Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Football Quotes: Week Four (Game Three)
September 17, 2007 | Football
Sept. 17, 2007
CLICK HERE FOR BGSU-TEMPLE GAME NOTES
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - When five games determine a team's chances for a divisional title, the importance of each game is heightened. For the Bowling Green State University football team, the first such game comes Saturday (Sept. 22), when the Falcons host Temple University in BG's first Mid-American Conference East Division battle of the season. On Monday (Sept. 17), Falcon football coach Gregg Brandon and several student-athletes shared their thoughts with the media ...
QUOTING HEAD COACH Gregg Brandon
On the call that went against Temple in the Connecticut game:
"That was a tough one for the Owls but they hung in there. They are playing hard, they looked like a different team (against UConn) than they did against Buffalo. I would anticipate that the team that played UConn will be the one that shows up here. They were running the football, playing snap to whistle and playing the way you're supposed to play."
How excited are you to finally have a home game?
"Well, it's great to get a home game especially against a team that beat us last year and ended their losing streak. Our guys have a lot to play for for the first the home game. It's a MAC game now; Temple is in the conference. It's an ESPN (regional) game, a noon start, dedicating the Sebo Center ... there are a lot of positive things going on right now with this football team. Hopefully, we can build on that, get a W and keep it going."
Can you describe the feeling of the plane ride home from Philly last year after a crushing loss?
"It was awful -- that's the best description. But, that was last year, this is this year."
Do you feel like the kids are more excited than perhaps they normally are before a game because they want to get revenge?
"It's to early to tell, it's Monday. We had a good practice last night, and they were fired up. I think as the week goes on as momentum builds, I think we will see that."
(Travis) Shelton gave you guys some problems in last year's game.
"He is a good return guy and an offensive weapon. They're playing him at some tailback; he's just fast and as a return man he has great vision. We didn't have the speed on the unit that we have now. Hopefully, that will show up Saturday and we can keep him under wraps."
Looking back at the offensive line in the second half against Michigan State, has it been a challenge for them at all? Last year, they were run blocking so much and there wasn't much passing. Now, they have to change their schemes a little bit. Does that change anything for them?
"No, I don't think so. I think it is harder to run block than it is to pass protect. We worked hard on the running game last year simply because that's who we needed to be. Pass protection has been something that we've always prided ourselves on, protecting the quarterback and pass blocking with those guys. I think it is has been more difficult than when we were running the ball last year. The guys complain to me more that they want to run more. (Kory) Lichtensteiger is always giving me the shot, 'Let's run it, let's run it.' He just likes to knock guys around. That's the nature of offensive linemen."
What has changed with Temple? They haven't won many games over three years, but are they making progress? Are they still bringing in junior college kids?
"They're bringing in a significant amount of junior college kids; they're getting some transfers, recruiting some freshman. He's working on building the program. They have some athletes, we saw that last year. I watched the UConn game both on TV and the tape copy. They are running around -- we've got to block them, we got to tackle because if we don't they can do some damage. They have good speed and when they are playing hard they can play with people. They have demonstrated that, I think."
With the extra week have you done anything with your team or your playbook? Have you put in anything that you didn't have in there before?
"No, we basically tried to get well. We didn't want to beat the kids up in the bye-week, because we played two pretty physical teams. We will still practice a lot of our stuff, just keeping it sharp. We've worked on some kick off and kick off returns because we've struggled in those areas. Hopefully you will see the improvement in those two phases on Saturday. We are definitely going to have to be good on kickoffs."
Are you at all worried about have the bye-week this early in the season?
"It would be nice to have a bye-week that first week in November, but it's just the way it goes. I think sometimes you get into a rhythm and flow and you get used to it and a bye-week can be disruptive, but this time around it was needed."
Now that Temple is in the MAC, just the East Division standings determine who win the East. Does that make a game like this so much more important?
"Yes, I think a MAC East game, those are the ones that we have targeted all along. If we can win our MAC East games, win the crossovers we'll go to a Bowl. That's the big thing we have been talking about ever since I have been here; we need to win the right games and this is one of those 'right games'."
BGSU PLAYER QUOTES
RB Chris Bullock
On starting the MAC season at home against Temple:
"We're anxious to get another MAC season started and it'll be a big game for us. We want to come out and show that we aren't the same football team that we were last season."
How much did the bye week help?
"It helped, in that we got a lot of rest and had a lot more mental reps in watching film. It's just helped us get physically ready to play the MAC schedule that lies ahead of us."
What do you remember about last year's loss to Temple?
"I just remember the score and the fact that we broke that losing streak of theirs. That game is something I'm trying to forget about now, though, because I feel that we're a bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced team than we were a year ago in that game."
Has the first two games against Big Ten opponents helped you prepare for the MAC season more effectively?
"Well, I think it's done a lot for our confidence. We feel that we are a much better team this year than we were last year and playing the bigger competition really seemed to help that."
QB Tyler Sheehan
On the excitement surrounding the home opener:
"It's going to be an awesome experience on Saturday. Just walking around campus you can feel the environment changing for the football team after last season. Getting the big win to start the season against Minnesota really has seemed to get everyone excited again for Falcon football, and that's how it used to be here. We just want to come out and put on a good show for the fans."
Are there any real big differences in the way we can expect to see the game played on this new field compared to the old field?
"It'll be a little different in that there isn't as big a crown in the middle of the field this season. Because of that, it's really made everyone feel a lot faster. Everyone seems to have more pep in their step and its helped keep our legs a lot fresher. Then, just looking around, you have a new look in one endzone with the Sebo Center, there are murals being put up in different locations around the stadium; it's just created a totally different environment from last season."
How did you use the bye week to your advantage?
"I went home, watched my high school team play [Cincinnati LaSalle], saw my family and just got off my feet and relaxed. I think the biggest thing with the week off is that yesterday, we came out and had the best practice that we've had in a long time. Everyone was fresh, guys were flying around the field and everyone was ready to go."
Was the rest something that you needed or something that you didn't know you needed?
"I think it was a little bit of both. I think you can always use a little of a mental rest. I mean, I used it to my advantage, not so much in that I studied all kinds of game film, but I was able to approach the week differently than a normal game week. I didn't have to go out there, knowing that it's game week and that I have to do everything to a "T". I was able to try some new stuff, try to make some throws I didn't make in the past and just go out knowing I didn't have to be perfect."
How excited are you to have your first start here at Perry Stadium?
"I think it's going to be awesome. I have a ton of family and friends coming up for the game from back home and it's going to be exciting. But the big thing is, I think we just need to prove to the students and everyone around BG that this team is for real. We're still trying to prove that to everyone and we need to prove that in league play."
OL Drew Nystrom
What do you remember the most about last year's loss at Temple?
"I remember the feeling of a loss. I mean it's just like any other game; you lose and it's not a good feeling. I just remember being extremely disappointed that we lost that one. That's about the only thing I remember from the experience. It was a little more disappointing than most losses, but what was more disappointing was, I believe it was our third loss in a row. At that point you're just trying to do anything to right the ship and get things moving in the right direction."
How badly do you guys want to get revenge?
"It's not about getting revenge to us. It's about starting the MAC season 1-0. It's a new year, they've got a new team, we've got a new team and Saturday is just about coming out and trying to start the MAC schedule with a 1-0 record."
