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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Tuesday Press Conference Quotes
October 21, 2003 | Football
Oct. 21, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Members of the Bowling Green State University football team met with the media Tuesday afternoon, as the Falcons prepare for Saturday's (Oct. 25) game vs. Northern Illinois. The game, which is nearly sold out, will begin at 4:00 p.m. at Perry Stadium, and will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Some quotes from the press conference...
BGSU HEAD COACH Gregg Brandon
"I was looking at the Northern Illinois press guide. They did a recap of each of last year's games, and they talk about a 'Big Play' in each game. For example, the big play in their Miami game was when Michael Turner burst through the line for a 72-yard run when they were trailing, 27-7 ... Western Michigan (the big play was) a blocked punt by a linebacker ... here's what it says was the big play in our game: 'The community and NIU support was unmatched. The crowd was the ninth largest in Huskie Stadium history since 1965. The signs, placards, body and face painting, ThunderStix, and big game environment went off the local scale. Long-time observers had never seen anything on campus like it.' So, my charge to our fans is to top that. Let's crank it up."
(On last year's game at NIU):
"We were intimidated from the get-go. We couldn't hear. We didn't prepare for crowd noise, going to DeKalb, because we didn't think it would be noisy. It was noisier than (at) Purdue and Ohio State this year."
(With the game on national television, and ESPN GameDay in town, is it hard to keep your players from getting too excited?)
"I think, once the game starts, players and coaches get in game mode, and concentration takes over. That enthusiasm lasts for maybe a quarter. Then, you've got to block and tackle. Your skills, techniques and fundamentals take over."
(Do you think it will be hard to keep your players from getting too excited during the week?)
"No, because this is a MAC West (Division) game, and we've talked about the importance of winning MAC West games. This game is no more important than the three (MAC) games we've already played, or the four that we'll play after this. So, in that regard, our guys will be focused."
"Our kids remember (the game at NIU) last year, how disappointing that loss was. The five-hour bus ride home sticks out in my mind, because I was on that bus. We don't really need to say much about that stuff. We need to block and tackle. That's what we need to do."
(How is NIU's Michael Turner different from other backs?)
"Well, he's a cut above. I heard (Wisconsin coach) Barry Alvarez talking about one of his injured guys who was coming back. He said, 'My other backs are good, but this kid can make a difference.' That's what Turner can do; he can make a difference. When the ball is in his hands, you hold your breath."
(NIU also has good passing numbers. Does the run set up the pass for them?)
"I think it's a combination. They'll spread you out and throw it around; that's another dimension they have. And, they can throw it to Turner. He can catch a screen pass and take it the distance. I think, once you start getting guys up in there (to stop the run), they'll throw it behind you. When you've got a guy like Turner, they're that much more effective."
(What else stands out about NIU in your mind?)
"The thing they do well is, they find a way to win. Joe Novak has gotten that program to the point where they find a way to win. They have been behind in every game, except the last one, and they've been able to climb back in. That's the mark of a program with a solid foundation. He has withstood the test of time over there, building that program."
(Is there any pressure on your offense in this game, knowing that NIU's offense is so explosive?)
"I think we need to do a little bit better job of finishing drives. I think, last year, we got spoiled. Whenever we got in the red zone, we scored a touchdown. This year, we're not scoring at that type of tempo. We're settling for field goals, and we've got to finish drives with touchdowns. We still need to manage the clock, and keep our defense off the field."
(Often, in a game like this, people talk about the 'star' players, but then some other player makes a big play to change the game. Do you see that happening?)
"There will be maybe six to eight plays (Saturday) that could change the outcome of the game. You don't know which six to eight plays they are, so you really have to stress to your kids to keep playing, keep playing. Play full speed every snap, and when that big-play opportunity appears, make it. And, it may be Josh Harris (making the play), or Michael Turner, or it may be somebody else. But, the guys that have play-making ability in games like this one, have to (make a play)."
(It seemed like your team felt like they missed a big opportunity at Ohio State. Is this a chance to show a national audience what your team can do?)
"Sure. Any chance you get to play, whether it's in front of 30,000 and (a TV audience), or in front of 5,000, it's a chance to show off your program and show off your team. Our guys prepare for each game mentally, week-in and week-out, the same way. We have to study the opposition, determine the best way to attack them, and execute, and this game's no different than last week or the week before that."
"After (the game at) Ohio State, there was a lot of disappointment because we lost the game. We were very somber on the bus ride home. Guys felt like we missed an opportunity. We want to build this program with W's, and there are no medals for trying, is the way we talked about it at Ohio State. We're approaching this game the same way. It's a little bit different, though, because it's a MAC West game."
(So, is this a bigger deal than Ohio State?
"Oh, yeah. Definitely. I've said it before, but we need to win the right games to be where we need to be. The polls don't mean anything to us. We need to win our conference and get into one of the two bowls we have. And, to do that, it would help to beat Northern Illinois. To say it's a must-win, it's not. There's a lot of football left. But, it sure would help."
QUARTERBACK Josh Harris
"It's not very hard to not focus on the hype and focus on Northern Illinois. Northern was the team that beat us last year. We don't want to get beat by them twice. Right now we're focusing on beating Northern Illinois to stay undefeated in the MAC."
"We need to win the game to secure for another week our hold on the MAC West. Their fans were all loud and rowdy last year and we want that here on Saturday. It's NIU, they beat us last year, and GameDay's coming."
"Fans can create a difficult environment and can cause penalties and mistakes, so that's what we want on Saturday."
"We're playing with a chip on our shoulder because it reminds us of a lot of things that happened last year. And we don't want that to happen again."
DEFENSIVE BACK Janssen Patton
"We know he's (P.J. Fleck) the go-to receiver so we know they're going to get the ball to him. Whoever gets the duty, as long as he's getting covered, that's all that matters.
"The situations are reversed this year."
DEFENSIVE BACK Keon Newson
"Guys didn't see how good they could be until the game got started (last year). With a team like NIU that's balanced, you've got to make plays when you can make plays. This is a big game in deciding who wins the MAC West."
