Virginia Player Quotes vs. Penn State
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Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor
On Jake McGee:
“McGee has come a long way. I remember when he came to UVa as a quarterback and it was probably two practices into his first experience here as a freshman when he came and told us he would rather be the next Heath Miller. So he made the decision to move to tight end. He’s worked very hard at it. He’s very talented guy. He makes those catches all the time in practice. We know now we can count on him.”
On the rushing production today:
“When I look at the numbers, I’m not happy with our rushing average. I think we struggle in a lot of positions. I think they are very talented up front, and we knew that cominginto the game. I feel like they do a good job with their defensive line. They play low and they play hard. They are physical players. Their linebackers are all three physical players so we expected it to be a battle up front. We wanted it to be pretty. Unfortunately, today was ugly as far as the penalties and the turnovers. It’s amazing as a team we were able to find a way to win it.”
Junior Quarterback Michael Rocco
On the team’s final drive downfield:
“We practice it all the time. It doesn’t necessarily work out when you practice it all the time but this time it did. We stubbed our foot a couple times with penalties and we had big plays. It was just like a roller coaster drive, but we all kept our composure when we needed to. I give all the credit to the playmakers and our receivers and running backs and Jake McGee making great plays. Our line did a good job protecting it.”
On Jake McGee’s playmaking ability and playing againsthim in high school:
“He is a great playmaker. I saw his playmaking ability in high school. We have a good connection right now and he’s making plays and it’s really exciting.”
On being taken out of the game:
“My job is to lead the team in whatever way possible. When I was taken out, I figured I was a leader from the sideline and I had to stay poised and stay composed.”
On being 2-0:
“It is exciting being 2-0 and having an exciting win like this today. But we’ve got a lot of things to work on. We are going to celebrate this victory, but we know where we have to get better and what we have to do to get better. We have the guys to do it.”
Sophomore Free Safety Anthony Harris
On winning the game regardless of Virginia mistakes:
“We are just lucky to come out with a win in that situation. But during the game you try to play a perfect game. Mistakes are going to come but you just try to limit them in the best way you can.”
On the shoestring tackle that saved a touchdown on Penn State’s final drive:
“We are just fortunate he was able to get him down in the open field. It could have gone either way, and we are lucky it went our way.”
Junior Tight End Jeremiah Mathis
On Michael Rocco being taken out of the game and coming back to make a game-winning drive:
“He just had to push through it and come down and make that huge play with Jake [McGee] down there at the end. It just shows what kind of man he is. He is one of our leaders and when times get rough he pulls us through.
On being 2-0 before road games begin:
“This is huge. It gives us a lot of confidence. When you go 2-0 and you’re home and you go out on the road your confidence skyrockets. I think we are in a really good place right now.”