Head Coach Skip Holtz
Opening Statement: "I am really proud of this football team. I am really proud of what they were able to accomplish this season and the things that they were able to do. The heart that they played with and the way that this team has come together through the course of the season. We came in without a lot of expectations from the outside. We came in with a lot of new faces and one of the most difficult schedules in the country with four of the first five teams bowl teams on the road. I think this football team grew, came together, and competed their tails off. They got themselves to this point. I was just really proud of the way they competed. We weren't able to get it done today but I certainly give Marshall a lot of credit. I congratulate Coach Holliday and the Marshall program. I think he has done a great job over the last five years building this program. It is certainly evident what kind of football team they have. I feel really sick for our seniors, for our players to have competed so hard. Overall I am just really proud of this football team and what they were able to accomplish this season."
On the passing game: "It was definitely hard to get a rhythm going. It seemed like we had six fourth-and-ones where we could get to it and get four or five yards, but we just couldn't get over that hump to get a couple first downs. We struggled a little bit with that. They have a very talented defense. We knew that. We looked at them and knew there would be two really good defenses here. Statistically going into this game, Louisiana Tech and Marshall were pretty much No. 1 and No. 2 in every statistical category. We knew it was going to be a great football game. Just like I said, it was really hard to get into a rhythm and then we weren't able to create a lot of big plays."
On ineligible starters: "We certainly knew it was coming. Some guys stepped in and competed their tails off in their place. Those guys really did a good job. It is hard to lose two senior linebackers and two senior lineman. The guys that stepped in did an excellent job. Josh Robinson stepped up and had a great week at practice. We felt really comfortable with him. He had a great tackle. I thought David Mahaffey stepped up as left guard and did a nice job. It is what it is. We can complain or step up and compete. I have said to this team a million times 'the good Lord put eyes in the front of your head, not the back of your head so you can see where you are going and not where you have been.' We just felt like the best opportunity we had in this football game was to close ranks and give it everything we had."
Quarterback Cody Sokol
On Marshall's defensive performance: "Marshall's defense was a good defense. They did a good job coming after me. Our guys played our butts off. I wish I could have done more today, but I'm proud."
On giving up a late lead: "It's a hard pill to swallow. It's a game you want to win and our guys wanted to win. We gave it our all and I'm proud of everyone."
On differences in Marshall's defense: "I wouldn't say anything different. They did a good job outside in man coverage, give them credit. They have some good interior linemen that did a good job today. We had some good opportunities, but couldn't take advantage of it."
Running back Kenneth Dixon
On looking towards bowl game and team keeping morale: "Our eyes are on the front and not the back. We just have to look forward and keep pushing. I mean, lift weights and practice and preparing for the bowl game."
Defensive end Houston Bates
On coming up short: "I'm just happy to get to this point, but obviously we fell short today. Like Coach [Holtz] said, we wanted to win this game and all the guys did too. Having the adversity that we had throughout the week of some guys not being with us, I'm just proud of the guys that stepped up and competed today. It's one of those games I wish we had back, but we've just got to keep pushing through and get to the bowl game and hopefully we'll get a trophy then."
Opening Statement: "I am really proud of this football team. I am really proud of what they were able to accomplish this season and the things that they were able to do. The heart that they played with and the way that this team has come together through the course of the season. We came in without a lot of expectations from the outside. We came in with a lot of new faces and one of the most difficult schedules in the country with four of the first five teams bowl teams on the road. I think this football team grew, came together, and competed their tails off. They got themselves to this point. I was just really proud of the way they competed. We weren't able to get it done today but I certainly give Marshall a lot of credit. I congratulate Coach Holliday and the Marshall program. I think he has done a great job over the last five years building this program. It is certainly evident what kind of football team they have. I feel really sick for our seniors, for our players to have competed so hard. Overall I am just really proud of this football team and what they were able to accomplish this season."
On the passing game: "It was definitely hard to get a rhythm going. It seemed like we had six fourth-and-ones where we could get to it and get four or five yards, but we just couldn't get over that hump to get a couple first downs. We struggled a little bit with that. They have a very talented defense. We knew that. We looked at them and knew there would be two really good defenses here. Statistically going into this game, Louisiana Tech and Marshall were pretty much No. 1 and No. 2 in every statistical category. We knew it was going to be a great football game. Just like I said, it was really hard to get into a rhythm and then we weren't able to create a lot of big plays."
On ineligible starters: "We certainly knew it was coming. Some guys stepped in and competed their tails off in their place. Those guys really did a good job. It is hard to lose two senior linebackers and two senior lineman. The guys that stepped in did an excellent job. Josh Robinson stepped up and had a great week at practice. We felt really comfortable with him. He had a great tackle. I thought David Mahaffey stepped up as left guard and did a nice job. It is what it is. We can complain or step up and compete. I have said to this team a million times 'the good Lord put eyes in the front of your head, not the back of your head so you can see where you are going and not where you have been.' We just felt like the best opportunity we had in this football game was to close ranks and give it everything we had."
Quarterback Cody Sokol
On Marshall's defensive performance: "Marshall's defense was a good defense. They did a good job coming after me. Our guys played our butts off. I wish I could have done more today, but I'm proud."
On giving up a late lead: "It's a hard pill to swallow. It's a game you want to win and our guys wanted to win. We gave it our all and I'm proud of everyone."
On differences in Marshall's defense: "I wouldn't say anything different. They did a good job outside in man coverage, give them credit. They have some good interior linemen that did a good job today. We had some good opportunities, but couldn't take advantage of it."
Running back Kenneth Dixon
On looking towards bowl game and team keeping morale: "Our eyes are on the front and not the back. We just have to look forward and keep pushing. I mean, lift weights and practice and preparing for the bowl game."
Defensive end Houston Bates
On coming up short: "I'm just happy to get to this point, but obviously we fell short today. Like Coach [Holtz] said, we wanted to win this game and all the guys did too. Having the adversity that we had throughout the week of some guys not being with us, I'm just proud of the guys that stepped up and competed today. It's one of those games I wish we had back, but we've just got to keep pushing through and get to the bowl game and hopefully we'll get a trophy then."
