Post by Kasey on Aug 20, 2014 18:27:21 GMT -8
Making the playoffs, beating the L.A. KISS at home, improving over the course and looking at next season are all running themes as in the exit interviews of Portland Thunder head coach Matthews Sauk and the team's players.
This week the videos were posted on the Thunder's youtube page.
Here are some of the excerpts from the interviews:
Coach Matthew Sauk: "The highlight of the season was probably, obviously, getting into the playoffs. Just getting into the playoffs was huge. Our record wasn't great, but we did what we needed to do to get into the playoffs. I think we proved to everyone in that first round against Arizona; we proved to everyone that we belonged just how tough we played. We had a chance to win. Without a doubt, the low point ans high point was the playoffs for me."
Defensive Back Eric Crocker: "The high point was probably beating Los Angeles out here in the "Red Out." That was pretty big for our owner and everything. These guys from the L.A. KISS had a concert where they were talking trash, talking about how they beat us. I think it was up in Seattle ... it was somewhere near here and they were talking trash about how they beat us a couple of times. So the high point was definitely beating L.A."
Defensive Lineman Antron Dillon: "The season was a group of ups and downs overall. All in all, I think we ended on a positive note from where we began to where we are now. It's night and day, so the only thing you can do is say 'the sky's the limit.'"
Wide Receiver Douglas McNeil III: "The 2014 season has been just a ball of emotions. First, we were a new franchise, so a lot of us didn't really know what we were getting into. My, myself being a rookie, we just kind of wanted to make sure we got all the information and grasp the concept of being in the arena and how to play it. Once we got that, we competed at a really high level. I'm really proud of how we progressed and played through the season, even in the adversity. We fell short this year, but I felt like as the season grew on, we became stronger and stronger, and bonded as a team and a family.I'm excited about what we did this year, but even more excited for the years to come."
McNeil added this about his goal for next season: "I will be the best player in arena football, and that's no question."
Mack Linebacker Brandon Tett: " The high point for me was going to the playoffs. That playoff game was crazy. I mean, just being there and realizing we had played so many games; so many close games; and some games that weren't as close as others, but we just fought the whole year. I felt like we fought every single game. We had a chance when we made it to the playoffs and the game came down to the last, I think 15-20 seconds."
Defensive Back Dwight McLean: "After just now coming back and losing our first playoff game, it kind of hurts because we lost with seconds left in the game. But overall, I feel good about the season. It being our first season, and making the playoffs, we came along way from the start to now, so I can't be too upset about how we finished the season."
Quarterback Kyle Rowley: "One high point was beating Jacksonville. That's where I came from. It was a big game, and actually that was big for the franchise because it ended up being our first win as a franchise."
Rowley went on to talk about the off season and next year: "The goal for nest year; number one is always to win an ArenaBowl. I think everyone kind of sees we have the building blocks -- some of the building blocks in place -- to get that done. We didn't get that done (this year), so we can get better. I want to talk to the coaches about how we plan on doing that and what's expected of me in order to make that leap. That's it really. I'm pretty focused on that.
Check out all the interviews here:
Access all the Thunder players' exit interviews here.
This week the videos were posted on the Thunder's youtube page.
Here are some of the excerpts from the interviews:
Coach Matthew Sauk: "The highlight of the season was probably, obviously, getting into the playoffs. Just getting into the playoffs was huge. Our record wasn't great, but we did what we needed to do to get into the playoffs. I think we proved to everyone in that first round against Arizona; we proved to everyone that we belonged just how tough we played. We had a chance to win. Without a doubt, the low point ans high point was the playoffs for me."
Defensive Back Eric Crocker: "The high point was probably beating Los Angeles out here in the "Red Out." That was pretty big for our owner and everything. These guys from the L.A. KISS had a concert where they were talking trash, talking about how they beat us. I think it was up in Seattle ... it was somewhere near here and they were talking trash about how they beat us a couple of times. So the high point was definitely beating L.A."
Defensive Lineman Antron Dillon: "The season was a group of ups and downs overall. All in all, I think we ended on a positive note from where we began to where we are now. It's night and day, so the only thing you can do is say 'the sky's the limit.'"
Wide Receiver Douglas McNeil III: "The 2014 season has been just a ball of emotions. First, we were a new franchise, so a lot of us didn't really know what we were getting into. My, myself being a rookie, we just kind of wanted to make sure we got all the information and grasp the concept of being in the arena and how to play it. Once we got that, we competed at a really high level. I'm really proud of how we progressed and played through the season, even in the adversity. We fell short this year, but I felt like as the season grew on, we became stronger and stronger, and bonded as a team and a family.I'm excited about what we did this year, but even more excited for the years to come."
McNeil added this about his goal for next season: "I will be the best player in arena football, and that's no question."
Mack Linebacker Brandon Tett: " The high point for me was going to the playoffs. That playoff game was crazy. I mean, just being there and realizing we had played so many games; so many close games; and some games that weren't as close as others, but we just fought the whole year. I felt like we fought every single game. We had a chance when we made it to the playoffs and the game came down to the last, I think 15-20 seconds."
Defensive Back Dwight McLean: "After just now coming back and losing our first playoff game, it kind of hurts because we lost with seconds left in the game. But overall, I feel good about the season. It being our first season, and making the playoffs, we came along way from the start to now, so I can't be too upset about how we finished the season."
Quarterback Kyle Rowley: "One high point was beating Jacksonville. That's where I came from. It was a big game, and actually that was big for the franchise because it ended up being our first win as a franchise."
Rowley went on to talk about the off season and next year: "The goal for nest year; number one is always to win an ArenaBowl. I think everyone kind of sees we have the building blocks -- some of the building blocks in place -- to get that done. We didn't get that done (this year), so we can get better. I want to talk to the coaches about how we plan on doing that and what's expected of me in order to make that leap. That's it really. I'm pretty focused on that.
Check out all the interviews here:
Access all the Thunder players' exit interviews here.