Bowling Green State University Athletics
Urban Meyer Press Conference
October 10, 2001 | Football
Oct. 10, 2001
On last week against Kent State
"I think it was a great homecoming. I think it was a great team effort on offense and defense. Other than scoring in the red zone I was proud of the way our team handled themselves. I think the stage was set for a big letdown. We were coming off a devastating loss at Marshall, we played a physical game on artificial turf, we had a bunch of guys banged up. Kent State was a team hungry for a win after outplaying Akron a week earlier. I take my hat off to our seniors and assistant coaches for preparing this team."
On Western Michigan
"We have our hands full this week, I compare this team to Marshall, their athleticism is very similar, I think their speed at receiver will be as good or better as a group. On defense, I think they are rugged, they are an athletic group that will be one of the top two defenses we will see all year and we have our hands full."
"We are going to another environment that I understand is a very difficult place to play. We need to stay healthy. Health is a concern for every team at this stage in the season, and the programs that have depth are the programs that have recruited well and have stability. I consider Western one of those programs."
"Collectively as a group, their speed at receiver is outstanding. They are also very fast in the secondary.Gary Darnell has done a great job recruiting. I admire what they have done up there. I don't know much about them, all I see is what's on tape, I see their stadium, it's a nice program."
On Joe Alls returning to play
"Joe Alls has to play for us. I don't know if the trainers and doctors would agree, but we feel he has to play. He had a good practice yesterday, I think he'll be fine. We'll know more after Wednesday."
"Joe Alls is important to us because he gives us big-play potential. I think you saw some of that with Joe and Robert Redd against Marshall. As a result, with big plays you score points. Against Kent we had more plays but not near the big play strength. Joe can supply us with those big plays. I thought John Gibson did a great job of pounding the ball for us, which is his role for us. You need a guy who can do that, too. I think with Joe Alls, John Gibson and Godfrey Lewis you're starting to have the depth of guys that can play."
On keeping guys fresh this time of the year
"I think you have a lot of trust right now as coaches, with our seniors. I think we are a well-conditioned team. If you look at the play differential in the second half of the Kent game (51-16), its like our offensive line played two games, but our defensive guys came back this week very fresh."
