What South Carolina said after facing Alabama

South Carolina press conference quotes following the Crimson Tide's 47-23 victory over the Gamecocks

Alabama Athletics

Here's some of what was said, courtesy of South Carolina sports information: 

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp 

"Offensively opportunities in the red zone, we got to score touchdowns. We had an opportunity to make it a seven-point game going into the half. We talk about winning the middle eight, the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half. Knowing we’re getting the ball in the second half and obviously had a nice drive, but to come away with no points in that situation is very disappointing. When you get into the red zone against that team, you’ve got to score touchdowns. They’re very explosive offensively; you saw their space plays. Going into the game, we knew they will complete some balls but limit the amount of explosive plays, and they’re very elusive in space. It wasn’t really the vertical balls down the field; it was the intermediate throws and being able to make people miss in space. There were some critical third downs in the game. We had 3rd-and-5 and an opportunity to get off the field, right there in the second quarter. A couple of third downs I felt like they were in good situations, but we didn’t take a throwback when we should have. Just some plays we left on the field, in my opinion, but they’ve got a good team, and we can’t make those mistakes in a game against a very, very good football team like they have. The quarterback is outstanding, and their receivers are elite. They’re really good players, and they’re very difficult in space. We squandered some opportunities, offensively and defensively, on third down and opportunities to get off the field and that’s probably the most disappointing part of the whole thing. We moved the ball well offensively, really proud of Ryan [Hilinski] and the job that he did in the game. He hung in there, and we’re going to try and score. What we need to do to improve offensively there late in the game that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to keep fighting, that’s who we are. He needs to get as many snaps as he can to continue to improve and grow offensively. That was a great, great environment, appreciate our fans."

On aggressive play calling...

“We talk as a staff during the week about what do we need to do to win the game, so it’s not just about going for it on fourth down because we want to. It’s about the situation in the game, it’s about field position, a certain punt look, or a punt safe look or a punt block look we get in the game, and we’ve got someone in the box saying, ‘It’s there.’ It’s all calculated risk on what we want to do. We felt like the field goal fake was there. After the first field goal attempt, we saw their look and they don’t change it up. We got the look we wanted.”

On the progress the team made while facing such a strong opponent...

“I will never question our guys’ effort. We played the run extremely well against a team that runs the ball well. We’ve got to do a better job in the passing game, especially the space plays, and some of the intermediate and underneath throws, making some plays in space in those situations. Converting more in the red zone offensively. We made some nice drives today, but we didn’t get what we wanted, which was to win the game.”

On Ryan Hilinski’s growth as a starter...

“Just from a gutsy standpoint, he took some shots in the pocket there from some really good players. Going up against a really good secondary, he made some tight throws and had some balls dropped. We had opportunities to keep the chains moving, he hung in there and did a nice job. There’s some communication things we still need to get ironed out, but that’s not just on him, that’s on our entire offensive staff. Those are things we’ll continue to work through, but I’m really proud of his effort and of the guys around him.”

On his message to the team in the locker room...

“We’ve got a good football team. We’re 1-2; we’re not where we want to be; we’re not where we thought we’d be. But we have to continue what we’re doing; we have to pull together and get back to work tomorrow; and that’s what we’re going to do. We’ve got really good leadership on this team; that’s what this team will do.”

Bryan Edwards • WR • Senior

On the touchdown that was called back...

“It’s tough, again, a big play called back kind of shifted the momentum back, but it is what it is...we can’t change it.”

On Ryan Hilinski’s performance...

“He looked composed. He was calm. He did a great job of leading and he just does a great overall job. I’m just really proud of him honestly.”

On the overall game...

“I don’t believe in moral victories. We lost today. I am a competitor and I want to win so we lost and that is what it is.”

Donell Stanley • OL • Redshirt Senior

On Ryan Hilinski’s performance...

“I knew we would get pressured a whole bunch, but I thought we did well with that. He was composed.”

On the next two weeks...

“We’re a team that’s play hard, work hard. We’re just trying to get it all together and sometimes our offense is not on and our defense is, but we’ve just got to come together. Moving forward, we are going to be hungry, be desperate. I still love this team and I’ve got all the confidence in us.”

Ernest Jones • LB • Sophomore

On general feelings coming out of this game...

“I feel like there was progress throughout the game. You could see there were high points, but it’s nothing to be too glad about. We lost. They came out, they were the better team. They did some things that just beat us.”

On facing the Alabama offense...

“They were a good size. They knew how to position themselves in the run game, and they set up some things... they were a pretty good offensive line.”

On trying to limit Alabama’s third down conversions...

“It’s definitely frustrating. Especially playing teams like that, they’re goal is to score as many points as they can. You have to stop them on third down and give the offense a chance to keep doing what they’re doing and keep driving to get into the end zone.”

Rico Dowdle • RB • Senior

On the team’s attitude looking forward to future games this season...“

The goal is to progress every week. Obviously today we lost, but we have to come out next week and get better. Take it one week at a time, every week is a season that’s how we look at it... we’ll take it game by game.”

On the team’s energy when the coaches call unique plays...

“It shows the will win, both as coaches and as players. On the fake field goal, we executed it really well. Obviously, we had a bad holding call called, but it just shows the will and want to win.”

J.T. Ibe • DB • Redshirt Senior

On how he would grade the play of the safeties through three games...

“We played with good effort. We need to improve on our discipline and our focus on technique and alignment, but I think we played with good effort.”

On how to go about improving tackling midseason...

“I think it all goes back to preparation in practice. We’re going to prepare as good as we can, prepare full speed, take proper angles, track the ball and and do what we’re coached to do.”On how to attack the next couple weeks...“I approach every game like it’s the most important game and I think our whole team does. We play Missouri Saturday and we’ll be at our best.”