Post-Game Quotes

Western Carolina 52, VMI 50

E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field 


Cullowhee, N.C. – Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018

Att: 12,759

Head coach Mark Speir

Opening statement

“We are not to the point as a program that any victory is a bad victory. Some people might say a victory is an ugly victory. Any victory for us is a great victory. Now, did we play our best, did we play sloppy at times. That did happen. We've got a lot to fix and VMI played a great game. But this is a win and we are 3-0 that is huge for us.”

On being 3-0 for the first time since 1976 and Bob Waters was coaching at WCU:

“He (Coach Bob Waters) probably felt better than I do and didn't have as much to fix at 3-0. Coach Waters was a great man and a great football coach. To be 3-0 is special. We are in the fourth week of the college football season and there are not many people with zeros in the loss column and we are one of them.”

“We're excited. I told the players there is no such thing as a bad win. We are happy tonight and will go back to work tomorrow.”

On looking ahead to next week's opponent:

“I haven't watched a bit of film of Furman, but I know they are a good football team and well coached. We're going to have to play better to be 4-0.”

On the six sacks from the defense:

“At times we did a really good job and times we didn't get there. Our defensive front got tired. I don't think we played enough guys on defense. It is hard on a defense to go 70 something times when they are passing like that. When we are fresh, we've been able to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback – something we've got to continue to do. I just want guys to play hard and give their best in all areas.”

Redshirt junior QB Tyrie Adams

On getting to 3-0 on the season:

“Like Coach (Speir) said, we have a lot of work to do and we will get back to it. No big cheers going around right now because we know next week is another game and we have to be ready.”

On the team adjustments made at halftime:

“We needed everybody in the offense and everybody came through in the second half.”

On continuing to set records at WCU:

“Now that you said that, it feels great – but it isn't something I have worried about. We're worried about getting better and winning.”

Junior RB Connell Young

On WCU having two crowds of over 12,000 fans at home this year:

“Our fans have been amazing. It is a great atmosphere to come out here playing in front of them.”

Senior DL Solomon Clark

On collecting four sacks against VMI:

“Our defensive coordinator (John Wiley) had some great plans and asked me to execute and I wanted to do that. We did what we had to do. We got out with a win and I'm happy with that.”

On the focus of practice this week:

“Make sure we make tackles and work hard and that we are prepared. We're young, but we're getting better each week. We've got to keep doing our job and makes plays as a defense.”