UNC football coach Larry Fedora after his team's 45-34 win at N.C. State on Saturday:
Opening statement
It was a hell of a game. I’m proud of our football team. They’ve done something that’s never been done in winning 11 straight games and the seniors are leaving a tremendous legacy. The phrase of "I’ve got your back," was repeated throughout the entire game. It didn’t matter what happened in the game today but everyone was very positive and that’s the epitome of who this team is. They talk about having each others back, they got it.
On the success in the first quarter
We ran the ball. Our offensive line was dominant up front when we ran the ball. I thought our guys on the perimeter also did well, especially with our two backs at the second level who did a tremendous job and made a lot of big plays.
On the 35-7 score last year vs 35-7 in the first quarter this year.
I’ve been saying it all year that this team has a lot of grit, they really do. That started with right after the first game and has only gotten bigger every game. This is a special group. There are 72 guys on this team that are really tight and do things for each other. They do things for each other and for something greater then themselves and that’s what makes it so special.
On them physically dominating you last
I think our staff has done a tremendous job. They’ve done a great job with these kids. Then you gotta give all the credit to these players for believing in each other. The seniors have done a tremendous job of leading. Realizing what they wanted; they took ownership in the team and they didn’t just say we wanted to win the Coastal Division Championship and be State Champs, they did what it took.
On be State Champs and winning Coastal last week, what are your emotions behind that
That was pretty cool. It was really cool for them. Because they were the two goals we set back on January 6th. Those were the two and to see all their hard work pay off throughout the entire year and to reach their goals; you know that’s my dream is for all of our players and our staff to be able to reach their dreams and goals. It we do that, things are gonna be pretty good for us.
On the message to the team change now
Well yeah! We’ve accomplished both of those so it’s time now. Tomorrow when we come in, we have to reset our goals. We’ll figure out what those seniors wanna do and what they wanna do with this team and we’ll set a plan after that.
On the potential of making the playoff, will it be addressed
I don’t know. It’s gonna be up to them. I don’t unless they wanna address it, I don’t know that I will. I don’t know how much we can control that. We’ve done everything that we can do to this point. Now we gotta go and play the No. 1 team in the country and so if that happens, yeah I think that we would be very well deserved to be in the playoffs, no doubt about it in my mind!!!
On when you realized this was a special team
In the locker room after the South Carolina Game. Just watching the guys and how they interacted, how they felt, what they said to each other. Then, probably the next thing was being down 21 in Atlanta against Georgia Tech against that offense and knowing what it could do. Every dang time we’ve gone on the road. You got to Pitt on a short week and that was tough as they were ranked. Then you go to Virginia Tech when there’s not a person in the stadium that wants you to win. Everybody’s doing everything they possibly can and these guys found a way to win. It’s a special group, there’s no doubt about it.
Opening statement
It was a hell of a game. I’m proud of our football team. They’ve done something that’s never been done in winning 11 straight games and the seniors are leaving a tremendous legacy. The phrase of "I’ve got your back," was repeated throughout the entire game. It didn’t matter what happened in the game today but everyone was very positive and that’s the epitome of who this team is. They talk about having each others back, they got it.
On the success in the first quarter
We ran the ball. Our offensive line was dominant up front when we ran the ball. I thought our guys on the perimeter also did well, especially with our two backs at the second level who did a tremendous job and made a lot of big plays.
On the 35-7 score last year vs 35-7 in the first quarter this year.
I’ve been saying it all year that this team has a lot of grit, they really do. That started with right after the first game and has only gotten bigger every game. This is a special group. There are 72 guys on this team that are really tight and do things for each other. They do things for each other and for something greater then themselves and that’s what makes it so special.
On them physically dominating you last
I think our staff has done a tremendous job. They’ve done a great job with these kids. Then you gotta give all the credit to these players for believing in each other. The seniors have done a tremendous job of leading. Realizing what they wanted; they took ownership in the team and they didn’t just say we wanted to win the Coastal Division Championship and be State Champs, they did what it took.
On be State Champs and winning Coastal last week, what are your emotions behind that
That was pretty cool. It was really cool for them. Because they were the two goals we set back on January 6th. Those were the two and to see all their hard work pay off throughout the entire year and to reach their goals; you know that’s my dream is for all of our players and our staff to be able to reach their dreams and goals. It we do that, things are gonna be pretty good for us.
On the message to the team change now
Well yeah! We’ve accomplished both of those so it’s time now. Tomorrow when we come in, we have to reset our goals. We’ll figure out what those seniors wanna do and what they wanna do with this team and we’ll set a plan after that.
On the potential of making the playoff, will it be addressed
I don’t know. It’s gonna be up to them. I don’t unless they wanna address it, I don’t know that I will. I don’t know how much we can control that. We’ve done everything that we can do to this point. Now we gotta go and play the No. 1 team in the country and so if that happens, yeah I think that we would be very well deserved to be in the playoffs, no doubt about it in my mind!!!
On when you realized this was a special team
In the locker room after the South Carolina Game. Just watching the guys and how they interacted, how they felt, what they said to each other. Then, probably the next thing was being down 21 in Atlanta against Georgia Tech against that offense and knowing what it could do. Every dang time we’ve gone on the road. You got to Pitt on a short week and that was tough as they were ranked. Then you go to Virginia Tech when there’s not a person in the stadium that wants you to win. Everybody’s doing everything they possibly can and these guys found a way to win. It’s a special group, there’s no doubt about it.
