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University of Minnesota Athletics
Player Comments From Football Press Conference vs. Purdue
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
GOPHER PLAYER COMMENTS (PRESS CONF. AT PURDUE - 9/19/06)
QB Bryan Cupito
On the score of the game vs Purdue:
“If it is high-scoring I hope we score more than them. I have watched a lot of their film and they have a lot of new guys, and some guys that left for the draft, so that hurts their team. They have a good offense and great receivers. We just have to score a lot of points and it could be a shoot-out but maybe not, we just have to be ready.”
On Purdue’s young defense:
“They have played a different defense every game so far. I don’t know if they are messing with us or they have just had some easier games than us. They didn’t show a whole lot against Ball State and Miami of Ohio, but I am predicting that they are going to play the same defense we saw last year.”
“Every defense affects our offense a little bit. We will prepare for a lot of different defenses which is a lot to do in one week, but we will find a way to do it.”
On getting the ball to Ernie Wheelwright:
“I felt bad that I didn’t get him the ball more in Saturday’s game [vs. Temple]. It is tough when you practice hard all week and I just didn’t him the ball. I told him it just didn’t fit well, we only threw the ball a couple of times and Logan was having a great game. Hopefully this week will be Erine’s week. I felt like it was my responsibility to get him the ball and I didn’t. I felt bad. He had a great attitude about it and I told him I would get him the ball more.”
On Logan Payne’s performance:
“Logan had a great game. If I get him in the game and a chance to make plays after he catches the ball, he can do that and he showed it Saturday. I just have to continue to give him the ball in that situation.”
On our running game:
“I think we will find out a lot about our running game this weekend, we will find out a lot about our team this weekend. I think this will be a huge game to see where we are at.”
WR Logan Payne
“The last game was fun for me to finally catch some passes and make some plays for the team. I am feeling good and I think our team is finally feeling good, which is most important going into the Big Ten season. We are excited to finally get going with conference play.”
On his relationship with QB Cupito:
“We have really bonded and as a receiver you always want to make sure that the QB likes you and depend on you. I try not to drop any passes because he doesn’t like that. He made some good reads and we connected a couple of times.”
On Purdue:
“Any Big Ten opponent is going to be a grind. They have lost a lot of guys and we have lost a bunch of guys too. They have a great defense that has been successful that last couple of years, it is going to be a tough game.”
On Minnesota’s offense vs. Temple:
“Obviously we made a couple mistakes here and there but I think we cleaned it up as far as the rookie mistakes that we were making. I think we had a good game overall.”
“Anywhere you play in the Big Ten is going to be a great atmosphere and we are excited about going there and showing them our improvements.”
LB Mike Sherels
On Purdue:
“Purdue’s offense does a lot of things well, especially around Dorien Bryant, a great athlete. He exposed us a lot last year so we are looking forward to playing them. You have to get to Bryant early and control him early.”
On being Purdue’s Homecoming game:
“We like being the Homecoming opponent, the atmosphere will be that much more intense. That is the reason why we play Big Ten football; we are looking forward to it. “
On Sherels’ game for Saturday:
“I have to buckle down and play reads and play my game and not try to do too much. I can’t worry about what is going on on the backside, I just have to do what I have to do.”
On it being a shootout this weekend:
“I hope not. That is not something you want from the defensive side of the ball. You want a controlled, slow-paced game. If a shootout happens our offensive will be ready and our defense will be up for the challenge. It is kind of a big statement game to find out where we lineup in the Big Ten.”
OT Steve Shidell
On the game:
“I think both teams are in a position right now where we are both coming off our non-conference schedule, where we were challenged by Cal, but I think both teams will have a struggle playing each other and it will be a good test for both teams to show where we are at.”
Purdue’s defense:
“They have some talented players. They have some players that can make plays and their defense is good even though they are young. It is going to be a test for us to run the ball. They are showing the same defense that they were last year but we have to go in there and perform to our ability and do what we can to win the ballgame.”
Momentum from Big Ten Schedule:
“There is no doubt that a big win would help us gain momentum going into the Big Ten schedule and a win would start us off on the right foot. We have to play the way we know how to play and let the game go from there.”
QB Bryan Cupito
On the score of the game vs Purdue:
“If it is high-scoring I hope we score more than them. I have watched a lot of their film and they have a lot of new guys, and some guys that left for the draft, so that hurts their team. They have a good offense and great receivers. We just have to score a lot of points and it could be a shoot-out but maybe not, we just have to be ready.”
On Purdue’s young defense:
“They have played a different defense every game so far. I don’t know if they are messing with us or they have just had some easier games than us. They didn’t show a whole lot against Ball State and Miami of Ohio, but I am predicting that they are going to play the same defense we saw last year.”
“Every defense affects our offense a little bit. We will prepare for a lot of different defenses which is a lot to do in one week, but we will find a way to do it.”
On getting the ball to Ernie Wheelwright:
“I felt bad that I didn’t get him the ball more in Saturday’s game [vs. Temple]. It is tough when you practice hard all week and I just didn’t him the ball. I told him it just didn’t fit well, we only threw the ball a couple of times and Logan was having a great game. Hopefully this week will be Erine’s week. I felt like it was my responsibility to get him the ball and I didn’t. I felt bad. He had a great attitude about it and I told him I would get him the ball more.”
On Logan Payne’s performance:
“Logan had a great game. If I get him in the game and a chance to make plays after he catches the ball, he can do that and he showed it Saturday. I just have to continue to give him the ball in that situation.”
On our running game:
“I think we will find out a lot about our running game this weekend, we will find out a lot about our team this weekend. I think this will be a huge game to see where we are at.”
WR Logan Payne
“The last game was fun for me to finally catch some passes and make some plays for the team. I am feeling good and I think our team is finally feeling good, which is most important going into the Big Ten season. We are excited to finally get going with conference play.”
On his relationship with QB Cupito:
“We have really bonded and as a receiver you always want to make sure that the QB likes you and depend on you. I try not to drop any passes because he doesn’t like that. He made some good reads and we connected a couple of times.”
On Purdue:
“Any Big Ten opponent is going to be a grind. They have lost a lot of guys and we have lost a bunch of guys too. They have a great defense that has been successful that last couple of years, it is going to be a tough game.”
On Minnesota’s offense vs. Temple:
“Obviously we made a couple mistakes here and there but I think we cleaned it up as far as the rookie mistakes that we were making. I think we had a good game overall.”
“Anywhere you play in the Big Ten is going to be a great atmosphere and we are excited about going there and showing them our improvements.”
LB Mike Sherels
On Purdue:
“Purdue’s offense does a lot of things well, especially around Dorien Bryant, a great athlete. He exposed us a lot last year so we are looking forward to playing them. You have to get to Bryant early and control him early.”
On being Purdue’s Homecoming game:
“We like being the Homecoming opponent, the atmosphere will be that much more intense. That is the reason why we play Big Ten football; we are looking forward to it. “
On Sherels’ game for Saturday:
“I have to buckle down and play reads and play my game and not try to do too much. I can’t worry about what is going on on the backside, I just have to do what I have to do.”
On it being a shootout this weekend:
“I hope not. That is not something you want from the defensive side of the ball. You want a controlled, slow-paced game. If a shootout happens our offensive will be ready and our defense will be up for the challenge. It is kind of a big statement game to find out where we lineup in the Big Ten.”
OT Steve Shidell
On the game:
“I think both teams are in a position right now where we are both coming off our non-conference schedule, where we were challenged by Cal, but I think both teams will have a struggle playing each other and it will be a good test for both teams to show where we are at.”
Purdue’s defense:
“They have some talented players. They have some players that can make plays and their defense is good even though they are young. It is going to be a test for us to run the ball. They are showing the same defense that they were last year but we have to go in there and perform to our ability and do what we can to win the ballgame.”
Momentum from Big Ten Schedule:
“There is no doubt that a big win would help us gain momentum going into the Big Ten schedule and a win would start us off on the right foot. We have to play the way we know how to play and let the game go from there.”
Players Mentioned
QB
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LB
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