Murray State Quotes

Sept. 24, 2005

Recap |  Final Stats

Illinois State vs. Murray State - September 24, 2005 Redbird Quotes

Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson

Opening Statement... "This was a great win for our football team. I am incredibly pleased with the way we played tonight. Murray State is a quality club. They are big and physical. I was hoping that our guys would come out and play well again at home and we did. Again, it was a great win for us."

On the play of the Illinois State defense... "Our defense continued to play well. This was the first time Murray State has been shut out since 1991. Our linebacking core can run and our secondary has improved. We think we have some speed on defense and that is one of things we preach, `Speed Kills'. A lot of this has to do with Coach Cutchlow and his work this summer. We are more lean, have less body fat and we are faster. It is showing up with fewer major injuries and we can run. We can run and are all around, well conditioned."

On Murray State football... "I have a lot of respect for Murray State. They have a great history of ball and over the years have more wins than we do here at Illinois State."

On the 99-yard touchdown drive... "When you can go 99 yards and not have a miscue, that says a few things. One, it keeps their defense on the field and causes fatigue. Also, it is a great confidence booster for our football team. It was a huge series in the ball game."

Illinois State defensive end #57 Brent Hawkins Opening statement... "I thought we had a great week of practice. The coaches have been telling us to step up our intensity level. I thought that we brought that intensity to the game."

On Murray State's quarterback change... "It changed what our line did. Containing the quarterback is mainly what we were trying to do. I think our line did a good job."

On being able to disrupt the Murray State passing game... "I think it goes back to my intensity in practice. You have got to step up your level of play. That's what I tried to do."

On the play of the ISU linebackers... "Our linebackers played great. Everyone was swarming around the ball tonight. Our motto is `hunt in packs'."

Illinois State fullback #47Kedric Meredith

On his touchdown run... "I only have a couple jobs to do, and that's one of them. I didn't think I was going to get the ball, but it was there. I thought I was going to have to hit someone."

Linebacker #44 Niall Campbell

On the Murray State quarterback change... "The D-line loosened up a bit. I think we came out and tried to keep the quarterback contained."

On his fumble recovery for a touchdown... "I was looking right at the ball after Hawkins slapped it out. All I saw were feet everywhere, and I don't think anyone saw the ball. I was at the right spot at the right time."

Running back #27 Pierre Rembert

On the success of the running game... "Our goal is to get 275 yards a game. That doesn't happen if everyone doesn't do their job. I think everyone was fresh tonight. Fresh legs do good things."

Player Quotes for Murray State

Fullback #43 Bo Baxter

On what they will do to recover from loss... "We need to get back on our feet and work harder to get stronger on the field."

On what he thought was the biggest problem in this game... "Illinois State had a strong defensive team. We were a strong team offensively but because we weren't able to move the ball down the field, we really had nothing going for us."

Murray State Coach Joe Pannunzio

On Illinois State's play ... "We just got whipped. Illinois State played a really good game start to finish. That's a team with a lot of talent. They have a quarterback who makes plays. They've got really good running backs. They have good receivers. What else can you say? That's just a really good football team."

On Illinois State's defense ... "The defensive line dominated the game. I don't know if we got 100 yards total offense. You have to give Illinois State credit. They are a good football team and I hope they win the rest of them."

On bouncing back from this one (first Murray State shutout since 1991) ... "The hardest thing about this game will be to put it behind us. We have to start conference play next week (at Tennessee Tech). Sometimes a team can play better because of a game like this."

On starting #16 Ryne Salyer at quarterback in front of #1 Ken Topps ... "Ken hadn't practiced all week, but that wasn't what did it tonight. We got beat 42-0."