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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Urban Meyer Quotes
October 15, 2002 | Football
Oct. 15, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - As the Bowling Green State University football team prepares to play Western Michigan University this Saturday (Oct. 19) at Perry Stadium, head coach Urban Meyer took some time out to speak with members of the media at his weekly press conference. To follow are some of his thoughts on a variety of subjects...
Opening comments:
"I'll give you my typical song-and-dance that I've given you each week. But now, our injury situation is very serious. We anticipated a tough, hard-nosed, physical game at Central Michigan, and it was. It was a tough environment. We paid the price (in terms of injuries). It is very alarming right now.
"Also, we're facing a team in Western Michigan that is more talented than we are from top to bottom. They have the number-one defense in the league, and they're a very good throwing team, and we've struggled against the pass.
"It is a great week for Bowling Green. For the first time since 1985, we are ranked. The poll that is most encouraging to us is the coaches' poll; we're honored to be in it. It's a real honor to our players and our coaches to be ranked. Now, we need to get back to the task at hand, and find enough bodies to go out and play a game Saturday."
On special teams (both BGSU's and WMU's):
"Special teams are so much effort. You can rally guys to play special teams, and a lot of our better players are on it. But, we had to take a bunch off, and we needed some guys to step up. And, I couldn't be more pleased with some of the efforts we've seen from some of the unsung heroes.
"(Special teams are) a great indicator of how hard teams play, and how they are taught. Western Michigan's (special teams) are top-shelf, and you would expect that from their coach (Gary Darnell) and their program."
On the media attention:
"Everything is about recruiting ... The New York Times is doing a story on Josh Harris this week. He's a big-time player, and I think he's one of the top-five quarterbacks in the country. That (story) is going to help recruiting, bottom line, and it's a reward for a kid who has done a good job.
"Bowling Green's pretty good. There are a whole lot of championships on that (stadium) wall. In the coaching world, people know about Bowling Green. But, (for the media and the public), you want to make sure that (the media stories) make it out for what it is. This is a first-class bunch of kids that go to class, work extremely hard in practice and play hard on game day. That's what we are."
On keeping the media attention from becoming a distraction:
"You've just got to be careful. If I had immature football players, then I would be more concerned. I think we are a very smart team, and very understanding of who we are. If we don't know up this week, we'll get our teeth knocked in against Western Michigan."
On the importance of the WMU game:
"I thought Central Michigan was one of the biggest wins this program has ever had, because of the situation. The situation has gotten a little deeper now. If you are not at full strength, you're not really going in with both fists swinging, because you just don't have enough guys. But, we are a very motivated team right now. If we can find a way to win this game, this would be one of the biggest wins we've had. It is going to be one of the most difficult games we've had."
