- Fitzgerald started the press conference by calling the entire bowl experience "first class and spectacular" and thanked, among others, Outback Steakhouse, the city of Tampa and all the bowl organizers.
- "We felt we had a pretty good plan coming in," said Fitzgerald, who felt the team executed decently in the first half aside from Clayton Thorson's interception and Jack Mitchell's missed field goal.
- Fitzgerald got choked up talking about his seniors and had to take a few moments to collect himself. "Most importantly I want to say thank you our seniors.