I knew he was going to be rusty coming back. It doesn't surprise me. You figure it's going to take at least three starts down there. Hopefully he gets it together in five days.

We were coming off Christmas break and I knew we'd be rusty. Our defense could have been better. That's what hurt us. Usually at the end of the game is when our defense picks up, but we were having to play catch-up.

Naturally, coming out on the first day, you're going to be a little rusty. You've got to get the butterflies and the kinks and things out, but I think as a team our morale is up. We're definitely excited about coming in.

I'm sure (rust) factored in. His breaking stuff was not as sharp tonight. He has pitched very sparingly as of late. That all comes into play.

Won, 15-13, on a last-second field goal,

Mr. [Dave] Littlefield extended that opportunity, ... That gave me an opportunity to grow as a manager and as a man.