University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee vs. Memphis Postgame Quotes
November 10, 2001 | Football
Nov. 10, 2001
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TENNESSEE LOCKER ROOM
HEAD COACH PHILLIP FULMER
"I am pleased with the win. I thought our guys took the preparations seriously all week. I like the fact that we are improving in a lot of ways. I am happy of the way that Casey (Clausen) and Donte (Stallworth) played. The last two touchdowns by Memphis were disappointing. We lost momentum and discipline for a while. We have to address that. We punted better and we got some young guys in.
"We should have had move of a cushion. Give Memphis credit, their kids didn't quit. Their quarterback did a heck of a job at the end.
"I thought our running backs did okay. They hit the holes hard, made cuts and didn't fumble. They got better. Jabari Davis made key blocks on the touchdown run.
"I didn't like the second offense going three-and-out. Memphis played a lot of eight-man fronts not to let us run. They throw quickly and take three-step drops, so it is hard to get sacks.
"It was good to see Donte step up. I really like the way he responded after he dropped the pass. We went back to the same play and he caught it, showing how tough he is.
"We made good plays offensively. We are closing in on a efficient as we would like. We are becoming more balanced. We have too big of a drop off between the first and second team. We are not where we need to be at some second team spots. Of course, it's an opportunity for younger guys to step up.
WR DONTE STALLWORTH
"We wanted to come out and pass today. We have to make corrections for the next game. We wanted to put the game away. The offensive line told us they would protect us. We just had to make plays. Coach Fulmer wanted to put on a show on the offensive side. We are working on a complete game.
On last touchdown
"Casey made a great throw and I stepped inside and he fell down. Casey wanted to make a statement today.
QB CASEY CLAUSEN
"I thought we played better. The big thing today was balance. We started out fast. That was the big thing this week. We knew coming in, it was going to be a big test for us. The difference between last year and this year is execution. Travis and the young guys ran hard. I think we are headed in the right direction.
On tackle on interception
"I was always told if you throw an interception, you better make the tackle.
TB TRAVIS STEPHENS
"I wanted to perform pretty well and do better than I did at Notre Dame. We were hitting on the running and passing game. I think we can continue to do that. It was a pretty productive day for me. We came out with a victory and that's what counts. It feels good to get 1000 yards. That was goal I had coming into the season.
DT ALBERT HAYNESWORTH
"I liked our defensive effort. In the second half, we have to go out and play like we are supposed to. We came out relaxed and went up big. We thought they would lie down, but they didn't. We have to get better. We didn't get much pressure. They did a good job up front.
MEMPHIS LOCKER ROOM
HEAD COACH TOMMY WEST
"It was disappointing for us in the way we played. Tennessee has a really good team and played well. We knew we couldn't turn it over and make mistakes. I was proud of the way we kept playing. Our young guys may be able to take something out of this. We got in a hole and couldn't dig out of it. We have to learn how to carry over from practice to the game. We've practiced hard, but we have to learn how to play the game. We are better than the way we played today. It's all part of a learning process. I'm happy with the fourth quarter play, but I expect it.
"Neil (Suber) wasn't playing well. We put Danny (Wimprine) in and he did okay.
"It's really a one-game season for us. We have to try and win the fifth game this week against Army. If not, we play for pride. I want to be able to play for something in the last game. We have to find a way to get five and then number six.
"Tennessee has weapons everywhere. They are better offensively this year than last year. Their quarterback is a year older and they threw Kelley Washington in there. That was the real different. They are solid inside with those two giants. Their speed showed at times. It didn't look like we were matching up with them speed-wise. I was disappointed at the half. It should have been a seven-point game. The longer you can stay in it, the pressure creeps towards the other sides. I wouldn't have put my quarterback back in at the end. He took a real lick on the pass, but I'm not coaching their team.
QB DANNY WIMPRINE
"I'm proud of our offense. We just kept battling. We needed some guys to step up and make some plays. That didn't happen early on. They got on top of us early. You can't let that happen, especially to a team like Tennessee. We turned the ball over too much early. You can't do that against Tennessee. We can't come close to beating a team like that when you make those mistakes.
WR ANTOINE HARDEN
"You have to give Tennessee credit. They capitalized on the mistakes we made. We'll have to get those corrected before next week. We never thought we were out of the game and we didn't give up.
DB ELIJAH BELL
"I'm proud of the guys. We stuck together and kept fighting. We thought they would pound it at us, but coach told us they might throw. Every time we made a mistake, they punished us for it. We had them in some third and long situations and we had the right defenses called, we had some mental breakdowns that cost us.
