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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Press Conference Quotes
October 25, 2005 | Football
Oct. 25, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green football team, sitting in first place in the MAC's East Division, plays one of its closest pursuers Saturday (Oct. 29), as Akron comes to town for a 4:00 p.m. start. On Tuesday, head coach Gregg Brandon and several Falcon players met with members of the media ...
Q: What, if any, update can you give us on Omar Jacobs' condition?
Gregg Brandon: He's questionable. We'll evaluate him today, I don't anticipate him practicing today. If he can get the (game) plan later in the week.
Q: After Saturday's game, Turner said he was going to watch a lot of film. How is that going for him?
GB: Anthony watches a lot of film anyway. But, now that there's an opportunity for him to start, he's got to pick that up a little bit. I think (he's watching) with a little bit more intensity. Maybe not more film, but just doing a better job of preparation."
Q: Do you think the typical fan understands that, during a normal week, you can't give equal reps to those two guys? That you have to focus on getting Omar ready to play, and that Anthony is running the number-two offense?
GB: Yeah, probably. We usually give twice as many reps to the starters, particularly with the plan on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in game preparation. (In a typical week), Omar's probably getting seven to eight out of 10 snaps, which today will change, obviously.
Q: Anthony is a guy that, in his sophomore year (in high school), was getting looks from Big Ten teams. How big of a recruit was he to pull in?
GB: I think he was a great get for us. He's a very talented player, reminds me a lot of Josh Harris. He's in that mold. He's got a strong arm; you saw that Saturday, he can wing it. He's a good runner, and I think he fits our system well.
Q: Is there a lot the offense has to do to adjust to Anthony's style?
GB: No, not really. I think Anthony is suited to what we do. Some of the running game that we haven't been doing with Omar, we can bring off the shelf with Anthony a little bit, because he's more in that mold. Omar can get those yards passing, so we didn't necessarily need to run them. And, Anthony can do it, too, but I think he's a dynamic runner.
Q: Have you simplified the offense at all?
GB: A little bit, but not much. Anthony's been in the program for a year, and he knows the system. I think, from the standpoint that he's (had limited) experience, that's why we limited the package a bit, but not wholesale.
Q: What has he seen from game film of the WMU game that he may not have seen during the game?
GB: Well, he missed a couple throws. His first interception down in the red zone, he forced that throw a little bit. ... But, mechanically, running the offense, he did a good job. I thought he was solid.
Q: Have you talked to the other units on the team about needing to step up?
GB: Yes. We had some balls -- six, to be exact -- that were dropped. Some of those were by guys that have been here, and those guys need to help Anthony. That's huge for his confidence; keeping drives alive, making plays. And, we needed guys to make key plays in there, particularly in the second half when we got it to 31-14. I sensed a little bit of life, and then we couldn't get off the field after that, and they put it away. Guys need to step up, and help Anthony, if he's the guy.
Q: Expanding on that question, do the defense and special teams have to increase their positive productivity?
GB: Yes, absolutely. Special teams have been a bugaboo all season. We've struggled at one phase or another throughout. In that second quarter (against WMU), it wasn't just the defense. We had a field goal blocked, and that was a huge swing in momentum and field position. And, we had a 14-yard punt. Offensively, we dropped two third-down conversions. All of that led to 24 unanswered points on Western's part (in the second quarter), and Western did a good job. When Omar went out, we never recovered.
Q: What have you seen from watching film on Akron?
GB: Well, they are a team that is struggling, offensively, a little bit the last couple weeks. They took Miami to the fourth quarter two weeks ago, but then got shut out against Army. Defensively, they're very quick and active. They've got some speed on that side of the ball. Offensively, with (senior Domenik) Hixon, you've got to know where he is, because he's definitely a big-time weapon.
Q: After this game, as compared to after the Boise State game, do you see any differences in your team, as far as confidence?
GB: There's really more of a sense of urgency now. After Boise, we had 10 days (before the next game), we already had a league win under our belt, and just needed to get back to some fundamental things. Now, it's like, 'Oh, man, our backs are to the wall.' We're coming off a tough home loss, and possibly playing with our backs against the wall. Guys are kind of, what's the saying, 'fish or cut bait?' Something like that.
Q: Are the captains and seniors trying to take more responsibility?
GB: Yes, we've talked about that with our seniors, that this is it, they've got a four-game season, really a one-game season.
Q: How is the attitude on the defense?
GB: I think after evaluating the film, they saw that the big plays are what hurt us, and we've got to continue to work to prevent that. We had a plan for (WMU's Greg) Jennings, and we didn't execute it, and he got loose on us. Really, he beat us in the second quarter. We had some untimely third downs where we didn't get off the field. We've got to continue to work on that.
Q: Is their confidence still where it needs to be?
GB: Yeah, I think so. I think we've got good leaders on that side of the ball. Teddy Piepkow, Mike Thaler, Terrill Mayberry stepped up and did a nice job. Those guys have been steady as far as leadership all season. It's just unfortunate that, with Jamien Johnson's knee, and Teddy's shoulder and hamstring, guys have been nicked all season. We never really got in sync. We've had a couple of good performances; Ohio was a great performance, and then we let down. We've got to be able to sustain that intensity. We didn't do it against Western, and we've talked about playing four quarters, and finishing somebody, and if something bad happens, playing the next play.
Q: You started Tim Arnold instead of Jamien Johnson on Saturday.
GB: We've done some different things (with the linebackers). With Jamien and Teddy starting, and Terrel White on the outside, that's one combination. With Jamien and Teddy splitting time in the middle, Terrel White inside and Tim Arnold outside, that's another combination. It's kind of been (a matter of) getting those guys in the best positions to be successful. Terrel White is playing the best at linebacker right now, and he can make more plays when he's in the box, when he's what we call the Will linebacker. I think Teddy and Jamien are true middle linebackers, they're between-the-tackle guys. When they have to go 50 to 60 reps, the wear and tear starts to show on them. So, having them split some time helps the productivity, and it's also given Terrel White an opportunity to play the position in which he fits our scheme better. Now, he can play outside, he's a good Sam linebacker. Timmy Arnold has played a lot of places on the defense for us since he's been here. He's got the athleticism and the quickness, he's just growing in the position. He's only played it for six games or so.
FALCON PLAYER QUOTES
Mike Thaler
What is the sentiment around the locker room?
"Omar is a great player, but this team is comprised of 100 players and 85 scholarship guys. You really don't have much of a falloff when you have a back-up like Anthony Turner. I look to see some great things from Anthony. The kid knows he can go out there and do it and he has the ability; we see it every day in practice. Omar is a great player, but we have another great one in Anthony."
Can you talk about Akron?
"If you watch the Army game, Army played very well last week so give credit to Army for doing so. The fact is that Akron is not a bad team at all. You want to look for what they can potentially do. If you watch the Northern game, you know you can't take (Akron) lightly. They have the potential to be very, very good.
What did Coach say in the locker room on Saturday?
"Even though we lost to Western, we are still in the driver's seat. We are still the only team with one loss in the MAC East, sitting in first place. Obviously, we have to go out there and play better defensively, offensively, and our special teams have to play better. It is not like we are out of the hunt, we are still the leaders of the pack. We can't get our heads down and let this affect us. We just need to put this one by the wayside and keep on going.
Anthony Turner
When Coach said, "Anthony, let's go," what were your feelings?
"My heart started racing. It is an adrenaline rush but at the same time you are hoping that Omar is all right."
Last week, you weren't preparing to be the starter. How are you preparing differently this week?
"I prepare every week to be a starter. That is the role of a backup quarterback. If coach calls on me to be the man then I will be the man."
What are the characteristics you have to bring as a leader to have the opportunity to win a championship?
"As a quarterback you always want to stay calm, cool and collected which is the biggest thing for me right now. I have the collected part down with being calm and cool. To be successful you have to have the triple C's and I have to work on that this week."
How was it to score your first collegiate rushing touchdown?
"It was great. It was a big-time adrenaline rush."
Devon Parks
Do you guys feel confident that you can still hold on and win a MAC Championship after losing players to injury?
"I know that the team has enough talent to win. It is just a matter of getting focused."
Will you attempt to be one of the guys to step up and lead, even though you are an underclassman?
"I have to. Since I have been here I have started over 30 games. There are guys out there that haven't been in the situation before so I am here to step up."
Brad Williams
Talk about the leadership on the defense.
"We watched film on Monday. I think we refocused and are worried about Akron now. The seniors and the leaders are going to get the team refocused and headed in the right direction, especially on defense."
What problems does Akron present?
"I think their offensive line is one of the more physical offensive lines. They are going to watch the Western Michigan tape and throw a few new wrinkles at us. We just need to prepare, and we will do that starting today at practice."
Charles Sharon
As a veteran, how does the offense respond to a younger quarterback?
"I don't think it will matter. At the quarterback position we have to give everybody respect. It doesn't matter if they are a freshman starting or anything like that. I don't think it will take long for us to get adjusted."
Are there differences between the balls Omar and Anthony throw?
"Not really. You just have to catch them."
