Sports: What they're saying

What they're saying

By Times staff writer

"During this terrible tragedy, our organization's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. The NFL office has informed us that they will make a decision on the playing of this weekend's games within 24 to 48 hours." -- RICH McKAY, Bucs general manager

"I don't think anybody expected to go out there and be totally focused on what they were doing; I know I wasn't. But just to get outside and get some running in and get on the field was a good experience." -- NICK MADDOX, FSU tailback

"I tried calling her this afternoon and it was kind of scary for a couple hours because I couldn't get ahold of her. But I eventually got hold of her and she was all right, but she didn't know about some of her co-workers who were at the Pentagon." -- CHRIS HALL, FSU freshman punter on his mother, Denise Bowden, who works for a defense contractor in the Washington area

"We're going to monitor and carefully evaluate everything, and definitely make a decision (today) on our weekend football games. -- MIKE TRANGHESE, Big East commissioner

"Obviously you feel bad in a situation like this. It makes you feel bad that you're trying to concentrate on a football game with other things like that going on and a lot of people hurt and saddened. But we just have to concentrate on the thing at hand that we have to do right now and play for all the victims and their families." -- ROBERT GILLESPIE, Florida tailback

"I about puked. It's disgusting." -- REX GROSSMAN, Florida quarterback

"I've been in those buildings many, many times, and those things are monuments. It boggles the mind that anything could bring those things down." -- BOB GRIES, Gaither High football coach and former owner of Tampa Bay Storm, who said he has friends and business associates who work in the World Trade Center

"We should play the game as long as everybody is safe. If we are in any danger, I don't want to play." -- Georgia Tech safety CHRIS YOUNG on Saturday's game at FSU

"It's tragic. It seems like all hell's breaking loose. Hopefully, President Bush has a plan going for something. I feel sorry for all those people and the families up there." -- Mike Pearson, Florida offensive tackle

"I've got a sick feeling, an empty feeling." -- TOM KELLY, Twins manager

"That's a crazy situation. I thought the building had caught on fire, then they showed the replay of the plane. We've just got to pray for the people and the families of the victims." -- MARQUEL BLACKWELL, USF quarterback

"I really think this is a turning point in our lives, in my life." -- JERRY COLANGELO, owner of Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns

"It always takes things like this to understand that canceling games is not important to a lot of people." -- BUD SELIG, baseball commissioner

"You can't hide your head in the sand and cry all day. But I felt like it." -- PGA golfer BERNHARD LANGER