confidence knowing that we can play better and yet we handled a pretty good team pretty easily tonight.
Defensive Impact
Just the way that those guys play and are so intense. I think that kind of rubs off on us offensive guys. After they get a big three and out, it makes us eager to get on the field to take it to the defense of hopefully get a few first downs and a score.
Win help solidify program
Us personally, we don't have any doubt about our level of play and where the program is. Hopefully it gives us a little more national respect, because sometimes I don't think that that happens. That's just something where we need to keep winning. Next week is going to be a huge game for us against UNI. Those guys are going to be ready to go so we need to put this game behind us and try and take it to those guys next week.
Must win next week
I don't it is a must win, but we are going to go into the game treating it that way. Tonight was the biggest game of the year for us and next week is the biggest game of the year as well. We have to treat every game like that. UNI is going to be ready to go and they have a great squad, but we are going to be ready too.
Going to SDSU instead of NDSU
SDSU came out and offered me right away while NDSU kept waiting and waiting and waiting. I just decided to commit to SDSU. They just felt more confident about me and I just got a sense that they wanted me more. It just felt right, so that's why I went to SDSU.
John Stiegelmeier, SDSU head coach
I am so proud of those guys. I am proud of their constant believe in them themselves and the program and I think that showed today with the way that they played. We beat a good football team tonight, no matter their record. It's fun to have the trophy here, but it's more fun to play in front of a crowd like that and win a football game.
The Lineman take a lot of pride in that trophy. We told the guys on Friday that if we are going to win this football game, we are going to win it up front, offensively and defensively and they rose up. Kyle got a lot of yards and Duffy got some yards, but that happens because the big guys up front are doing their job. They are just a fun group of guys that everyone rallies around.
Domino Pick for a touchdown
Huge. It came right after we went for it on fourth down and we didn't get it. It made me feel a lot better, because I was thinking that we should have kicked the field goal. He had an unbelievable night tonight.
NDSU's better facilities and coaches making more money.
I think wherever you at, you do the best you can. I don't think a salary wins a game, a facility ever wins a game. It's the heartbeat of your program and the belief that our players have. I have a lot of respect for NDSU and Craig Bohl and their program. Yes, it does solidify that way we do it, the way we have done it and we are going to keep trying to get better everyday.
Not playing as well as they can yet.
If you are implying that we are good enough to play an imperfect game and win, I hope that is that case because we will never play a perfect game. But we are going to try real hard and that's what we tried to do tonight.
Playing NDSU in the middle of the season vs. at the end.
This isn't our season. We don't inspire to beat North Dakota State, bring a trophy home and relax. Our guys are focused and have great senior leadership like I have said all year long. I think we are going to be eager to get this feeling out of our gut and look at the Northern Iowa tape and get going.
Importance of big plays
I think a big play can chance to feeling. If you are struggling, and I am not saying that North Dakota State is struggling, but if our program is struggling and we hit a big play, that changes your heartbeat, your feeling, gives you believe. If you don't do that, you have to be a tough son of a gun to fight through that. That, to me, is what big plays do. Derek Domino's play was the biggest play of the game, I think.
Special Teams
We talked all week long about how special teams had decided this football game that last three years. Punt returns, punt blocks, a fumble on a kickoff return a couple of years ago. I thought that our punt return team did a phenomenal job. There were some big hits on our kickoff team. Other than the blocked punt, I think we played pretty close to perfect there.
Great home record since turning Division I
I think our crowd has stepped up. They need to keep stepping up just like our football team. Our crowd has stepped up tremendously. That gives you a feeling that you are playing in a big event and you get a bounce in your step. Our guys take a lot of pride in Coughlin Alumni Stadium. You are suppose to win at home. I think we play good football at home. We want to win on the road too. That's one of our goals.
Players Mentioned
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