MARK STOOPS OFFICIAL POSTGAME Q&A:
* Thought we have kept working to improve, and it took getting a lot better between last week and this week once again to beat a great team on the road with a HC that I have a lot of respect for.
* That was a tough, dirty, hard-fought game.
* Proud of how we responded on critical downs.
* O-Line protected better, and that allowed us to get the ball downfield better.
* It's just one game, but it's important for the work that's gone in for a long time. Feel good for our fan base. They needed one like this. We've been close a lot.
* Felt like Ole Miss would be over-aggressive on that 4th down and that Barion would have a shot to make a big play one-on-one.
* Told them at halftime that we have to continue to get those nasty, dirty runs, 2-3 yards can be big to keep things moving. Thought Bush Hamdan did a heckuva job executing the gameplan and calling a good game.
* Very hard to do what we did today against Lane Kiffin and that system and his players. The investment the players have to put into this week to play like that is really hard.
* Was Georgia in the back of his mind when he went for it on 4th down? He says it was on his mind before the game. Kinda felt like they might have to do one (or two) in this game to keep pace. Had to "steal" a possession or two. Instructed Hamdan to have some critical 4th down plays ready.
* Barion Brown knows his personal foul was unacceptable, but proud of him for how he responded. A year ago, he may not have bounced back like that.
* Deone Walker was very disruptive from the start. It seemed like they were holding the heck out of him.
* On not throwing in the towel after Ole Miss converted the big 4th down... Proud of them. Kept playing hard.
* On what was going through his head on the throw to Barion... Just saw him open. I was praying. (laughs) And then told Brad White later on that he thought they were due for something good to happen after that.
*****
MARK STOOPS UK RADIO NETWORK Q&A:
* Went with his gut on the 4th down call late in this game compared to how he felt vs. UGA. Thought they'd get a one-on-one look for BVG and Barion Brown, and they did. It was a 50/50 ball, and Barion made the play.
* This style was a harder matchup than Georgia, just style-wise, so the game-planning had to be at another level. They worked all week on 3rd and 4th-down situations where they may have to go for it. Stoops thought he had to "steal a possession or two."
* We have clearly responded to getting punched (against SC). We played hard as hell in that game. We just played stupid, and SC earned the win. But we've responded the right way to that loss.
* Team is clearly showing growth, moving in right direction. Proud of them.
* Thought we have kept working to improve, and it took getting a lot better between last week and this week once again to beat a great team on the road with a HC that I have a lot of respect for.
* That was a tough, dirty, hard-fought game.
* Proud of how we responded on critical downs.
* O-Line protected better, and that allowed us to get the ball downfield better.
* It's just one game, but it's important for the work that's gone in for a long time. Feel good for our fan base. They needed one like this. We've been close a lot.
* Felt like Ole Miss would be over-aggressive on that 4th down and that Barion would have a shot to make a big play one-on-one.
* Told them at halftime that we have to continue to get those nasty, dirty runs, 2-3 yards can be big to keep things moving. Thought Bush Hamdan did a heckuva job executing the gameplan and calling a good game.
* Very hard to do what we did today against Lane Kiffin and that system and his players. The investment the players have to put into this week to play like that is really hard.
* Was Georgia in the back of his mind when he went for it on 4th down? He says it was on his mind before the game. Kinda felt like they might have to do one (or two) in this game to keep pace. Had to "steal" a possession or two. Instructed Hamdan to have some critical 4th down plays ready.
* Barion Brown knows his personal foul was unacceptable, but proud of him for how he responded. A year ago, he may not have bounced back like that.
* Deone Walker was very disruptive from the start. It seemed like they were holding the heck out of him.
* On not throwing in the towel after Ole Miss converted the big 4th down... Proud of them. Kept playing hard.
* On what was going through his head on the throw to Barion... Just saw him open. I was praying. (laughs) And then told Brad White later on that he thought they were due for something good to happen after that.
*****
MARK STOOPS UK RADIO NETWORK Q&A:
* Went with his gut on the 4th down call late in this game compared to how he felt vs. UGA. Thought they'd get a one-on-one look for BVG and Barion Brown, and they did. It was a 50/50 ball, and Barion made the play.
* This style was a harder matchup than Georgia, just style-wise, so the game-planning had to be at another level. They worked all week on 3rd and 4th-down situations where they may have to go for it. Stoops thought he had to "steal a possession or two."
* We have clearly responded to getting punched (against SC). We played hard as hell in that game. We just played stupid, and SC earned the win. But we've responded the right way to that loss.
* Team is clearly showing growth, moving in right direction. Proud of them.
