OHIO HEAD COACH TIM ALBIN
 
Opening statement:
"I'm proud of the kids, they continue to fight and they continue to grow as a team, they gave unbelievable effort. I told the coaching staff pregame how proud I was after the Kent State game. Week 9 or 10 we had some bumps and bruises. The training staff did a great job of getting guys back, we were actually scheduled to practice earlier in the week and couldn't because we were so beat up, we pushed things back and changed the schedule. The kids came to work and gave outstanding effort. Defensively, we stopped them on fourth downs and got the lead. Chuck Martin teams, they're going to come back and they did. We made it more interesting than it should have been. I'm happy for our fanbase, they are very passionate. We had a great turnout tonight for a weekday game, 7:30 on a school night. It's a great fanbase and I'm happy for everyone."
 
On the postgame celebration:
"Someone had said something about where our record is and what's left to play for and to have a rivalry game come up at this time, did that have anything to do with anything? I don't think so. I really believe in this football team; they've come to work and they've been professional about it. They take our coaching and they keep battling. I told them yesterday in practice 'if you guys keep investing in each other, this culture and this team, it's something you're going to be rewarded for."
 
On the defensive performance:
"They played lights out. That's how we could get the lead against a very good defensive football team. I think getting Kylen McCracken back, he did not play against Kent, getting Justin Birchette back, that probably has to do with it just as much as scheme."
 
On the last five minutes of the game:
"In real time it's the flow of it. I did take a look at the clock and the numbers kind of stayed the same for a while, but it was a normal game. The staff did a good job but De'Montre (Tuggle) should've gone down, that's definitely on me. We practiced it, I was talking with the next play call, I thought the play before De'Montre should've had a chance to pop through there. I was surprised when they went for two when they did, that gave us a lead in a two-score game. That's why you saw us throw the pass, because it was a two-score game and that was the right call."
 
On avoiding a comeback from Miami:
"I really don't have an answer for you, you know, Miami just has a lot of pride. Coach Martin has done a great job, I've known him for many years. So you just know they're going to come back. So back to our end of it, I thought Coach Rudolph did a fabulous job getting us to 28."
 
On hurting Miami's postseason chances:
"This rivalry is great for our conference and great for college football. It's respectful, and just like Nebraska and Oklahoma, the staff got along, they used to get together the night before the game. The Battle of the Bricks, it's what college football is all about. We just want to win the game and the score is the score, but we take some excitement away from them. They still control their own destiny I think in the league, but the last three contests have been barn burners. I think you got two proud programs in our conference and next year is going to be the same thing in Oxford."
 
On the development of quarterback Kurtis Rourke:
I'm proud of both of them (Rourke and Armani Rogers) because they've been through it all. Kurtis didn't play against Northwestern, he didn't play for two and a half games. He could have been a bad teammate, but he was a great teammate. Armani and Kurtis are great teammates when they're not playing because there's 11 players on the field and one ball. I'm proud of both of those guys for being great teammates and their play, both of them, when they are given opportunities they are coming in and being able to produce."
 
On moving forward after the win:
"1-0. We've got 22 or 23 hours on this one. Tomorrow is Wednesday, I had about 20 guys raise their hands with 8 o'clock class. They're going to be there early with their Bobcats gear on. And with their eyes up, shoulders back and we're going to build off of this. Our goal is to go 1-0. I've watched a little bit of Eastern Michigan, defensively they've got two really good defensive ends. It'll be a huge challenge, but this team is going to come to work and we're going to try to get to 1-0."
 
 
OHIO RUNNING BACK DE'MONTRE TUGGLE
 
When asked about a win against a rival like Miami:
"It's amazing. It's been a tough season, especially MAC play. It just felt good to win a close one and to do it against this team. It's a lot of our first time getting a mug. That was a great experience for us and doing it in the fashion we did was a nice touch."
 
When asked about breaking Miami's rushing yard margin against MAC opponents:
"We felt great. Big testament to the line and how far those guys have come in order to be in positions to make runs like that happen. Big shout out to those guys and Coach Rudolph for making sure those guys are in the right position for that and making those types of plays happen."
 
When asked about the points within last five minutes of the game:
"Being in a in a position we were in back in Buffalo, you kind of get those deja vu moments where you don't want it to happen again. The emphasis was on finishing. You saw Coach Albin bring us up at the beginning of the fourth quarter."
 
When asked about the touchdown when he got passed the original line of scrimmage: 
"Just getting caught up in the moment. I was trying put points on the board and win a close game. We've had a lot of tough breaks, so I was just trying to make sure that we finished.
 
When asked if they came into the game wanting to spoil it for somebody else:
"I would say we just wanted to beat them. Like I said earlier, a lot of guys on this team, either don't have a mug or probably have like one or so. That was a big thing. We really wanted to beat them. It's a rivalry game and it means a lot more means." 
 
 
OHIO QUARTERBACK KURTIS ROURKE
 
When asked about his confidence after today's game:
"It says a lot, obviously. I said last week that my confidence was continuing to build and grow. It also makes it easier for guys like him (Tuggle) to make plays as well in the run and the pass game. We're able to use all the weapons that we got on the offensive side and I'm glad I get the ball in their hands."
 
When asked about Cox's ability to get open and make plays:
"He's always been a playmaker and we always want to throw to him because of what he can do. He showed it tonight. He's great and he's crucial to our offense. He's going to be really important for the rest of season."
 
When asked about using 9 receivers today: 
"We have a really deep receiver room and deep running back room. We're able to use those guys when we need to. That's what I really like about what we've been doing, we can throw guys in there because they know what they're doing. They're confident in themselves and I'm confident in them and we have that chemistry."
 
When asked what they turned to when things got dicey in the 4^th quarter:
"We just continued to push and believe. Every time we scored, we wanted to treat it like it was 0-0. We wanted to make sure that we didn't get complacent like we've gotten in the past. We've been unlucky with some situations where we've lost close games, and we didn't want that to happen tonight. Every time we came on the sidelines, we just continue to push and keep the foot on the pedal."
 
When asked how it was to win in front of such a loud crowd:
"It was awesome. I'm big believer in home field advantage, and our fans have been great all season. It was cold at the end of the night, and they were out there. They were cheering and everything.  I appreciate everybody that was able to come out and stay out even with how the season has gone. They've been great."
 
 
OHIO DEFENSIVE BACK TARIQ DRAKE
 
When asked about the defense's ability to clamp down: 
"That's just us trying to play big in the moment and knowing that we need to make big plays especially on fourth down to get the offense ball back, reading keys, and doing your job. It's very important to know situations. You have to give credit to whoever made those plays on those first downs because they did a very good job."
 
When asked about limiting Gavin's (Miami QB) passing plays:
"He's a good player and he had a good game. All that we can really do is watch the film, learn from it and try and get better."
 
When asked about stopping the run: 
"I will say we did a very good job of stopping the run. That's one of the things we emphasized all week, stopping the run and making them one dimensional. I would say in the first half, we did a pretty good job of doing that. Obviously throughout the rest of the game, we got to do a better job."
 
When asked about Tariq stepping up to be a starter and crucial player:
"I would just say opportunity. Whenever you get a chance, whenever your number is called, whenever your name is called, you got to go in there and help the team win. I was able to step in and help my team make plays."
 
MIAMI HEAD COACH CHUCK MARTIN
 
Do you agree that the first 35 minutes of the football game was the biggest difference in the as the team fell behind 28-0? 
"Yeah, it's hard to fight back from a 28-0 deficit. Obviously, we didn't play very well on either side of the ball. We were not able to get going offensively as far as moving the ball and creating offensive scoring points. We also didn't really get anything done on special teams, there was nothing bad there (on special teams) but nothing positive to help out. Then on defense, we gave up big plays and you can't give up big plays in game like todays." 
 
 
What was the biggest difference that stood out in the first 35 minutes? 
"We talk every week about big turnovers and big plays, they (Ohio) got some trunk plays tonight. They couldn't run it on us, they didn't really try to run it on us. They ran the quarterback and threw it around, and our pass defense wasn't good early on. As the game went on, I think we did a pretty nice job but obviously very disappointing in the beginning. We did not play good football in the first half and Ohio did. Like I said, they're like every other team in our league. Buffalo is going to be that way next week and now every week going forward is going to be about our wages and how to come in with the right game plan."  
 
 
If you guys are able to convert a 4th down or make that extra point, do you see this game ending a different way?  
"Yeah, again, you make your own breaks. We were not crisp and we were not sharp, so again when you're not crisp and sharp it seems like you're so close, but yet so far away. So, you know me, we are going to own it. There's a lot of things that should have or could have occurred especially losing 35-33 after coming back after being down 28-0. We are going to look back at the tape and say if only we would have done this, but that's the lesson we have to live we because we got out played by two points."  
 
 
What was the thought process behind going for the fourth down conversions, especially when you were down 21-0?  
"I'm playing to win; I'm not playing to punt the ball. We were down by 21, we were not moving the ball very well, and we had a fourth and very minimal distance. Again, I'm playing to win and our team is going to fight and try to win a game. We are not going to just play it safe and punt the ball back to them. I told our coordinator, if you have a good play then let's go for it because let's try to win the game. I know obviously, if you go for a fourth down and don't get it, then you should have just kicked it, so you know I am with you." 
 
 
How important was Jack Sorenson tonight? 
"He found a way to get open and it helps when you have a quarterback who is going to find you out there. Sorenson made quite of bit of contested catches, which again shows his greatness and then to Brett, he was out there scrambling around in the pocket trying to finding him firing balls left and right in places where Jack has a chance to make plays for the team. Jack has proven his whole career, that he's as good as there is in this league."