Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano Press Conference 

Q. Was it effort or execution as the reason for today's performance?
 
GREG SCHIANO: First and foremost, we played a really good football team today, top 25 team. Secondly, I don't know if it's execution. It wasn't effort. They gave effort. I'm not concerned about that.
 
As you get worn down, the effort's not the same. That's as big an offensive line and running back as there is in the league. And, you know, you're getting hit over and over. And, you know, we got some guys bummed. So, then we got down to some younger guys that haven't played a lot, weren't accustomed to it. It's a whole different speed.
 
So, it was a -- when you get licked like that, it's an accumulation of things. It's never just one thing.
 
Q. Can you tell us anything about the injuries to Noah [Vedral] or Aron [Cruickshank]?
 
GREG SCHIANO: Not sure yet, but they obviously couldn't continue in the game. So, it's bad enough that that's the case. And they're both tough guys. So, if they could have, they would have. We'll just play it by ear.
 
You know what -- you know, the KOR one, it is what it is. The quarterback one, I kick myself. I wanted to take him out that series. Enough was enough.
 
And we kind of agreed -- everybody agreed that we'd give him one more series. That's my fault. We should have got him out.
 
Q. From an offensive standpoint, I know Wisconsin's the number one defense in the country, but, you know, what was the biggest issue from just the lack of offense?
 
GREG SCHIANO: Well, you know, we fell behind and that's -- you can't do that to that team. The only way we would have a chance to beat that team is to play from the lead, in my opinion. And we weren't able to do that.
 
Not that we just abandoned things, we didn't. We kept trying to run the offense. But they're really good. I mean, it's not unlike what they've done to a lot of people. They're a very good defense.
 
And we had some things that we were -- you know, it's the old cliche, we're a guy away here, a guy away there. We were.
 
I mean, they were good thoughts, I thought. Good concepts that I thought could work against that unit. There's not a whole bunch that has worked against that unit. That's why they're No. 1 in the country.
 
I thought we had some -- to Kratch's question, some of it execution, some of it maybe we -- we didn't quite have the guy to pull it off. And some of it maybe it just wasn't a good construction.
 
Q. Greg, what's just kind of your general message to the team after a game like that?
 
GREG SCHIANO: Well, look, we're building something here. I didn't take this job and think it would be this linear ascent to the top. We knew what it was going to be. We've done it before.
 
This is disappointing after the way we played rush defense last week. It was disappointing to me. But, again, they did some things that, you know, got us a little off kilter and then it was -- and then they wore it out. They did a good job until they could fix it. They kept running it.
 
So, again, really good people doing it to us, too. That was -- you know, I can't not say that. Because that's not giving them credit. It wasn't -- it wasn't totally us just not performing, it was them performing.
 
Q. You implored the fan base to be here for this game, what is your message to them?
 
GREG SCHIANO: Well, I'm trying to do the same thing. You know, I was brought back here to turn a program back to what we had.
 
And I need, and we need, this program needs all the help we can get. I felt like as many people as we could get here, that would help us.
 
And if we could get the lead and they had to throw -- you know, it wasn't just, Hey, you can come to the game, I'd like you to come. It was all part of what I thought would be the plan to win this game.
 
If you can get a lead and have the crowd loud, make them check versus different pressures, pressures we never really got to running because they were just honking the ball. And we had to stop that.
 
And so, that was -- you know, again, we're building something here. And I believe that we're on the right track. These days happen when you're doing that. There's no doubt about it. They've happened before.
 
But what we need to do is keep doing the things that we know are right. You can't get tired. You can't get tired because someone questions you, you can't get tired because someone is negative about something.
 
If you believe in it, you just keep pushing it. It'll get there. And we will get there.
 
Q. Mike Tverdov and Brandon Sanders, were announced as violation of team rules. That's on the heels of last weekend, another player. Is it concerning or maybe even disappointing that at this point where you're playing for something, a pivotal stretch in the season you have a couple discipline issues?
 
GREG SCHIANO: Is it disappointing, yes. Is it surprising, no. I mean, we're getting -- we're establishing a program.
 
You know, as I told you guys, COVID wasn't real, right? The COVID season, there was nobody. We were just isolated, just our football team. That was it.
 
So, I thought we did a really good job of making the most of that time. Now we're back into regular life and they're young people and sometimes we have issues.
 
And the one thing I won't do is I won't sacrifice the integrity and culture of our program. We're going to build it the right way. And I won't allow that.
 
So, as I tell them, I'm not going to get worn out doing things the way we do them. That's the way we do them. So, it's all part of building a program.
 
Q. What kind of changes do you need to make offensively? I mean, the pick six right away in the game, another interception, not moving the ball well, is there anything you can do to change this?
 
GREG SCHIANO: Well, I think the first thing, Steve, is we have to dissect this and figure out why. I know why the second -- the pick six, Noah gets hit, right?
 
So, we miss the block, the guy comes free, Noah's just releasing it. Which I think is going to result in a positive play, now he gets hit and the ball flies and it gets pick six'd.
 
So, can you get rid of it a little sooner? I don't think. I think he got rid of it right on time. We just missed a block.
 
The first one, he didn't see it. You know, and it was funny, I was just watching Purdue today against Wisconsin right before our team meeting and the same thing happened two times to them.
 
They really do a good job with their underneath coverage. So, he didn't see it. You know, he's done a good job. He didn't see that one.
 
So, you know, maybe we put him in a spot that wasn't good. Maybe he just didn't see it because he was shielded. Those things you have to pick apart.
 
And then after that, you got to look at where did you not give him a chance. Because that's our job. We got to give him chances to be successful. And if we gave him a situation that they couldn't be successful, then we got to fix it on the coaching end.
 
If it was and we didn't execute it, then we got to fix it on the execution end. Then if there are any effort issues, then we got to fix that, as well.
 
But that's a part of building a program. And I wish I could snap my fingers and make it happen magically. But I can't.
 
We won a really big game for us last week. But we came back and we didn't play with the same -- whatever you want to call it, focus. But that's a lesson learned again. Those are all lessons learned.
 
Q. Olakunle Fatukasi went out with an injury, was he able to come back in if you needed him?
 
GREG SCHIANO: No, I don't think he was able to come back. Yeah.
 
Q. I think CJ Onyechi was dressed and he didn't play. Was he an emergency availability guy?
 
GREG SCHIANO: Yeah, he hurt himself during the week. He pushed like crazy. I'm really proud of CJ. He pushed like crazy to get ready.
 
But, initially, we were doing okay without him and then I wasn't going to put him in that situation. So hopefully he'll be able to contribute next week.
 
So, again, I appreciate it, guys. And I appreciate our fans. I really do. I appreciate the fans that came, the ones that stayed. It was a tough day to be a fan, but I really appreciate it. We'll be back and look forward to seeing them when we get back. Thanks, guys.
 



Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst

Opening Statement:

"I'm certainly proud and appreciative of the work that goes into each week and to coming in here and getting a win. It's never easy to win in this conference. It's good to have so many different guys contributing."

On QB Graham Mertz:

"He's stayed the course, and the whole group has done that. Credit to him and his teammates for their work. The way the game played out, we didn't necessarily need different things. I felt confident all along. Today we had to do some things to not just rely on the run game. We were better on third down. He certainly has a hand in that. He did some good things today that we can build on."

On the team's injuries:

"I don't have any specifics on Chez. We'll find out more information. I talked to Jack Nelson on the sidelines in the second half, he was feeling better. I thought it was going to be one of those runs. And Markus Allen, he kind of left there, which was, which is a shame because it was good getting him, you know, some snaps and going. But Chez, I think we'll find out more in the days to come. He's had some stuff throughout the season that he's been dealing with, and give him credit for that, it hasn't set him back. There's a part of me that's hopeful that it's part of that, but I certainly don't know."

On takeaways:

"At times, we've been cashing in on the opportunities. Guys are making some plays. I thought Jordan's  was a heck of a play and Caesar has been in position. We kind of trusted it and triggered on it and went. Noah was in great position, Scott Nelson said he would have had the pick if it wasn't for Noah. The guys on the kickoff coverage unit did a really good job of covering it and going and so I think it's a combination of it. At times, it is probably coaching cliche, but it can be something that's contagious. Certainly it has been big in the games to win the turnover margin, those are huge. You can win games when you turn the ball over, but you you're going to make it harder."

On the passing game and the protection:

"It really does take everyone. It's got to be the protection. It's got to be all the guys involved in the route itself and then in the end it's the quarterback finishing it and get into the guys. Just like a good run a good pass does take everyone. Guys have stepped up and it seemed like a good protection. Overall, my recollection was the protection was pretty good."

On Braelon Allen coming into the game battling injuries:

"We felt confident that he'd be able to give us something but we weren't sure to what extent. The way the game was going, I was impressed with the way Julius Davis came in and ran hard, Jackson Acker ran hard. Grover Bortolotti did a heck of a job finishing it out. Those guys took advantage of those opportunities. And it was good."

On reflections on the place in the season:

"I remember every game. You have to maximize each week. You put all your focus and energy in that. And I appreciate that the guys are doing that, to try to maximize every opportunity in the season. I appreciate the guys that are doing that."

On all three phases playing complimentary football:

"I think that there was a lot of examples today of doing that. And I think that all along, I think the guys are aware of that, and they're wanting to do it. That doesn't mean that it's going to happen each game. But it certainly when you can do that. I think it's that's a good sign. I think that it's important for each group to know what's going on and how has it happened. And we do talk a lot about how can if you can do something well enough that it helps others, that that's a great gift that you can give. Whether that's an individual player doing it for other players on that play or on that if it's a unit doing it for the other units, I think carries over. You got to do your part. And if you can do your part well enough that you allow others to experience some things to make their job better, that's a great gift you can give your teammates."

On becoming bowl eligible:

"You're always grateful that you've earned the right to play another game. It's never a given. I hate hearing it because it's not a given. You have to go out and earn it and you appreciate all that goes into getting that opportunity. And they said anything earned is a good thing. And when you can earn the right to have another opportunity to play, especially with this team or any of those ones in the past, that's a great thing. When you can extend the season, that's a great gift."