Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Football Press Conference Quotes
November 01, 2005 | Football
Nov. 1, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University football team hits the road for a Saturday afternoon contest with Kent State this weekend (Nov. 5). Head coach Gregg Brandon sat down with the media this afternoon to discuss the matchup with the Flashes as well as other hot topics.
Head Coach Gregg Brandon
What is the mental state of the team?
"I think we are okay. Two disappointing home losses are going to take its toll, but the best thing we having going on is that we are still in the hunt. We need to go to Kent and get a "W". We need to prepare to win the game. We can't just think we are going to go to Kent, show up and beat them.
How is the coaching staff mentally?
"Any time you lose a game you struggle after, but we have another game. That is the beauty of football. It is not then end of the season. We still have a shot at this."
Any extra motivational things going on?
"We have always been pretty good at that. The seniors need to lead. Motivation starts at the top with the coaches, on through the seniors and the rest of this team. We will do whatever it takes from that standpoint to get guys ready to play."
Did that first interception by Turner make him scared at all?
"I think it just made him really mad. It wasn't completely his fault. On the play it was a sprint out to the right, but the snap was well behind him, so he had to take his eyes off the read. Once he got the snap the timing was out of whack. He looked out to throw the ball to the flat to Steve Sanders, who was wide open, and that is where the ball should have gone, but he couldn't see him. So he kept running and made an ill advised throw."
What improvements did Turner make?
"I thought he did a nice job of taking care of the football, except for that one throw. Now, the fumble, he got that back. He is going to fight for every yard he can get. He was just in there trying to fight for yards. He just needs to understand when you are fighting for those extra yards you need to take care of the football. Josh Harris was the same way. Josh had to learn, and he learned the hard way."
Talk about the BGSU running game.
"A lot of the stuff that we did against Akron we have not run since Wisconsin because we did not have two healthy backs. P.J. [Pope] ran as well as he has since Wisconsin. Having all three of those guys (Pope, Turner, Lane) in the backfield at the same time it gave us some options. That is what you saw, the ability to run the ball effectively with those guys."
"We had a chance in the fourth quarter to win the game. That was our whole strategy. Play close to the vest and be in the game in the fourth quarter. We are not capable right now to score 40 points, or at least not the way we have been doing it in the past. We haven't been as effective at the receiver position because of injuries. We haven't been as effective running the football because of the injuries there. We have tried to do things we know we can do well. We feel we can run the football. That is what we needed to do to win the game on Saturday."
How is Omar Jacobs?
"Omar is going to practice today. He threw Sunday night. He is throwing the ball okay. It is going to come down to if he has enough strength in that left shoulder to protect himself. We will continue to evaluate him daily. He gets better every day."
Talk about Sean O'Drobinak.
"Sean O'Drobinak is playing well right now, and that is huge. We have never really had a tight end that has stepped up here. If he can continue to do that it gives us another dimension in our offense."
Talk about Kent State.
"They have struggled, but one thing they do well is throw the ball. They have thrown for 280-plus yards five times. They have a receiver that is averaging 20 yards a catch. I think they are second or third in the conference in passing offense. They have thrown some interceptions and have given up some sacks. We need to pressure them and be smart in our coverages and put guys in position to make plays. Last year they led the MAC in total defense. They have fallen off there a bit this year, but they still have great quickness on that side of the ball."
Talk about the youth that this team has.
"We do have some great young guys that will be great for us next year. The tendency is to play those guys, but I don't want to. I want to red-shirt them. We are still good enough on both sides of the ball, including the injuries, to win games. I'm not willing to cash in the chips and burn guy's years. I am not going to sacrifice the farm. I am in it for the long haul."
Rob Warren
"Any time you lose two (games), there is a lot of concern. The thing that's driving us that is we still have chance. We're still in first place with a couple other teams, so we still have a lot to play for, and a lot of work to do."
Speaking about the current situation of the team:
"It kind of leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. It's something that I am really not used to playing here. We don't lose usually at home. It's just something that we have to work through. I think a lot of the guys have their head in the right place now, it's like an eye-opening experience and we have to, we have to step up and do things right now."
"Omar is a great player and he has a great impact on this team. Anthony (Turner) on the other hand, he is a great player too, he just does not have the experience. Omar can see reads down the field, it takes Anthony a split second longer and the split second might not be there. I think Anthony is doing a great job for us and he stepped up big for the loss of Omar. I think he just needs a little more time and he will be fine."
Speaking about last week's MAC results:
"You go through the schedule and you have in your head who's going to win that game, but weird stuff happens. Anybody at this level can win, its just execution of the little things and some people didn't get it done."
How do you get your confidence back?
"Watching film is a big thing, the coaches do a lot with that. It's pretty tough, your dragging a little on the weekend, Sunday and Monday, but Tuesday you start practicing and hitting again, Wednesday you're getting back and Thursday and Friday its time to go and play the next game."
Having both P.J. Pope and B.J. Lane in the backfield: "One of them is a big enough threat to another team, but when you got two of them back there is makes things a lot easier because you know that with one little move they can spring a big play."
Speaking about the offensive adjustments: "I'm really enjoying it, on the touchdown I was his first read. I think this modified offense is going to work out for us because we can run the ball. With a tight end in the game we can do so much more, we are more versatile. We can run or we can throw."
"I have full confidence in myself, I have full confidence in my teammates. I have built that confidence through the past three years that I have been with them. If we can keep our mind set that we can be there, we can. Confidence is what you build on and off the field."
P.J. Pope
"We take pride in winning, especially at home so being my senior year, losing back-to-back home games is a real tough pill to swallow. "
"We still have a chance to win this thing, so we have to keep fighting, we got to get this thing turned around."
"After he (Jacobs) got hurt, something changed, just like the shock of him being hurt. Last week there were no excuses, we thought we had a great week of practice. Obviously, it just didn't work out."
"If we can't find the hunger for a win now then there is definitely something wrong with us. Everybody on this team is going to fight for these last three games and make them as successful as possible."
"I don't think teams fear the so-called big teams anymore, the conference is really even this year. Every week you have to come and play an "A" game or you will lose."
"We have to find a way to get that swagger back, that confidence back, it will feel good to see Omar throw around today."
"I think A.T. reminds a lot of people of Josh (Harris) with his running style, the running game is clicking right now and that's something we were challenged on a couple weeks ago. It's good to see that finally came around, we just have to put it all together and get some victories."
Tim Arnold
Adjustment from DB to LB:
"Coming from safety to linebacker there is a size difference, but if you have the heart and determination to do something, the passion, you can do anything."
"Everybody has a leadership role on this team no matter what position you play, everyone has to believe for it all work. All of our goals are still accomplishable."
Teddy Piepkow
"I am feeling a lot better now, and able to produce a little more on the field now. "
"I think we (defense) have taken big steps from where we were early in the season, but we have continued to have letdowns. We play three plays then the fourth play we will have a letdown, and it frustrates you. We just got to take care of business and move forward."
"Nobody is an exception, myself included, just being consistent has been the biggest thing we have a problem with all season. We can do it on this play, but the next play will be the same situation and we find a way to screw it up."
