Interview with Paul Moala and Kyle Efford after win against Syracuse
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00:00 >> On everybody's left we have linebacker Paul Mawala and
00:05 everybody's right linebacker Kyle Heaford.
00:09 And we'll go ahead and open it right up for questions starting with Jack.
00:13 >> Kyle, tell us about the interception.
00:15 >> Sure, I mean, coach put us in position to make a play.
00:19 Saw the ball, it's gonna be guided.
00:20 I mean, ain't much to it really, this playmaking, so.
00:24 >> I guess with both of you guys,
00:29 you knew this was gonna be a linebacker kind of game and
00:32 they were gonna run the ball a lot.
00:34 Just what was that mentality like for you guys going into the game,
00:37 knowing that this was gonna be a day where the defense was really gonna count on
00:40 you guys to make plays?
00:41 >> It was really exciting for us as a linebacker unit.
00:45 It's something that we've always wanted to emphasize in the linebacker room,
00:50 just in terms of stopping the run game and playing the run game a little bit more.
00:54 So with them coming out in that wildcat offense and
00:58 running the ball a bit more, it kinda allowed us to showcase our talent as
01:01 a linebacker group and show that we can actually stop the run.
01:05 >> I would say definitely really excited coming in.
01:10 Just knowing that it was gonna be a linebacker's game.
01:11 I mean, this is really a linebacker's dream game coming out of wildcats.
01:15 He's gonna run that ball a lot.
01:16 So we're looking forward to it and D-line came out and did their job,
01:20 kept us clean, so.
01:21 It's a heck of a game.
01:24 >> Right.
01:24 >> How big was it for the overall outcome of the game,
01:29 stopping that two point play, and then I guess it gave the offense
01:35 a lot of incentive to march downfield like they did?
01:40 >> It was real big.
01:43 Any chance that we get to be able to stop plays like that,
01:46 that potentially could lead to tying the game and whatnot.
01:50 It just pushes the offense a little bit more to work a little bit harder,
01:55 just cuz they see us working a little bit harder to try and stop plays like that.
01:58 So any small play that allows a little bit of a break for
02:05 the special teams or offense or even the defense on the opposite side.
02:10 Just allows us to work together as a unit and execute a little bit better.
02:15 So we love those momentum shifters and try to take advantage of those things.
02:18 >> Yeah, in the back.
02:21 >> Thanks.
02:22 >> On Tuesday, coach said that he talked to you guys on Sunday about what was at
02:27 stake in the chance to go maybe to a ball game for the first time since 2018.
02:32 Now that you guys have that sixth win, what does it mean to both of you to help
02:37 get this team to likely a ball game in a couple of weeks?
02:41 >> I mean, it definitely means a lot.
02:42 I mean, it has been a little bit.
02:45 We're trying to put Georgia back on that map.
02:47 The work doesn't stop here.
02:49 We still going, you know what I'm saying?
02:50 So we just gotta head up, going up.
02:54 >> Yeah, definitely enjoying the moment.
02:55 I know we're gonna celebrate tonight, but
02:58 the job's not finished, we still got another game next week.
03:02 But just to be able to make it to a ball game and
03:05 create a little bit of history here in Georgia Tech.
03:09 Especially for me, it's kinda nice just cuz it's my last year here to kinda
03:14 contribute to the team with that win, it kinda meant a lot to me.
03:18 So I was really happy with the outcome of tonight.
03:20 >> You said you wanted to enjoy the moment.
03:23 Just talk about the moment you get the student section after the game.
03:26 I have a little part of you guys here.
03:27 What's the emotion going on when you're being joyous like that?
03:32 >> That's nothing but just a joy filled heart right there.
03:35 I mean, we're trying to put on for our students, for this community as a whole.
03:41 Like I said, they're showing up for it, so all we can do is produce for them.
03:45 >> Kyle.
03:48 >> Kyle, I thought one of the big plays in the game was Jamal's
03:53 characteristic fumble, they get the ball deep in your territory.
03:58 You got the stop on fourth down play, something a bit gashing with,
04:01 it seemed like you guys made a little adjustment there.
04:04 How important was that play?
04:05 And I know he came over and said something to you all after you guys
04:08 came off the field, Kyle, what did Jamal tell you?
04:10 >> Yeah, I mean, this game, we gotta compensate for each other.
04:13 We gotta compliment each other.
04:14 So I mean, there's gonna be mistakes that happen.
04:16 And it's just up to us as teammates to overcompensate and
04:21 make it better for him, fix it for him.
04:23 >> Yeah, and he came to us at the bench and he was shaking all the linebackers and
04:27 really just telling us thank you for having my back.
04:29 And that's the kind of attitude we wanna take into every week is,
04:32 if we mess up on defense, and the offense has our back, allowing that
04:38 acknowledgment to the offense for having our back and
04:41 kinda playing football as a team, as a unit.
04:45 >> Thank you.
04:48 >> Kyle and Paul, both of you, it was really chippy out there the whole night.
04:53 And a lot riding on the game.
04:54 How hard is it for you to maintain your composure and
04:57 channel that energy in the football way as opposed to that?
05:02 >> I mean, I've always stood by just the mindset of never getting too high,
05:05 never getting too low.
05:06 I mean, just regardless, get a push in the back, whatever.
05:09 My emotions are gonna stay the same.
05:10 So I mean, that's really something we're trying to push around the team,
05:14 just keep that calm, cool head.
05:16 I mean, there's not much not to say about it.
05:20 >> Yeah, football's a physical game, so it's kinda hard to avoid it,
05:23 avoid the chippiness.
05:24 But yeah, I think taking a step forward into next week's game,
05:30 I think that that's something that we can work on a little bit.
05:33 Just being a little bit more disciplined, not allowing the outside things,
05:37 including trash talk, get into our heads and taking us out of ourselves.
05:41 Cuz that's when we play the worst, is when we're worried about things like trash
05:45 talking and what the opponent is saying.
05:47 We're not really worried about the calls and
05:50 it becomes a little bit more selfish.
05:52 So I think that's something that we're gonna work on throughout the week and
05:56 make sure our guys are disciplined in terms of chipping at each other.
06:00 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Well,
06:05 already played a big role for Syracuse in their offense.
06:08 How difficult of a guy was it for you guys to stop him?
06:12 He ran the ball, passing the ball, he did it all tonight.
06:16 >> Yeah, it was a little bit of a jack of all trades.
06:17 Him transferring from Michigan, playing quarterback at Michigan.
06:23 Our scouting report was kind of a tough one to make just because
06:28 he knows the QB reads, the basic QB reads.
06:31 He's played quarterback a year in college.
06:33 But I think he's really effective in the athletic with ball on the ground.
06:39 And he's making plays out there.
06:41 So kudos to him just for playing ball hard and
06:45 just being that guy for their team.
06:49 But at the end of the day,
06:53 I'm really proud of how the defense handled him as a threat, so.
06:58 >> Do a couple more for the guys.
06:59 >> Okay.
07:00 >> How did they kind of get the momentum in the second half or
07:07 in the fourth quarter really, and
07:09 were you able to kind of finally win back the defense?
07:12 >> I mean, coming out a half, we were putting a lot of emphasis on coming out
07:18 fast, but I mean, the game is a game of momentum.
07:22 So it's kind of shift at some point.
07:24 It's just our job as a team to grab it back at any given moment.
07:28 I think that big two point conversion,
07:31 that's gonna grab that momentum back wherever we keep going.
07:33 >> Anything else for the guys?
07:38 Jeff, you wanna wrap this up?
07:39 >> For both of you, just initial thoughts on playing Georgia.
07:42 >> I mean, we gonna celebrate tonight first.
07:46 It's a big win for us, but
07:49 starting tomorrow it's gonna be heads down, ready to work again.
07:52 >> Yeah, I mean, just like Kyle said, he said it perfectly.
07:55 I think tonight's another celebration, but coming tomorrow,
07:59 I think we're gonna be ready to go.
08:01 And my set throughout the week is just gonna be try and win.
08:05 I'm excited for these guys to take on this challenge.
08:08 And we look forward to next week.
08:09 >> All right, thank you guys.