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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU vs. Buffalo Quotes
November 17, 2007 | Football
Nov. 17, 2007
Recap |
Final Stats |
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Game Photos 
11/17/07 -
Head Coach Gregg Brandon
Coach Brandon please talk about the big stops by your defensive line...
"They stepped up. We challenged them, our rushing defense hasn't been up to par and they really stepped up. It was a great effort for those kids. Sean O'Drobinak became a captain for us late in the season, we elevated him to that position and he really rallied those guys and did a great job getting them to play hard and understand the importance of how big of a game this was."
How has a healthy Jacob Hardwick helped?
"It's nice to see Jacob healthy, he's been hurt the last couple of weeks and when he's right he's tough to block. He's a competitor and he plays with great passion. All of our defensive kids play that way, sometimes they get a little carried away, but I'm never going to discourage the chest bumping and the excitement on that side of the ball. That's what defense is, defense passion with great heart. We may get an offsides penalty every now and then, and we shoot ourselves in the foot. But those kids sell out and that is what is all about on that side of the ball."
Coach Brandon, how do you feel about the defense especially against the pass?
"I think that our coverage was solid today, other than a couple of deep throws. Their player Naaman Roosevelt made a nice catch on one of those. We were in pretty good position, and I think after his first look he was getting skittish with the pass rush coming. Sometimes the best pass defense is a great pass rush. When we can cover like we did today, and force people to hold the ball then we have a chance."
In the final moments did you start focusing on the Toledo game on Friday?
"No. We needed to get this one today, this was big. We knew Buffalo was going to be a formidable opponent, and Coach Gill has done a nice job this season with this team. Their seniors battled hard and we knew it was going to be a tough physical football game."
Tyler Sheehan
How do you feel going into the final game against Toledo?
"One of our goals is to beat Toledo every year. They are our rivals and it's our biggest game every year no matter what. We battled back from a mediocre season to have a really good season, and we need to finish it off on Friday. We will prepare all week and we have seen them on film throughout the weeks against teams that have played them. We know what they do and they know what we do, so we will see who executes better."
Tyler can you run us through the touchdown play with Freddie Barnes? How does it feel to beat Buffalo in their home stadium?
"It's a five hour bus ride for us. It's a long time sitting in the bus, crunched up. We knew what kind of team they were. They struggled with their schedule besides the MAC, but in MAC play they have been pretty good. They have great backs but our defense absolutely stepped up today. They made some plays, but we bounced back. Offensively we moved the ball all game. I was high with throws every once in a while, and the ball was slipping but ultimately we moved the ball and we made big plays when it was time to make plays. Today was a total team effort."
Glen can you talk about the fourth down stop? Were you looking for a pass there? How big of a play was it to stop them on fourth down? Freddie can you talk about your touchdown play? How much momentum does this offense have now? What are your thoughts going into the Toledo game?
"We wanted to see what the defense was going to do and the coaches saw something they liked and we called it
Glen Stanley
"I read the receiver and I knew what they liked to do in that situation."
"We have been practicing and we knew what was coming."
"It was a really big play. It got the defense off the field and put the offense back onto the field."
Freddie Barnes
"It was a chance to show people that I have another gear. At the same time, none of that would have worked if Marques Parks didn't get his block and the linemen didn't get out there and give me space so I can do that. It was huge for everybody. Making that play lifted the defense and took pressure off the special teams and coaches as well. When I go out and do my job, it puts a lot of people at ease. A lot of pressure is on us to win two games and get to a bowl game. Right now, I am just trying to do my part where I can have Coach Brandon relax and Tyler can can't on me."
"We plan on doing this stuff all the time. Being able to go out and showcase it in this atmosphere with the big game. It's normal for us, but on the outside looking in it's a lot of momentum."
"My mind has been on that game since I broke my ankle in that game last year. We are going to bring a lot, we have done our job up to this point to get ourselves to a bowl game and meet all of our goals. We couldn't capture the MAC East Title, but this game means everything to me and the team. The fact that it is here and we didn't overlook anything by winning today. All season we have had our eyes on the team up north. Right now we will go prepare like we haven't prepared before, because that is something we want to do. Since I have been here we haven't beaten Toledo, but it's something that everyone wants to make happen right now."
