SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Postgame Quotes
Postgame Bowl Quotes – 14th Annual 2023 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl – Dec. 26, 2023
Final Score: Texas State (8-5 overall) 45, Rice (6-7) 21
Coaches Quotes
Texas State head coach GJ Kinne
On how the team came out fast…
“I don’t think our guys had any jitters. We started fast almost every game. We take the ball and go down and score. We played really well at times, but the penalties across both sides, we don’t want to talk about those. There was a lot to clean up but our guys came out and performed really well.”
On the team’s focus to win and not just enjoy being in the game…
“That was the message. Going to a bowl game is great, but winning. That is what matters. Your ring is bigger. You will remember it forever. The game plan, in all three phases was really well put together. To put on a performance like that was pretty cool.”
On the support of the Texas State fan base…
“I am not surprised. The way that we came out it was like a home game. We have a very passionate fan base. I am just proud. When I took the job everyone said it was as sleeping giant, well it is awake. To get a bowl win is huge, I think this is just the beginning.
“I was excited for everyone involved. This is special. You are taking it all in. You will look back to see what we accomplished as a university and celebrate it tonight with those guys after this.”
On the performance of Holloway’s two return interceptions…
“We had all our seniors stand up last night stand up and coaches got to talk about them and all that they have done. To end his college career like that, you can’t talk about a better ending for him.”
On the “big man score” in the third quarter…
“That is something we had dialed up. It is one of those deals where it was the right time and right place. We almost called it on the first drive, and I am glad we didn’t. it is pretty cool to get a touchdown like that.”
On what is next for this team…
“For me on my mind is the conference championship. That is our goal at the start of each season. We were really close this season, but in year one we weren’t just ready for that. This offseason will be big for us. To keep this roster together, it will take everyone. The fans, players, alumni, fan base, boosters, let’s keep these guys here and go do something special next year.”
On the team’s overall play together…
“I really believe it goes to the relationships. These players love each other, these coaches love these players. It is a special group. To come out here and stay in the moment. We’ll be able to look back and see things we can do better, but when you love kids, and they love you, they will go out and play hard for you and that is something that we were able to accomplish this year.”
Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren
Opening statement…
“Congratulations to Texas State. They made a lot more plays than we did today. I am thankful for this bowl game and the way our team was treated. Everyone from the from the bowl staff treated us great.
“As far as the game goes, I am heartbroken for the seniors that will never be able to play college football again. There is a lot of plays that we were capable of making that we didn’t make today. As coaches, we’ll go back to figure out why, well examine everything, including the practice leading up, how I can do better. All of us could have done something better in this game. There are going to be people on that defense that had great games, dominate performances, if you take away the turnovers, you may have a close football game. You can’t take those away.
“I am sad for some of those seniors that built a lot of things and I really wanted them to go out with a win.”
On what gave the team trouble…
“There was a game plan that we thought we had something if they did x that y wouldn’t be open and that didn’t happen. That started off bad offensively. The defense on the first play we overran the play and they hit a big one. We had a substitution error on the touchdown where we didn’t get people on the field. That is on the coaches and ultimately me. We settled in how our communication would work without the headsets.”
On the team’s struggles in the first quarter…
“I really thought that if we could start fast and withstand the storm and get going, we’d be ok. In the second you saw flashes of what I thought would make it a game. I thought we were in a great spot but that didn’t turn out to be after the opening kickoff in the second half.”
On the play of his quarterbacks today…
“It is the toughest position to pay in sports. There are times that the protection could have been better. Things snowballed today. We couldn’t go on to the next play like I thought we could. We got shook. The running game can be your best friend, but we couldn’t get that going. Everyone on offense didn’t play on offense well enough today.”
On changing out quarterback throughout the game…
“I wanted to see if we could get a spark. I thought there were things we could read right they could have been pulled for an explosive play. I put chase in there to see if those things could happen. We didn’t throw it to open guys on third down. We went back to him, but the turnovers continued. I thought we could exhaust everything we had to get things going for these seniors.”
On the message to the seniors…
“I thanked them profusely. Those guys that have stayed and fought have been the constant growth. It is growth this year to jump into a very good conference in the American. But what is not great is wanting more for them and to take a bigger step. I hate that we fell short. If we can go out and do something really cool it is to go win the conference next year, it will be because of those guys that laid the foundation.”
Rice Player Quotes:
RB Dean Connors
What was the shift with the offense?
“Turnovers. You can’t have them.”
DT DeBraylon Carroll
Overall plan coming in:
“I feel like our gameplan coming in was great. We had a few mistakes on our end that led to big plays. After that, we did a good job stopping them.”
Brian Holloway, Texas State linebacker
Were there any jitters?
“Honestly I don’t feel like across the board anyone was nervous. I think everyone felt really prepared. We have great leadership, and we’re not going to let our guys not take the game seriously.”
On the touchdowns
“It’s crazy. I give all the glory to God. I know I wouldn’t be sitting here without him. To be able to do it at SMU, the school where I started, it’s the ultimate full circle story. It’s unbelievable. I’m at a loss for words. It’s crazy.
On the first pick six I was just thinking thanks to God. The second one I hit my knees in the end zone and gave thanks to God. The preparation has been there. We didn’t skip any steps. When you prepare the right way, things tend to go your way.
On bowl prep adjustments after defensive struggles
I wouldn’t say there were too many. Sometimes the ball doesn’t really roll your way. Tonight everyone was just locked in. We had four weeks of preparation. Tonight we went out and executed. Coaches, really the coaching, was amazing. They got us right. They got us ready to go.
On the Nash TD
“I was going crazy. I hope there’s video of me. It was beautiful.”
Nash Jones, Texas State tackle
On the TD
I’ve been waiting forever. We practice it every week. They told me we had a 50 perecent chance of getting it called. I’m glad they called it.”
Vote on confidence on that play
“I do love the fact the coach trusts me enough to call that play, The biggest thing is what led up to the play. It just so happened to be me to get the call. All my o linemen were the ones to say run the play.”