Pac-12 Championshop Game Postgame Quotes
12/03/11 | Football
Oregon Press Conference (Complete) in PDF
UCLA Press Conference (Complete) in PDF
Oregon CB #27 Terrance Mitchell
On Postgame celebration:
"It was exciting, the whole team is excited. We've set our goal at a championship, and the coaches have told us, 'championship, championship, championship,' and we won like champions."
On playing in the Rose Bowl:
"I've watched the Rose Bowl my entire life, and now I get to finally play in the Rose Bowl. Everyone's very excited."
On growing this season:
"It's just about me becoming more confident. Tonight, I got an interception, then [Nelson Rosario] scored on me. You win battles, you lose battles, it's about getting my confidence up."
Oregon RB #24 Kenjon Barner
On winning the PAC-12 Championship:
"We're the first team in history to win the PAC-12, it's great for the team, the school, and the community."
On playing UCLA instead of USC:
"It still felt like a championship, we knew we were going to get their best game, and they came out and played hard, but we came out on top."
On the team's strengths:
"[Our strengths are] Running the ball, passing the ball, defense, and special teams. We're an all around great team."
Oregon TE #42 David Paulson
On going back to the Rose Bowl:
"It feels great, we were there a couple years ago and it's a great place to play. I grew up watching the Rose Bowl and wanting to play there, I'm excited to go back."
On winning the First Pac-12 Championship:
"It feels great to be the first ever team to win the Pac-12 Championship, I'm so happy. There's no better way to finish off my last game at Autzen Stadium than with a win like this."
"We have had a lot of success in our careers here (as seniors). We won the first ever Pac-12 championship, and we get another shot at the Rose Bowl."
"Fans were everywhere. We won the 1st one ever (Pac-12 Championship)."
Oregon QB #5 Darron Thomas
"I wasn't hesitant. I know my coach. I know his coaching style is aggressive. I was excited to be aggressive out there."
"De'Anthony helped from the sidelines. We are a team. We're not going to fall apart because of one guy being out."
Oregon RB #21 LaMichael James
"I love the fan support. I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful for my team. Darron [Thomas] watches out for me. I'm blessed to be a part of this team. I don't think of one year from now. I think of one day from now."
Oregon RB #6 DeAnthony Thomas
On his injury:
"I kind of felt like it was a helmet to helmet. I'm going to be ok."
"I'm fine; I'll be back next week in practice."
On if he tried to stay in the game:
"Yes I did. But they told me don't risk it.
On what he felt on the sideline:
"It was killing me but I still kept the team spirit and was happy my team won."
On preparing for the Rose Bowl:
"We have lots to learn this next month, but we'll be ready on January 2nd."
On the team's bond:
"The team has a brotherhood. Without them, I don't know where I would be."
Oregon DE #96 Dion Jordan
On getting to 3 BCS Bowls, and trying to win one:
"The last two years are old news now. This team has a different mindset than the last two years, and we show up to play every week."
On his hard hitting sack of Kevin Prince:
"The line shifted the protection away from me, and my eyes lit up. I just tried to wrap up and get a good 'lickin'' on him. There's nothing better than a free shot on a quarterback."
"We did a lot of work to get to that situation in the game. UCLA made us work hard."
"We finally got to stay on the field. This is a big deal for this program."
Oregon LB #46 Michael Clay
On the postgame festivities:
"After the game was one of the best feelings ever. Being the first ever Pac-12 champion, singing the fight song in the locker room. It's an honor to have the opportunity. It's a blessing."
"Overseeing the whole Autzen crowd flowing, it was definitely special. We're definitely excited to go back to California. We want to get a champions ring not a runner-up ring."
On finishing the regular season:
"We'll say a comma not a punctuation mark. We still want to keep it going."
On the defenses progression:
"I'm just really proud of everyone on the defensive side of the ball."
On the game itself:
"It definitely felt like a championship. It started kind of slow. We got that fumble in the first which kind of set the tone."
Offensive Coordinator Mark Helfrich
On being the Pac-12 Champions:
"It's great. It's great to be the last Pac-10 champion and the first Pac-12 champion."
On the postgame:
"I just watched and it was neat. The sheer joy of that moment was special."
On what makes this team so good:
"Chemistry; the thing these guys have going doesn't happen everywhere. It's unique, it just doesn't exist."
On LaMichael's Oregon tenure so far:
"He's been awesome. One of the things that stands out with those three (LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and Darron Thomas), they don't care who gets the ball. That's a sign of a great teammate."
On losing DeAnthony in this game:
"He's a pretty dynamic guy. I was really happy to see Darryl (Hawkins) score in this game."
Oregon OL #77 Carson York
"We can't take a practice off, a series off, a practice period off, or film off. I'm ready to spend an off season celebrating a victory."
On going to Rose Bowl:
"It would be awesome. I grew up watching this game and dreamed about it. I never thought I'd get to play in it twice."
Oregon OL #79 Mark Asper
"I've been there when we have lost and won bowl games, and I know how it feels. I'd like to go out with a win."
Oregon LB #52 Dewitt Stuckey
On coming to Oregon:
"I didn't know this would happen. A championship has always been our goal, though, but I never thought we could reach 3 BCS bowls in a row."
On getting over last year's loss to Auburn:
"It wasn't about getting over it. The loss motivated us to take our efforts to the next level."
On the postgame celebration:
"It was tremendous; it felt like we won the Super Bowl."
On future plans:
"I'm just concentrated on graduating. If I have a future in football, then I'll try to pursue that, but right now, I'm focused on preparing for life after football."
