University of Georgia Athletics
Post-game Quotes
June 09, 2008 | General
2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships
Athens Super Regional
June 8, 2008
Game Three: Georgia 17, N.C. State 8
Georgia Head Coach David Perno
Opening Statement
“Today was an emotional day from the standpoint of win or lose it would be the last day for a lot of really talented players playing for the last time here at Foley.”
On the team winning again after facing elimination
“We answered the bell. Last week we were in the same situation and won four games. I was anxious today and just waiting to play. It shows the confidence and the focus of our team. They showed me early on that we were going to be tough to beat.”
On going to Omaha 3 of last 5 years
“We are in a special place. This team has been around and been through it all. Look at last season when we were 23-33 and we come back and are SEC Champions and going back to Omaha. We have great kids here and they are champions. We have great leadership and we just showed that we were not going to be denied.”
On his teams struggles in the odd years
“It’s a combination of certain players leaving but look at the schedule we play. Having young players going against those tough teams sometimes has them lose confidence after they get beat up a little bit. But you come back and it works when you have the right guys because they are ready for the postseason and all the tough games and teams you’ll face.”
Georgia Senior Pitcher, #12 Nick Montgomery
On pitching with a large lead
“It allowed me to throw more strikes. It was nice pitching with such a large lead because you know you have a great defense behind you. The defense played great today. I just had to throw strikes and let them make plays behind me.”
Georgia Junior Catcher, #29 Bryce Massanari
On the team responding from Lyle Allen being hit by the pitched
“We wanted them to be sorry for Lyle getting hit. It woke up the sleeping dogs. After that we just wanted to pour it on and bury them.”
Georgia Junior Shortstop, #6 Gordon Beckham
Opening Statement
“It was an unbelievable team effort. We rallied after losing yesterday and we just came out today and were not going to be denied. It was special and just shows a lot about our team.”
On the team playing a tough schedule
“We play as tough of a schedule as we do to be ready for the postseason. It builds character and lets us learn how to not give up. It built confidence and look at where we are now.”
On this team
“We have great guys. We are as close as any team in the country in the dugout and I know that for sure. We have the right players. Some of it is luck. Some of it is hard work. This year it was a lot of hard work and it worked out.”
N.C. State Head Coach Elliott Avent
Opening Statement
“I just want to congratulate Georgia. They have a tremendous staff and players and it is great that they are reaching their final destination in Omaha. I want to congratulate our staff and players too. We have some great seniors and we had a great year.”
On the first inning pitching struggles
“Surkamp is a sixth round pick and has pitched some big games and had some big performances. Today was just not his day. He couldn’t find the strike zone and they punished the pitches that did.”
On Georgia making it to Omaha 3 out of the last 5 years
“That’s just incredible. They have a great university here to sell and a great town. This was my first time ever here in Athens and this is just a great college town. They have great fans here, they are a little unusual, but they get great support.”
N.C. State Junior First Baseman, #32 Pat Ferguson
On their first inning struggle
“He (Surkamp) wasn’t getting ahead with his pitches. Good hitters do damage when they get pitches to hit and they did. Our mindset once we got back into the dugout was to come back and start chipping away at their lead, and we did that briefly. We got the momentum back there after those two home runs but they came back and got three more runs themselves.”
On Nick Montgomery’s performance
“He pitched pretty good and he has obviously been pitching well lately. He got ahead with his pitches, which he was able to do with a nine run lead, so we were able to see some pitches. He went right at us, did nothing special, but just threw a lot of first pitch strikes.”
N.C. State Junior Junior Leftfielder, #11 Jeremy Synan
Opening Statement
“We had a great year. I wish Georgia all the best. I honestly haven’t felt this way in a long time.”
On Gordon Beckham
“Obviously he is a great player. He is good offensively and defensively. The crowd loves him here and he is just a great player.”
Athens Super Regional
June 8, 2008
Game Three: Georgia 17, N.C. State 8
Georgia Head Coach David Perno
Opening Statement
“Today was an emotional day from the standpoint of win or lose it would be the last day for a lot of really talented players playing for the last time here at Foley.”
On the team winning again after facing elimination
“We answered the bell. Last week we were in the same situation and won four games. I was anxious today and just waiting to play. It shows the confidence and the focus of our team. They showed me early on that we were going to be tough to beat.”
On going to Omaha 3 of last 5 years
“We are in a special place. This team has been around and been through it all. Look at last season when we were 23-33 and we come back and are SEC Champions and going back to Omaha. We have great kids here and they are champions. We have great leadership and we just showed that we were not going to be denied.”
On his teams struggles in the odd years
“It’s a combination of certain players leaving but look at the schedule we play. Having young players going against those tough teams sometimes has them lose confidence after they get beat up a little bit. But you come back and it works when you have the right guys because they are ready for the postseason and all the tough games and teams you’ll face.”
Georgia Senior Pitcher, #12 Nick Montgomery
On pitching with a large lead
“It allowed me to throw more strikes. It was nice pitching with such a large lead because you know you have a great defense behind you. The defense played great today. I just had to throw strikes and let them make plays behind me.”
Georgia Junior Catcher, #29 Bryce Massanari
On the team responding from Lyle Allen being hit by the pitched
“We wanted them to be sorry for Lyle getting hit. It woke up the sleeping dogs. After that we just wanted to pour it on and bury them.”
Georgia Junior Shortstop, #6 Gordon Beckham
Opening Statement
“It was an unbelievable team effort. We rallied after losing yesterday and we just came out today and were not going to be denied. It was special and just shows a lot about our team.”
On the team playing a tough schedule
“We play as tough of a schedule as we do to be ready for the postseason. It builds character and lets us learn how to not give up. It built confidence and look at where we are now.”
On this team
“We have great guys. We are as close as any team in the country in the dugout and I know that for sure. We have the right players. Some of it is luck. Some of it is hard work. This year it was a lot of hard work and it worked out.”
N.C. State Head Coach Elliott Avent
Opening Statement
“I just want to congratulate Georgia. They have a tremendous staff and players and it is great that they are reaching their final destination in Omaha. I want to congratulate our staff and players too. We have some great seniors and we had a great year.”
On the first inning pitching struggles
“Surkamp is a sixth round pick and has pitched some big games and had some big performances. Today was just not his day. He couldn’t find the strike zone and they punished the pitches that did.”
On Georgia making it to Omaha 3 out of the last 5 years
“That’s just incredible. They have a great university here to sell and a great town. This was my first time ever here in Athens and this is just a great college town. They have great fans here, they are a little unusual, but they get great support.”
N.C. State Junior First Baseman, #32 Pat Ferguson
On their first inning struggle
“He (Surkamp) wasn’t getting ahead with his pitches. Good hitters do damage when they get pitches to hit and they did. Our mindset once we got back into the dugout was to come back and start chipping away at their lead, and we did that briefly. We got the momentum back there after those two home runs but they came back and got three more runs themselves.”
On Nick Montgomery’s performance
“He pitched pretty good and he has obviously been pitching well lately. He got ahead with his pitches, which he was able to do with a nine run lead, so we were able to see some pitches. He went right at us, did nothing special, but just threw a lot of first pitch strikes.”
N.C. State Junior Junior Leftfielder, #11 Jeremy Synan
Opening Statement
“We had a great year. I wish Georgia all the best. I honestly haven’t felt this way in a long time.”
On Gordon Beckham
“Obviously he is a great player. He is good offensively and defensively. The crowd loves him here and he is just a great player.”
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