Press Conference: Louisville players talk tough loss to UVA

A group of Louisville players talk with reporters after the Cardinals’ 23-21 loss to UVA on Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.

 

Senior Running Back Dominique Brown

On the loss:

“We had a great game plan, but we just weren’t executing. We were killing ourselves with mistakes and we just kept backing the offense up.”

 

On Virginia’s pass rush:

“They did what we thought they were going to do. They brought a good rush and we picked up on that, but we just didn’t execute collectively as an offense.”

 

On the QB switch:

“We are behind who ever is playing 110 percent, whether its Will or Reggie. Will came back out and put together a drive; we had some special teams help as well to get the momentum back. We started out flat and didn’t do much as an offense in the second and third quarters.”

 

On the turnovers:

“It was a lack of concentration by our offense. We can’t take anything away from [UVa], they were out there ballhawking, but we pretty much shot ourselves in the foot.”

 

Junior Linebacker James Burgess

On the defensive effort:

“We played really well as a defense, but there is always room for improvement. We could have done a lot better in a lot of aspects. Overall we flew to the ball, but we just came up short.”

 

On the pressure to make a play:

“We feel pressure every time we go out on the field to make a play. We try to hold the team to zero points every time. We always have the feeling that we need to make a stop every play, and we always have the urge to make a play every possession.”

 

On the postgame locker room atmosphere:

“There was a lot of motivation. Everyone is just trying to pick each other up and get ready for the next game.”

 

Senior Defensive End Lorenzo Mauldin:

On the defensive effort:

“Everyone on the sideline kept telling us that we needed to make a play and get the ball back for our offense. We had a couple mistakes but we need to build off of those mistakes. We just kept trying to keep each other motivated during the game.”

 

On bouncing back from the loss:

“When we recap on the losses that I have had at this school, we just talk about how we need to build off of them. If we carry today over to next week, we’re not going to be happy.”

 

On the postgame locker room atmosphere:

“There were a couple tears but overall we just know we have to build on our losses and mistakes. We start working again on Monday so we have to keep grinding.”

 

On the defensive spark:

“On the sideline people were telling me that I had been quiet and that I needed to step up. It started a little fire in me because the defense is looking up to me to make plays. When third down came and we got the sack, it felt good coming back to the sideline knowing I gave my defense a chance.”