Sept. 22, 1999

On getting ready for Nebraska
"I think the key thing is that we came off the Western Michigan game with a victory and no injuries. Everybody was able to be on the practice field yesterday in full preparation for Nebraska."

On Nebraska's Defense
" I think Nebraska brings a fantastic defense to town. They're exceptionally tough against the run, one of the best running defenses I think I've seen and they have a great secondary. They've gotten the ball back for their offense 12 times in three games. When you look at the tapes on them, you see a lot of second and long and a ton of third and long, very few short-yardage defenses and almost no goal-line. I think there in lies the key to the game, we have to be able to move the ball against their defense."

On Nebraska's Offense
" Their offense is still a very powerful offense...great backs and Crouch their quarterback is a very fine option quarterback and they pretty much center things around him. I think what makes their offense particularly dangerous is they have an excellent running attack, but center around the option. They don't throw many times but when they do they get touchdowns because your safeties are focusing on the play action or the run action or the option and people get down field and they get some big plays that way." Nebraska's special teams Their special teams is another tough one. They block kicks, they return kicks. They have a great punter, he's one of the best punters I've seen. I think he's averaging about 50 yards, his longest being 73 yards. So, what you're battling with them is a great defense and a great punter which gets you in bad field position. That in itself is a real weapon and it has really helped them a lot in these first three games. They get people down there, then you get their defense to hold them, cause a turnover, that's how they landslide people." The game "Our football team is feeling very strong, we can battle with them, play nose-to-nose with them. I think it's going to be that kind of football game, a very physical game, a run-at-you type game and I think it's going to be whoever can crack the other guy's defense. It comes down to being able to run the ball the best, which ever team can.come up with the big plays in the pass game, which ever team can win the turnover margin and which ever team can win the kicking game."

On Dwayne Blakley
"He's the athlete, the complete tight end. He's still pretty young, the guy's a sophomore and he's still figuring out how to use his body. I think running the ball so much in the past two games has really opened him up in the passing game." Remembering the last two Nebraska games "What you remember is that we were in there both games and we lost. If we get a chance to win this time we'll win." On Brad Hammerich "When a team gains trust in their kicker, when you get down in the red-zone and don't score he's the guy that can get at least half of it back for you. Getting the ball down the field on the kickoff gives the guys enough time to get down there and make the plays. It picks everybody up."