University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Quotes
December 31, 2002 | Football
Dec. 31, 2002
TENNESSEE HEAD COACH PHILLIP FULMER
"As I told the team just a few moments ago, I take full responsibility for the game and the lack of execution. We didn't play as well as I thought we would. Our discipline wasn't what it needed to be. There are a number of things that happened that are my responsibility. I haven't really gotten their attention about the penalties.
"I congratulate Maryland. They did a great job, played well and were disciplined. They did what they had to do to win. Coming in, I was impressed with E. J. Henderson. I leave with a great impression of him. I was surprised that Maryland was able to run the ball as well as they did. They made the drives to get the ball off the goal line and not too many teams have been able to do that on us this season.
"The sacks were very disturbing. We didn't give ourselves many opportunities in the first half. We couldn't keep drives alive and had no consistency. We were our own worst enemy in the Orange Zone. Overall, the defense held its own pretty well.
"Their defense anchored itself pretty well. We believed we would have some opportunities in the passing game. Maryland did a good job of bringing their safeties and their linebackers off the edge. We picked it up in the no-huddle and they made the adjustments to get the sack. The fumble was big, but there were a lot of big plays. We had a chance to get it to 17-10. I think we had four missed opportunities in the Orange zone.
"It's hard to select highlights, but I thought C.J. Fayton stepped up, Tony Brown made some big catches and Casey played well under pressure. It was good to see Rashad Baker out there flying around.
"We have to learn from our mistakes and the good things that happened and become a better team. This game was a lot like the Penn State game in the 1994 Citrus Bowl.
"I'll miss the seniors. This season has been a battle from Day One. I appreciate the way the seniors have through the adversity. The depth we had got us this far. It's been a tough schedule with the guys who were banged up, not just the guys who missed the game entirely."
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE PLAYER QUOTES
Defensive end Omari Hand: "We didn't make the stops we needed to make all the time. You can't take anything away from Maryland. We still have good athletes and good coaches. It's just a matter of doing it consistently on the field. This year we just couldn't pull out the games we needed to win."
Wide receiver C.J. Fayton: "This whole season will stick in my mind. There's plenty of motivation for next year. Coach Washington has supported us all the way through. The last two months my confidence has grown so much. I believe now when the game's on the line I can make the play. I'm not thinking, now I'm just reacting. As an offense on the whole, we have a lot of work to do before next year. I want to prove I'm a big-play guy."
Quarterback Casey Clausen: "It's a mentality. It's been a long time since we've been physically whipped. Maryland played a good game and we didn't. When you go up against good teams like Maryland you can't make mistakes."
Tight end Jason Witten: "Offensively, we were able to run the football the last two or three games. But they just shut us down tonight. It was tough. It seemed like they were always in the right place at the right time. I think we've got to get back to playing Tennessee football. We've been beat up and injured and weren't able to physically match up the way we wanted a lot of the season. I felt like our guys were giving the effort, but we just couldn't capitalize on anything."
