Mathias Kiwanuka Quotations

We're starting to figure out what kind of a team we are. We played Florida State well last week, but we still lost. We're not looking for moral victories. We had to come here and win.

None of us know if we'll ever play another down.

I was shocked at how blatant it was. I had done nothing to him. ... I don't buy that he got overexcited.

Whatever it was, we took it in stride and the younger players defensively stepped up.

It became very apparent this was an away game for us at the banquet last night. I've played in some pretty hostile environments ... and a lot of things that have gone on in my career have helped prepared us for the game.

I went from the scout team to (team) captain as a junior. Anyone who takes me is going to get someone willing to work hard, put the whole attitude thing aside, and work hard to win the game.

I was waiting throughout the whole draft and knew somebody would take me, I just didn't know who. When it got to that point, I was surprised that the Giants took me, but I wasn't surprised that I went.

That's the staple of our defense. We followed up a big play by them with a big play of our own. That's how you stop people.

We're not a team that's big on moral victories, but we are definitely confident we can compete in the ACC. It just reinforces the fact that we know we're supposed to be here.

Upholding my family tradition is extremely important not just for me, but everyone in my family.

We'll just treat it as a normal road game.

No regrets. Absolutely, no regrets. I had an amazing time here, and it was everything that I wanted. I had a lot of positive things happen on and off the field this year, so I feel like, if I had to do it over again, I'd definitely come back.

As far as motivation goes, if we didn't have it before two days ago, we definitely found it. I think that had a lot to do with why we came out so strong.

This is going to be a big one for the coaching staff.

It was something we were focusing on coming into this game. We wanted to put together the best game possible because together we knew if we did that then it'd definitely be within our reach.

It means dollars. It means a lot of dollars. The difference between being a Top 5 pick and being a Top 20 pick ? you're talking millions of dollars there.

It's fun. It's one of those games that will test your ability. I was watching that '60 Minutes' piece about Michael Jordan. And I understood what he was saying about wanting to go out on a limb, and then you want to win. . . . You've done everything you can in your career to prepare yourself to play in games like this. This is where you want to be.

It was not something we were unaccustomed to.

The intensity we came out with was stepped up. I'm proud of the enthusiasm we showed.

I'm pretty sure he'll tell you he wins the most. If you go back on film and count them up, I'm pretty sure I'll come out on top.

I'm confident that I'll be back by Virginia Tech. I'm definitely going to push to be on the field. But there's no fighting with the head man. ... He obviously has the last say. I trust his judgment.

I'm assuming that the New York Giants felt like they saw a good athlete that they couldn't pass up on. From my standpoint, I'm not exactly sure how I'll fit in; I just know that I will somewhere.

I just said ?Someone had to make a play, someone had to step up,' and someone did.

I recognize that a lot of teams in the ACC do have a tremendous amount of speed. But we have a lot of players who are fast, too.

Honestly, we thought it was unfortunate, but it didn't change the mind-set of the team. I think it'd take a little away from the game and from them if we came out and played soft or anything just to cater to them, so it didn't change our mind-set at all.

I definitely want to come out and play strong every time. Not to make them out to be something they're not, but last year they came out and played us pretty tough, and so I just wanted to come out and do the best that I could.

I don't want to take anything away from them, because they put together a great effort. You definitely respect them as a school and as a team, but just from watching them on film, we thought there were definitely some things we could accomplish as far as getting sacks and getting in the quarterback's face.

The guys who left BC and went in the draft, they all say the same thing: You'll never have any idea until your name is called or until you get that phone call. Some guys told me they wound up getting the phone call and then the team wound up doing something else. I'm not going to pay attention to any of it. Once my name is called, then I'll know.