Notable quotes from Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. following win over Oregon

Following No. 7 Washington’s win over No. 8 Oregon in Seattle on Saturday, UW coach Kalen DeBoer and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. met with reporters and discussed their team’s performance.

Here are a few of the more notable quotes from their respective press conferences.

Washington coach Kalen DeBoer

Opening Statement

“Man, what a game. First of all, tip of the cap to Oregon. They have an amazing football team and that was an amazing football game. If there’s one I’ve been a part of — bigger, better — I can’t think of it right now. This moment right now is something really special for our program. It embodies everything we’ve done over the last year and a half. Two years and we keep saying it; if it’s close, we’re gonna find a way to win. We’re built for this. We’re made for this. We’ve been through some things. We’ve learned from them — we take the lessons we’ve learned and apply them and you can see it.

These guys care so much, there’s nothing more special as a football coach than seeing these guys enjoying that moment we just had out there. They’re going to remember this forever. These games are huge. These are the ones they’re gonna talk about, reunions, and whatever happens the rest of the season. They’re gonna be talking about the 2022 game, the 2023 game. There was a question, ‘Did it feel like last year?’ It felt exactly like last year. I was thinking the exact same thing on the field, and that’s one of the things that kept me feeling like, ‘Keep fighting, keep fighting.’ Because those are the experiences we’ve been through together and I know how these guys are gonna respond. Our guys just kept fighting.”

Q: How different did the stadium feel today? From Gameday early this morning to the crowd
during the game?

Today was amazing. This is what I remember feeling when I coached here in 2017, but on the other end. I remember feeling like this was a special place, this is different. It was on another level. They continued to do it for four quarters. That takes a lot of energy; not just from us, but from the fans. Husky Nation showed out, starting this morning from 6 a.m. and actually even before that. What a day for our program — can’t say enough about our fans. We appreciate everything they gave to us today to help us get over the hump and get a dub.”

Q: You lose McMillan but then Giles comes in for his first game of the year and just plays the part. What can you say about him coming back and playing the role that he played?

“It was huge. There were a couple of times as a receiving core, we had different bodies going in and out. You saw us have to burn a timeout or two today. Just different personnel groups, what happens as you go through a season. Guys just get into a flow of who’s in on this group and where they line up. So we’ve got to clean that up a little bit. But just as far as Giles and what he did out there, it was huge. It played a big role especially early in the game. His energy, he’s just such a team player and our guys love him. It’s really special to see him come back and have the day he had today.

Q: (Michael Penix Jr.) keeps outdoing himself in these clutch situations, what’s going through your head as that happens?

“He was hunched over just trying to get a snap, and even some of the play calls might have been affected as far as the tempo and the rhythm. This is Michael. He’s just been through it for so many years, there’s no way you’re pulling him off the field in that moment. He’s out there in the fourth quarter, and we circle around him. It’s a lot of energy to go out there and really let it all out and talk to the whole team. And you know who’s in the middle? It’s Michael. The production, the talent, that’s one thing. But the heart that he’s got, the guts he’s got, and the willingness to grind through it. Grit. There are not enough words to describe how I feel about him, our whole team would echo that for sure.”

Huskies Quarterback Michael Penix Jr

Opening statement

“We’ve got a team full of dogs. Just guys that are going to compete all the way until the end and that’s what it’s all about. The whole time on the sideline, once we didn’t get that fourth down, we already knew, we were telling ourselves, ‘Hey we’re gonna get the ball back, were going to go down there and execute.’ I love when we come out with a win, and that’s what we were able to do.”

Q: That last touchdown, what did you see there?

“Yeah, it was man-on-man, my guy vs their guy. I’m going to take my guy every time. And Rome shows each and every day why he’s the top receiver in the nation. He knew that I was gonna trust him and I gave him that route and we made it happen. That’s stuff we do all the time at practice. Every game you see it. I trusted it and I made the play and he made the play.”

Q: To get that last chance how confident were you to get that other chance down there?

“I was always confident. I came into the game confident. I never lose that confidence. And that’s something that we’ve got throughout the team and something coach has instilled in us as well. Our preparation — we prepare at a high level and it allows us to go out there on game day and execute at a high level. I knew we would get the ball back, and once we did I knew I was going to go down there and make a play and that’s what we did.”

Q: Can you go over the great catch by (Ja’Lynn Polk) in the fourth quarter?

“You see it every week. JP makes those plays every week. He makes them every damn practice as well. He had two one-handed catches this week. He’s the guy that’s going to catch everything that I put in his vicinity. So he allows me to go out there and throw the ball up and put it in his area, and I know that one of my guys is going to come up and get it.”

Q: What did you say to the team in between those third and fourth quarters? What was your
message there?

“We just had to keep fighting. We felt like at times we were beating ourselves. We allowed the game to be closer than what we wanted it to, but at the end of the day, they are a good team and were a good team. It comes down to the wire most of the time, so we were ready to go out and attack each and every play. That was my message: Just not stopping and keeping our foot on the pedal. Go out there and get the win today and that’s what we were able to do.”

Q: With the Big 10 and Pac-12, can you compare the atmosphere to what you’ve seen in the
past?

Husky Stadium is the greatest in college football and the fans are amazing. They come out here to support each and every weekend. Today was electric, I’m not going to lie. It was very fun to be out there and see them all out on the field after the game, after that big-time win. It was a blessing, and I’m super excited.

Q: How was the field after the game?

“Whoever the security guard was, he did amazing. Sorry for some of the people who got shoved out of the way. It was a blessing. I was just excited. And as much as I did want to celebrate with the fans, it was very hectic out there, but in a good way. I’m just super blessed to be in the position I am in today here and I’m going to keep my head down and keep going.”