Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Football Press Conference Quotes
September 06, 2005 | Football
Sept. 6, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University football Falcons open the Mid-American Conference portion of the 2005 schedule Saturday night (Sept. 10), heading to Ball State to face the Cardinals. BG head coach Gregg Brandon and selected players met with the media on Tuesday afternoon ...
BGSU HEAD COACH Gregg Brandon
Q: What are your thoughts on the defense after the Wisconsin game, after seeing the game and watching the film?
Gregg Brandon: "We were overpowered, which was my biggest fear. Any time you go into a venue like that, against people like that, you worry about being able to hold up -- getting your defense off the field, which we weren't able to do enough to win the game. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it goes. I'm not going to belabor that with our coaches and players. We'll play better against Ball State; we'll bounce back."
Q: There has been a lot of talk about the 85-scholarship limit contributing to parity, and open up the door for the non-BCS schools. A lot of MAC teams were overpowered last weekend. That parity seems to be evident in some of the skill positions, but why doesn't it show up along the lines?
GB: "That's a good question. Football's a game where I think a skill (position) kid -- a kid who maybe doesn't need the strength, and can get by with his quickness and athletic ability -- has a chance to play a heck of a lot sooner than a guy who is 250 pounds, going against a 300-pound kid. That kid doesn't have the strength or the physical wherewithal that a year or two in the program can develop. That, to me, is the difference. You go into the upper echelon of the Big Ten ... we've had success against Northwestern. Northwestern is not the upper echelon of the Big Ten. And I mean no offense to them. I coached at Northwestern; I know what they're playing with. Ohio State is the upper echelon of the Big Ten. Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, schools like that are the teams where you get into matchup problems with your linemen and your linebackers. That was very evident Saturday. I think it was evident a couple of years ago when we played at Ohio State, and last year when we played at Oklahoma. I think our offense gives us a chance, because we are able to throw the football and create some mismatches with our receivers, our quarterback and what we do scheme-wise. But, Big Ten linemen are Big Ten linemen. There are a lot of guys with size, but there are not many (interior linemen) with size and that ability."
Q: How has the team responded from the Wisconsin game?
GB: "I think they responded well. We were very disappointed and frustrated after the game, that we didn't get it done. That's a double-edged sword. I said before the game that we'd be fortunate to beat those people. Our players expected to win that game. I mean, there are no medals for trying, no moral victories. That's the way we've taught and coached in this program, and we'll continue to do that. But, I'm not going to get all caught up in Wisconsin, because that game had nothing to do with where we need to be in December. This game, right now -- we've got to be ready for Ball State, and this is going to be a challenge for us."
Q: Is it easy to overlook a team that just lost, 56-0?
GB: "Well, you look at them, and they've had some suspensions and they're depleted. But, I know Brady Hoke. He's a great football coach, and he'll circle the wagons there. It's a night game, their first home game -- we're going into a hornet's nest, and we've got to be ready to play."
Q: Are you counting P.J. Pope out for this game?
GB: "No. We'll see -- it's too early in the week."
Q: Do you feel comfortable with B.J. Lane back there?
GB: "Oh, absolutely. B.J. Lane's a great back. And, Bobby Thomas is a kid I'm going to put in the mix here. When P.J. got hurt on Saturday, Bobby went in on kickoff return in his spot. We had planned on playing Bobby this season anyway."
Q: Another freshman back, Chris Bullock, isn't he from New Orleans?
GB: "Yeah, he's from Destrehan."
Q: How are he and his family doing?
GB: "His parents have been displaced. It was traumatic for Chris, and we've talked to him every day, but I think he and his family are doing better now."
Q: Can you talk about the play of Deaudre Perry on Saturday?
GB: "Well, he was the only defensive player who made our Victory Club. Perry's done a nice job -- he's emerging as a leader back there at safety. We need to continue to utilze Deaudre. He's a talented player. And, (Terrill) Mayberry ... it wasn't really a Terrill Mayberry-type game, because he's undersized to play that position. But, I thought he held up. He had an interception, he had a number of tackles, and he'll continue to get better. Antonio Smith was outstanding. He did give up a touchdown, but he had a great hit. He will continue to get better. Jamien Johnson played 70 snaps in a big-time environment. Terrel White got a lot of reps and did a nice job, too."
Q: What are the differences between P.J. Pope and B.J. Lane?
GB: Well, P.J. Pope is a more physical football player. If you watch our games against the Oklahomas, the Purdues and the Ohio States, P.J. Pope could play with those people."
Q: So, is B.J. a notch below that talent level?
GB: No, there's a difference sizewise. When you watch them run, P.J. Pope can run you over and make you miss. B.J. can do that, too. Against bigger people, sometimes he's not as successful as P.J., but there's not much difference between the two."
Q: What are you expecting from Ball State?
GB: "Well, watching the Iowa tape, you can't get a feel for them. But, again, I know that Brady Hoke is a good coach, and he'll have them fired up. I expect a lot of emotion from them."
Q: Do you think the Wisconsin game gave Omar (Jacobs) more confidence, playing so well against that caliber of a defense?
GB: "Omar wants to win. That's the biggest thing in his mind, and he was as upset as I was after the game. He doesn't care how many touchdown passes he throws, or how many yards, he just wants to win. And, we didn't get that done. The goal this week is to win. Three-to-nothing, or whatever -- the goal is to win."
A few Falcon football player quotes...
B.J. Lane
"It's a team game. We win together, We lose together."
"It's going to be tough but we have to attack this game as if it were any other game. Regardless of what the issues were on their side, we have to attack this game like any other game and we just need to prepare ourselves."
"We have to take one game at a time and prepare for the MAC opener this Saturday. It's nice to play a MAC game, there is a little more at stake so we just need to focus ourselves."
Jonathan Culp
"There is a good chemistry on the O-line. We spend a lot of time together and hopefully there won't be much of a drop-off from year to year."
"Even though they (Ball State) are missing players, their schemes will be the same. We have to prepare for what they will bring at us instead of for specific players."
Brad Williams
"We have looked at the film and made some defensive adjustments, and now are looking ahead to the Ball State game."
"As a defensive unit, we feel we have a lot to prove going into this game. We are looking to show that we can go into a game and stop an offense. We have a lot of confidence in our offense, but as a defense we need to step up and take control of the game."
Terrill Mayberry
"I think what happened on Saturday allows us to be more focused, because we know the wins aren't just going to happen. We weren't able to have our upset, and we are now in a position where we have to make sure it does not happen again."
Omar Jacobs
"The only difference between Wisconsin and Ball State is crowd noise. You are going tohave the same game against both opponents. Right now we are buckling down. It's a team game and we are going to be ready."
(On preparing for Ball State with the Cardinals potentially playing without a number of players)
"We are not overlooking anybody. They are going to have players that are ready and excited to play us. We are going to take the same approach and play hard."
