NC State
Armstrong: We still had a shot, right, and I went out there and threw a pick.
NC State quarterback Brennan Armstrong spoke to the media following a 28-19 loss to Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl
Kyle Nash with a three point conversion Brendan, I'll start with you, but this is for both of you to answer. I mean, obviously when the half time, half time had the big deficit and you guys battled back, make it a very close game. What do you think was the key there in that third quarter to step in and make that a close game and c close the gap, I think just transplant on special teams, right? Uh We were able to get three points, you know, we were coming out of half knowing that we were able to get a two for, got another three points, which was great. Um Any points in that game was gonna be uh helpful, we knew it was gonna be a close game. Um I think just with Trent's explosive play on special teams really, you know, they got one from us and we got one back. So that really tightened it down. And after that one, I mean, like coach D said, we really thought we were gonna win that game. Um offensively, we just didn't get anything going after that and uh defensively we started off slow, you know, we know, uh that first half was, wasn't us. So we try to come out and just play our brand of football as a defense even though we lost Peyton Wilson. You know, we just try to come out swinging like we usually do Sean. Uh, obviously it didn't end the way you guys wanted it to. But, um based on everything you've seen from this team over the past few months, especially what makes you excited about the future of this program and everything to come in your career here. Uh It's just we have a lot of guys with experience, you know, we have guys coming in from the portal and, you know, we just got bringing guys back. So, you know, I feel like we're gonna be like more experienced than like having um you know, more people out there who's just like not thinking so much and just going out there and play Brendan, what is this, you know, game been like this whole week for it been like for you just with everything, you know, that's gone on this year and, and what was it like? I guess to get NC State's, you know, 1st 100 yard rushing game of the year. Uh I mean, throughout the week, I was, I was, you know, trying to have my on off switch. I kind of said this earlier on, in the week before we took off to go to Orlando was uh when we're having fun have fun. Enjoy it. Right. It's my last one and then when it's on switch, when we're out there, you know, playing, having football practice or, uh, anything football related walk throughs, you know, try to turn the switch back on and, uh, it's kind of how I handled it. Um, and you look back, I always do this. I look back and it's like, what could I have done different, um, because we didn't get the job done. Um, but I feel like I did what I needed to do to be ready and prepared. We just didn't get it done. Uh, I think Kansas State is a really good defense and I think they played hard and we knew we were gonna have that and it was gonna be a close game. And, uh, yeah, we just fell short that make the small or small plays that we needed to make in the game. Brendan. I'm just curious for you guys as an offense, Kansas State goes on that drive at the end and they hold the ball and hold the ball and hold the ball. You guys, you're down too. You're thinking if we can get back out there, we got a chance. How frustrating was it to kind of just sort of see the time, sort of tick away and, and know that your chances were kind of getting smaller at that point, the seven minute drive, the one with the, I mean, I still, we saw the shot right, and I go out there and throw a pick. Um, we saw the shot, we had to score quick. Um, and that was our, obviously thought was to start getting aggressive, really aggressive and I threw a pick right, and that ends the game right there. So, um, it wasn't really like, I wasn't, I was just kind of antsy. I was kinda kind of wait and just get back on the field. Um, and see what we could do with the time remaining. I think we had like 240 something or like that left and it's like, ok, I've seen a lot of crazier stuff happen, right? So let's see if we can get aggressive and make something happen, score quick and then try to get the ball back. Um, and we just didn't do that through a pick. So for both of y'all, um, it's been a very, very long time since NC State has, has gotten that double digit win figure, you know, now that you've been through this game and been through this season, what, what do you think the program needs to get over that hump. All I'm gonna say is we're gonna get it next year. I tried to get it done. I didn't get it done. Uh I wish the guys the next year to, they understand how it, how it feels. Now, I know there's a lot of returners coming back. Obviously, transfer portal is gonna be huge for the team too. But, um, man, I, I can't speak on next year because I'm not gonna be here, but I wanted it. I wanted to do it. Uh, and then the way we did with a five win streak and then trying to get this bowl game, bowl win here, um, just fell short, like I said, I always look back on what I did throughout the week. What did I do wrong? What did I do that made us come up short. That's just how I look at it right. Uh, for, for you, Sean, what was the, what was the mind, what was going on? What was going on or what was the mindset of the defense during that long run, that long drive at the, at the end at the end of the game? And, ok, Kansas State had two touchdowns kind of taken off the board. What was, what was the defense's mindset or, or what looking back on it? What did, what did you guys need to do defensively to kind of keep them off, get them off the field. We just needed to wrap up tackle. We missed a lot of tackles in the game. I don't know how many we missed, but, you know, that was just what we came in saying we needed to tackle. Um, and, you know, we, we thought he was gonna get off the field but, you know, we just missed tackles, blown assignment. So cool.