Wisconsin Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Northwestern
November 21, 2015
Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, Wis.

Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Opening Statement:
Well, it was a tough game to lose. Appreciated and told the kids this, appreciated the way they kept playing and kept playing together and we had a chance at the end to win it.

I thought our defense played tremendous and individual efforts, group efforts, gave us a chance to be in that game and to win. And that's not common.

You turn the ball over five times, four on offense, one on special teams and even to have a chance to win the game, that's a credit to that group.

And appreciated the resiliency of the guys and the grit and felt we -- actually I thought we won it a couple times, but we didn't. You just got to keep playing. And we struggled, offensively, all day. Didn't go a good job of running the ball, protecting the quarterback. And early on the long third down, we weren't efficient at all. That's on me. We got to be better.

In the end of the game, we got to do better. But appreciate this group a ton. And I feel bad for the seniors that this is their last game at Camp Randall, but feel fortunate to have one more game with this team in the regular season and this group's earned the right to play in a bowl game and so we get to keep this team going. And it's a good group to be around and appreciate that a ton out of them. And we can still play better. But that's a tough one.

And appreciate what the kids put into it. And we have an opportunity to bounce back and play again next week.

Q. You mentioned you thought you guys had won it a couple times. Did you think that when you saw the replay, did you think both were coming back? Did you think that was the right call and how difficult is it to for a team to go back out there when they think they had the game-winning touchdown and had to regroup and go out there again?
COACH CHRYST: Well, I think that you have to do it. The one thing with the reviews, you have time to talk to the guys, to kind of have a plan. It kind of goes fast on you, but we actually had some time and the end of the game, there's a chance that the ball is going to be on the 1 and didn't have any timeouts. And you want to maximize the number of opportunities you can get to have kicks at the can, maybe, is a better term.

And felt pretty good with the things that we went to. I thought we had it on the first one to Jazz (Peavy), and was surprised it went to review, but it did. We had time if it didn't go, what are we going to do. And we had a play that got the look that we wanted. And we had a chance to talk about it out there and get it out and that's the one thing that didn't happen.

Really an interesting sequence. And I give Dare (Ogunbowale) credit. Our quarterback, he doesn't know where it's at. He said he wanted to try to huddle it up and then Dare gets underneath and spikes the ball and gives us one more chance at it.

And actually had a chance, an opportunity because of the timeouts for Bart to be able to get squared away. And we had the first time we -- they showed a look and we had been good with that one. And so, if that was the coverage at the end that we were trying to get and we just didn't finish it.

Q. You mentioned the lack of ability to protect the quarterback. Six sacks they had. On the last one, the pressure got to him but should Joel have been able to get the ball out of there before he got that sack?
COACH CHRYST: To be honest with you, I was kind of -- with my eyes -- I was putting it on the back part and didn't see it. I think that even if it's cloudy, because where we were at -- and we had time to have multiple reviews to be able it talk about. Because you still have the run in your back pocket and trying to figure out. Hindsight, I wish I would have gone to it, right? But I got to live with that one.

I don't know if he had or not. I think that if it was muddy at all -- I think he got back to the top of his drop. And if it's muddy, then -- but I don't know.

Q. You mean he should have run it the first time, was that what you were thinking?
COACH CHRYST: No. But second down I wouldn't call something and take a sack.

Q. Sounded like you didn't necessarily agree with the TV call, even at this point after seeing the replays and stuff?
COACH CHRYST: Yeah, I thought that he had gotten a couple feet down, a couple steps. And very similar, maybe to what happened on Tanner (McEvoy), the first fumble that we had on where he got his feet down and then the ball comes out. Doesn't matter what I think. And I thought it was pretty good.

Guys, we did not play well offensively, but I give them credit for continuing to play and give us a chance at the end.

Q. Can you guys win a lot of football games not being able to run the ball like today?
COACH CHRYST: Makes it really hard, I think. You've got to be able to run the football. And certainly, the six sacks add to the total. But we were not getting anything consistent and that's hard. We have got to do a much better job running the football if we really want to have a chance to win games.

Q. What was your opinion of the punt return, Alex (Erickson)'s punt return, that was called back?
COACH CHRYST: Everyone's used to the over-the-head fair catch signal. And now I understood what they were calling. When the ball bounces short and you try to warn everyone to get away from the ball. Any signal at all, the returner can't advance it.

Q. Did you anticipate coming in or at least was it a concern of yours that their defensive front, which was pretty darn good, would be such a major issue today?
COACH CHRYST: Going into it we knew that was going to be one of the challenges and we didn't rise up to that.

Q. Talk about the five turnovers. What role that played in the game. I know Joel had a hand in three of them.
COACH CHRYST: Yeah, I mean it's huge. The first one I think was the shallow cross with Tanner, and we're not even giving ourselves -- really what you're trying to do on that is, if you catch it in the right couple coverages, then you got a chance to maybe throw in a screen.

And then when we had the tip. And that was just the short field, the other one was midfield, I think, and you had the short field and then we had another one -- interception on first down. That kills you. I mean there's nothing more demoralizing than a first down turnover. So I thought those were -- we just made it hard on ourselves.

Q. Did Walker (Williams) sustain any kind of injury during the game?
COACH CHRYST: He did. He couldn't finish it.

Q. Alex, was he maybe trying to do too much to make up for something?
COACH CHRYST: On the punt return?

Q. The punt return that he muffed?
COACH CHRYST: I think there's a little bit of that. You appreciate what he's trying to do. And I think -- I think he too felt that, hey, I can make something happen against this group. And that never -- I love guys that put themselves out there and there's always a fear of failing.

And you know what, I'll take him every time, every game. But you don't want him to fumble and he doesn't want to. But that's the thing you appreciate about these players, is the work that they put in and the willingness to put themselves in front of all these people. And they're the lucky ones.

I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for them, but kind of respect for guys that go out and put themselves out there. And you know what, to win a game you got to go make plays. And it doesn't always go your way, but I appreciate Alex, everyone, and we're talking about, I guess, it started because you asked me about Alex and the punt return. But the guys putting it out there and doing what they can. This team means a ton to these guys. The individual players. And they will do anything for the team. And that you appreciate a ton.

Q. What was your plan for Corey (Clement) coming into this game?
COACH CHRYST: Didn't have a clue of what to expect. With Corey, it's week-to-week whether he would even play and then it's warm ups and how's he feeling. I thought he did some good things. He was patient. Talking about earlier, we were struggling to get anything going in the run game, but I thought he did some good things. It, obviously, was a big touchdown run. And but, no, we didn't have a pitch count, because we didn't know where it would go.

Q. What happened to Joel (Stave) at the end of the game?
COACH CHRYST: He got a -- he got hit and was disoriented. We weren't going to put him in for the last play. I just knew that he wasn't right.

Q. This was like the last game against Maryland, where you made some adjustments in the second half and came out pretty strong offensively and defensively. But this time you weren't able to sustain it through the third quarter into the fourth. What do you think the difference was there, just a lack of execution or did Northwestern kind of make some adjustments back?
COACH CHRYST: I mean there's a lot in that question. I think that it all comes down to execution and truthfully, different types of games.

And we did. We came out and we had -- we scored and guys made some plays. And I thought, defensively, that we were playing well in the first half. And I thought we came out and played well in the second half.

I think execution is the key to this game. Especially offensively. Executing defense is reactionary and so, we just made a couple plays and didn't turn the ball over. And you have a chance to -- we made some adjustments, but actually made some adjustments in the first half that didn't work real well.

Junior Offensive Lineman Logan Schmidt
On Northwestern's defense:
"They were a very good team defensively and I just played as well as I could and just have to grow from it."

On his personal performance:
"I think I did alright. There's obviously areas that I can improve on but that's what practice is for, we just have to learn about what happened today and learn from it and keep growing."

On kind of bitter sweet for you:
"Yeah it was just kind of a shock there at the end. We put ourselves in a great position to win the game and we couldn't finish the game."

On what wasn't there in between the first and last drives of the second half:
"I think just getting drives going is what the big thing was. That first drive coming out, we just got a good drive going and had some momentum but then we kind of stalled a little bit but we just pulled our sleeves up at the end of the game there and gave it one last stride. We left her all on the field but at the end of the day we just didn't do enough."

Junior Running Back Corey Clement
On how tough is it to have the seniors go out at Camp Randall in this weird and probably frustrating way:
"It sucks. After the game everyone and our seniors were just down. Everyone wants to do their best and I want them to leave with the best memory possible so that you can look back on it. Obviously next year when it's my time I don't want my last game at Camp Randall to be a loss."

On turnovers:
"Everything isn't going to be perfect but we try to minimize our mistakes we had on offense but our defense did a great job of continuous opportunities to get the ball in the end zone. It was really frustrating for us and the staff because we were trying to find ways to get the ball into the end zone but we just couldn't get it done. We still have Minnesota next week to end the season."

On what are emotions like when you not only thought you've won not once, not twice, and then the last chance:
"It sucks basically. I felt as if we won three times. Erickson with the great punt return, and we all see (Troy) Fumagalli didn't get in so that's acceptable but with Jazz's, it was a great catch and I thought he was in. I though he had possession and I thought we won the game there but we had to line back up and do it again but unfortunately we got tackled for a loss with a sack. Bart came in and tried to save the day once again, but we just couldn't get it done."
 
Senior Wide Receive/Safety Tanner McEvoy
On the emotional ending:
"It's heartbreaking to lose like that but we still had an opportunity to win the game on the last play and we didn't capitalize. So even with all the stuff going on with the calls and the controversies we still had an opportunity. We still had the ball in our hands to make the play and we didn't do it."

On the Badgers' upcoming game at Minnesota:
"Just take it as any other week. We know Minnesota, and it a big rivalry obviously, and they're obviously a great team. They're having a pretty good season so we have to be able to shake this one off, we have 24 hours to think about it and come back Monday and it's a whole new process."

On the Badgers' turnovers:
"It's a team game. If it's not going well on one end, the other end has to pick it up. So yeah, there was obviously some big turnovers and that gave them great field position, they missed a few field goals. Obviously you don't want so many turnovers but we still had an opportunity to win the game and we didn't capitalize."   

Redshirt Senior Tight End Austin Traylor
On the offense's struggles:
"I don't know, I couldn't tell you exactly. It was tough, we couldn't really get the running game going, guys on edge and things. Myself included, I think we need to watch the film to see exactly what but every time we had a good play things just got called back. So we just have to be able to sustain the whole drive better."
 
On Jazz Peavy's reversed touchdown:
"It was questionable calls all game, but we can't go back and change it. The refs have a job, they get paid to do it. We as players hope they do it perfectly but I understand they're humans too so if they made a mistake it is what it is."
 
On the run game:
"I wouldn't say it's disappointing just because we're Wisconsin. Everybody says 'Wisconsin runs the ball' but just because we're Wisconsin doesn't mean we can run the ball, we have to earn that right and we weren't able to get that done today."
 
Senior Offensive Lineman Tyler Marz
On how the game ended:
"Calls were made. I think as a team we just kept fighting. They kept calling it back and we just stayed out there and had a shot at the end. You got to be pretty proud of our offense doing that. It is what it is. The refs are going make the calls, there's nothing we can do about it."
 
On the five turnovers in the game:
 "It's pretty disappointing. Just seemed like we couldn't really get much going, and turnovers obviously kill a drive."

Junior Outside Linebacker Vince Biegel
On the end of the game:
"I'm not going to stand here today and pout on our offense or what they did wrong. Every single day I play for those men, and they play for me. There's going to be a lot of tape for them to learn from, I think Joel is a quarterback that I'd play for every single day and he's going to take that film and learn from it. I know every single offensive and defensive player is going to take that film because there's a lot of film to learn from. We're going to have our minds set fully on Monday for Minnesota and bringing that axe back to Camp Randall where it belongs."
 
On seeing the seniors go out like this:
"That's the most disheartening thing for myself, personally. I wanted to come out here and play for our seniors, we have so many great guys who did so many great things here at the university. So for us not to send those guys off on the right note, it's a disappointing thing. But I know for us, the focus right now is Minnesota and taking care of that business. That's all we can do right now is turn our tension and focus on Minnesota."
 
On the reversed touchdown:
"That's out of our hands as a defense and as a team. The officials saw something and it's their job to do what they see. At the end of the day all we can do is just continue to get better and continue forward."

Senior Wide Receiver Alex Erickson
On it being a tough way to end his career at Camp Randall:
"Very disappointing, had so many opportunities on offense and we just couldn't get it done tonight. It's very disappointing but you've got to give them a lot of credit, they're a good team and their game plan was well executed and they made more plays than us, bottom line."
 
On the punt return:
"I figured when I waved my hands that the play was going to be done but I didn't really wave them too much but in my mind I was about to stop, just avoid one tackle then he was going to blow the whistle so I stopped, and then they just kept coming so I just kept moving and next thing you know I broke it out and I still didn't hear no whistle. But that's the rule when you wave your hands, it's signaling that you basically fair catching and giving up on it. So I just feel it was trying to save some yards there."
 
On the emotions of losing a close game:
"It was very emotional, just so disappointing. When I saw Troy's catch, I had a good view of it, so I knew he was going to be short there, and then the Jazz play, it's just disappointing. But it is what it is and we just didn't make enough plays tonight."
 
Junior Quarterback Bart Houston
On being put in at the end of the game:
"When you're at football on Saturday morning, no, you're not going to think that's going to happen, but it's next man up and you've got to be ready at all times. It doesn't matter if it's the first six seconds of the game or the last six seconds of the game." 

On the last two minutes of the game:
"It was nerve-wracking for one, and it was exciting sitting on the sideline and watching everybody do their thing."
 
On feeling if the calls weren't going the team's way:
"That's the game, you've got to live with what happens out there. If they call a hold, it's probably a hold. If they call pass interference, it's probably pass interference, or not, or whatever. You've just got to roll with the game, it's just about the next down."

Senior Outside Linebacker Joe Schobert
On the defense's play:
"We knew our assignments coming into the game, we knew what we had to do and then everybody did their job into the game. There's a lot of adversity that we faced and just to be able to stand up to that kind of stuff and shut down their offense when it mattered was big for us."
 
On his emotions on Senior Day:
"You never want to lose a game especially the kind of way it ended with all of that stuff going on. Everybody on the team when out and played their best, played their hardest. I wouldn't rather have that back than for everything. Nobody dogged it, everyone was feeling 100 percent so you've got to be happy with the effort." 

Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald 
Opening statement:
"Thanks to everybody for being here today. One heck of a defensive battle. I thought both defensive teams played outstanding football today. We found a way to get one more stop, and that was key. I was incredibly proud of our kids. They persevered, they've been through a lot. To watch the way that our young men have battled over the past few years, and to come out and find a way to get it done today was absolutely outstanding. My hat is off to coach Paul Chryst. That was a heck of a battle and then their young guys go out there and make some plays there in the two-minute drill. It got down to the 1-yardline and our backs were against the wall. To see the way our defense rose up and got the stop on fourth down. We did it all the way to the last play and that's what it took and that's what they did. Terrific effort by our defense."

"I thought our offense at times were able to do some things, especially in the running game. Some of the times, we were a block away from making a big play. That's one of the top if not the top defenses in the conference and in the country. Credit them for that. Obviously, the turnovers were huge in the game and not to be able to score as many points as you'd like off of turnovers, you again have to credit Wisconsin. They rose to the occasion and put the fire out."

"I'm still kind of speechless - I'm not sure what I just said. I don't know how that just unfolded, but it did. I've been on the other side of those games and I feel for those kids from Wisconsin because that's a tough way to end up on the short end. I'm incredibly happy for our guys, and we have a lot to be thankful for here on Thanksgiving week."

On the emotional rollercoaster in the last few minutes:
"We were just talking about what we had to do on the next play. If it was going to be the extra point block if the game's tied, then what are we going to do. Unfortunately, we had already talked about that prior to the two-minute drill and what we wanted to do in that scenario. We talked about that twice and we actually didn't have to do it which was obviously the difference in the game. That last defensive play… that call was by our young men. They made the defensive call. We asked them what they wanted to run and they made the call. Good call by them and a great game by (defensive coordinator) Mike (Hankwitz). I know this game is special to him and to find a way to get the win, especially with the defense on the field, was just spectacular."

On if they were ever in a position to concede the score so they would have time to come back:
"Not at all. The way our defense was playing all game, I was really disappointed in them during the two-minute drive. We study that, we teach it, and they executed it, so tip your hat to Wisconsin for perfecting that. We have to look at some of the things we did in that drive, because frankly defensively, until then, I thought we had a pretty good defensive day. I thought we gave up the most yards of any drive of the day in that two-minute drive. It's disappointing to see that, but our backs were against the wall and the kids rose up."
 
On if he assumed the calls were there at the end until he heard the reversal from the radio:
"Yeah, you do, and then you're talking about the scenarios. If it's upheld, here's what we're doing. But if it gets overturned, what are we thinking and where do we want to go? Typically, you have the guys there so you're talking to them about the thought process in that scenario."

On the Northwestern line play today:
"I think from the standpoint of our defensive line, I thought we were pretty effective all day. Offensively, we were able to get some things moving, but that's a great Wisconsin defense. They firmed things up there as we got into the red zone and we just couldn't get the same plays executed and finished the way we did earlier in drives. You've got to give a lot of credit to them."

On the Wisconsin turnovers:
"Six points off the board in the kicking game. Then one of the turnovers where we were kind of in no man's land. It was one of those where it's probably fourth-and-too long. If you're playing lights out on offense and their defense isn't very good, you'd probably go for that. Their defense is lights out and our defense was playing outstanding. I just felt like at that time, let's go pin them deep and see if we can switch the field position back again. Obviously, the punter goes out and gets a perfect punt and Matthew Harris downs it inside the five. It maybe looked like the right decision. You're just going with the flow of the game and talking through those scenarios. If it was shorter, I would've maybe had a different thought process. You've got to credit Wisconsin. They rose up. We talk to our guys all the time about sudden change and putting the fire out. The bell rings as a defense, go put the fire out. They did a great job of that today. I'm not surprised. That's an outstanding defensive football team."

On the team's goals for the rest of the season:
"Yeah, we do. We talked about making November something to remember, and I don't think anybody in the purple and white will forget this game for a long time. It's one of those situations where there have been crazy games up here in the past, but I'm just so happy for our guys that they found a way to win."

On the team's reaction to Jump Around and if it was planned:
"I just thought about it right before we did it. I said instead of jumping around, let's just lock arms and finish this thing together. Earth shattering. Just trying to have some fun with the guys. I don't think we've been in that scenario in a long time going into Jump Around. I just wanted to focus on what we were doing and not what was going on around us. Just focus on what we were doing and go play our game."