From The Locker Rooms….
| Melvin Dansby |
Notre Dame kicker Jim Sanson:
(On his game-winning field goal): “All I thought about was the palm trees back home (Scottsdale, Ariz). I used to kick at my high school. We didn’t have goal posts, so all I had was palm trees to kick through.
“The best thing that could have happened to me was to have everyone leave me alone (prior to the kick). It was racing in my head, I didn’t know what to do. The only thing you can do is kick the ball as hard as you can and hope it goes through.”(On believing) “I had faith in God. I wanted the ball. All I wanted was a chance.”
Notre Dame defensive lineman Melvin Dansby:
(On linebacker Lyron Cobbins breaking up a pass and forcing a punt) “Leaders make plays. Lyron’s a leader and leaders make plays.”
Texas kicker Phil Dawson:
(On the game) “This is my first time being on the other end (last-second loss). You’ve got to give them credit for being in position to make the kick. Losing is never any fun. Nobody’s feeling too good right now, but when Monday rolls around, we’ve got to be positive and get ready for a good Virginia team.”
Texas fullback Ricky Williams:
(On a positive note) “I think there is one, but we don’t really see it right now. We should have taken advantage of our momentum when we had it.”
Texas flanker Mike Adams:
(On the game) “It is hard for me to talk right now because I just feel a little empty. It scarred my emotions. I don’t feel like crying, I don’t feel like anything. We just lost and it is hard to come to grips with that.
“We gave the game away. We handed it to them, I don’t think they beat us. The season is not over, but it is real hard to put this game behind us.”
Texas tight end Pat Fitzgerald:
(On the interception) “We didn’t execute the play properly and that was a factor in the game. I knew I was covered, so I just tried to do everything I could to prevent an interception. It was the toughest loss I’ve ever been associated with at Texas.”
Texas defensive back Bryant Westbrook:
(On the loss) “It hurt me bad because we could have won. The offense played their hearts out and the defense did too. In the fourth quarter we were making them punt.
“We stood our ground, but they just made the plays. I don’t think a lot of people thought we could play them that well.
“They probably thought they were going to blow us out. But we showed everybody that we have a good team here at Texas.”
Texas quarterback James Brown:
(On the interception) “I was trying to get the ball to Pat. I guess I forced it. That play was messed up at the start. We were in the wrong formation. When I think about it now, I probably should have called time out.”
(On the Irish) “Notre Dame just flat out beat us. It was a great game until we made some mistakes down the stretch. They proved they are a better team than we are. We’re a good team too, though, and we’ll bounce back from this. We’ll be okay.”