Quotes from Head Coach Nick Saban, Nov. 26, 2001
“After watching the film, I was really pleased with how we competed in the game that we just had. I said that after the game I had that feeling, because we made a lot of mistakes that we had to overcome in the game, in terms of turnovers.”
“Defensively, for us to overcome five turnovers on our side of the 50, and to only have nine points scored on us as a result of those turnovers, is really pretty amazing. I think that’s an outstanding job of responding to sudden change, which shows a little of the character that is necessary to be able to win big games, because the bigger the game, the more adversity there is to overcome.”
“This is a big game because they have good players and they have the ability to make big plays, and that ability is going to be enhanced, so we’re going to have to be able to respond the right way every time that something like that happens.”
“I was really pleased with that part of the Arkansas game, and I was also really pleased with the fact that Ro (Rohan Davey), who had four turnovers in terms of interceptions, was able to come back and make big play after big play in critical situations in the game.”
“That helped us to be successful in the game and that helped us to overcome some of the things that happened, and we didn’t get in the tank, relative to not being as successful early in the game as we would have liked to have been, so that was a key for us in the game.”
“I was not pleased with the way that we played on special teams in the game. That really hurt us. It hurt us quite a bit. We had five penalties in the game on special teams. What has been an outstanding kickoff coverage for us this season was not that good. They got really good field position on us and whenever we did make good plays on special teams, they were nullified by penalties.”
“We made a very bad error of taking the ball out of the end zone when the hands team was in the game, and then we ended up getting the ball on the eight-yard line when we needed to take the air out of it.”
“We were just trying to get the game finished, so some of the decisions and judgements that we made on special teams were not what they needed to be. I think that is going to be a real critical thing for us to get corrected for this week’s game.”
On Auburn
“I think that the team that we are about to play has probably one of the better special teams that we have played all season. They (Auburn) have great specialists, (David) Duval does a great job in all areas of the kicking game for them, not only is he a great athlete and runs a lot of fakes, but he is also an excellent punter and probably as good of a kickoff guy as there is. He’s also done a pretty good job on field goals this season.”
“The guys who play on their teams do a good job as well, so that’s going to be a big challenge for us to see if we can improve on our special teams play for this game.”
On the injuries for Saturday’s game
“From an injury standpoint, I don’t think that we have anyone that we could say that is out for the game. We don’t even really have anyone that is doubtful for the game. We have a couple of guys who are nicked up as always, but I think that everyone can practice at least on a limited basis today.”
“Dwayne Pierce has a stinger, but he’s had one for most of the year. Kenderick Allen is going to be a bit limited this week, but I don’t think that his re-injury is going to be a significant problem, unless it continues to be a problem throughout the rest of the week, which no one seems to think that it will be. Those are the guys who are most serious as of now.”
On the key to victory
“The key thing for our team this week is going to be that we need to focus, and we need to have the ability to focus on beating Auburn. Not on going to Atlanta, not on winning a championship, not on who we might be going to play in the championship, not on the ring we would get if we won the championship, because all of those things would be counterproductive to us being able to have success in the game. We need to focus on what we need to do to beat Auburn.”
“They (Auburn) have a very good football team and we’re going to have to play very well and have to do a good job of preparing to play that team. What’s going to enable us to do those things is going to be our ability to focus on doing the things that we need to do as a team, both mentally and physically to get ready to play these guys.”
“Now I know from a media standpoint, it’s going to be great to talk about who should win, why they should win, and who won the most games in the last three games, but the fact of the matter is that none of those things mean anything once the game starts on Saturday night.”
“It’s the team that is going to be able to reach out and be motivated by the challenge and what is in front of them relative to competing against the other team, that is going to win the game. That’s the same old deal about climbing a mountain. This is just a part of the climb, it’s not the top, so we need to continue to focus on the things that we need to do.”
On the progression of the team since the first two weeks of the season
“I felt that we were very ready to play this game early in the season. I also thought that we went to Tennessee, the next time that we had a opportunity to play, and competed very well in that game, but just made some mistakes to lose the game.”
“I think that our team has gone through some tremendous ups and downs this year, in terms of trying to have success, and we have always bounced back when our backs were against the wall. I’m pleased with the way that we progressed. I can’t sit here and say that we are ready to take the next step in terms of reaching out and doing what we need to do in this game.”
“That doesn’t mean that I don’t think that we have just as good or a better team than they have. You have to prove that you can win these kinds of games, and that’s also a challenge for us. Look at all of the upsets this week. I mean, Oklahoma State didn’t have much anxiety playing Oklahoma. They just went out and played and played lights out. It happens all the time. Nebraska gets beat by Colorado. Why did that happen? Do you think that Colorado has a better team?”
Bradie James, LB
“When you play Auburn what you see is what you get. They don’t try to do anything fancy, they’re just a great football team. They just lineup across from you and try to out-man you and out-muscle you.”
“I remember we were really disappointed that the game was cancelled back in September. It was going to be our first conference game and we were really excited. Since then we have played seven conference games. I’m sure we’ve gained an identity through those seven games. We are a different team now than we were then. That’s what a conference schedule will do. You will find out exactly what you are made of. Both us and Auburn are different teams than if we had met in September.”
“(Auburn) Coach (Tommy) Tuberville keeps his opponents on their toes. Auburn keeps it simple on offense and defense but they do take a lot of chances on fourth down by going for it or faking punts and field goals. I remember two years ago when they ran the fake field goal on us and scored. We have to play ever down hard and not give up a big play on fourth down.”
Norman LeJeune, SS
“We need to focus on this game and this game alone. It would be foolish to look ahead to a game that’s not even on the schedule. If we don’t win Saturday, there will be no game next week.”
“We put ourselves in great position. Everyone wants to be in our position. We have a great opportunity and we just need to take advantage of it. We need to come out and play aggressive against Auburn. This game Saturday is just another game. Yes, it’s important. But we can’t put extra emphasis on the game. We need to stay loose and just play our game.”
“It feels good to be here. We were promised big things when we came to LSU and now we have a chance to accomplish them. No one regrets being here.”
Stephen Peterman, OG
“We want to win this one for the seniors, the coaches and the people of Baton Rouge. They want us to win so much. We hope to win for everybody.”
“(LaBrandon)Toefield is a back that tries to get that extra yard every time. It’s great to have back like that. If we give him a hole he will hit it. When he breaks a record it’s like we’re breaking them too. We appreciate his abilities and his hard running.”
Jason Baggett, OT
“We are going to play a really good team Saturday. It’s a great opportunity for us to play a team that has had a really good season. We have a chance to have a great season and reach a lot of goals we had heading into the season. For us to reach those goals makes everything we did and worked for pay off.”
“Auburn has four good defensive lineman and three great linebackers. It’s going to be tough for us. I don’t think we’re going to have to look for them. They will line up in front of us and challenge us. We played against a lot of defenses that try to trick you, but this week we get to play a team that lines up across from you and finds out who is the better team. I much prefer that style. We’ll have to prepare well and execute in the game.”
Josh Reed, WR
“A big key to our success is that we don’t get down on one another. We have confidence in each other. Rohan (Davey) made some mistakes (in the Arkansas game), but nobody in the huddle blamed him. We all knew he was going to come back and win the game for us and he did. It’s the same thing if a receiver drops a pass or someone misses a block, no one points fingers on this team. That’s why we are successful.”
“In the past we always played Auburn early in the season. I guess we hadn’t come of age yet. It’s good that we get to play them in the last game. We know more about what we have to do and we know more about what kind of team we are. We’ve had our ups and downs.”
Kyle Kipps, DE
“It’s a huge game. This is for the West and for the SEC. We understand it’s a big game, but we need to be aware that we have to look at it as just a game. Every game is a big game in the SEC.”
“I never would have imagined playing defensive end five years ago. It’s great that I’m able to help the team. I think a big reason why I’ve played better this year is that I knew coming into this season I was going to play defense. Before this year I had doubts and I wondered if I would go back to offense. I was committed and convinced on playing defense this year.”
Robert Royal, TE
“This is a great group of guys that has persevered through so much. It will be senior day Saturday and it will be emotional. I will miss a lot of guys on this team.”
“The (Arkansas) game wasn’t consistent, but we strive to play four quarters and that’s what we did. We’ve had great practices the past few weeks and it has shown in the way we played. It’s going to take a great week of practice and four solid quarters against Auburn to win.”