Post-win Interview with Brent Key
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00:00 [LAUGH]
00:08 >> Hell of a night.
00:09 That was awesome.
00:11 Proud of these kids, proud of this team, the coaching staff,
00:14 proud of everybody, administration.
00:17 Everyone, this has been a long time coming.
00:19 These kids worked to get it, to get to this point,
00:23 to be able to reap the reward for getting the six wins in the season.
00:29 Good thing that season's not over.
00:31 So, we had some ups and downs in the game.
00:37 First off, I wanna say credit to Dino Babers and
00:40 the job he's done up there and what he's been able to do.
00:43 And when you look at a coach and you judge a football coach, and
00:47 I don't know if I should say this or not, but when you judge a football coach,
00:51 you judge how their team plays when adversity hits.
00:53 And do they play for four quarters?
00:55 And that football team there, if they play for four quarters,
00:59 they don't have any quarterbacks.
01:00 They've lost their quarterbacks and they were able to still find a way to still
01:03 come out and compete, all right, for two, really three straight weeks.
01:07 So credit to the job they did as staff and he's a hell of a football coach.
01:11 So we had some ups and downs in the game, some swings in the game.
01:17 But I thought our guys really stayed true to what they were trying to do and
01:20 stayed true to the plan.
01:21 We didn't try to reinvent the wheel at times on either side.
01:25 And we were able to come up with some key plays.
01:27 Defensively, I thought we started off really well.
01:30 Biggest thing I was pleased to see tonight was our defense.
01:32 There were four, five, six people on the ball here.
01:39 We really simplified things in this game.
01:41 We ran some simplified things within the plan.
01:46 Allowed the big guys up front to be able to do what they do.
01:48 And I thought Jaylen King, we put him in a position to be kind of
01:55 a rover type guy on the back end and be having the ball.
01:57 And so a good plan put together by the defensive guys and
02:02 be able to do that and came up with some key turnovers, key times.
02:06 Those new momentum shift coming out at halftime to get the fumble recovery and
02:11 then be able to score quickly there.
02:13 And then they were keeping the ball.
02:19 And a couple times we needed to get off the field.
02:21 And we needed to sustain on offense.
02:23 But then to see us get the ball back at the end of the game,
02:25 be able to go down and do what we did.
02:26 And get some first downs and take the ball down and take the clock down there.
02:30 And that was very pleasing to see.
02:32 So all in all, really excited for this team, excited for Georgia Tech.
02:38 Baddie, any questions?
02:39 >> Questions?
02:40 Sorry, here, Garrett.
02:41 >> Coach, as a former offensive lineman, you see your offense come out and
02:46 run the ball nine straight times outside of those two penalties.
02:49 What does that mean for you?
02:51 You're an offensive lineman at heart, so what does that mean for you?
02:54 >> At heart?
02:54 >> I had the coat on.
02:55 >> [LAUGH] >> What does that mean for you?
02:58 What does that say about your football team?
03:00 >> No, it says a lot about those guys.
03:03 That's what you wanna be able to do.
03:04 You talk about four minute offense and being able to end the game like that.
03:09 That's what you wanna do.
03:11 You wanna go to the lowest risk that there is for
03:16 the team to be able to get the ball back.
03:17 And that's to secure the football and be able to run and get positive plays.
03:21 So I was pleased to see that.
03:22 I thought it was really a culmination of 60 minutes in the game where they
03:26 continue to stay after those guys up front.
03:29 Some of the things early on that might have been a zero yard gain or
03:33 more of a two yard gain really started at the end of number four or five and
03:35 then eight, nine yard gains or later.
03:37 >> Go ahead.
03:40 >> How's it feel?
03:43 This has been something you haven't wanted to talk about, but
03:46 it's obviously a goal for you to get bowl eligible in your first year as a head coach,
03:50 your first four years as a head coach.
03:52 How does it feel as a Georgia Tech guy and as a coach?
03:58 >> What do you think I'm gonna say?
03:59 >> [LAUGH] >> Feels damn good, man.
04:02 It's awesome.
04:03 I mean, I'm so happy for those kids.
04:05 I'm so happy for the staff, for Georgia Tech.
04:07 It's what we belong in bowl games.
04:10 That's where we belong.
04:12 That's the expectation that should be at this place every single day.
04:16 >> Thanks.
04:19 >> Go right there.
04:19 >> Just to piggyback off that, you were hugging a lot of people after the game.
04:28 Clearly meant a lot to you and to the players.
04:31 You mentioned on Tuesday that you brought this up with the team on Sunday, but
04:35 to now actually get to that point, what does it mean to the program,
04:39 to be there again, to back in a bowl game?
04:42 I know you still have a game left to play, but you know you're going bowl.
04:45 >> Yeah, it does.
04:46 It means it's extra.
04:48 Yeah, the bowl games are great.
04:51 It's an extension of your season.
04:52 You'll play in the postseason, but it's also an extension of practice time.
04:57 It's an extension of development of players.
04:58 It's an extension to continue to get better as a program, individually and
05:02 collectively in offense, defense, and special teams.
05:05 We've gotta continue to improve, and now we've got more of an opportunity to do
05:08 that.
05:09 >> John?
05:12 >> How about the do it all night with Coach O'Leary here,
05:14 but wouldn't make it that much more?
05:16 >> I didn't even know he was here until I- >> Yes.
05:18 >> [LAUGH] >> I turned my hat around, so
05:22 that was, I mean, to have Coach O'Leary here, to have 40 something of
05:28 my former teammates and coaches, that was awesome.
05:33 Go out there and do the interview with the network, and
05:38 a lot of those guys were still out in the stands waiting behind there.
05:41 A lot of memories, and we're talking about the 98 team that was here, and
05:46 success that we had as a football team.
05:48 But success doesn't come unless you had failures, and
05:53 you learn from those failures, you learn from those when you stumble.
05:56 And the prior year, we'd made a first bowl game in a long time, right?
06:01 And it was the Car Quest Bowl in 1997, and that's what I equate this to now.
06:07 That was a huge stepping stone for us as a program, right?
06:11 Now, I don't know if I'm even allowed to do the type of bowl practices that we did
06:15 back then.
06:15 >> [LAUGH] >> I was reminded yesterday of red team and
06:19 green team, right?
06:20 They had to stay out afterwards.
06:22 We did two a days, guys.
06:23 We did a full week of two a days, seven days, two practices a day,
06:29 two hours of practice.
06:30 Then went to the bowl site, right, and practiced the same way.
06:34 We didn't do two a days.
06:35 They wouldn't let us do the bowl activities, thank goodness.
06:39 But it was really cool to have coach here.
06:42 I don't know where he's at.
06:44 John, coach, but
06:49 I can't see anything right now.
06:56 But it was cool to see those guys and see those players.
06:59 >> Rob.
07:02 >> You and the players talked a lot during the year about you have a bad play,
07:06 put it behind you, and keep moving forward.
07:08 There was some good examples of that tonight.
07:11 I mean, Haynes struggled a little.
07:14 >> In what ways?
07:15 >> At an intersection.
07:18 >> Right, a lot of people struggle out there.
07:20 >> Yeah.
07:21 >> You can name all of them now.
07:23 >> Yeah, and then he comes back and throws a 53 yard touchdown pass.
07:29 He takes it by himself and makes some big runs.
07:32 >> Put the ball in his hand and ran, he got some key first downs.
07:34 >> Yeah, yeah.
07:35 >> I need to help a job tonight.
07:37 >> Yeah, and then of course the offensive line, you weren't getting the yards you
07:42 wanted on the first or second down, and then they come out on that last drive and
07:46 take care of business.
07:48 >> Yeah, we rushed for what, 220 tonight?
07:50 How much stats got anything?
07:51 Did we rush for 220?
07:53 >> Yeah. >> 400 yards total offense,
07:54 31 points, it took me on the one yard line.
07:57 I needed to help a job.
07:58 [BLANK_AUDIO]
08:03 >> Coach Key, speaking of working back off there, as Jamal Haynes,
08:06 as I heard a few minutes ago, made a big point to say how he boosted his confidence
08:10 when you reassured him after he had some characteristic, you found him.
08:13 Is that just about him, or is that your general philosophy at work?
08:17 >> It depends.
08:18 It's by the individual, it's by the mistake that happened.
08:21 Look, I knew we were gonna need Jamal later in the game.
08:24 I knew we were gonna need the ability to run the football.
08:26 I knew between him and Dante, Haynes,
08:28 those guys that were able to put the ball in their hand there at the end.
08:32 So to dwell on a mistake like that was a big point.
08:35 Yeah, I mean, that's not characteristic of him, right?
08:39 You'll have to look at it closely and see exactly why and how it happened, and
08:42 make sure it doesn't happen again, right?
08:44 But he was raging mad, and you can't let that carry over to the next play,
08:50 not in the game.
08:51 That's what tomorrow's for, is to make corrections and adjustments.
08:54 >> Okay.
08:54 >> This has been an interesting season for you, a lot of ups and downs.
09:02 Can ask you to reflect on where the team has come from in the beginning,
09:06 where you think it's now.
09:07 >> Ask me after the bowl game?
09:09 We got a game next week.
09:10 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:12 Time for a couple more.
09:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:17 >> Coach, how would you describe the emotions immediately after the game,
09:20 getting to celebrate the win with the students and the team on the field?
09:25 Just that moment of joy and achieving the goal.
09:29 >> Yeah, that moment of joy is for winning the game.
09:32 Yeah, I'm excited, I'm super excited to be able to go to the bowl game.
09:35 I mean, I celebrate like that every time we win a game.
09:37 I mean, you win a game, I've said it before,
09:40 50% of the teams every Saturday lose, man.
09:43 All right, so winning's hard, it's hard to win, right?
09:49 And I'm gonna enjoy the heck out of it, man.
09:52 I'm gonna enjoy it.
09:53 I'm gonna enjoy the people that came here to celebrate and celebrate with them.
09:56 The fans have stayed, the student section has stayed.
09:58 Heck yeah, I'm gonna enjoy it.
10:01 I don't care who we beat or what the outcome is, all right?
10:05 I'm gonna enjoy winning.
10:06 >> Back over here.
10:07 >> How did you feel on the sideline looking at the character of
10:12 the North Lawrence Ute team coming back, avoiding frustration penalties,
10:17 and kind of staying strong, you kind of got to be a fit for it?
10:20 >> How did I feel?
10:21 >> Or what did that feel like as a coach, as a leader of the locker room?
10:26 As, I don't know how to answer it.
10:29 >> [LAUGH] >> Awesome?
10:30 >> [LAUGH] >> Good?
10:33 >> Not that I'm sorry.
10:34 >> No, no, no, you're fine, you're fine.
10:35 It feels, it feels, that's what you expect.
10:39 >> I think it's a very cultured kind of question.
10:41 >> No, no, it's.
10:43 >> How's he asking about the linebackers?
10:48 They've been maligned a times this season, and it's not been easy for them.
10:52 New group, new coach, and I thought Kyle Eford had a tremendous game.
10:57 Paul, Braylon, Oliver, even Tatum, all made plays for you tonight.
11:00 >> Truly made a huge play.
11:02 >> Yeah, and Eford had two basically forced turnovers.
11:06 Turnover and down, this play, and then the interception.
11:08 >> He's been playing solid ball this year, he's getting better each week.
11:12 All those guys, they were key.
11:16 We played really old school stack fits and kept those guys in the box.
11:22 So they wanted a lot of displacement of the window dressing and
11:25 jet motion they had within their offense.
11:29 And we were able to keep those guys in the box and
11:31 have them play downhill and that's what we needed to do.
11:34 >> Okay, Jeff, you're up.
11:36 >> Since you brought up having one more game to play.
11:39 >> [LAUGH] >> Any early thoughts on working?
11:42 >> What, no more?
11:45 >> Yeah.
11:46 >> No.
11:47 >> Not at all.
11:48 >> Not even a little?
11:49 >> I don't do that.
11:51 >> Well, without having to see you fail.
11:55 >> [LAUGH]
12:00 >> Talk about it on Tuesday.
12:01 >> Okay.
12:02 >> [LAUGH]