ARMY-NAVY GAME

December 9, 2023

Kanye Udoh

Bryson Daily

Army Black Knights

Press Conference

Army 17, Navy 11

Q. You went back to the shotgun offense today after going under center. How did that play out for you?

BRYSON DAILY: Yeah, it's something we knew we were going to do. We do it every year, even in the traditional offense. We kind of go to it because Navy just knows how to defend the under-center triple so well.

But we knew that we had some things that might hurt them, and they did today, and I think it was the right call.

I'm just proud of how our offense played.

Q. On the touchdown to Tyson Riley, he went out to a far wide receiver almost on the sideline. Nobody went to guard him. You saw that and got the ball to him. Tell us about the play.

BRYSON DAILY: Yes, sir, so that was not the play at all. It was a QB zone. I was about to motion him in so he could kick out their linebacker, and no one lined up over there. They were still getting their call, and Tyson did a good job of not drawing too much attention to himself. He did say, hey, throw it, throw it, and I was trying to get our guys lined up so I could snap the ball and get it to him. I was able to get our guys set and get him the ball before their safety came over.

Q. For both of you, what does this game mean? What does this win mean to you guys to hear your song last?

KANYE UDOH: It means everything to us. We talked about this all year. Last year I was in the stands watching the game, so to be able to come out here this year and win the game, it's a blessing.

BRYSON DAILY: Yes, sir, to reiterate, I was on the sideline. I didn't take a snap in the game the two years prior, and just seeing how much it means to everybody, it means to everybody on the outside, everybody on the inside and just getting a win for those seniors, it means the world. I'm glad we got that done for them.

Q. Bryson, the confidence and conviction you played with, either throwing the football or on the run QB option you had conviction and confidence. What did you feel about your game?

BRYSON DAILY: Yeah I think it came from the preparation. The preparation all season, all the stuff we went through. Then having those two and a half weeks to get ready for this game, Coach Thatcher, Coach Worley, Coach Drinkall, they put together a great game plan and we were confident in it, and I think that showed in a lot of plays that were made today.

Q. Kanye, the wildcat seemed to be pretty successful today with both you and Jakobi running the ball. How did the plans for that come into fruition?

KANYE UDOH: Well, it's something we had since like Boston College week I want to say. I think we ran it once that game. It's been in the playbook, but this week we finally decided to go to it, and it worked well for us.

Q. Bryson, you guys ran for 205 yards today. That's the most Army has run for against Navy in quite some time. Talk a little bit about the offensive line and the holes that they were opening for you guys.

BRYSON DAILY: It was incredible. They had been working their tail off all season, all four years for some of those guys, and they were making big holes. They were confident in the game plan, as well, and it's pretty cool seeing a freshman center lead the way behind guys like Connor Finucane who played a lot of ball, Jackson Filipowicz, and they were moving them back and allowing Kanye and myself and all the other running backs to get some big runs. To be able to run for over 200 on Navy is no small feat because they have a great run defense. It's really cool that we ran the ball so successfully today.

Q. You mentioned the seniors. Can you talk about what this win means for you guys and for the seniors?

BRYSON DAILY: Yeah, so for the seniors, it means everything. Like we've had Coach Viti, he still talks about his last Army-Navy game. Any senior that has come before us, they talk about what happened in their Army-Navy game. Whether it's a win or a loss, it sticks with them forever.

So allowing them to go out on a good note, it's just awesome for those guys. Allowing this momentum to carry us forward as we continue throughout our careers is awesome.

We're never letting that trophy leave West Point again.

KANYE UDOH: Me as a freshman, a lot of the seniors when I came in, they took me under their wing, showed me how things go, just how this place works and the culture here. So being able to pay that back to them and really give them this win and send them off the right way is amazing. Some of them been here for five, six years including the prep school, so it's just amazing to be able to give them this win.

Q. You mentioned that everybody remembers their Army-Navy game. How many times will you guys watch the video of that defensive stand in the rest of your lives?

BRYSON DAILY: Yeah, I think I'll just play that every morning, every night before I go to bed, just put me in a good mood. I can't say enough about the defense all year. They've been there for us, and I'm glad we did enough today to allow us to get that win for our defense and how well they played all year.

KANYE UDOH: They're going to play that video all over the stadium for the rest of the season, or until the next season basically.

Q. For both of you, can you describe your reaction to the scoop-and-score, what went through your mind, then the fact that you've got to find a helmet to put on and it's time to go again?

BRYSON DAILY: Yeah, so Kalib, he's been making plays all year. Another young guy, only a sophomore. He's been balling all season, just getting better and better. For him to step up and make a play like that, it was incredible to see. Put the margin just enough for us to come up with a win.

But yeah, can't be prouder than I am of Kalib Fortner and how well he's played all season and today.

KANYE UDOH: Yeah, when I saw him pick that ball up and run into the end zone, I lost my mind. I sprinted down the sideline, almost sprinted onto the field. One of the coaches had to pull me back. It was amazing.

Q. Your experience of being here in New England, a lot of people around here considered it a coup to get this game, and did you look around and see those six Super Bowl championship flags hanging there?

BRYSON DAILY: I did. Talking to past quarterbacks who played Army-Navy game, they told me just once you get out there, take it all in, and getting to play at a place like Gillette with so much rich history with a quarterback like Tom Brady, I was looking around and seeing all the greatness that had played there. This was an awesome experience for us to play here in Boston. Yeah, it was incredible.

KANYE UDOH: Yeah, just being able to take it all in -- when you first run out into the stadium, it's amazing seeing all the fans, both cadets from Navy and Army in the bleachers, it's amazing, like surreal to see it, and then to take it all in and then to be able to go out there and win.

Q. Bryson, I don't think you could have scripted a safety to end this game. Could you walk us through the end there and you're backing up in the end zone and time expires?

BRYSON DAILY: Yes, sir. After the defense made that stop, there was three seconds on the clock, and they just told me to run around, and when they got close or when the clock hit zero to run out the back of the end zone to secure the win. Not how I guessed it would end, but whatever it takes to get the W.

Q. Bill Belichick in no way hides his allegiance to Navy. Given the region and his history here, it's a more lighthearted question, but did you feel like the underdog or the road team in this game?

BRYSON DAILY: Definitely didn't feel like the underdog. Just the faith I have in my teammates and our coaches, never felt like the underdog. But Bill Belichick, he has his ties with Navy, so I don't blame him at all. But I think Gameday they said everybody picked Navy, so that was just a mistake. (Laughter.)

Q. Looking back at the fourth quarter, you guys started off with such a commanding lead. Did you get apprehensive at all when Navy was starting to tighten it up a little bit coming down where they could score and tie it up?

BRYSON DAILY: Our defense made plays all year in those situations. They've come through time and time again to make those plays. Saw it, they did it twice, and great defense and makes your job a lot easier on the offensive side. I wish we could have got a couple more 1st downs there at the end, not just put it all on their plate. But they stepped up. I always have trust in those guys.

Q. A lot of times athletes will talk about tuning everything out and focusing on your job and not taking the atmosphere and just kind of being tunnel focused on what you're supposed to be doing. How is that different in this game? You both talked about you wanted to take in the atmosphere, be a part of it. In what ways did you do that and how did you embrace the environment as opposed to just pushing forward?

KANYE UDOH: Yeah, so you take in the atmosphere and everything, you enjoy the moment, but once you step on to that field and they blow the whistle letting you know it's game time, you have to lock in and focus on your role, focus on your assignment and just get the job done and just drown out all the noise and all the outside stuff.

Q. How does it feel to also bring the Commander in Chief trophy home?

BRYSON DAILY: Feels amazing. That's something we've been working towards all season, all off-season. We've had a picture of Air Force holding that trophy in our trophy case where it's supposed to be. That hurts seeing that every day, seeing Air Force holding it. I'm going to love seeing it Monday morning when we have it in the facility.

KANYE UDOH: It's great to bring it back to West Point for all the people that support us throughout this.

Q. Kanye, 88 yards today. What did it feel like to contribute in a game of this magnitude?

KANYE UDOH: It's amazing being able to contribute, having my teammates' trust, the coaches' trust in me as a freshman, being able to go out there and perform, it's amazing.