Ball State Football Postgame News Conference Quotes, September 14: Game 2 at Miami
Coach Neu
Opening Statement
A: “Give them credit. They played well. We struggled with their speed and athleticism in space, struggled to tackle, struggled to limit the explosive plays. We struggled to really sustain any kind of drive. We’d have a couple positive things, and we’d have a negative play and get ourselves behind the chains. Obviously, we need to move on now from this. Obviously, we’ve got to take it on the chin and own it.”
Q: “What are you telling the players in the locker room after a game like this?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “We got beat, man. We didn't execute well enough. We played a good football team that's explosive. Obviously, they had two dominating [in the] first two weeks. We knew it was going to be a challenge here, so I'm not worried about what's happened tonight. You can’t change any of that. I'm worried about our football team leaving that locker room and turning our attention towards our first conference game.”
Q: “What do you feel like the benefits are of playing a team like Miami?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's a challenge. It’s an opportunity that you look forward to, but in saying that, they've done a great job. Give them credit. They've done a good job, as any team in this country has, of attacking the transfer portal, adding some key pieces, and they've done a good job that way. Give them credit for their evaluation and bringing the right guys in.”
Q: “What makes Miami a good football team, on offense and defense?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “The quarterback — show me somebody that’s playing better than him in the country through three games. Obviously, when you give him time in the pocket, and they've got a great offensive line. They did a good job of adding some key pieces through the portal to a group that was already pretty experienced. They’ve got playmakers.”
Q: “What do you think you can really take away and learn from a loss like this?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “Listen, there's not a lot of positives to bring out of tonight. What we got to do is make sure we get this locker room. We got to stay together here, get on that plane, head back to Muncie and turn our attention to Central Michigan.”
Keionte Newson
Q: “When you say self-inflicted wounds, what are some of those wounds that you guys didn't play well tonight?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “On the back end, we had some miscommunications, and we left people wide open. Again, it’s a Heisman candidate — Heisman front runner. He is going to make us pay for that, and he did. We left too many people open on the back end, and we can't have that. Way too many explosive plays.”
Q: “As the leader of this defense — and really just this team in general — during a game like that, what are you telling the guys throughout?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Stay positive, keep your head up, encourage your teammates. It's a long season. This game can make or break, regardless of how it ended. It can make or break us.”
Q: “What do you feel like the benefits are of playing against a team like Miami?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “You get to see where you are against a ranked opponent. They're top 10 in the nation, and they're not top 10 for no reason. You get a good feeling of where you are as a team, and you can see it instantly.”
Braedon Sloan
Q: “This offense is so versatile. What does that look like being one of those players where there's just constant movement?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “We’ve got playmakers all around the field, and we just couldn't get in a groove tonight to make the plays. But, that's one thing that's going to be great for us as we continue to build off of this. Whenever everybody's making plays, we're going to be something special on the offensive side.”
Q: “When you say you guys couldn't get in a groove on offense, does that come down to any communication issues, or is it just Miami's defense?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Really, neither of those. You’ve got to make plays when they come to you — just taking advantage of your opportunities. Sometimes, it did get a little loud out there, and there were a few communication issues with the snap and hearing the plays.”
Q: “There’s a big mix of emotions between these past two weeks. How do you manage those emotions?” — Nick Shelton, Kee On Sports Media
A: “Moving forward, we’ve got to put this one behind us, but we can't forget about it. We’ve got to build off of it and take the areas where we made mistakes and we didn't take advantage of our opportunities, and build on those and find a way to get it done.”
Coach Neu
Opening Statement
A: “Give them credit. They played well. We struggled with their speed and athleticism in space, struggled to tackle, struggled to limit the explosive plays. We struggled to really sustain any kind of drive. We’d have a couple positive things, and we’d have a negative play and get ourselves behind the chains. Obviously, we need to move on now from this. Obviously, we’ve got to take it on the chin and own it.”
Q: “What are you telling the players in the locker room after a game like this?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “We got beat, man. We didn't execute well enough. We played a good football team that's explosive. Obviously, they had two dominating [in the] first two weeks. We knew it was going to be a challenge here, so I'm not worried about what's happened tonight. You can’t change any of that. I'm worried about our football team leaving that locker room and turning our attention towards our first conference game.”
Q: “What do you feel like the benefits are of playing a team like Miami?” – Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “It's a challenge. It’s an opportunity that you look forward to, but in saying that, they've done a great job. Give them credit. They've done a good job, as any team in this country has, of attacking the transfer portal, adding some key pieces, and they've done a good job that way. Give them credit for their evaluation and bringing the right guys in.”
Q: “What makes Miami a good football team, on offense and defense?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “The quarterback — show me somebody that’s playing better than him in the country through three games. Obviously, when you give him time in the pocket, and they've got a great offensive line. They did a good job of adding some key pieces through the portal to a group that was already pretty experienced. They’ve got playmakers.”
Q: “What do you think you can really take away and learn from a loss like this?” — Elijah Poe, Ball State Daily News
A: “Listen, there's not a lot of positives to bring out of tonight. What we got to do is make sure we get this locker room. We got to stay together here, get on that plane, head back to Muncie and turn our attention to Central Michigan.”
Keionte Newson
Q: “When you say self-inflicted wounds, what are some of those wounds that you guys didn't play well tonight?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “On the back end, we had some miscommunications, and we left people wide open. Again, it’s a Heisman candidate — Heisman front runner. He is going to make us pay for that, and he did. We left too many people open on the back end, and we can't have that. Way too many explosive plays.”
Q: “As the leader of this defense — and really just this team in general — during a game like that, what are you telling the guys throughout?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Stay positive, keep your head up, encourage your teammates. It's a long season. This game can make or break, regardless of how it ended. It can make or break us.”
Q: “What do you feel like the benefits are of playing against a team like Miami?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “You get to see where you are against a ranked opponent. They're top 10 in the nation, and they're not top 10 for no reason. You get a good feeling of where you are as a team, and you can see it instantly.”
Braedon Sloan
Q: “This offense is so versatile. What does that look like being one of those players where there's just constant movement?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “We’ve got playmakers all around the field, and we just couldn't get in a groove tonight to make the plays. But, that's one thing that's going to be great for us as we continue to build off of this. Whenever everybody's making plays, we're going to be something special on the offensive side.”
Q: “When you say you guys couldn't get in a groove on offense, does that come down to any communication issues, or is it just Miami's defense?” — Kyle Smedley, Ball State Daily News
A: “Really, neither of those. You’ve got to make plays when they come to you — just taking advantage of your opportunities. Sometimes, it did get a little loud out there, and there were a few communication issues with the snap and hearing the plays.”
Q: “There’s a big mix of emotions between these past two weeks. How do you manage those emotions?” — Nick Shelton, Kee On Sports Media
A: “Moving forward, we’ve got to put this one behind us, but we can't forget about it. We’ve got to build off of it and take the areas where we made mistakes and we didn't take advantage of our opportunities, and build on those and find a way to get it done.”