Football Luncheon Quotes – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2002
Jim Tressel
on last weeks game:
“Our defense stepped up and played extremely hard. We had nine three-and-outs. We came up with a lot of big plays. It was an excellent plan put into force by our defensive staff. We didn’t start off well offensively. We started out poorly on special teams with a punt block; fortunately our defense stepped up and only allowed three points. The key play offensively was when Mike Jenkins turned a 15-yard square in, into a 49-yard play. On the next play Lydell Ross scored and I think that gave our offensive a feeling of confidence.”
on Purdue:
“Purdue is a very interesting football team. They have lost five games by a total of 22 points. They are a lot better of a defense than people are giving them credit for. Ross-Ade Stadium is a tough place to play. We know the difficulty of the task. They are doing a good job of mixing their run and pass. They don’t lead the league in either rushing or passing, but they lead the league in total offense. That tells you that their balance is very good. With two weeks to prepare for us, I’m sure that they are healthy. It is going to be a challenge for us as we travel to West Lafayette.”
about playing on the road:
“How you play on the road is a direct reflection on how you are maturing as a team. We were an older team against Wisconsin then we were against Cincinnati or Northwestern. I hope we get better any time we do anything and that this is our best road game of 2002.”
on BCS:
“The Purdue game will have more of an impact on the BCS than anything that we can talk about. I feel confident that our guys are looking at things one day at a time. The BCS is only important at the end of the regular season.”
on success so far:
“They (offensive and defensive units) do a good job of getting to the sidelines and communicating back to us (the coaches) what is happening out on the field.”
“Our team wants to always improve, our team has a lot of extremely smart football players. They know how to listen to the coaches and one another.”
“This defensive team that we have right now, due to their maturity and intelligence, ranks up there with the best that I have seen. We just need to increase our number of takeaways. The defense definitely knows how to put pressure on the opposite teams and they play smart.”
on Maurice Clarett’s condition:
“A stinger is a nerve condition, he could be in the game and get hit the wrong way and be injured again. He (Maurice Clarett) will stay on top of things mentally and in terms of moving in practice.”
Mike Doss
about motivation:
“Our motivation is to keep winning every Saturday. Our goal is to be undefeated in November. Right now we are looking at Purdue and another big game. We are a team and we have to look at each other each and ever day and we have to accomplish our goal. Our goal is to win every game and that is what we are trying to do.”
on the team’s goals:
“We are definitely having a lot of fun out there, we are all working hard with one common goal in mind and that is to win.”
“Purdue’s record is a little deceiving they could be close to being a 7-2 team right now, they had some really close losses. They are at home so we have to come ready to play.”
“Hopefully we will go to a bowl game and win. That is something that would be special since I am a senior.”
Alex Stepanovich
on preparing for the game against Purdue:
“I don’t do anything special to prepare for the game. The biggest thing that has helped me has been that I room with Craig (quarterback Craig Krenzel). He watches a lot of film at night and he helps me to understand a lot of plays.”
“You have to prepare for things that you may not have seen yet. You must look at what Purdue has done in the past, but you must prepare for something different.”
on BCS:
“If we take care of our business, the BCS will take care of itself. At this point, they can put us anywhere and if we don’t take care of business in November, then it will not matter at the end of the year.”
on preparation for Purdue:
“Making sure that we are prepared. You have to be ready every week to play in the Big Ten. To go into someone else’s house where they have had success, we have to be ready to go in there and have a tough game against them.”
Donnie Nickey
on Purdue:
“This is the most balanced Purdue team that we have faced. They have always had the passing attack, so the rushing attack just adds to their threat.”
on the remainder of the season:
“It’s simple, keep winning and we will be where we want to be. We want to win our games and allow you guys [media] to sort it all out. Once you start putting stock in the BCS, then you have your priorities in the wrong place.”
