Some of the players spoke to MacIntyre by phone from the locker room

"Coach Mac is the driving force of this success we've been having," senior tight end RyanOtten said. "We know that he did a great job. He established a culture here. But we know what it's like to win now, what it takes to win now, and we proved today that we can do it even without him here. I think that's good for the program going forward."

Some of the players spoke to MacIntyre by phone from the locker room before the game and the performance also was a way to speak to their former coach.

"I think that was a good way to send Coach Mac a message that he trained us well," junior defensive back Bené Benwikere said.