Monday Media Day Quotes
8/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 31, 2010
Head Coach Gary Pinkel
On Derrick Washington's suspension:
"Good afternoon. I guess I should mention that we all know that Derrick was charged this afternoon. According to University Athletic Department policy, he'll be indefinitely suspended. It is a very, very serious matter and a serious subject and we're going to let the process take its course."
Update on injuries:
"Munir Prince is doing really, really well. He's out of the hospital. He was out of the hospital the next day and he's moving around fine. What they're going to do is give him an MRI and CAT Scan, and redo those tests the next couple weeks and then sit down with the medical staff and his family and myself and discuss his future. But the good news is he's doing well."
"Donovan Bonner had surgery last Friday. He's doing well and we'll redshirt him this year."
"Jarrell Harrison, we have him at second team right now. He's doing well and working hard. We have to see where he's going as far as swelling is concerned, but right now he's doing very, very well. He's competing and I think he most likely will play."
"Jerrell Jackson has just had a great recovery. He will play with a small cast on his hand and has really done just remarkably well. I just could've never projected that a guy could do what he's doing out there, but he's a very talented athlete and it is certainly a positive we have back."
"De'Vion Moore is nursing a big toe injury. He looked real good yesterday in practice and we're hoping that we're a hundred percent there."
On Saturday's game with Illinois:
"I'm excited about the game Saturday in St. Louis. St. Louis does a great job of putting this on. We all know it's a bowl type atmosphere. It is exciting for our players and it is certainly exciting for our fans and it is always difficult to play a game of this magnitude starting off the season. You have to be good right out of the shoot. As we all want to improve and become a better football team as the season goes on, this is the kind of game where you have to play well right away."
"I think they are a real good football team. We've got to be prepared for anything and everything, but we are excited about the opportunity. It's great that it is game week and our players are excited about it and we've done a lot of preparation like everyone has around the country and it's time to play and time to see where we are at."
On Blaine Gabbert having a year of experience under his belt:
"I think the things slowdown and continuously slowdown as you mature. The defenses you see, your knowledge of the game and where to go instead of Coach Yost just kind of keeping you here and make a decision here. You can see a different coverage and throw to the other side of the field just because of your knowledge base. I think a combination of all of those things, plus he's more mature and his leadership is different. He's a very talented guy and he's worked tremendously hard to up his game to a different level."
On moving Jerrell Jackson to the outside WR position:
"What you do is number your receivers. So when he comes back you look at him, and you look at T.J. Moe and Wes Kemp and we would put T.J. behind Jerrell and we would say who are the three best wide receivers at this time. And that's why we made the adjustment. It would be a lot easier to put him at X than put T.J. back out at X."
On Kendial Lawrence or De'Vion Moore taking over as starter:
"I think you mature so much in your second year. I think he is a very talented player. He and De'Vion (Moore) are both really good players. De'Vion obviously has more experience than he does but I think they'll do a great job. And I think when the dust settles, I think they are excited about the opportunity and feel a sense of responsibility and accountability to their team. They want to produce to help their team."
QB Blaine Gabbert
On how the team is handling the week's events:
"Every team is going to have its adversity. Ours just all happened to be at the beginning. We're going to fight through it and do our best."
On Jerrell Jackson coming back from injury:
"Having Jerrell back is a big boost to our offense. He hasn't been hindered one bit by his injury and were looking forward to a big season for him."
On outdoing his performance from last year:
"That just has to do with our preparation and we've been working hard all preseason long for this game. We have a lot of guys from the St. Louis area so its always fun for us to get back there and show them what we've been doing."
On Illinois being a challenge this year:
"They are extremely talented. They have a new defensive coordinator from Kansas State and they have a bunch of talent on the defensive side. They have Martez Wilson back from a neck injury and they are just anxious to get things rolling, much like we are."
WR T.J. Moe
On difference as a player from last year:
"I think its good for me to be out there, especially getting some reps with the 1s. A lot of it is because Jerell got injured but I got in there a little bit with the 1s and I got comfortable with Blaine throwing me the ball. I feel a lot better than I did last year."
On Jerrell Jackson being moved to another receiver position:
"It's good. I feel like I'm more of an inside guy and they think he's more flexible so he can go play outside. When you have a guy as talented as Jerrell he can really play anywhere. He can help the football in other places and I think that's good for us."
On Blaine Gabbert's progress from last season:
"I think Blaine has progressed to the best quarterback in the country. You're not going to find a guy who can make the throws he can make. Yesterday he threw a dart 40-yards downfield at me and there are just not that many guys who can do that. He's got incredible arm strength and he's a really great guy."
On how he is preparing for the game:
"We just all have to step up, stay focused and be ready to play the game. That's what it's all about. I haven't played in a game in about a year so I'm excited to get back out there. "
On the rivalry with Illinois:
"I think it's a big game. They are a great team. I think both states pride themselves on winning the game so it's kind of like a bowl game. A lot of the guys on the team are from St. Louis so there are a lot of St. Louis fans out there. It's just a crazy atmosphere."
