Bowling Green State University Athletics
Gregg Brandon Press Conference Quotes
September 14, 2004 | Football
Sept. 14, 2004
Gregg Brandon Press Conference - 9/14/04
Q. How do you handle the bye week?
A. Well, it's a good week to rest and get some guys healthy. It gives you some extra prep time for Northern Illinois, which is always good. I remember when we played those guys two years ago we were coming off a tough road win at Kent and they were coming off a bye. They had two weeks to prepare for us, and it showed because they did a nice job.
Q. NIU has lost their senior QB Josh Haldi for the first few games, and they've had Phil Horvath step in. Can you make an evaluation of him?
A. I remember looking at him a couple of years ago. He's a kid from Naperville, and I thought he was a good prospect. He was on my list for a long time as a quarterback prospect. So, I know he's capable and I know he's a good player. Obviously, when you lose your senior quarterback, that's a tough blow. I've got to think that Haldi is going to play against us, but I don't know the extent of that injury.
Q. How do you prepare for starting QB Haldi when you've got the backup QB Horvath on film?
A. Well, they're not going to change their offense. Haldi obviously runs it better because he's the starter. So, we'll have to watch and get some film on (Horvath) later this week from this season. When that comes in we'll be able to evaluate Horvath and see if there are any subtle differences, but I don't think they're changing their scheme.
Q. How are Jelani Jordan's injuries? Is he out of the picture for Northern Illinois?
A. Absolutely not. In fact, I'm counting on him.
Q. Is there anybody right now that is out of the picture for the Northern Illinois game?
A. No, I don't think so.
Q. Is (Anthony) Turner going to be redshirted?
A. Yeah, that's our plan. That's why he didn't play Saturday. If we can make it through with Jason (Washington) and Van (Johnson) as the backups, I would love to redshirt Turner, absolutely.
Q. What would it take to change that plan?
A. Well, you know, if something happened to Omar (Jacobs), and Jason or Van were incapable, but I'm not thinking that way right now.
Q. When do you guys leave for NIU?
A. Thursday morning. We're going to the Hall of Fame in South Bend and having lunch.
Q. You've talked about the crowd noise the last time you played at NIU. Has playing at Ohio State, Purdue, and Oklahoma helped your team get acclimated to that?
A. Absolutely, you can see it in the kids' eyes. I saw their eyes two years ago in Northern and they were bigger than saucers. Since then we've been in venues like that and even bigger, and I'm always checking their eyes to see where they are. They were pretty calm at Oklahoma, which was impressive. We kept our poise in that game, and that was the loudest place we have been. And, we'll practice that again. We'll go in the field house and crank up the NIU fight song. We'll be ready this time for the crowd.
Q. That has to say something for their crowd, considering it was only 25,000, and not a sellout.
A. Oh yeah, and our fans responded last year when they came here. I will say this about our fans, especially our students, that was a tremendous show of support (Saturday vs. SEMO). For our players to come out and see this place...there was orange everywhere. And for our players to see that show of support, that's awesome. I wrote a letter to the school paper today, just thanking the students for coming out, and basically saying lets keep it cranking.
