The Florida Gators etched out a 28-20 win over East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday.

Here’s what Gators interim head coach D.J. Durkin had to say following the win.

Opening Statement

I can’t say enough about the opponent East Carolina and their coaching staff. We’ve been saying all along though our prep that they’re a great team, they play the game the right way and they sure did it again today. Those guys compete and play hard and it was a great opponent. Secondly, words can’t describe how I feel about these guys as a team. I’m so happy for our players to go get that win. We were just trying to get guys to buy into something, to play for the relationships they have in that room. I think it was pretty evident that those guys have bought into that, so just a great feeling of pride and happiness after the game.

On Florida’s seventh win of the season

The story of the game really came down to turnovers, and we talk about that quite a bit. We kind of let them back in the game with turnovers, and ultimately on defense that was the difference for us in the game. That and red zone defense. I think they had seven trips to the red zone and got in the end zone on two of them. That was the difference. We were two for two. We played 101 snaps on defense, and so for our guys to get it done on the last snap and Vernon made a great play in the end zone with the pick. I can’t say enough about the character of the guys in that room and this will carry on for the rest of their life.

On performance of Dante Fowler in final game as a Gator

His celebration dances were not very good. In fact, I wanted to take him out a couple times. Dante was disruptive in the backfield all day long. We know Dante’s intentions and his future, and for a guy in his situation to get out and do what he did and play how he played, you can’t say more about a guy’s character. It’s pretty amazing. Talk about a great teammate and a great person and a great football player, that’s No. 6.

On Jeff Driskel’s role in the game

I think it was outstanding. I think it says a lot about him as a person, too. The amount of adversity he’s had to go through in his career, to be honest with you, I don’t know if I could last through what he’s gone through at his age. It says a lot about him, a lot about our team. Our guys still believe in him, he believed in his teammates. I’m very happy for him how it all worked out. He was able to go in there and play in the game and really help us get a win.

On the matchup of Vernon Hargreaves and Justin Hardy

Both those guys are great football players, that’s pretty evident. They’ll both be playing on Sundays. We said going into the game there would some balls in the air that would be 50-50 balls and we had to win more than we lose. I think we did that, but they definitely won some of them too. It was a good battle. They threw it 68 times in that game, I’m not sure I’ve ever been a part of a game where the ball was thrown 68 times, but that’s there offense and we knew what we’re getting into. I think our entire secondary did an outstanding job to play all those snaps and the ball in the air that many times and how they played and completed. That’s the biggest thing, our guys, our secondary as whole, they’ve really stepped up and played great for us all year long. Vernon’s obviously a great player, but he’s just one of many back there.

On young guys — the future of the program — competing against ECU

You saw it, there were young guys all over the place. Adam Lane who we haven’t seen that much throughout the year. He stepped up and showed what he can do. He’s a great football player. There’s great talent, but even more than the talent is the amount of character there is on this team. I think that really showed. It would’ve been an easy situation to not go out and play like we did, compete like we did and believe in one another like our players did. That’s what I’m most proud of and that’s the most important thing that’s left in this locker room.