UVA football coach Bronco Mendenhall talks with reporters after the Cavs lost 35-14 to North Carolina on Saturday.
Opening Statement: “UNC executed longer and more effectively than us. The game was really tight at halftime and then they were able to sustain drives, execute when needed, and recover from turnovers at a higher level than we were. So their program is currently more mature and farther along than ours is and that was reflected as the game continued to go on. We need to continue to mature, continue to grow, and continue to stay together and support one another. Some things that improved today. Our kickoff coverage markedly improved and our kick return was markedly improved. I like both of those a lot. We were a little bit inconsistent in the punt game which was uncharacteristic. Third down was one of the telling stories of the game today. Our inability to convert on third down with the number of attempts we had just didn’t allow our point production and our time of possession. The longer we had the football, even though we had the edge, the better it was against a team that goes that fast that frequently. Defensively, there is the short field score at the beginning from the 30 and then the gadget play at the end. I was pretty comfortable with how we were playing up until halftime. I was really just disappointed with the one score toward the end when it was 28-14 and we gave up a deep ball over the top. That was a critical play. I’m not saying that that determined the outcome, but we make a stop there and there’s a chance with enough time left that maybe we could battle back in there.
On the decision to bench starting quarterback Kurt Benkert in the fourth quarter: “I felt it was necessary with the pressure that was going on Benkert, starting from the second half of the Pitt game through this game, it was wise just to have him step back and have him see it from a different perspective and take a breath and regroup. Connor (Brewer) came in and did a nice job orchestrating a drive. Our run game, Smoke had over a hundred yards, which he had some nice runs. Albert Reid ran for some physical runs as well. But in general, they moved the ball and executed on all three sides of the ball longer and more consistently than we did, which is reflective of their program. I’m not sure where they’ll finish in the polls, but I think it’s a good football team. Still too early to say how good, but probably worthy of their ranking.”
On not capitalizing after the fumble recovery by Micah Kiser: “That one hurt as well. We’re learning to be resilient, we’re learning to be mature, we’re learning to be more consistent, but yet there are some things right now that are simply above our threshold and that was one of them when we weren’t able to capture that. We’re not a strong enough team yet that we can’t capitalize on those opportunities and expect to have the kind of success we want. We need to capitalize on every one of those opportunities.”
On the effect of last game’s pick-six on Benkert: “I can’t speak in terms of a lingering effect. But simply there has been an effect by playing better football teams. Between now and moving toward Pitt and moving toward North Carolina and getting to ACC play, we are getting a clearer idea of where we are, and each player is and Kurt is really visible. I think the combination maybe of the second half a week ago and then some of the pressure he was getting early, I can’t speak for him, but it looks like he isn’t quite as confident and poised, but that by no means rejected or dejected, it just simply means it’s time to regroup.”
On the recent lawsuit filed by former player Aidan Howard: “I love running a fantastic football program in every regard. And every means every. I love the young men that I coach and they know that. The investigation is ongoing and the University policy is that I’m not to speak regarding any of that while the investigation is ongoing. I am very lucky to be the coach at the University of Virginia. There are great things ahead for us; a lot of work ahead also. This team, we have a principle that goes really deep and that is ‘family first, last and always’ and they are acting like that and I think as coaches we are acting like that.”
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