QUOTING ILLINOIS HEAD COACH Ron Zook...
Opening statement...
"We didn't deserve to win that game. We had chances to make things happen to win and we didn't capitalize. We were worried all week that this team was going to come in here and gave us all they had, and they did. My hats off to them because they did a great job, but you can't turn the ball over. For the most part, the defense played well, but when it's time to make a stop you have to do it. We need to regroup and we will find exactly what kind of team we are now."
On the potential of this being a letdown game...
"J Leman talked to the team on Tuesday night about how this can happen, and about how the same thing happened to us two years ago. I told the young guys we're going find out what kind of team we are now. Just because you go to Michigan and win a game there, it doesn't really mean anything. Everyone in this league is out to get you and out to beat you. I thought we had a good week of practice, the preparation was good, probably as good as we've had all year long. We just didn't get it done"
On the game preparation...
"There were guys who had good games out there, but it really doesn't matter if you don't win the game. This is a team game, it is not an individual sport. The object is to win the game, and we didn't win this game. "
On special teams...
"The kickoff has been an issue all year long. When you give an offense like that a controlled passing attack with the football on the 40-yard line, it's hard. Even so, that and their last touchdown were the only drives where they actually drove down and got points."
QUOTING ILLINOIS PLAYERS:
Senior linebacker Brit Miller
On not taking advantage of the momentum from the Michigan victory...
"We had opportunity after opportunity but couldn't capitalize. The defense couldn't shut them down and we gave up a big play in a crucial part of the game. It hurts to lose that one."
On the Homecoming atmosphere...
"I think Homecoming is for the people who have been supporting us for a long time. As a player, we have to live in the right now and any time you get to play at home with this type of crowd, you want to win."
Junior Quarterback Juice Williams
On his feelings after the loss...
"It's the same feeling that we had two years ago during our 2-10 season. As a leader of this team, we have to get rid of that feeling and get these guys' spirits back up. Obviously it hurt. We had a lot of momentum coming into this game and we've got to find a way to win."
On the fumble near the goal line...
"A guy came from behind and I stepped up in the pocket. I was getting ready to throw, but I couldn't get the ball over my shoulder."
Freshman Receiver A.J. Jenkins
On playing a key role in today's game...
"Right now, I'm just trying to fit into the program and the offense, but I would trade in all my stats for a win."
On Coach Zook's halftime speech...
"We started out kind of slow, but at halftime, Coach Zook got us pumped up on offense and defense and we got rolling in the second half. Coach Zook is very emotional about the game and the program. With it being Homecoming, he was pumped up and his emotion rubbed off on the offense and defense."
On Arrelious Benn mentoring him...
"On my first visit in high school, he was my mentor, so he has kind of been a big brother to me. All the upperclassmen receivers have played a good big brother-type role."
MINNESOTA HEAD COACH TIM BREWSTER QUOTES
On the importance of the victory and thoughts of the team's character...
"You know, we kind of have a philosophy. Why not us, why not now? Why not us, why not now? And I'm gonna tell you, the state of Minnesota stands proud this afternoon. The Minnesota Golden Gophers had a program-changing victory today on the road against a very good football team in an extremely hostile environment. And I'll tell you what, I couldn't be more proud of our football team the way we gutted this thing out; the way we did the things that good teams do to win football games. The heart and character of the Gophers is outstanding."
On Minnesota's defense...
"We have been very opportunistic. Time after time our defense is stepping up to make plays. We are committed to playing great defense again at the University of Minnesota and I see us forming that type of defense."
On trying to stop Juice...
"He is a great football player and hurts you in so many different ways. The thing we wanted to do was to get enough guys around him, where we would force him to throw the football. We did not want him to try to win with his feet, which he is very capable of doing."
" Our general thought was to corral him, keep him in the corral. Very similar to Kellen Lewis, Terrelle Pryor and all the other athletic quarterbacks."
On coming back to Illinois...
"There is significance here, sure. I played at the University of Illinois and was captain of a Rose Bowl team. It's kind of like competing against your brother, you don't want to lose."
QUOTING MINNESOTA PLAYERS:
Tight end Jack Simmons
On Minnesota's defense...
"I think the defense sets the tone for our team, but we kind of feed off each other. You can see the unity throughout the whole team."
On RB Deleon Eskridge...
"He's doing a terrific job; he's going to be great. I can't imagine what he's going to look like in two years after being in the strength program. He hasn't even reached his potential yet, so it's going to be pretty exciting."
Wide receiver Eric Decker
On what it's like to watch the defense play well week after week...
"I give them so much credit for what they are doing. The stop on fourth-and-goal, that just turns the whole game around. Everybody's excited and that's what this team needs. It's really fun to see the defense improve. Whenever they need to make a play, they are making it."
On how this game helped Minnesota turn the corner...
"This was kind of a respect game for us. We went out there and wanted to show that we are a good program. And now we can go anywhere from here."
On how important the first score was...
"It was very important. Every game, I think we want to get the ball right away and put some points on the board. We got a touchdown and then the defense played tremendous. That really set the tone for the rest of the game."
Defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg
About his emotions as a senior...
"As a senior, obviously this is what you want to do. You never want to go out like the guys did last year. We've done a lot of hard work to get to the place we are today. People don't understand that we worked all winter, all spring, all summer. We studied the game and we did everything we could. It's obviously showing that it's paying off now and it's a great feeling. We've just got to keep going."
On the defense...
"A lot of people don't think - you know, because we were ranked 116th in defense last year - that we can do a lot of things. But I think with Coach Roof, his plan, the way kids are playing, that we are one of the best defenses in the country."
On Steve Davis' play...
"Steve Davis is a great player. He's been bouncing around from position to position, but he's a team player. He plays for the team and nothing else. You'll never hear guys on this team saying they are playing for themselves. We are a team. That's what we are going for, but we are taking it one play at a time, one game at a time."
