From LSUsports.net. Croom is a class act no whining or moaning just the facts and looses with dignity very un Spurrier like as far as class goes. LSU HEAD COACH NICK SABAN OPENING STATEMENT "We were trying to get this team to establish an identity. I haven't been particularly pleased with the toughness that we played with mentally or physically, the kind of relentless competitive spirit that we have demonstrated consistently or the way we've executed and gone out and kind of knocked the other guys out. This team has been affected by everyone else that kind of worries about the results of winning rather than beating the other team. I think there is a tremendous difference in that psychologically. "This was the first game today that I thought we went out and beat the other team like we want, dominate the line of scrimmage and I was particularly pleased with the way the team as a whole did that. I know we made some mistakes and turned the ball over, but we were kind of sacrificing that to get the kind of effort and resiliency and toughness that we want to try to get. I think that was most important to reestablish our team. I was very happy with the way the team responded to that challenge. I thought some of the older guys on the team demonstrated some playmaking today that has been absent and I think some of our younger guys need an example for. I think that's also a real positive. I'm sure we made our share of mistakes out there. We have a lot of things that we can work on and correct and we need to continue to improve relative to the challenges we have ahead. "I was fairly well pleased with the way both quarterbacks played today and Matt Flynn for that matter. We got a lot of time for the young receivers. Skyler Green was available to play today; we were going to use him in four wide outs. We scored the first two times we got the ball so we didn't play him and that will help him be even healthier for the future. I was particularly pleased with the way Alley Broussard ran the ball for the second straight week." LSU OFFENSIVE PLAYER QUOTES QB JaMarcus Russell ...On dominating an opponent "It feels good. Coach (Saban) challenged us to go out there and identify ourselves, and I think we did a pretty good job of reacting to what went on (at last week's game) at practice this week." ...On the win versus Mississippi State giving the team confidence for remaining Southeastern Conference schedule "This game would give anyone confidence. We did a good job and we came through. I think as long as we play games like this, we'll get more and more confident." ... On his comfort level on the field "The more reps you get, the more comfortable you get. So getting in the flow of things is really good for me." ... On his thought on the two-quarterback system "Right now it's doing pretty good. We did things today that were a lot better than we normally do. We had a pretty good group of plays between one another. We put a bunch (of scores) up on the board. We helped the team get in good situations, and that is why we were able to win." RB Alley Broussard ... On the difference from playing last year to this year "I just feel more relaxed and more confident. The difference from last year to this year is that I can see the holes better and get my reads better. I think I played with more confidence this game." ... On the toughness he brings to the team "It's natural. That's just how I play. If I can't make the move, I just go out there and try to run through you. It's going to be easy for me in the third and fourth quarters because by that time they'll get tired of it and just let me pass." WR Craig Davis ... On how this win helped confidence level after loss to Auburn "We really weren?t thinking about last week during the game, but (winning today) is a really big confidence booster going into next week's game. Georgia is a really big game for us, and I believe that we really just need to have a good week of practice and keep the focus going like we did this past week." ... On if execution was there versus Mississippi State "Yes, it was there. We had a couple of bad turnovers--me fumbling, Justin (Vincent fumbling and JaMarcus (Russell fumling) on the goal line. It's just fundamental stuff, and we have to go back to practice and focus on the little things." ... On how this win will help going into Georgia game "This game is going to be another confidence booster. At Auburn, fans got really rowdy, and I know it's going to be the same and possibly even worse (at Georgia). So the focus will be there because in practice they will have us ready." LSU DEFENSIVE PLAYER QUOTES SS Jessie Daniels ...On how the defense dominated the game "We dominated our opponent, and I think it was because we had better practice, better execution as a team and we established our identity as a defense." ...On the confidence of the defense after this game "I think it helps us a lot. We are a better team than how we played last week, and if we communicate at all we'll be a great team." DE Marcus Spears ...On getting the team's first SEC win "That was the main focus, that's the quickest way to get a bitter taste out of your mouth coming out and doing some good things and seeing what the team is capable of. We showed that we're capable of doing some good things when we execute. It was just important for us to come out and play well." ...On how this game can give the momentum and consistency "I think it's very important. I think in order for the young guys to understand what it takes to be successful in this league. Things like this have to happen, and as leaders we have to step up and make plays. It was just a great overall thing for those young guys to see and understand how important every game is as you play from this point on." ...On his interception return for a touchdown "It was just executing, basically. That's the thing we've been lacking in the first three games, and we did a better job of that. It was just something that I was in the right position again and made a good play on the ball." MISSISSIPPI STATE HEAD COACH SYLVESTER CROOM ...Opening statements "There isn?t a lot to say here. Where I come from we call that a good old fashion 'butt whooping.' I commend Nick (Saban) and their team. They have an outstanding football team. I'll be very honest with you; I told the players that I never dreamed that we would get drummed like that. We had a good week of practice. We thought we had good plans, but right now we don?t execute very well. We don?t block very well, and we sure don?t tackle very well at all. We will work extensively on those types of things, and work on our fundamentals through the course of the week. But we don?t bring them to the game. We try to tackle with no arms. We try to cut great athletes at the toe. That doesn?t work. I told the players at some point we are going to try to do things the way we actually do it. The way we have been doing things we know that doesn?t work, because we continue to get pounded by the good football teams. I thought some of our younger players did come out there and fight. At the end of the half it was a (finished) ballgame and we wanted to see what they could do. Maybe we need to move some other guys around even though they may not have the experience or lacking what we think is talent. Maybe we need to give somebody a chance that has a little more heart, and move from there. We will look at the film and evaluate where we are with some of those young people and continue to give them a chance." "As far as injury situation, we don?t know the details on Omarr (Conner) right now. We'll know tomorrow, but I don?t think it will be very positive. I blame myself for that. We were still trying to win the game. I was going to let him one more series because I wanted him to leave the game with some confidence. I planned on playing him one more drive then putting Kyle (York) in there. He was having a good season, even though today wasn?t one of his better days early in the half. I'm disappointed for him. I'm sure he will be out for some length of time. How long, we won't know until tomorrow. Preliminarily, I don?t expect him to play next week. So we have to make a decision on that. Quarterback is not one of our deepest positions. We'll move forward. We'll look at the film long and hard tomorrow. Talk a little about where we are and where we need to go from here on Monday morning. "We kept trying to throw the ball up the field, which we planned to do coming into this ball game because they were a bump team. But a couple of our smaller guys, Tyler (Threadgill) and Jonathan (Lowe), who we thought might could get by them on a couple of times, and we did get by them on a couple of times but we didn?t make the plays. We had opportunities to make plays. Whether it was the throw or the catch, we didn't make them. When we complete a pass on our first throw, when we make a first down, we fumble the football. Those things will get you beat. And at some point we have to learn that we have to stop doing those things or we've got to get people who can stop doing those things. It's obvious now that it is starting to get to be a habit. Again I can commend coach Saban and his staff and fine football team and I wish them the best of luck the rest of the football season."
