Post Game Quotes From Ohio State vs. Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2002
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Head Coach Jim Tressel
On his feelings after the win over Michigan
“I could not be any prouder of a young bunch of kids like this. The coaches kept fighting. The crowd kept fighting. They got quiet for a second, but then they bounced back up. What an electric day.”
On Ohio State’s defense against Michigan
“We knew it was going to be a battle. Michigan came out and played hard and physical just like every Ohio State and Michigan team does in this game. If you can keep them from scoring a touchdown, you are going to have a good chance to win.”
On the all-out effort in the victory
“There were some unnamed guys up front that were trying as hard as they could try. There were 105 guys on the sideline screaming and yelling and 105,000 in the seats and many fans watching the game on TV. This is a great day for us.”
On the invitation to play in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.
“We accept. On behalf of all those great champions downstairs and their families and the great coaching staff downstairs, we are honored to be the Big Ten champions and to go to Tempe and play for the national championship. We are so proud for our guys, not only that they won, but the way they have won. It is a great tribute to college football.”
On being at the center of attention and winning with class
“We won with class. It is fortunate in college football to have quite an opportunity to have an impact. It isn’t really about how many games you win, but it seems that the more you win, the more people pay attention to you. The way our guys handle themselves is tremendous. They do a heck of a job.”
On enjoying the moment
“The greatest thing that we are going to enjoy is the tradition and the rivalry of the Ohio State-Michigan game. We can enjoy that for the moment. Of course, we will enjoy the fact that we are Big Ten Champions, along with Iowa and we will enjoy playing in the national championship game. We have a lot going on within the team. The end of the academic term is coming and there is a lot of work to do. We were just so glad to hear that victory bell ring, especially in the last game of the season.”
On singing “Carmen Ohio” today compared to other games
“It is special every time we sing Carmen Ohio. It means so much to the people who have cheered for Ohio State their entire lives. It is a great feeling to share it with our fabulous fans and our band.”
On how his parents would have felt about the win over Michigan and a trip to the national championship game
“My father would say, ‘You better start scoring a little more, to start with!’ When you were close with your parents like I was, everyday is special. I’m sure this would be special for them.”
On his Ohio State Buckeye football team
“We’ve got great guys who are tremendous leaders. We have a scrappy, tough, talented bunch of folks that want to achieve.”
Tailback Maurice Clarett
“I didn’t play with much pain but I wasn’t really thinking about it. I really wanted to win this game for the seniors because it meant a lot to them, especially. I remember my senior year in high school and I wanted the younger guys to pick up their performances for me. Today the whole team picked it up. We wanted it.”
On his performance today
“I had 10 other guys helping me all the time, so there wasn’t a lot of pressure on me. I just went out there and played my role.”
Free Safety Donnie Nickey
On what the victory over Michigan meant to the seniors
“In the four years Mike (Doss) has played here and the five years that I have been here, we (the seniors) have been through all the stuff and we have seen it all. When Will (Allen) caught the ball, there were no words for it. I don’t think it has sunk in yet.”
On adjustments in the second half
“We missed a couple of tackles in the first half but we adjusted and filled the holes. We played sound defense.”
Strong Safety Mike Doss
On the last play of the game
“I just kept my mind on the game. Everything was happening so fast. When Will (Allen) made the interception, I just started crying. I went to the middle and prayed like I have done all season. The catch sealed it up for us.”
On the last regular season game
“I’m glad to see (the regular season) is over, because we accomplished our goal. We were one step away (from the Fiesta Bowl) coming into the game and we played our hearts out for 60 minutes. We proved Ohio State can play with anybody.”
On the effort against the Wolverines
“We wanted to leave it out on the field. When it was time for us to make a stop, we had to make it and we did that in the second half.
On the senior class and staying in school
“I came in 1999 with the No. 2 recruiting class in the country but I didn’t have a chance to play with my class for a few years. I have been with these guys (the seniors) and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to finish with them. We always said when it was our turn we were going to play for a national championship. We had faith. No matter if it came down to the last second, we were going to make the play like we did today.”
Running Back Maurice Hall
“It feels good being 2-0 against Michigan and going to the national championship game. We never gave up today. We played the whole game and that’s why we won.”
On running the option that scored a touchdown
“That was the first time (in the season) that we ran the option. We felt like it was going to be a good play on the goal line, because it would keep them off balance and it worked.”
Tight End Ben Hartsock
On the season and the intangibles of the Ohio State team
“It’s a storybook ending. We couldn’t have painted a better picture. I really think it’s because of the group of guys that we have on this team. The companionship that this team has had throughout the season is hard to translate into ‘X’s-and-O’s.’ But those intangibles are what make good teams great.”
Defensive Tackle Tim Anderson
On Ohio State’s confidence
“When our offense was able to get the lead back, we were confident. We knew we could stop them.”
On adjustments at halftime
“We had stuffed them previously in the second half. Defensively, we played a lot better in the second half. We went out there and played our hearts out. It came down to a couple minutes to decide our season and we were able to pull it off.”
Quarterback Craig Krenzel
“It was a great game and we knew it would be. We knew they are a very talented and physical team. They didn’t surprise us. They came out and played us tough. Defensively, our guys played their hearts out.”
Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr
On the game
“It was a great game. Ohio State did what they had to do to win the football game. I’m proud of the way our team fought. Our guys played as hard as they could. I’m tremendously disappointed for our guys. I thought we had our opportunities in the second half, but we just didn’t get it done. I have got to give Ohio State a lot of credit. They are a great defensive football team. I thought our defense played well. I am very proud of how we played defensively. It was a heartbreaking loss.”
On Ohio State
“I thought we were the most balanced team that (Ohio State) has faced all year. When you look at the game from a statistical standpoint, third down conversions, time-of-possession, total offense – we out played them. Adam Finley made three big field goals for us, but we knew as a team that we were going to need a touchdown to win the game.”
On the crowd noise and turnovers
“That’s part of playing on the road. We had two (turnovers) and those hurt us.”
On Maurice Clarett
“He’s a very good football player. There is no doubt about that.”
On John Navarre
“I thought John played a good game. He made a lot of good decisions and handled himself well. Their defense made adjustments and he adjusted well.”
Michigan quarterback John Navarre
On the final play
“There was some miscommunication there. We wanted to get it to Braylon (Edwards) and (Will Allen) stepped in front and made a great play.”
On the Ohio State and the game
“They’re a great team. Both teams had their chances to win. We were moving the ball well, they made adjustments and we made adjustments. Ohio State played well and made good plays. They did what they had to do to win.”
On the fumble in the fourth quarter
“I was just stepping up in the pocket and looking down field. Their guy got his hand on the ball and just knocked it loose.”
Ohio State Athletics Director Andy Geiger
On the Ohio State victory over Michigan
“This win is huge for the future for the program and recruiting. The coaching staff in its second year and with young players, what is yet to come has the potential to be huge.”
On Ohio State’s undefeated season
“I did not think that we could run the table, especially with the 13-game season. They kept at it all season. This is an incredibly hardworking team.”
