University of Tennessee Athletics
Kentucky-Tennessee Postgame Quotes
November 29, 2008 | Football
Nov. 29, 2008
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Tennessee Quotes
Head Coach Phillip Fulmer: "Obviously, I'm just really, really thrilled and pleased with the team, with the coaching staff that stuck together through this tough month. Certainly, I'm very, very appreciative of the fans. The Vol Walk was incredible and the stadium. That at the end of the game [being carried off the field by his players] was something you never forget.
"This has been a really tough year and a particularly tough month. This group of kids is special. Every group I've had for my 17 years has been special. They have their own uniqueness about them. I don't want to sit here and rattle on. We've had a great run. I wasn't really ready for it to end, but it probably ended about as well as it could. With the emotions, to get the `W,' we finished up in a really positive way.
"Our defense is obviously incredible. They've played awfully well all year long. It's been great to see the last couple of weeks to see our offense do some things."
"I've been so blessed. There's just no way to (rank the feeling of this game). I'm sure it's going to take a few days [to sink in]; I guess my wife to kick me out of the house because I don't have anything to do now."
"To end up with 100 more wins than we've had losses is a really great accomplishment. I've never really brought that up, but that's not done every day. I'm grateful, very, very grateful."
"Things change. Times change. Sometimes life's not always the way you want it to be. I've accepted that. They've [his players] accepted that."
"I appreciate [Kentucky] Coach Brooks. He's a class guy and done a great job with that program. He's done it the right way."
DE Robert Ayers
On the game ...
"I think we played a good game offensively, defensively and on special teams. We didn't make many mistakes. We came out and did a good job executing. I'm proud of this team and the coaching staff for sending Coach Fulmer out with a win."
On carrying Fulmer off the field after the game...
"I feel like that's the way a legend should go out, on top. Coach Fulmer is a legend of college football and he is always going to be remembered at the University of Tennessee for being a great guy and a great coach."
LB Nevin McKenzie
On winning the last game of the season ...
"It was great to come out with a victory after all the change we've been through this year and how hard we've been fighting. We felt real good as a team to come out with a win for ourselves and the coaches."
On the defense's success this season...
"We had a great coach calling great plays and putting us in good position. When we executed, everything worked out well. I feel like we did well as a defense and I'm proud to play for John Chavis.
QB Jonathan Crompton
On his 63-yard TD pass to Denarius Moore...
"When he is in the game and we have a press corner, we know we have a good matchup. The offensive line and the backs did a good job with protection because they blitzed on the play."
Kentucky Quotes
Head Coach Rich Brooks: "First thing I'd like to do is congratulate Phil Fulmer for going out in style. They certainly came out in the second half and took it to us. They did some good things and we played fairly well for 30 minutes; we couldn't get anything going on offense against a very good defense but, I congratulate Phillip Fulmer and Tennessee."
(Offensive Struggles) "They are very good on defense to start with. They have one of the top-ranked defenses in the nation and they had time to see the last couple of games and Randall Cobb on film and they were stacking the box. We couldn't the perimeter on the option very well. We did get some yardage up inside but it was very limited. They are physical, they tackle well and we couldn't get them out of the box. We took a couple of shots down the field but they were unsuccessful."
(On Phillip Fulmer) "I think it's a tragedy. I think it's a sad commentary on the coaching profession. Phillip Fulmer is a quality act, an outstanding coach with a huge, huge winning record; hall of fame record. It's just a matter of time whenever he qualifies to be inducted, I'm sure he'll be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. It's a crime to see people like that forced out of the profession."
Randall Cobb, QB, Fr.,: "They had eight or nine guys in the box and there's not much you can do with that but throw the ball and we didn't accomplish that tonight. We didn't run out offense. We didn't get anything done that we usually do."
"You have to give a lot of credit to Tennessee. They came out ready to play tonight. They're defense got fired up. We started off strong but like coach has been saying, we haven't had a game that we've played 60 minutes
