Florida - 23, Mississippi State - 21
Q. How emotional was this win, not just for the way it ended but also for, given Coach Napier's future and so forth, how emotional do you think it was for you guys and for the players to pick up this win in homecoming?
DJ LAGWAY: Very emotional. Just a testament to all the work we put throughout the whole offseason, throughout the whole season, throughout the week, game planning, things like that. It was definitely emotional.
Q. What's it say about this team that so many young guys have to step up and did it? You look at, you're a sophomore, Jadan's sophomore, so many young guys?
DJ LAGWAY: I'd say, I'm so proud of the young guys that stepped up, especially on the defense, secondary. Just a testament to those guys, the hard work and just the reps that they've been working on, just the things that they've been working on.
I'm proud of those guys. There's been a lot of young guys that stepped up throughout the years throughout the season. But I'm especially proud of the group today.
Q. How much faith do you have that these young guys can keep it up with all the injuries?
DJ LAGWAY: I have faith in all my guys, whoever step on the field, I know they're prepared. They put in the work every single day. I see them work. They see me work. And we just go out there and compete.
Q. The defense, every week feels like someone new is going down. Yet they keep stepping up. What can you say about them?
DJ LAGWAY: It's just a testament to the hard work that they do, how much depth we have. I'm extremely proud of those guys that continue to battle.
Q. When you guys, the defense has to come back on the field, where was your confidence level with their ability to hold onto the win?
DJ LAGWAY: I had extreme confidence in my guys. I knew somebody would make a play, a lot of playmakers on the field. I'm so proud of Michai. I told him, man, I could get up and give you a kiss right now. I was so proud of him. That's my guy. I'm proud of him, for sure.
Q. You were talking about the younger guys before and the confidence you guys had in them. Is it partly because last year that was you and that was Jadan and all those freshmen had to step up at the end of the season?
DJ LAGWAY: Yeah, for sure. I say that. But that's just a testament to Coach Napier's program, how he develops us and how reps are equalized in practice and things like that. But we've got a lot of young guys.
I still consider myself and Jadan young, we're still young players, even though we played a bit our freshman year. A lot of players, a lot to learn, and Michai, young guy too. A lot of young guys on the field. I'm excited to see where it hits.
Q. I know you talked about the emotion of tonight's game, but obviously a lot has been made about Coach Napier's future with the program and job security and whatnot. What does Coach Napier mean to you and personally to get a win like this for him?
DJ LAGWAY: I'm extremely grateful for Coach Napier and everything that he's done for me and my family. He's a heck of a head coach, and I'm thankful to be able to play for him.
Q. Do you think after winning a game that it would be called for to let the coach go?
DJ LAGWAY: Say that again.
Q. After winning a game, do you think it would be fair to let Billy go?
DJ LAGWAY: Yeah, I just kind of focus on what I can control. That's going out there, throwing some completions, moving stakes and scoring touchdowns and try to win a game. That's all I can control.
Q. But you hear everything, and then the crowd goes from cheering the team and all that to booing him as he's leaving the field, you know that's the game, but what do you think of that whole dynamic?
DJ LAGWAY: Like I said, I just focused on my guys, my teammates, and always motivating those guys and just keep trying to rally the troops.
Q. Coach Napier thinks you're close. Obviously made a few bad throws, interceptions. How would you assess where you are right now at this point in the season given everything you've been through in terms of all the injuries and so forth?
DJ LAGWAY: I see myself, God willing, playing this game for a long time. I see myself still a a young player. And it's not going to be my last day throwing picks. I have to come to realize that. It's just about trying to get better each and every day and learning from the mistakes and not making the same mistake twice. That's the biggest thing. And I feel like each and every day I'm still a young player, still growing each and every day to get better, and I feel like I am getting better each and every day.
Q. Wondering about Jadan Baugh, the game he gave you guys tonight, 150 yards. That's pretty substantial. High plateau.
DJ LAGWAY: When Jadan Baugh is on the field, we're a hard team to stop. He's a heck of a player. Kudos to all the work he's put in and just his preparation throughout the week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports