Quick Quotes: Fiesta Bowl Media Day
12/26/2019 2:45:41 PM | Football
Ryan Day, HC
We know going in it doesn’t matter what people think of us. If you want respect, you go beat the defending national champs. What better team to do it against, they’re a very good team. I’m not ready for this team to be done more than anything. I love this team. I love these kids. I love this coaching staff, what they’ve done together as a group, but just personally what they’ve done for me in my first time as a head coach. They’ll always have a place in my heart. Like we said, we’re not ready for this thing to be over. We’re fighting for that, too. We want to continue to play after this and keep this team together. I think that these guys are excited to play in this game and it is time to go play and find out where we’re at
On the collection of talent playing on Saturday:
Pretty impressive. When you look at the guys on both sides of the ball on both teams, you’ve got a lot of NFL players who will be playing for a long time. It will be fun to see those guys playing against each other and competing. But you talk about a collection of power, speed, strength, you kind of look on both sides. It’s there. Clemson, they’re strong, they’re powerful, they’re tough. They’re fast. They have speed. We have speed. They have a really good quarterback. We have a really good quarterback. They have a really good running back; we have a really good running back. It goes back and forth. It is an equated game. It will be fun to watch.
Garrett Wilson, WR
This is everything I ever dreamed of, playing in the playoff in my first year. This is where Ohio State belongs and I’m happy to be part of a team that got back here.
Jeff Okudah, CB
On other teams game plan to stop Ohio State defense:
I feel like it’s a challenge. Goes back to what coach Hafley told us all season; our defense was going to be simple so you have to execute on a high-level. Follow your keys and your rules.
On Clemson’s offense:
They have so many playmakers, you can’t really neutralize just one because another will step up. You have to win your battles more times than they win theirs.
J.K. Dobbins, RB
On relationship with Jeff Okudah:
That’s my brother. We both come from Texas and came a long way from home so we bonded. We came from the same situation, he lost his mom and I lost my father so we bonded really well. When we’re fifty-year-old men, we’ll still be talking to each other.
On summarizing his attitude when ball is in his hands:
Angry. I feel like I was doubted a lot this year and I feel like I have a lot to prove. A lot of people didn’t think I was a good running back and thought I was average. I don’t like being considered average.
Tuf Borland, LB
On the team mentality:
We’re just extremely excited for the challenge of playing Clemson and the opportunity to play at a high stage in college football. We’re kind of detaching from that emotion though because we have a job to do, guys have been practicing really well so we’re excited.
Wyatt Davis, OL
On Clemson’s defensive line:
They rotate a lot of guys and everyone they rotate in, are exceptional players. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us up front and we’re all looking forward to it.
On the team’s opportunity against Clemson:
It’s huge, it’s everything that we’ve worked for. The reason why you go to schools like this is right in front of us. For me, it’s been a dream come true to be in this situation. All we need to do is finish and not let all the hard work we put in the off season go to waste.
Chase Young, DE
On making the College Football Playoffs:
I think I’m most proud of my team. We’re in the playoffs and we’re definitely blessed to be here. I’m just proud of our focus as a group. We’ve been trying to do everything right all season, and I couldn’t be more proud of the guys. It definitely feels good to see all of our hard work paying off.
Justin Fields, QB
On the defense that Clemson will be facing:
Clemson already knows this but we have great athletes on defense. I think we have a bunch of talent on defense and they do too. We match up well talent wise and it’s going to come down to execution and who plays the toughest.
