MARK STOOPS UK NETWORK Q&A:
* Nice to finally win there in Starkville. They were in a bad spot. A three-game losing streak with an open date thrown in is a LONG time between wins. Team really wanted it bad.
* Likes his team, likes the resolve and toughness and grit. Yeah, it's ugly, but you don't go on the road and get a lot of victories in the SEC. We just really needed to win this game, even though we didn't play our best.
* Made some big plays. The D-Jack INT really set the tone. "It was huge."
* Liked the toughness of the D in not giving up points when MSU had it down there on the 2. But admitted earlier that the 20-play drive was still ticking him off. Ha.
* Devin Leary was having trouble reading the plays on his wristband at the end. Not sure what the issue was. Thought maybe he had something in his eye, but they couldn't put him back out there. Concerned about him, but not ready to make any judgments about his status right now.
* On the running game... Not real pleased. Not good enough. 3.8 per rush is not up to their standard. "We gotta be better."
* Leary did a really nice job of getting out of trouble at times and making big plays to keep drives going. "I thought Devin really battled. We missed some things, but he battled."
* I like coaching this team. It's a grind right now. We've invested a lot, and it's hard. But we'll be ready to get back at it tomorrow. Stressed again that he likes their grit. "It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it."
* A couple of guys dinged up tonight, but overall health of the team is pretty good.
* On the next opponent, Bama... "They're not bad, right?" (Laughs) "It'll be fun, a great challenge."
DEMI SUMO-KARNGBAYE Q&A:
* Definitely fired him up when he made the TD catch. Great feeling to get off to that kind of start. Team has had a lot of ups and downs this year, a lot of struggles lately, and they wanted this game bad. He was happy to help get them started on the right foot.
* Mississippi State fought hard, it was a physical game, but the Cats proved they were the better team.
* Loves helping the team win in any way possible. Has embraced being a playmaker on special teams, too. Just wants to win and go to a bowl game.
* Nice to finally win there in Starkville. They were in a bad spot. A three-game losing streak with an open date thrown in is a LONG time between wins. Team really wanted it bad.
* Likes his team, likes the resolve and toughness and grit. Yeah, it's ugly, but you don't go on the road and get a lot of victories in the SEC. We just really needed to win this game, even though we didn't play our best.
* Made some big plays. The D-Jack INT really set the tone. "It was huge."
* Liked the toughness of the D in not giving up points when MSU had it down there on the 2. But admitted earlier that the 20-play drive was still ticking him off. Ha.
* Devin Leary was having trouble reading the plays on his wristband at the end. Not sure what the issue was. Thought maybe he had something in his eye, but they couldn't put him back out there. Concerned about him, but not ready to make any judgments about his status right now.
* On the running game... Not real pleased. Not good enough. 3.8 per rush is not up to their standard. "We gotta be better."
* Leary did a really nice job of getting out of trouble at times and making big plays to keep drives going. "I thought Devin really battled. We missed some things, but he battled."
* I like coaching this team. It's a grind right now. We've invested a lot, and it's hard. But we'll be ready to get back at it tomorrow. Stressed again that he likes their grit. "It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it."
* A couple of guys dinged up tonight, but overall health of the team is pretty good.
* On the next opponent, Bama... "They're not bad, right?" (Laughs) "It'll be fun, a great challenge."
DEMI SUMO-KARNGBAYE Q&A:
* Definitely fired him up when he made the TD catch. Great feeling to get off to that kind of start. Team has had a lot of ups and downs this year, a lot of struggles lately, and they wanted this game bad. He was happy to help get them started on the right foot.
* Mississippi State fought hard, it was a physical game, but the Cats proved they were the better team.
* Loves helping the team win in any way possible. Has embraced being a playmaker on special teams, too. Just wants to win and go to a bowl game.
