University of Minnesota Athletics
Player Quotes - NDSU
10/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Quarterback Adam Weber
On the Northwestern game:
“Its frustrating to lose those types of games. It’s something you have to learn from and just make those corrections so that when we get in that situation again, we can come out with a win.”
On NDSU:
“They’re a tough team to rebound against. They’re a good team and they’re playing really good football right now. I think we’re playing really good football, too it’s just that we’re not playing for 60 minutes and I think that’s going to be an important test for us this week against NDSU."
On what needs to change:
“Just valuing the football every time you have it and realizing that when you’re up by that much, clock management is really important and being aware of that, being consciously aware of the clock and taking care of the football.”
On guarding against dwelling on his interceptions
“A lot of [the interceptions] have come from weird plays, some tipped balls that as a quarterback, you have to find a good lane to throw it. That kind of takes experience, knowing when you can wait a little bit more to open up the lane and get the ball in there. The first one in this last game, that was me being not totally aware of the situation when things are going so well, you want to keep getting yards like that. I need to know that if the linebacker is dropping like that, I can dump it off and still get a couple yards and keep the drive going that was me just being a little greedy.”
Safety Dom Barber
On the approach for NDSU:
“We just have to go out and play our game and execute the plan. We just can’t get too overconfident. They’re a great team last year it was a 10-9 game. They’re a great team and we’ve just got to be ready to play.”
On last year’s game and whether the team was surprised by NDSU:
“Last year, we weren’t surprised at all. We knew they were a great team and that they were going to play hard and that’s exactly what they did. They executed their plan and they played really hard. We’ve just got to be ready for whatever they have for us and we have to be ready for Saturday.
On whether it is difficult to get excited to play a non-Big Ten, Division I-AA team:
“Not at all. They’re a great team and they’re undefeated. It doesn’t matter whether they’re I-AA or D-III, we just have to be ready to play. They’re 6-0, but I think if we play our game and execute the plan that the coaches lay out for us, we’ll be ok.”
Center Tony Brinkhaus
On last year’s game against NDSU:
“They kind of took it to us. We ended up winning the game, but they surprised a lot of us, but when they came in we knew that they were one of the top-rated teams, and it’s no different this year. They’re definitely a talented group and we’re going to prepare this week just like any other week.”
On playing NDSU this year:
“With them right on the border, there’s has certainly been a lot of talk between the fans from here and there. It’s definitely about pride at this point. We want to win this game, but in the end, its not different that any other game. I’m a competitive person and I expect to win every week, so it really is no different than any other game.”
On what he expects from NDSU and whether he thinks they’ve been gearing up since last year:
“There’s no doubt about it, they probably felt like they got robbed last year. They probably out-played us. They’re a team that’s coming in with a hot streak and a chip on their shoulder. For us, we’re just going to give everything we’ve got. We’ve done a great job this season preparing every week, we’re just come up short on game day a few times and there are some breaks here or there that just aren’t going our way. This week will be do different; we’re going to battle every day in practice and get ready for the game.”
Wide receiver Eric Decker
On the game:
“North Dakota State is a great team. We had a close one last year when they came here 10-9, and this is a big game for them because they’re not eligible for the playoffs since they jumped up from Division II, and we look at this like it’s their Super Bowl. Its close to home, it’s a big rival, I guess for them, and they’re going to bring a lot of fans in. We’re going to prepare like this is a Big Ten game, and we’re just going to go out there and try to play our game.”
On whether he considered attending NDSU:
“I talked to their coaches a little bit, but I told them the same thing I told everyone: that I was staying in Minnesota, whether I was going to a Division-I school or a Division-III school. I had a little interest, but I’m a Minnesota guy and I wasn’t leaving home.”
On knowing some of the NDSU players:
“They recruit the same region as us, and I know that they have between 25 and 30 guys on their roster from Minnesota and I played with a few; Nick Burton is a backup quarterback I played with him in an All-Star game in high school and a couple of other guys that are taking opportunities who didn’t get one here and are taking full advantage of it.”
