Completed Event: Football at Montana on December 6, 2025 , Loss , 29, to, 50
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FINAL
Football
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at Montana
50
South Dakota State University Athletics
Quotes: SDSU vs. UNI, 10-24-09
10/24/2009 9:45:00 PM | Football
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE TIGHT END COLIN COCHART
Discussing his touchdown catch:
"The short yardage run just wasn't working. Our offensive line was getting a push. I am just doing my 1/11th of the game. I just did what I could and we went to the pass. It was pretty much thrown up for grabs.
On the team's inability to finish early drives:
"Field goals are really never the thing that you want to resort to, but it's points. We were getting fired up to get in the end zone and celebrate. We will take the three points when we can get it."
Discussing the Hobo Day victory:
"It was a huge game. I have never been more pumped up for a game. You could just tell through the whole team the camaradier we had. It was like a huge force, nothing that I had felt before. Now that its over, we all feel pretty good."
"The coaches were always getting on us about making sure we are making the right reads and getting positive yardage plays. It all comes down to our scout team in practice. They give us looks and they are pretty much the reason we are having the success that we are having."
On quarterback Thomas O'Brien's play:
"He gets fired up in the huddle. He'll calm us down when we need to be calm. He came up big. He'll be vocal when we need to and pump us up. He has taken the role of quarterback over pretty well."
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE DEFENSIVE END DANNY BATTEN:
"It's probably the biggest win I have been a part of since I have been here.I say that because we really respect that team because they are dominant every year. We never get respect as a football team -- never have. That's our main goal, get respect by beating team and we are doing it this year. We have got to keep it moving because there are more good teams ahead. It feels good to finally get a win against these guys."
"There is something special about this group of guys. We are so close, all the seniors, the whole team really. There are really no outcasts on our team. We have just been bonding and learning to play together. Somebody goes down, somebody steps up. We have worked so hard together for so long that we have finally put it together. We are just clicking now."
Our D-line coach told us all week that it's not our D-Line versus their O-Line, it's our D-Line versus their D-Line. The whole defense adapted that philosophy this week. We knew that they would have a great defense and they are the standard. Everyone is getting compared to UNI's defensive line. It's time for us to be that standard. Don't get me wrong, they are still a phenomenal defensive line and all-around great football team, but we are sick of being the underdogs. I speak for the entire team. We want respect in this conference at whatever cost."
On the team recording the most wins in a decade:
"It does mean something to us. Going through the transition and adversity, we can rise, win and bond together as a team. There really weren't any standout performances tonight. As a unit, as a team, offensive, defense, we played well. We did what we needed to do to win. There wasn't one guy that won this game for us. That's how it has always been, especially this year."
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE QUARTERBACK THOMAS O'BRIEN
On the team's final scoring drive:
"That's all we talk about is finishing drives. I don't know how many third downs we had, but we kept it moving. The O-Line was great throughout the whole game, especially that drive. I am as clean as a whistle right now. I didn't get hit one time."
Best game that you have had?
"I am just happy that we won. I am going to look back on film and beat myself up for a lot of stuff. I really did not play extraordinary by any means this game. Fortunately, our line played great and we made a lot of big plays. I am not too excited about my performance."
Discussing the team's quarterback situation:
"I don't know what is in store. Whatever happens, happens. It would be awesome to see Ryan (Crawford) come back. It's really tough to see him just before the game knowing what he is going through. He is one of my best friends. If I have to go, I'll be ready just like every week."
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE OFFENSIVE TACKLE CASEY KNIPS
"There were a few drives were we left points on the board and that could have been huge. We could have been up by more than 10 points at the end. We just keep pushing through and I think that the O-line didn't do too bad."
On being matched up against All-America defensive end James Ruffin:
"He's a really good player. I tried my best our there and didn't give up a sack so that made me pretty happy. A few plays he got me on, but overall I didn't do too bad against him."
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE HEAD COACH JOHN STIEGELMEIER
"I say the same thing every week -- I am tremendously proud of our football program. I told them in the locker room that I thank God for them because they are such a special group of young men. They give credit to other people all the time and they deserve the credit."
On the importance of the win:
"That's up for other people to decide ; people that watch FCS football and pay attention to the growth and change in programs across the nation. In the locker room, we were 1-0 this week. When you start thinking that you are special, that's we you fall and our guys don't do that. Our guys go back to work, whether it is first quarter, second quarter or the next game, they go back to work."
Discussing the team's failure to finish drives early:
"I was disappointed. I wasn't nervous. I thought that our defense was playing really well and they have played really well. When you play good defense, I think you feel that you always have a chance to win a football game. We have talked about that; finishing the deal. The one that really hurt was when we were down there and we fumbled the football. That's just Kyle (Minett) trying to do more than he needs to do. Get one, two yards, whatever it is, but don't try to get 10 when you only need three. He's a winner and he came back to play pretty well later on."
On the play of Thomas O'Brien:
"I believe in our players -- second string, third string. Thomas is a very talented young man. He believes in himself, which is tremendously important and his coaches are important. He found us a way to win a football game."
Does O'Brien play like a freshman?
"No he doesn't. When come in here we tell them 'get ready', and he got ready. The guy in this equation is Ryan Crawford when we talk about Thomas O'Brien. He's a young man that hurts, but cheers us on the field -- a tremendous picture of the South Dakota State football family."
Discussing the last touchdown drive:
"That was a pretty catch by Colin (Cochart). Sometimes in the chess game of football, you guess right and execute and we did. Kyle got down there and a great play by Colin Cochart, great play. An example of a young man that just keeps hoping that we throw him the ball and we threw it to him a couple of times and we got some points."
Closing comments:
"I think the important thing is our support from our administration and the guys that are in our locker room. Unless you come into the locker room, you don't understand the heartbeat of the football program. There are a ton of football alums out there and this we was their win also. The program has been built by young men that believed in the transition and stuck to it. We are reaping the benefits from hard work and belief. We are not where we want to be, but Thomas (O'Brien) said it. Here's a young man that just won a huge game and he understands by looking at film that he can play better. That is a pretty special quality."
Players Mentioned
Dan Jackson Postgame Comments at Montana (12.06.2025)
Saturday, December 06
Football Highlights at Montana (12.06.2025)
Saturday, December 06
Gameday Eve - Montana (12.05.2025)
Thursday, December 04
Dan Jackson Weekly Press Conference (12.02.2025)
Tuesday, December 02