Nov. 18, 2000

Recap| Box Score

UW Coach Rick Neuheisel Post Game Quotes:

Q: Talk about the game?

RN: This is a time that all coaches dream about. An opportunity to stand for a group of people and talk about the fact that we won a conference championship. We're going to get to represent our conference in the Rose Bowl. It's a dream come true, and it just makes me think about all the work that went into it. On behalf of all the players, the staff, the administration, it'sremarkable all of the preparation that went into this. I take my hat off to everybody involved and couldn't be more pleased that they're all going to get to enjoy one of the great spectacles in sports. Congrats to Washington State. I know this game did not go as planned. We were on all cylinders, and unfortunately for them, they were not. Mike Price is one of the class acts in this business. He was very congratulatory in the end and wished me well.

Q: Keys to the game?

RN: I think the key to all games is being able to execute, and we were able to do that. We threw the ball well and ran the ball well. We were able to take advantage of some of the things they did with pressure and get outside. Our runningbacks did a good job of hitting the hole. Our defense was very opportunistic holding a very talented offensive team to three points. We were on all cylinders.

Q: Officials?

RN: It'snot my place to say it. I think they have one of the more difficult jobs in the business. We have an opportunity after every game to evaluate them, and we do that. I think that for the most part they are very fair.

Q: Early success in game?

RN: When you get up on a team like we did, there'sthe momentum that comes along with that, and we were able to capitalize on that momentum. The touchdown right before the end of the half was a real big lift.

Q: Up and down all season. Why hitting on all cylinders today?

RN: I think it was the last game of the season and the last chance to really do something consistently. I think these kids really wanted this tenth win, not just for themselves, but for their buddy #25 down in San Jose. I had a chance to speak to Curtis Thursday, and he told me to tell the kids how much he missed them and how much he wanted them to win. He also told me to tell the team how much he really wanted a (Rose Bowl) ring. Going to the Rose Bowl means that all these kids will get the momento of a lifetime. I can't wait to see the look on Curtis' face when his teammates deliver that to him. My hope is that he will be able to walk out of that hospital soon and join his buddies.

Q: Talk about the emotion/drama this season?

RN: Football is an emotional game. There'sno question about the energy that'sexpended and the effort every week. When you get on a roll, it'sthat much more emotional. With the injury to Curtis and the uncertainty of his situation, I have hot been part of something with this much emotion, and I have never admired a group of people more than I admire these players and coaches.

Q: UW defense rattled Kegel?

RN: He'sa young player, and he'sgoing to be very successful, but anytime you get a young player, you don't want to let him get into a comfort zone. We tried to mix things up and try to get him unsettled.

Q: UW defense in the redzone?

RN: That was huge. The first turnover gave them a chance to get back in the game, but they missed a field goal. The interception by Massey was also huge. We made a lot of huge plays. A lot of kids came through.

Q: Marques Tuiaosopo?

RN: We have not featured the throwing game as much as most teams do, but we found ways to move the ball. I was very satisfied with out offense. Any time you can control the clock like that, it'sa testament to great offensive planning.

Q: Coach going back to Pasadena?

RN: I've got great memories of the Rose Bowl. I played in two of them. One as a holder, which was a thrill because it was my first one. The second one I had food poisoning, but I ended up playing pretty well and our team beat Illinois. Then I got to coach in one as an assistant for UCLA. it'sa treat of a lifetime, and we're going to make special.

Mike Price Post Game Quotes

MP: We got frustrated, we lost our composure. We didn't play with maturity at all, there'sno question about that. I am disappointed and frustrated.

MP: I said going into the game, the team that made the least mistakes would win the game and we made a whole bunch of them. They were going to come out and run the football against us and they ran it and got after it and knocked us off the ball and did a nice job.

MP: And then Marques Tuiasosopo. I don't know if there'sa more valuable person in the league. If he doesn't get the MVP of the league, I don't know who really would. He'scertainly the MVP of that team. He showed his true colors today in how he played, because he played marvelously.

MP: I don't think we were over-hyped. They just beat us. It wasn't like we were too tight, too nervous, I didn't think. A couple of calls go our way, a couple breaks go our way, and maybe it would've been a little bit different. But once the onslaught started we couldn't stop it and we couldn't do anything on offense.

MP: I want the seniors to remember other games, not this one. We've had some great times, with great character kids, they hadn't given up the whole year. So I feel sorry that they have to leave on this note, because everyone else on the team has next year. Tuesday, as soon as we get back, we'reall meeting and everybody'sgoing to lift weights. We've got a nice group of seniors, good people, good character and good leaders. I thought they did an excellent job of leading. They got us up for other games during the year and we weren't a Rose Bowl team this year, but we were close to being a bowl team. It could've been a little bit different earlier in the season. I hate to just reflect on this game because we played so bad and it was so ugly.

How good are the Huskies?

MP: I think they'rereally good and obviously they deserve to be in the Rose Bowl and they'll have a great time there.

The fourth and one at the end of the first half?

MP: I just felt like if I had to do it again, my lord, I would never do that again. I would've run the clock out or punt it or anything else if I would have known they were going to throw a pass and score with 14 seconds or 16 seconds or whatever it was to end the half. No I wouldn't have done that, but at the time I thought we could make something of that. I thought we could make the first down.

You mentioned earlier the future's so bright you gotta wear shades, are you looking forward?

MP: God I'd like to be able to say that right now, but I'm not in that good of mood. I'm in a bad mood right now and you know if it could be uglier, I wouldn't want to see it. I'm disappointed to leave the seniors that way.

MP: I think a lot of that has to do with Marques. He made plays, they made catches, they made runs.