UVA quarterback Anthony Colandrea talks about his controversial helmet penalty and Virginia's 24-21 loss to NC State.
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00:00 off on that play, it looked like the Thunder kind of knocked it off.
00:04 >> Yeah, honestly, when I fell back, my helmet came up and it was already off, so
00:08 I kind of lifted it up, something I shouldn't have done.
00:11 So I should have just put my helmet back on.
00:13 >> That's just like an instinctive thing that happens.
00:17 >> Yeah, it was just loose and ended up just falling off, but
00:19 it should just never came off, so I put my helmet back on.
00:21 >> What was the design play on that two point conversion from the 18?
00:28 >> Yeah, so, well, we had a seam and a bend to read, but
00:33 you don't really have a lot of play calls to convert this.
00:37 So I ended up just stepping up and finding Malachi, I made a great play.
00:41 >> What was the message?
00:42 You dumped two interceptions earlier in the fourth quarter.
00:44 What was the message?
00:44 What was your mindset after that, knowing you still had a shot to go tie things up?
00:48 >> Just bounce back, just bounce back.
00:49 Against Maryland, as soon as I threw a pick, I just shut down.
00:52 I can't do that in this game, so I ended up just putting it under the seat and
00:55 then making a drive and go score.
00:57 >> How frustrating is it when you look at how close you guys are and
01:02 there's those couple mental errors?
01:03 >> Yeah, it's really frustrating, cuz little mistakes that we do.
01:07 If we don't do these little mistakes, we win this program, so it's tough.
01:10 It hurts, it does.
01:12 >> What can you guys do to take the next step?
01:13 >> I feel like take the next step, we just need to be disciplined.
01:18 We're a disciplined offense.
01:19 Not penalties that are gonna get us back on our two point conversion, but
01:24 I think this week we're gonna execute as best we can.
01:28 >> Talk about your ability to improvise.
01:31 Is that something that you've always been able to do?
01:34 >> Yes, sir. So growing up, just playing ball, making plays,
01:38 grabbing the pocket and making plays.
01:39 So that's something I've always done my whole life.
01:42 >> Had you met Brennan at all while you were being recruited, or
01:45 was that, were you here after that?
01:47 >> Yeah, I never met Brennan.
01:48 >> You never met Brennan.
01:49 Did you get to talk to him all pre and post game?
01:52 Was there any pressure to kind of match what he was doing tonight?
01:56 >> Not really, not really.
01:57 I just wanted to go out there and get the win.
01:58 >> How much work have you gotten under center in a short yardage situation?
02:03 >> I've gotten some.
02:07 I've gotten some in practice, but not a whole lot.
02:10 >> What would you say, I mean, in a fourth and one or fourth and inches,
02:13 would you be comfortable in your center, or would you prefer working out of the gun?
02:16 >> Whatever coach calls, I'm comfortable with him calling.
02:19 >> And what did you think about those fourth down decisions?
02:21 There was one at midfield early, and then the one to kick the field goal later.
02:25 What was your take as the guy running the offense?
02:28 >> Yeah, well, of course you wanna go for it, but
02:31 coach thought it was best for us to kick the ball, so that's what we did.
02:34 >> Seems like you and Malik have established a pretty good chemistry
02:37 through three games.
02:38 You had that one double pump to him on the wide receiver screen.
02:42 Can you take us through that play and just the connection you had with him?
02:45 >> Yeah, Malik's one of my best friends.
02:47 I love Malik.
02:48 So on that play, actually, we knew the look we were gonna get from watching film,
02:54 and we knew eight was always gonna jump on out routes.
02:56 So as soon as he got behind him, I just gave him the ball to catch.
03:00 >> What have you learned from him?
03:02 He's an older veteran guy.
03:03 What have you learned from Malik?
03:06 >> From Malik, a lot, a lot.
03:07 He's played a lot of college football.
03:09 He tells me a lot about defenses, so it's a real blessing to have him on this team.
03:12 >> I'm sure you did this already, but what happened on the penalty with the helmet?
03:16 >> Yeah, so I ended up falling back and my chin strap was up.
03:20 And I just pushed my helmet up.
03:23 Can't do that, no mistake, cannot do that.
03:25 I gotta put my helmet back on.
03:26 >> How frustrating is it to have not just that one, but
03:28 those penalties at the end, kind of a race, what was an amazing comeback?
03:32 >> Yeah, it's real frustrating.
03:34 It hurts, it hurts, cuz you know how hard this team works, and
03:37 we wanna get a win, so it hurts.
03:40 >> The team's still staying together, sticking together.
03:42 You get to play a lot of young guys, and you're still banded together.
03:45 >> Yeah, I feel like we are.
03:46 This is gonna make us even closer, so yeah.
03:50 >> How much have you leaned on Tony Muscat too?
03:52 Cuz I think you guys are pretty close on the quarterback ground.
03:55 >> Tony's one of my best friends also.
03:57 He gives me so much help, so much help.
04:00 It's a blessing to have Tony in the room.
04:02 >> What is his message for you when you came back to the sideline?
04:07 >> Bounce back, bounce back.
04:09 He said he threw picks too, and he was at Mountain, so
04:13 >> So we bounce back out, put them on the suit.
04:14 >> Guys that can all make plays.