Coach Tressel, Players Meet the Media Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Todd Boeckman, junior quarterback
On looking for revenge
“It does not matter. We are going to the national championship game. We could be playing another Big Ten team and it would not matter. We have the opportunity to go and be the best.”
On this year’s team making it to the national championship
“We had guys come back, but we knew there was a thing with this senior class. We had a lot of younger guys step up. We knew we had a lot of talent at the beginning of the year and started to work hard.”
On regrets from the end of the season
“Toward the end of the season, if I made a mistake, I would get down on myself. I was not bouncing back as well as I was at the beginning of the year. I can not do that; I just have to get in there and keep going.”
Malcolm Jenkins, junior cornerback
On the West Virginia and Missouri losses
“I was hoping that one of them would lose. I think we all thought that the season could not have been over for us; there was a sense of destiny this year. I felt like we were meant to get here (to the national championship) and I was praying someone would lose.”
On LSU
“LSU is a great team. The only time they lost this year was in overtime. They are the type of team that is going to come out and play you hard. They have a great back and great receivers and they are well coached.”
On looking for revenge
“We are not really looking at it as a revenge game. We are just happy to be there and are trying to get last year out of everyone’s mind.”
Kirk Barton, senior offensive lineman
On the Pitt win
“I watched the end of the Pitt game. Pitt played well. You have to give them credit. They went in there and were well coached and got the job done. It’s been a season to remember. There have been a string of upsets all season. When the number two team in the country goes down at home as a 28-point favorite it’s a strange occurrence.”
On playing LSU in Louisiana
“It’ll be a fun experience, but once we get back to business Thursday and practice that’ll be the key to our success. We need to get back to square one and work on our fundamentals and start watching game film.”
James Laurinaitis, junior linebacker
On playing in the BCS National Championship Game
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for us and a great chance to play in the national title game. You can’t look back and at the past. We want to represent the Big Ten well and that’s all we can do.”
On playing LSU
“We understand we’re going to be huge underdogs. We know LSU is a great team. They’re SEC champs for a reason.”
On the media criticizing Ohio State
“We don’t really pay attention to it that much. Last year we did get complacent. We felt we were invincible. We have a lot of guys on this team that know what it takes to get it done. We’re not looking at last year at all. It’s over with. This is a great opportunity for us.”
