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Postgame Quotes – Utah 43, UCLA 10
POSTGAME QUOTES
Utah 43, UCLA 10
Pasadena, Calif. (Rose Bowl)
Aug. 30, 2025
opening statement
“A lot of stuff to learn from. Not the outcome that we wanted in the first game, but we just have to learn from this. It’s not going to be easy, but one positive thing I can take away from this is the way they’re sounding in the locker room right now. They understand that we didn’t do enough, and they’re ready to put in some more work and be ready to go on Monday. They understand that we’ve got to stay together, and they can’t splinter. We are a team, just like I said. We built a brotherhood over these last few months, and I think that they’re disappointed in the outcome of this game. But they’re ready to work and stay together and move forward.”
on what the biggest concern is going forward
“We just played a good team. That was it. We played a good team that came out and played their style of play. I won’t take anything away from them. They were able to execute and do what they wanted to do out there on the field. We’ve just got to come back in, regroup and really just grade yourself and be hard on yourself. This isn’t going to be easy. You can’t just go in there and point the finger at other people. You’ve got to see ‘What did I do to help this team?’”
on tackling being an issue
“I would say it was just a lot of stuff going on. I wouldn’t just put it all on tackling. We’ve got to regroup and come together and just really get some good practices in this week to be ready for UNLV because that’s going to be another good team that we’re playing next.”
on the front four not being able to get in the backfield
“That was a good quarterback we were playing against. That was a pretty good O-Line also, but I don’t want to take away any credit from them. That was a good team we played. They were able to execute.”
on Devon Dampier making defensive third downs difficult
“Just a slippery guy. It was hard to get our hands on him and really get him down. You see why he was able to come up to this level and play. He was being successful in making the first defender miss, your first two miss, and he did a good job playing off schedule and were able to continue to move the chains the whole game.”
on Nico Iamaleava’s performance
“Nico’s a competitor. He’s not going to quit; he keeps playing hard. Kept motivating the guys around him. We’ve got to do a better job of protecting him and keeping him upright.”
on what happened to the offense after the touchdown
“I think the score got us to be one-dimensional at one point, so that was tough. I was proud of the way they came and kept fighting. There might have been a couple of long faces on the sideline, but for the most part most of those guys were still out there fighting and understood that what you’re putting on film now is actually who you are as a football player.”
on Anthony Woods
“He did a great job. That’s something he’s been doing since he’s been here. Really took off in training camp, and you can see that he’s far removed from his ACL and ready to continue to play well.”
on the run game not being able to establish an identity early
“We were able to run the ball a little bit in there. Nico was able to get us a couple of plays; Woods was also, but we weren’t able to stay consistent with that just due to the tempo of the game and the way it was going.”
UCLA redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava
on what he saw and felt in the first game of the season
“We just didn’t execute well. We need to finish drives. Coach Tino [Sunseri] put us in the right position to execute, but me personally, I have to be better. We all have to be better as a unit.”
on moving forward after the loss
“It’s the first game and we got punched in the mouth. The guys in the locker room are still together. We have to be better than that. The only way is up, and we have to continue to be better.”
on failing to convert on the first drive of the game
“I think the first drive, second drive, and third drive…we had plenty of opportunities to put the ball in the end zone. I think we put it in the fourth drive, but those first three drives are critical. Our defense was playing hard, and we went down early, so we need to pick our defense up and respond well as a unit.”
on how the score impacted the offensive gameplan
“I think after going down 20-0, it was only a three-score game. We got it to 20-7. Coming out of the half, instead of a field goal, we were wishing for seven. We just didn’t execute well. It came down to execution and we didn’t do it at a high level today.”
on the halted momentum after the scoring drive
“It was all self-inflicted. Coach Tino put us in a great position to make plays. We didn’t execute well tonight.”
on his leadership after the loss
“Everything we want is still ahead of us. It’s week one and our mindset is shifted to our opponent in week two. We have to go out there and dominant, execute at a high level like our coaches are putting us in a position to do.”
on the impact of the crowd
“The fan base came out and showed their support. Obviously, we have to do our part and get them a win. That’s all on us and we’re going to continue to get better throughout the year.”
on responding to a loss in the first week of the season
“We just take this as a learning experience. Utah was a great team, you have to give credit where it’s due. They came out to play. We’re going to face many more tough opponents on the schedule and we have to be ready.”
on his first game with offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri
“Coach Tino put me in a lot of great positions to make great plays and I didn’t execute at a high level. I have to take myself to the drawing board and use this film as a learning experience.”
UCLA redshirt sophomore linebacker Isaiah Chisom
on the team’s struggles when it came to containing Utah quarterback Devon Dampier
“I’m not going to take anything away from him, he’s a great quarterback. Coming into the game, we knew he was something that we would have to focus on. Good players make plays. I think this game gives us a chance to see what we need to work on. Going into film tomorrow, and then practice, we know exactly what we need to work on.”
on the team’s tackling struggles
“It’s really about eye position. If you try to reach around somebody’s shoulders, you’re going to fall off. It’s about eye discipline. It’s a first-game thing, first-game jitters. Everybody was just trying to get their footing. We’ll be better next week.”
on if rustiness affected the team on the defensive side of the ball
“Everything was personal. Both individually, and as a team, we have to become better tacklers. Whether we won the game or lost the game, tackling is always an emphasis.”
on matching up with Utah’s offensive line
“Utah’s a great opponent. Coming out in the first week, I think you want to be able to play in these types of games. It’s unfortunate that it happened like this, but we always want to compete against the best. Utah is a discipline team.”
on Coach Foster’s postgame talk in the locker room
“When we went back to the locker room, it was just people trying to uplift people. We talk about unwavering faith. If you miss a tackle, we believe you’re going to make the next tackle. We got your back. We just want to build off of each other.
Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
opening statement
“A positive start to the season. I was proud of the way the guys played. The offense seemed to be in a rhythm from drive one until the end of the game. They stayed in their rhythm. I thought Devon [Dampier] did a great job running the offense, made great decisions. You saw his playmaking ability, he did a great job taking care of the football, and distributing the football. I thought the defensive guys who played both ways were a big shot in the arm for the offense, and created some really good things. Third down was incredible, 14 out of 16 on third down, that’s off the charts. I’ve never been involved in a game that had that many third-down opportunities converted at that high of a percentage, so that was a huge part of the success. Obviously, ran the ball well, and everything I just said doesn’t happen unless the offensive line plays outstanding. Great tribute to that o-line, those guys are a big physical group. They were as advertised tonight, and we just have to keep on that trajectory and keep working hard. I’m proud of them, but that's only one. It’s a heck of a start to the season, going to a Big Ten stadium and getting a win that’s decisive is a very positive way to start.”
on junior quarterback Devon Dampier
“Outstanding. Outstanding. He had 200 yards, and he was 21-of-26, and you talk about a guy who really has worked hard in the offseason. We took him out of New Mexico, [where he had] a 57% completion percentage, and needed to improve. The touchdown-to-interception ratio needed to improve, and at least tonight that did improve so that was great to see. Devon is electric, he is a highlight film waiting to happen. You saw him get out of some of those jams, needs to be a little more judicious at times. There were a couple times where he needed to get down and so we will continue to preach that. His game resembles Kyler Murray. Kyler Murray is obviously a terrific quarterback, but Devon right now for us is doing a great job.”
on the defensive unit as a whole
“Very good. 220 total yards of offense, they only had 50 snaps. That’s because they played third down exceptionally well. UCLA was only 2-of-11 on third downs, so, again, we dominated third down on both sides of the ball.”
Utah junior quarterback Devon Dampier
on how the win felt
“Man, awesome. First time I got to wear that Ute jersey. It means a lot to this program to be a Ute. To get out there with my boys was great. I felt like we were clicking on all cylinders today. (We) played football at our best today. We got to continue to stack the days. There’s still a lot to learn from and continue to get better.”
on what message the team’s performance sent
“We have been talking about our O-Line all preseason and I think that they showed it more than I did. Regardless of who is running that ball, we’re going to get the first down. I think we showed that we are capable of being consistent running the ball.”
on his goal entering the season
“My personal goal was to come in here and show that Utah can score on offense, too. That was the biggest thing. Just talking about last year. We made an emphasis that we are going to play all four quarters and put points on the board.”
on running the ball as much as he did
“I play to win. I tell everyone that. When the situation comes that I’ve got to run the ball, I’m going to run the ball. I’m doing what I got to do for my boys.”
on how much of an adjustment it has been adjusting to more time in the pocket
“I think just the way I’m able to stay in the pocket. A lot of people say there’s a three second rule for a quarterback, you takeoff. Our offense, I’m able to chill back there and find a receiver. It’s a little adjustment, for sure.”
on how Utah approached this game
“This game was a statement game for sure. I think everyone on the team had a good idea of that it was a statement game and we wanted to show the nation what this team is about and just take care of business.”
Utah junior cornerback Smith Snowden
on his expectations on how much he was going to play on offense
“I had an idea. It was nice that I had an idea of what it was going to look like. That’s where most of my pregame butterflies came from, knowing I was going to go out there and play some offense. The offense went out there and took care of business. It was a great team win.”
on the defense’s performance
“The defense’s performance was great. There’s obviously plays you want to clean up, plays you want to get back. We had a great day. There is some tackles that maybe we could have made. I thought it was a great game one, make a statement and show who we are and what this team is about.”
on the Devon Dampier’s mentality
“Devon is the commander of this offense and team, really. I was telling him before the game that we’re going to rally behind you. That’s exactly what he did. He went out there and showed out and did his thing and took care of business.”
on playing UCLA after previously meeting in the Pac-12 Conference
“This feels great. This feels great to come out here and handle business like the last couple of games that we’ve been in the Rose Bowl (and) it wasn’t the outcome that we wanted to, so to walk out with a victory is big.”