John Cooper Media Luncheon Quotes – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
November 16, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – –
Talk about Michigan:
“Michigan is certainly a very good football team. They’ve lost two ballgames – the first two games of the season. They’ve won 16 straight conference games. They’re an outstanding defensive football team. They really swarm the ball. They do a great job with brining their safeties up in the allies to support the run. Offensively, they throw the football a little more than Michigan teams have in the past. They are a physical football team.”
How do you feel going into this game?
“We’ve had a pretty good year so far and I’m anxious to get it going this week.”
What’s the confidence level of the team right now?
“Hopefully this football team is confident. I don’t think they’re overconfident, but hopefully they feel good about themselves and the way they’ve played so far this year.”
What one or two things stick out about Michigan to you?
“I don’t know if you can single out one or two things. They play real good team defense – that’s one thing that stands out every time we play Michigan. They’re well coached. They’ve got a good scheme. They’ve been doing the same things for years and years. Like a lot of great football teams, they recognize you win a lot of championships by playing great defense and they’ve been able to do that. Offensively, they’re going to try and establish a running game, but like us they have the threat of the deep pass.”
Talk about UM quarterback Tom Brady:
“Brady does a good job. Like Griese last year, he does a good job running their offense. He’s not flashy. He’s not spectacular, but he does what the coaches ask him to do. He stays within the game plan and doesn’t beat himself.”
What do you tell your team about the bowl picture?
“We’ve told them we’re not sure what’s going to happen. If Penn State could beat Wisconsin, the winner of this game would go to the Rose Bowl. I think there’s a lot of football left to be played. I don’t know exactly what procedure they use to pick the at-large teams.” What happened in Michigan’s first two games?
“I studied the Notre Dame game and the Syracuse game this morning, and you have to give those other two teams credit. Notre Dame did a great job. Syracuse is a good team. Don’t feel like Michigan didn’t do a good job in those ballgames. They played hard.”
Talk about the role the crowd will play Saturday?
“I hope the crowd will be a factor in the ballgame. I know when you go on the road, the crowd is a factor for the home team. Those loyal fans that gone with us throughout the season have really helped us. I would hope the crowd this week will recognize that we need them and make some noise to help us win the football game.”
