Post Game Quotes: Army vs. Morgan State

Jeff Monken Army West Point Head Coach
(Ref: Opening Statement)
"I'll second what I said at halftime and after the game; I don't know when I've been more embarrassed as a coach. I just did a terrible job of preparing our team. We played as poorly as we've played all year long and we have to do better. If we play like that in any game at any point the rest of the year, we're going to get beat."

(Ref: On importance of scoring first in the third quarter)
"I thought we needed to come out and get a touchdown and set the tone offensively. They went right back down the field and they kind of had their way with us right on down the field. They threw the ball and hit that touchdown pass in the middle of the field. Again, we have to do a better job and I have to do a better job of making sure our guys are in position. We're in one high safety coverage and he's nowhere to be found. That's my fault. We have to have these guys where they're supposed to be. It's hard to make a play if you're not there. That was the last of the scoring thankfully, but I'm not satisfied at all by the way we played."

(Ref.: On David Cooper's Performance)
"David played a good game today. He did a good job and I am proud of him. He is a senior and has earned the opportunity to be out there. He hit every kick and he deserves to be out there."

(Ref.: On individual versus team performances today)
"The guys made some good individual plays. We had some interceptions and caused fumbles which were good plays obviously. When you score 52 points, something happened to get those points up there. They didn't score 52 so we did some things to stop them. I don't know if there's a guy to single out, I have to watch the film. When I evaluate the games it's about individual players.

"At this point it's how did we play as a team? How did we perform as a unit? How did we do as an offense, defense, special teams? It is a team game. Not one of those guys who made a big individual play could win the game on his own. It's all about what the 11 guys out there are doing and how we play collectively. I didn't think that was up to our standard. The expectations we have for this program at this point and its history, we didn't play up to the standards to meet those expectations as a team. That has as much to do with me as it does with any individual player. It is my job to make sure that we have them prepared and they perform their best. When they don't, I'm mad at myself and everyone in the program. Wins and losses don't go to one person, they go to the team. I don't think we played as well as we needed to as a team today. We did enough to win this game."

Connor Slomka Senior Running Back
(Ref.: on his performance against Morgan State)
"I think you have to put this whole performance on what the offense line did. They absolutely dominated today. Morgan State played us really tough, they had a good scheme. Coach Davis was coaching them like he always does and they always perform."

Elijah Riley Senior Defensive Back
(Ref.: on how the team was able to slow down Morgan State's passing game)
"We just had to lock in and focus on our assignments. We came out in the first half and second half with low energy and not really focused on the task at hand. We were lucky to step it up, and going forward, that's just not going to cut it. So we've got to get it corrected."

Cade Barnard Sophomore Running Back
(Ref.: on the depth in the backfield)
"I think it's kind of a point with the O-Line, like Connor said. It's a big trust thing with the O-Line and the D-Backs. I feel like any of us go in there and we just trust our fundamentals, the O-Line is going to do their job and the ball is going to get moved no matter who's in there. I think that we have the confidence to be able to succeed because of them."

Tyrone Wheatley Morgan State Head Coach
(Ref: Opening statement)
"The guys came out in the first quarter still a little rattled. More penalties than we wanted, but finally caught their balance. Got their bearings together and started to go out and hit and match Army's intensity, which is hard to do for four quarters, but they did. They went out and fought hard both offensively and defensively. But we understand we still made too many mental mistakes, too many penalties. We were 11 (penalties) for 72 (yards) – way too many penalties. Time of possession, really it's their deal, but we wanted to get into the 20 range ourselves, which we did a good job of that right there.

"But he (Jeff Monken) has a great team. He does a great job with those guys. They're very tough – very, very tough. They fight through adversity. But at the same time I'm proud of the way my guys fought and stayed in it a little bit, but the machine just rolled on."

(Ref: On his team's improvements)
"(DeAndre) Harris continues to improve in the passing game. Although he threw three interceptions, one was a tipped ball, one was through the fingertips and one he was just rolling, he should have thrown the ball out of bounds, he just tried to make a play. Our guys, our receivers, have to understand that 50/50 balls we have to come up with 100% of the time. We just have to fight through it. But he is progressing. He's starting to see the field a lot better. He made some incredible throws. The one strike he made on the touchdown to Manasseh (Bailey), the skinny post, was an incredible ball. I mean he threw that thing on a rope. We just have to get him to run the ball a little bit better. There were times on first down where we could have just dove for the sticks and got the first down. He kind tried to juke a little bit and they knocked him back.

"But other than that he progressing at the quarterback spot. The receivers are our bright spots right now. These guys are blocking well, they're running great routes, their giving guys fits just all over the field. So I'm really proud of what they're doing right now.

"We just have to get our running backs and offensive line on the same page in the running game."

(Ref: On the status of Demerius Goodwin)
"Right now, as I spoke to him on the field, he gave me a thumbs up -- everything else was just precautionary. At this moment, I haven't heard anything back. He's at the hospital here, I think, on campus. They're running some diagnostic tests on him and things of that nature. I'll know a little bit more here within an hour or so."

Army West Point Athletics

Post Game Quotes: Army vs. Morgan State

Players Mentioned

Cade Barnard

David Cooper

Elijah Riley

Connor Slomka

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