Northwestern University Athletics
Monday Football Press Conference Quotes
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
October 20, 1998
Northwestern Football Press Conference
Monday, Oct. 19, 1998
Head coach Gary Barnett on NU's effort vs. Michigan:
"I told the kids yesterday that I was really proud to be one of their coaches with the effort they gave. They played with more emotion than any team we've ever had here. I can't tell you how proud I was of our effort."
Barnett on playing No. 1 Ohio State this week:
"You turn on the film, and you just go, 'Wow!' I know I haven't seen a better football team. We're back to being just the Big Ten because those guys are in a different league right now. It should be a treat to watch them. It's going to be a treat to try and prepare for them. It's more than an opportunity. We're gathering momentum from the way we've played the last two weeks. I expect us to capitalize on that, take another step forward on Saturday and make this into one heck of a football game. I know that we're going to play hard. Our kids are going to be excited."
Barnett on his team:
"We're a team that's still together. We're still fighting for each other. We're still trusting and believing in each other and we're getting better."
Barnett on Ohio State:
"I've watched six films and it's just incredible how consistent they are. No one's even come close to these guys. They just don't seem to make many mistakes. They bring a lot of things at you defensively. Offensively, they just have so many weapons. You need a little luck. You need some breaks in a game like this. We're going to have to play flawlessly."
Barnett on Gavin Hoffman:
"I think he's making a lot of progress. He's a great kid to coach. He's not trying to be everything to everybody at this point in his career. He's very bright and very conscientious. He's a fun kid to coach. He knows the situation that he's in and the pressure that he's under. He's confident in himself. He knows his role is critical to this team. I don't think we've done anything, or any of the players have done anything, to make him feel that he's letting them down, because he certainly hasnt."
Barnett on Barry Gardner being left off the Butkus Award semifinalist ballot:
"People who vote on these things obviously don't get to see all the players play. If there's a linebacker that's more qualified than Barry to be on that list, then he must be pretty good. I think if I were Dick Butkus and Barry Gardner wasn't on the top 10, I'd look into it."
Senior linebacker Barry Gardner on playing Ohio State:
"We've got to play solid defense. We can't make mistakes. We've got to execute our game plan."
Gardner on playing Ohio State:
"If you don't get fired up to play the No. 1 team in the country, then you don't deserve to be playing the game. That's more than enough to get us ready. I'm going to do what I do every Saturday and that's go out and try and make as many tackles as I can and help this team win. I'm going to leave it all out on the field."
Junior tight end Jay Tant:
"Certainly for this game, I'm pretty charged up. There are a number of factors that go into it. My grandfather pitched baseball at Ohio State, so ever since I was a child there was a little feud between us. He was the big Ohio State fan and I was always against him, just to give him a hard time. Their drop (linebacker) was my quarterback in high school. Now I'll be going up against him."
Tant on Ohio State:
"I've already watched a little Ohio State film and I can't believe the defensive speed. Just from watching Michigan to Ohio State, there's a world of difference."
Senior wide receiver D'Wayne Bates:
"This is my first opportunity to go against the Buckeyes. I look forward to the challenge. They're a very good team. There's a reason why they're ranked No. 1."
