Opening statement:
“I can’t say enough about our guys during the bye week and the preparation to get ready for Chattanooga and obviously the score indicates. We shut them out on defense, put up some points on offense and I really respected that team and the way they ran the ball. Bigger guys locked into it, definitely some things are going to correct. I would like to get some points before the end of the first half. We got a lot of guys more valuable experience today, especially some of the backups, got some new faces on defense. Jared Badie and a couple other guys. We have three wins, obviously we’d love to have four, but I think we’ve learned a lot about our team in these first four games. Now we will take a nice nine day preparation into the Wisconsin game. Overall our guys played pretty clean today, the big point emphasis during the bye week. Still some things we have to improve. Pat had that long TD called back for a holding, so we have to eradicate that. Our guys played a lot better for four quarters and played a pretty complete game. So we’ll take it from there.”
On his team through four games:
“We have a tremendous group of players on defense that play with a lot of confidence. They have a lot of faith in their coaches. I couldn’t be happier with Ryan (Walters), Terrance (Jamison), Andy (Buh), and Kevin (Kane). They continue to find ways to motivate the guys. I think they’ll get stronger as the year goes on because they’re intelligent players on defense that understand the advantage of film and tells. Those give them an advantage before the snap. I heard our guys talking two days ago on things that were being alerted before the snap. That is something that has continued to grow. We have a group of very engaged players and some younger players continue to play well.”
On not allowing a passing touchdown:
“Ryan and I had a conversation about that on Sunday after the Virginia game, that group wanted that. I think they felt hollow at that Indiana ending and they wanted to be able to prove to themselves mentally and physically they can do it. That’s a point that our guys now have learned that lesson and hopefully we can carry it forward because the stakes are a lot higher now. The rest of our games are Big Ten conference opponents, starting off with three in a row in our division. It’s going to be a big month of football in front of us for this program.”
On playing Wisconsin and his return there:
“I am very proud of the things I accomplished there but none of those accomplishments are going to help us next Saturday. Nothing we did there on the field is going to carry forward. Paul Chryst and I are very good friends in this possession. Jimmy Leonhard was the first player I ever visited. Coach Alvarez said if you get Jimmy you are going to get them all, he’s a very accomplished defensive coordinator. My wife and I got married there so you can’t get more special than that right. Those are all things that pertained to me, but this is about the University of Illinois. Other than the fact that everyone was going to make a big deal about it. I have turned down a lot of different TV organizations and people that reach out and want to do a special on my return. I turn them all away just because I want this to be about the University of Illinois.”
On true freshman Gabe Jacas:
“He is strong and athletic. Kevin and I had this conversation, even though he is a rookie he does not get wild at the moment. His mom raised an incredible kid, his brother is very influential in his life. He’s a very serious kid, nothing fazes him, he’s got a great sense of humor and demeanor, very engaged. I looked at our defense. We have six guys from the state of Florida. That star for us, he’s another great addition. During our bye week I went out to Florida, my wife is from Florida so hopefully that part is going to continue to grow. Those players have been a huge impact in this program.”
Bryant on how he and Isaiah Williams work well together:
“We both have good hands. We complement each other perfectly.”
Bryant on setting career-highs in receptions and yards:
“It was pretty cool, I didn’t realize how many yards I had in that moment. I was just focused on scoring touchdowns and help my team. It was a great start, especially going into Big Ten and Wisconsin coming up.'”
Bryant on he and Tommy DeVito’s relationship:
“Him trusting that every time he would throw the ball I would catch it, and having that same relationship off the field. We go out to eat, talk and watch football together, it plays a big role in our relationship.”
Bryant on building an early lead:
“That’s something we emphasize, getting the receivers hot early because it’s a four quarter game, we can’t start to get hot in the second half. Just starting off really early and keeping out the whole game.”
Martin on the defense:
“I know we got a great group of guys out front to help us out on the back end.”
Martin on not allowing a touchdown at home:
“We take a lot of pride in that, getting the shutout and not letting the guys in the end zone every week, it’s nice keeping that goal.
“It means a lot, we prepare the right way, that’s what happens when you prepare for the team the right way and not look pass anyone.”
On how he and Pat Bryant complement each other:
“I think all of us complement each other, but like Pat, he’s a special talent. Like you saw today, he can catch a bubble, take it to the house. He can catch a deep pass. Just having a guy like that, you can’t double other receivers. When you have a group of receivers, you have Brian Hightower, Casey Washington, Miles Scott, I mean the list goes on, but you have a whole bunch of guys that can play at a high level and it takes a lot of stress, double teams, off of one person.”
On what was going through his mind on the touchdown catch:
“I was just thinking, ‘Go score. I gotta go score. No cutting back. Just use my speed down the sideline and go score.'”
On the offense and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.:
“Coach Lunney, he’s special. I just give thanks to him because he finds ways to get the ball in my hands, and that’s all I can ask. I had nine catches today. When you have nine catches, there’s nothing you can really complain about. He does that with everybody. There’s multiple receivers who are getting the ball. The running back’s getting the ball. He just makes sure we are attacking the defenses vertically and horizontally. I just feel like it’s helping us a lot.”
On the offense’s ability to move the ball:
“For me personally, it gives me confidence. It makes me just want to get better, so when my name’s called, I want to make sure I can make the plays for Coach Lunney, for the team, for Tommy (DeVito), and for the receiver room, too. Our biggest thing is we want to do our job, and when my name is called, just make plays so Coach Lunney can do it even more. That just starts with us doing our job, and we’re just trying to rise to the occasion every time.”
On what makes teammate Pat Bryant special:
“The biggest thing for him has been maturity. I feel like when his name is called, he always makes plays. That’s one thing about Pat. He’s just one of those confident dudes where every time I know the ball is in the air, Pat’s gonna go make a play. I just trust him. When somebody’s throws a bubble to me, I know one person that I want blocking for me I’m gonna say Past Bryant. Make sure Pat Bryant’s over there. It just tells a lot about him. He’s special, and now everybody’s starting to see he’s special with the ball in his hands. We’ve been knowing that. What makes him even more special is how he blocks and how he cares for his teammates. With my touchdown, he’s running right with me. When have a teammate like that, you’ll do anything for them.”
Newton on not allowing a touchdown at home:
“We want to win all our home games. We know defense could be a big part of that, defense wins games. So, if they are not scoring in the game, we take pride in that.”
Newton on keeping the momentum from last year:
“Like everybody, I’m more mature and a greater understanding of what Coach Walters wants from us, whether it’s attacking or reacting, we got a lot of ball hogs in the back end and trying to bring the pressure in and knock off the offensive linemen, I think that’s a big part of it.”
On the importance of the bye week:
“Especially the first couple of days, it was just seeing the young guys grow. They did an awesome job early in the week, but when we started with the game plan, I think the coaches had an excellent game plan from the start. We worked on it for two weeks, so I’m really we got it done that early because they had an awesome game plan. Obviously, a little changed up from what we did past week. More vertical, so I’m glad we had a whole other day to work on it.”
On if there is anything Chase Brown could do that would surprise him:
“I expect to see a few rips off his shirt with a Superman ‘S’ on it. I expect to see that all the time, but he can do anything. He’s a complete back, and I just love blocking for Chase Brown.”
