Before the season opener at UCLA, Virginia corner Demetrious Nicholson had played just one game in 700 days due to a turf toe injury and recovery complications. After suiting up in California, however, Nicholson had a short wait for round two. The Hoos played just one week later in a heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame.
After Saturday’s contest, I managed to grab Nicholson for a few quick questions in the press room. Here’s the Quick Take.
Kris: A lot of positive plays today and a lot of breakdown plays today for the defense. Can you talk about how it was a rollercoaster day for the defense?
Nicholson: We played with a lot of energy I felt like for the whole game. We just gave up the big plays. … You never want to give up a big play, but I felt like we had a lot of positives but the little things and the big plays that they had were detrimental to our success today.
Kris: The one he got behind you on, was it just a run by, a double move, or something else?
Nicholson: Yeah he just ran a straight go. I didn’t expect him to run straight go, but he’s a pretty fast guy and I got out of my pedal a little late and he’s a great receiver. They threw it to him.
Kris: Do you feel like teams are picking on you a little bit the first two weeks to test if you’re all the way back? It seems like they’re targeting you at least off and on.
Nicholson: Yeah, I get passes thrown my way – I feel like that’s just part of the game being out there. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t. I don’t know. I just prepare each week and stick to the game plan the coaches give me and play my role
Kris: How different did [Saturday] feel vs. UCLA when you had only played like once in 700 days or so?
Nicholson: I felt a lot better. I got my hands on a couple of passes. Felt more in tune. It was good to be back in Scott Stadium for the first time in a while. It was a great feeling in that sense. I got all those butterflies out last week at UCLA in my first game back. I’m just looking to progress with my team this year.
Kris: Did that last drive feel like you were one play away? One sack? One deflection or something?
Nicholson: The whole game you’re always one play away. Whether you make the play or they make the play, that’s the difference in the game. It’s a lot of plays that accumulate over the game that leads to those situations.
