Florida State 27, Miami 20
Q. Congratulations. Describe what it feels like to win games against those guys?
AKEEM DENT: I mean, it's a feeling that you can't buy. Three straight, especially for me being from down south. So three straight, yeah, I got stuff to talk about when I go back home. (Smiling.) Great for me.
Q. For how far you have come personally, guys have come in this class with you, to get three in a row over these guys, talk about the journey, the development through the last several years in this program for and you the rest of your classmates.
AKEEM DENT: I think the development, like trusting the process with a new coaching change, buying in to the new culture. Some people was culture shock, but buying in and staying to it, sticking to the script.
I feel like I always feel like Coach Norvell had a good script coming in; just had to play it out and wait until it finally complete.
Q. What did you see on the interception that sealed it?
AKEEM DENT: Oh, what I seen was, yeah, backyard football going to make a play. (Laughter.) No lie.
But overall, yeah, what I seen was, yeah, (indiscernible) had an out-cut, and I think they put the running back -- yeah, they sent the running back or the third receiver up the middle. My boy Jarrian made the play, got us of the field. That's what I seen.
Q. I think in the second half you guys blitzed on eight straight plays. Talk about the second half adjustment and the defense starting to play offense a little bit.
AKEEM DENT: I mean, you know, sometimes you just got to put pressure on them. I feel like it probably did get to a point where they was having too much space or being too comfortable in the pocket, so a lot of pressure going to bust the pipe, and I guess they bust they pipe, so...
Q. Assume you guys were expecting Van Dyke to start at quarterback.
AKEEM DENT: Uh-huh.
Q. Did the game plan change at all? Did you have to change anything once you realized they were going with the freshman quarterback?
AKEEM DENT: No. We ain't saying nothing. I mean, I seen he was on -- they started the freshman like I think an hour before the game or like 30 minutes, so it was like too late to make any adjustments.
To me personally, they all play the same. It wasn't really no drop off. Even when he got in fourth quarter he was trying to complete something, but it was still the same type of formations and situations, so...
Q. It's probably hard to define, but what do you think it is about this team that seems like they kind of respond so well time and time again in those adverse situations when times are hard?
AKEEM DENT: Tour of duty. I mean, a lot of ya'll might not know what tour of duty is, the spring workouts. You know, what ya'll see, that just come from spring ball, summer work outs, you know, staying to it. They'll throw us in the deep end and make us respond every day. That's like the number one thing of the program, respond.
Q. Kind of going off that, can you talk about the onside kick? Did they talk to the defense in the locker room saying if he doesn't get it we need you guys to hold and that drive force Miami to the field goal?
AKEEM DENT: The offside kick was money. I feel like me personally, the one pop pop a little too high, but it was money. It was right there. We could have -- it was money, so I ain't got nothing to say. I think we would've executed. Just a little high pop.
Q. I know it's on the other side of the ball, but getting Keon and Johnny back and then watching Keon bust a lot of punt return, like what did those guys give you coming back and playing this week?
AKEEM DENT: They gave us back that offense that everybody know, so shoutout to them boys. They came back and did what we wanted them to do. As a defense we proud to have them boys back, and appreciate how they came back, so...
Q. What was the atmosphere like? Seemed like it was loud. How did it help you on defense throughout the night?
AKEEM DENT: Yeah, it was crazy. Like for running out the first time, it was like yeah. But one thing I will respect though, it was filled with our fans. It wasn't like half and half. Our fans done for sure.
So just to see all the fans come support, third downs, everybody getting loud, you can't beat that, yeah.
Q. You guys have done such a good job focusing on each week and yourselves. Now the finish line is getting close, 10-0, couple games left to get where you want to be. Can you start to taste it a little bit now or still taking the same approach?
AKEEM DENT: I don't think nobody want to taste it right now. Just one game at a time, you know. Just one game. Like because once you start thinking too far down the line then you start -- one game at a time. We taste this one. We got to taste the next one.
Regardless of who the opponent is, we got to come out and play hard.
Q. We've talked all year about communication. How do you guys think did you in the communication aspect today?
AKEEM DENT: Communication was great today. I mean, it been great really the whole season, so great today. As in everybody know each other, we been around each other for three, four years, so everybody know the voice and the communication depending on how loud or not.
Q. I know you said you always believe in Coach Norvell's script. What about Coach Fuller? What's it been for you guys this year? Is it personnel with something with chemistry with the coaching staff? Other than the bust in the fourth quarter play, in the second half this season you guys are lights out.
AKEEM DENT: Same thing with Coach Fuller script. They came in together. Coach Fuller, everybody, the same thing. Everybody just had to dial in and believe. I think it's a pretty solid little system he run.
You know, you got to believe first before you can do anything. Without believing going to always be mistakes.
Q. You're going to be leaving after this year. You guys had a ton of recruits here today. Talk to any of those guys? What kind of things do you tell those guys on their visits?
AKEEM DENT: I mean, you know it's home, man. You know where the feeling at. From when I came here it was a feeling more than the coaches or the commitment. It was like I just feel like I fit here. I know a lot them feel like they fit here, so other than that, I'm cool with a lot of recruits though, so I feel like the class that coming in going to be great. The DB class.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports