Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1170354
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 30, 2019 29 NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY … On having a disappointed locker room: "The physi- cality was real. Georgia made a couple more plays than we did, I know that's going to sound like a cliché, but when you break it down, our guys fought to the very end, [Georgia] made a couple more plays. "We've got to coach a little bit better. We have to make a couple more plays." On how he feels about his team: "I certainly know more about our team. It's hard to measure your team early in the season. We played good teams, but we didn't play the No. 3 team in the country. So, we clearly learned a lot more. We're a physical team. We're a fast team. We're a team that is persistent, that will play for four quarters. "We were a little sloppy today, uncharacteristically. That goes to coaching. We have to coach better. We've got to clean up some mistakes that hurt us today. Those are correctable, but the core of this football team is one that is gritty, it's hard-nosed and it's physical." NOTRE DAME SENIOR SAFETY ALOHI GILMAN … On his emotions after the game: "It's tough, obviously. It's disappointing. It took me back to the Clemson game last year, the same feelings. It's something you commit towards your teammates, towards your family here and your brothers you play with. "It's obviously disappointing, but we've got to learn from it and move on." On digging deep at the end of the game: "As a team, we're never backing down. We're a team that's going to step up to any challenge. We're going to fight to the end, so it's really nice to see that as a team, what we can do. "The sky's the limit for us now. So, we're going to take it one week at a time, and then we will see where it goes." NOTRE DAME SENIOR QUARTERBACK IAN BOOK … On Georgia's game plan: "They had a great game plan and I respect that team a lot, but it was on us to focus on the small details of what we were running and the game plan that the coaches made for us. "So, it's up to us to just keep doing what we were do- ing and it's tough to not come out [with a win after] this game, but I'm happy with the way our team played. It showed a lot." On the atmosphere and the impact it had on the game: "It was a great atmosphere. This is why you come to Notre Dame, to play in games like this. Again, it goes back to really focusing on the small details of whatever the cadence may be, whenever it's loud, whatever it is, just focusing on the small details and focusing on ourselves. "So that's what we're going to do … really, the attention to detail is what it was." On the Notre Dame defense: "Defense did a great job, but yeah, it's frustrating. It's our job to put as many points on the board every week. That's on us. "We're going to go back and watch film, focus on the small details and put as many points on the board every week." NOTRE DAME SENIOR DEFENSIVE END KHALID KAREEM … On what the keys were to slowing down Georgia's running game: "Just being physical up front, out-tough- ing them. I feel like we did a pretty good job at that, but we took an 'L,' so we'll move on to the drawing board and get ready for Virginia." On going two games in a row without a sack: "It's frustrating, but when you play within the scheme of the defense, production will come, so you can't play selfishly. We have to rush as a unit. "As long as everyone is doing their job, the pressure will come. It's a little frustrating, but we still have the rest of the season left." NOTRE DAME SENIOR WIDEOUT CHASE CLAYPOOL … On the fumble recovery: "I think I delayed a second because things like that seem too good to be true. I was excited, though. "This one actually counted compared to last year versus Clemson, which probably should have counted." On the differences between Notre Dame and Georgia: "I honestly left the field believing that we beat ourselves and not that we got beat by another team. I think we take away those penalties and it's a different ball game. "We get a couple first downs in the first quarter and I think we win the game. We were one possession away, one play away from winning the game, so I think that's not a bad thing at all." — Andrew Mentock and Vince DeDario FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Senior safety Alohi Gilman (No. 11) was one of three Fighting Irish players who totaled a team-high eight tackles. PHOTO BY KEN WARD/WPG