Nov. 12, 2011

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Memphis vs. UAB Football Post Game
UAB 41, Memphis 35
Saturday, November 12, 2011

Memphis Head Coach Larry Porter

Opening Remarks
No matter how you look at it, you have to tip your hat to UAB. They fought for four quarters. At the end of the day, they led when it mattered most and that is at the end of the game.

This is certainly a painful loss. It is hard to swallow. I felt that going into this game that we had a great game plan, and we did. But, at the end of the day, they made more plays than us.

We just couldn't find a way to finish this game. I am terribly disappointed in the way that we played in the fourth quarter. When it counted most we couldn't find a way to make a play offensively or defensively. That was the story.

About play calling in the fourth quarter
Offensively, I don't think at this point in time that we are capable of outscoring people. I think we gave up three or four touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and you just can't do that.

I am not blaming our defense, but you just have to find a way to make plays.

They found a way to make plays and we didn't.

About the pass-heavy play calling in the fourth quarter
I am not making any excuses. I am not pointing any fingers. We just have to complete the ball. At the end of the day we didn't do what we needed to, to win the game. Even going into the fourth quarter, we were well able to win the game and we just didn't. You have to start with the coaches. We couldn't make a call and we couldn't get a play. All we really needed was one (play) on offense, defense or special teams. It just didn't happen.

On the quick turnaround before playing Marshall on Thursday night and how the mood in the locker room is right now.
I promise you I won't let them walk into that meeting room tomorrow feeling sorry for themselves.

We don't have time to waste on that. We will be checking attitudes at the door. I am going to force them to stand strong and fight through adversity. Football is a game of adversity, and we just didn't fight through it the way that we needed to tonight.

On the play of Taylor Reed in the first half
He did some good things. But again, he did some things that could be corrected. He did what he needed to do for us to get off to a good start, but it wasn't just Taylor. Billy (Foster) had some good plays. We had receivers catching the ball, and our line did a pretty good job of blocking. His supporting cast was playing well.

Did UAB's defensive play calling force you to get away from the running game in the fourth quarter?
No. We could have run the ball more and we did in the fourth quarter, we ran it some. But, at the end of the day, what we needed was a play and we had an opportunity to make one.

There was an opportunity to make plays. We could have made better calls. Everyone has to share the responsibility for this loss. I don't see it as one person or one guy, we all have to (share the responsibility) starting with me.

What stood out to you most about the fourth quarter?
The thing that gets me most is that we had a number of opportunities on third and long to get them off of the field, and we didn't. They converted and that sticks out to me more than anything.

They were seven of 13 on third downs. That is just too much. That is more than 50%.

On the play of UAB's quarterback Jonathan Perry I thought that he did a good job of managing the game. When it (a play) wasn't there, he tucked it and ran. You have to applaud him for that.

They were sustaining drives with efficiency and that put them in position to convert third downs.

When it counted the most, he did a really good job of making smart decisions.

UAB Head Coach Neil Callaway

"I'm very proud and happy about the way our guys came back. They played with a lot of character and a lot of poise. Defensively, I thought we struggled all night until the end. We had a lot of busts. I just didn't think we were getting it done defensively until the end. Offensively, I thought we moved the ball well all night. In the first half, the turnovers killed us. We were hurting ourselves -- shooting ourselves in the foot. We were all very happy and proud of the guys.

We kind of got them in a long situation a little bit, and that helps, because we just made a lot of mistakes in the first half.

We were moving the ball in the first half. We were just kind of shooting ourselves in the foot. So, it felt like we could move the ball. We just weren't finishing it off.

We'll enjoy this one tomorrow and then we got a quick turnaround against Southern Miss."