Bowling Green State University Athletics
Urban Meyer Press Conference
October 30, 2002 | Football
Oct. 30, 2002
Opening comments:
"Last week was the third week in a row that we got a big win for a variety of reasons. It's great to come out with a win against a quality opponent and we are proud of that."
"Our kids need to be proud of the fact that we are 7-0, one of eight teams that is still undefeated, ranked 18th in the coaches poll and have a 10- game winning streak. That's over now, and we need to correct our mistakes. That one (Ball State game) is over and now our focus is on Kent State and getting win number eight. The whole key to this game is going to be Joshua Cribbs, if he plays. In my mind, he is one of the finest players in the country, and he has proved that. He ran for 200 yards against Marshall. He is probably faster than anyone on our team. He is a dynamic runner. He is just a fantastic talent and that will be the key. We have to tackle him and find ways to get that ball out of his hands."
With Cribbs' status uncertain, how do you prepare for the game:
"(We prepare as if) he is playing and he is full speed. He is faster than he has ever been. That is the approach we are taking. We have a young man named Van Johnson that is going to run the scout team this week. I think that Van Johnson will be just as important as Josh Harris this week."
On the defense, and the injuries the team has had over the past few weeks:
"I think we are making great strides (on defense). I think we battled through the toughest situation you can have over the last three weeks You need to rotate guys, and when Rick Mauer comes back, it gives us that ability. Although the statistics are not there and it is not up to standards, I am very pleased with the effort and the improvements that they have made. We need to continue to improve, because we are not a championship defense yet."
On the role that players like Janssen Patton, Mitch Hewitt, and Chris Haneline play:
"That is why you win these games. Mitch Hewitt was the MAC Defensive Player of the Week and has been our player of the week four or five times. Same with Chris Haneline, in the fact that he is always there. Janssen Patton has been playing very well. Those three guys have been the glue that has held this defense together. Those three have been fantastic. Mitch Hewitt and Chris Haneline are all-conference linebackers."
On backups and the role that they are now playing:
"P.J. Pope is an excellent back-up and he should be. He has 300-400 yards rushing, and we are actually going to split time with him (and Joe Alls) and play both of our backs. Robert Haley is a guy that we never played and then, all of the sudden, he is the starting right tackle in the last two games. Jon Culp got to play a little bit, so you are getting some depth at positions, certainty on offense. On defense, we have all kinds of depth. Daniel Sayles has played a lot of linebacker. Marcus Allen has been a career backup linebacker and had a great game against Ball State. T.J. Carswell has now become a starter at safety because of the injuries. There are now a lot of guys who now have that game experience that is hard to get."
On what Kent State will do defensively:
"We are anticipating that they will have a bigger variety of defenses. They have a talented secondary, which means that they can take more chances and play with more man coverage. They will load up the box and will force us to throw the ball. They are a team a lot like Bowling Green. They are very similar to Bowling Green in the fact that they've had some devastating injuries. Alston has not played, and they have lost three linebackers. They have struggled through some tough injuries."
