November 02, 1999
On the Conference Race:
"When you go into the season, you never know what's going to happen. You're playing every week to enhance your chances for what might be out there. We took a good step forward this past week. We're still in the race for some different opportunities. Two years ago we were in the same situation and we needed some things to happen, and those things did happen. We're not really worried about all that right now. You just play every week and try to do the best you can do. You can't sit back and say what you're going to do for the entire season. You have to look at as a week to week deal. We qualified for a bowl this past weekend, and now every game we win enhances our bowl possibilities, and the possibilities of winning the south division could work out, but winning this weekend is more important than all of that."
On Nebraska:
"We have so much respect for Nebraska, that I felt after the game in `97 that we may have given them a little too much respect, but after analyzing it a little more, I realized that we just got beat by a really great football team. Last year we had more confidence going into the game, and I think we did a better job in preparation. I think we will go into the game this year with the mentality that we're going to play to win this ball game. If we're good enough then we'll have a chance to do it. Playing them in Lincoln will add a little bit to it. They have been great at home."
On the Team's Attitude:
"I think our team felt much better about themselves after last week's game on both sides of the ball. They certainly felt like they got back on the right track. I saw some genuine enthusiasm, emotion, and excitement in the locker room after the game. It made me feel good to see the team feeling good. That is definitely a positive going into the preparation for this week's ballgame."
On the Importance of the Running Game This Week:
"We won't have a chance in this game if we go in there having to throw it every down. We've got to be able to make some positive yards running the football. I thought we did some things better this past week. One of the things that has been a problem for us all year is a lack of continuity in our offensive line. We've also had injury problems in the backfield."
On Matt Bumgardner:
"He's just a real consistent guy that can come up with the big plays, has speed, and has toughness. He's one of those guys that adds something special that rubs off on the rest of the team."
On Roylin Bradley:
"He had a good game Saturday. I didn't see if he was playing any harder than he had before. It was just one of those days where it turned out, he had a good game. I think he has had a solid season so far."
On the Defensive Line:
"Part of Nebraska's plan is to push the line of scrimmage back. One advantage that we have, is that we have pretty good quickness on the defensive line. We're not a huge physical defensive line, but we do have pretty good team speed and good athletic ability, and I thought that helped us last year, and I hope it helps us this year."
On Preparing for Nebraska's Option Offense:
"They have an unusual offense. It's hard to prepare for them in a week's time. We're teaching techniques that we used to teach all the time, and we were really good at, but our kids today have no clue about because with the offenses today, you don't have to. They have the complete offensive package. They also line up in a lot of different formations."
On Nebraska's Field:
"I've talked to a lot of people about it. I've talked to coaches whose teams have played there and their equipment guys, and we don't anticipate any problems."