Post by Publicist on Jan 30, 2023 6:50:39 GMT -5
POST GAME INTERVIEW
Cincinnati at Chicago
January 29, 2023
Coach Maleek Raheem addresses the media following The Hit Girl's 24 to 9 road win against The Fire.
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ABCDEFG SPORTS: Coach, you get out of Chicago with a gritty win, despite some sloppy play that could have cost you. What are your thoughts?
Coach Raheem: We are not a team to thumb our noses at a win. We are happy to improve our record, but we know that if we want to stay where we are in the division, we have to improve our play. There were a lot of timing errors and missed blocks and tackles that could have easily swung the game in the favor of Chicago. That means we have a lot to work on and fix ahead of game five, and we intend to do just that.
CHICAGO RAG SHEET: Did you have a comment on the tweet from your quarterback following the game? I have it here, in case you didn’t see it?
CHICAGO RAG SHEET: Can you tell us how that conversation went?
Coach Raheem: I will not comment on internal discussions with my players. Those are held in confidence and are not for public discourse.
CHICAGO RAG SHEET: So, she really gave you an earful.
Coach Raheem: Vaughn is a first year quarterback who really wants to win games for her team. I am disappointed that in her role as Team Captain she decided to make her dissatisfaction public, however that is the risk you run when you allow players to use social media on the field of play. After looking at film and seeing what worked and what didn't from a different perspective, she might change her opinion. She was critical of her own performance, and she took responsibility for that. The extra criticism is what concerns me…that sounded a little too much like Roxy Cotton for my liking. We will have words and we will move past it and get back to work. Period.
CINCY TIMES: Speaking of Cotton, she went another game without a touchdown. Are you concerned by that?
Coach Raheem: Not at all. Cotton posted 130 yards in a winning effort. I know she wants to be the centerpiece of this Hit Girls team, but we are not individuals, we are a collective. When one of us screws up, we all screw up. When one of us scores, we all score. Cotton had one of her best games today, regardless of individual achievement. I am proud of everyone in that locker room, regardless of any hurt feelings over who got in the endzone and who didn't.
SPORTS MACHINE: Your wife got her first rushing touchdown of the year and the cameras caught your reaction. Can you tell us about that?
Coach Raheem: Salvatore-Spencer isn’t my wife when she is on the field, she is a Hit Girl. I cheer and celebrate when The Hit Girls score. If this is different, it’s only because I’ll have to hear about it off the field all week long.
SPORTS MACHINE: Actually, what we are getting at is that some are saying you are forcing the team to give her carries BECAUSE she's your wife.
Coach Raheem: Again, Salvatore-Spencer isn’t my wife when she is on the field. If I call a running play, it's not a Salvatore-Spencer play, it's a Hit Girls running play! Who carries the ball doesn't matter to me, only that the team executes, and we get the win. Today, we executed, and we got the win.
NEWS BEAT: The offense sputtered a bit with all of the interceptions, but can you talk about the defense? They have been lights out this season.
Coach Raheem: From your lips to God’s ears. A lot of credit goes to our Defensive Team Captain, AMC. She is a veteran player, and she knows how to deconstruct an opposing Offense. She has done a masterful job in getting the team to rally to the ball and give our Offense more opportunities to score. Trixie is also right there, feeding off that energy and inspiring tough play from Dixon and Anderson. We don’t have a Steel Curtain, we have ourselves a Firing Squad! That Squad is firing on all cylinders right now!
ASIAN CULTURE DAILY: You had a lot of praise for Coda at the start of the season and her game play has borne that out. Can you comment on the 22-yard touchdown today?
Coach Raheem: Coda is a competitor, and her greatest opponent is herself. She’s a firecracker and if you get in her way, she’ll blow you up. That being said, she will tell you that she can always do better and that is her goal, to always be better for herself and her team. The team created an opening off some tough catches by Cartier to get within striking distance. The team opened a bit hole in the defense and the team executed the go-ahead score. Next week, we expect more of the same from each other.
If there are no more questions, we are off to prepare for week five.
GO HIT GIRLS!
