Dale Steele postgame comments
Opening statement:
"I was really proud of those kids, they went out there today and fought their tails off. I'm really proud of what they did today. I said it the first time I was in here and I'll say it the last time I'm in here, we didn't have an effort and attitude problem, it was a youth and an injury problem. Those kids have got a bright future, and I told them I became their biggest fan today and that I'm going to be watching them, and I expect great things from them. We had some opportunities today, but we didn't take advantage of them the way I wish we had. We missed an early field goal, and let a couple of opportunities get away from us. We gave up a big play that obviously made a difference in the football game. But I can't tell you how proud I am of those young people back in that locker room."
On the 11 seniors:
"We don't have very many (seniors) that contribute a lot. They all contribute in some shape, form, or fashion. From Ryan Davis who played on special teams to Nick Potts who signaled. Vince Mantuo just keeps working, and we got him three carries there at the end so he goes in the record books with three carries, and I'm very proud of him. To Braden Smith, who broke the completion record today, he would certainly have had a great year, I believe, had he not got hurt early. To Brandon Chandler, who we asked to move in the middle of the year and help us on offense, and he just did it with a smile on his face and a song in his heart. To Paul Pizzuti, who was out there playing today, and during the week Paul Pizzuti couldn't even walk! I mean he's on crutches during the week, he doesn't practice a single day, and he goes out there and plays and amazes me. I wish I had the guts that that kid's got. Steth Monroe, you know five is a pretty good player, he got beat a couple of times but he hung in there with him all day long. All those kids, all week long they were positive and they fought. I told them they would remember their last game the rest of their life as long as they did their best, and they'd have a good memory of it. So hopefully they did that today."
On Campbell University:
"The memories that I will take away from this are that I was around some of the greatest young people that you could ever want to be around. I got an opportunity before the game to be around the seniors from last year who were out here, the Randel Herring's and those guys. Those guys are the one's who hung in there for four years and turned this program around. Everybody that we've had here in the last three years took a gamble on us, you know? Just the people you get to be around here, there are really a lot of great people here. There have been so many people here that have been good to me, and now I'm their biggest fan and the biggest fan of this football team. I'm a big fan of all the kids and everyone on this campus, because they're really great kids here and great people."
