University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Quotes
November 18, 2000 | Football
COACHES' QUOTES
TENNESSEE HEAD COACH PHILLIP FULMER:
"I was very pleased with our effort today. I'm tickled with the improvement
of this team as the season has gone along. The seniors on the this team showed
really good leadership. It's easy to lead when things are going well, but these
guys really showed their stuff early in the season.
"The offensive effort was really special today. Kentucky is a good offensive team. The defense at times had their hands full. They did a good job of keeping Kentucky out of the endzone. It was awlfully good to score on the first seven possessions.
"This game was a great statement for Travis (Henry). I'm bursting with pride. This was really special because he has come so far and worked so hard.
KENTUCKY HEAD COACH HAL MUMME:
"Tennessee is a great team. We haven't been able to get to this game
without some kind of tragedy or injuries. That we haven't got to it intact speaks
to the youth and growing process facing this program.
"It's very difficult to beat Tennessee on any day. We were hoping the defense would come out inspired, but they came out flat. We had a lot of young guys out there and they might have been intimidated. The quick scores took us out it. We haven't been at our peak all season. We don't know what that feels like.
"Quinton McCord had a huge game and I was glad to see that. He has a tremendous amount of courage. He didn't have the year we had hoped he would because of his injury. Most guys wouldn't have even been out there.
"I thought Lorenzen battled. He had some bright spots all season and has a lot to improve on. He will be a great player eventually. He really got broken into the SEC this season. We look at our staff situation as expeditiously as possible."
PLAYER QUOTES
TENNESSEE PLAYERS
Linebacker Eric Westmoreland: "We wanted to make a statement that we
are a team on the rise. We are improving week after week. I'd like to thank
all the seniors for all their efforts throughout the years. Lorenzen's a big
guy. I said earlier that it's like tackling one of our offensive linemen. A
couple of times after I hit him, my head was ringing."
Tailback Travis Henry: "You have to give credit to the offensive line. They opened up creases and seams for me to run hard up into. It's the greatest feeling in my entire life. My teammates were hugging me and patting me on the back. I just went in there and played my game. I don't think too much about it. I just try to run hard. That's my running style. I knew I had to break the record here at home. Without the offensive line this isn't possible. It was a great feeling to see the fans cheering for me."
Quarterback Casey Clausen: "We knew as an offense we had a chance to make some big plays. The last couple of weeks we have done that. Every week we try to improve. We are young, but we are getting better. I was just trying to score touchdowns and move the team down the field. The last couple of games, the receivers have made me look good. When we came back after the Alabama game, Coach Fulmer challenged us. The last two weeks, guys have stepped up to make big plays."
Defensive Tackle John Henderson: "We just really came together. Everybody was going out there doing their job and having some fun. Lorenzen was a big challenge, but I thought we did a good job of bringing him down. He's tough to bring down. We made sure he felt we were there. The quarterback is elusive. The running backs get outside well. We felt we did a good job. We knew we had to go out and get pressure to stop the run."
KENTUCKY PLAYERS
Wide Receiver Quetin McCord: "Tennessee is a powerhouse. It's just
a matter of them executing. We had a lot of young guys who grew up this year.
I've got two bowl rings to show for my time here at Kentucky."
Quarterback Jared Lorenzen: "I always want to play another game next week, but it's over. We want to have a good offseason. All of the young guys have to grow up. I'm going to start thinking about next season tomorrow. Personal stats are great, but I wanted to be getting ready for a bowl game right now."
Linebacker Marlon McCree: "The young guys have to bounce back and pull good things from this season and build on that for next year. We didn't make the plays when we needed to. That's been the case all season. We haven't been beat physically until today. They are a great team."
Wide Receiver Jimmy Robinson: "It's always a dogfight with Tennessee. They always have great athletes and a great team."
