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University of Minnesota Athletics
Player Press Conference Quotes
11/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Tight End Jack Simmons:
On playing Wisconsin:
“It is a big game especially because we want to get this win. I think it will be a big chance to propel us for next year if we come out strong, play great against Wisconsin and get the axe.
“If we come out, play well and the defense takes the momentum from last week and if we can step it up on offense it will be a very exciting opportunity for us.”
On the importance of sending senior players out on a high note:
“It is definitely vitally important. They deserve a win especially in a game like this, a big rivalry game. Some players from both teams know each other. They have played each other in high school and in different situations like that. It is really exciting for us to have the opportunity to send the seniors off on a right note.”
On not winning a game since September 8:
“It is frustrating, but I think the thing around here that is exciting is that we haven’t given up. We have played hard every week. We just have to continue to keep on getting better, stop hurting ourselves because a lot of time we come in on Sundays and we see the mistakes we have made that have really cost us games.”
Center Tony Brinkhaus:
On his final game:
“It is kind of crazy to think that this is going to be my last press conference but I have had a great time at this university and I don’t have any regrets.”
On staying positive:
“It’s hard because we haven’t been winning, but we’ve stayed positive every week and I honestly have gone into every game thinking that we had a chance to win. Maybe that’s just because I’m an older guy and I’ve been around, but you just can’t control the past and you can only control what is to come and I think we’ve done a good job keeping our heads up and getting ready each week.”
On whether the Iowa game gives the team more confidence that they can beat Wisconsin:
“There is no such thing as a moral victory here. A loss is a loss, but I think that even granted our record doesn’t show that we’re a very good team right now I think we’ve played in a lot of games this year. If we put together four quarters of football, I think we give ourselves a chance to win. If we don’t, we’re probably not going to win. We just need to put it together for four quarters.”
Linebacker Mike Sherels
On the positives of the year:
“There have been a lot of positives this year, beginning with this group of guys and the coaching staff. The progress they have made toward their future and particularly this program is good to see.”
On the rivalry with Wisconsin:
“It’s very special. There’s definitely a point of pride right there and there’s a history to this game. It’s one of the most bitter rivalries in all of sports, so it’s one that you don’t have to really prepare to get up for.”
On preparing for the game, given the team’s record:
“This week, it’s our last game. We have 16 seniors on this team and a bunch of other who don’t want to go out with a loss. This is our last chance to end the year on a high note; to go and get some momentum going into next year for the other guys. For the seniors, our motivation to win kind of speaks for itself. We’ve had a disappointing year, and we have a chance to get a trophy and to get something out of this season and to go out on a high note and be remembered for something.”
On playing Wisconsin:
“It is a big game especially because we want to get this win. I think it will be a big chance to propel us for next year if we come out strong, play great against Wisconsin and get the axe.
“If we come out, play well and the defense takes the momentum from last week and if we can step it up on offense it will be a very exciting opportunity for us.”
On the importance of sending senior players out on a high note:
“It is definitely vitally important. They deserve a win especially in a game like this, a big rivalry game. Some players from both teams know each other. They have played each other in high school and in different situations like that. It is really exciting for us to have the opportunity to send the seniors off on a right note.”
On not winning a game since September 8:
“It is frustrating, but I think the thing around here that is exciting is that we haven’t given up. We have played hard every week. We just have to continue to keep on getting better, stop hurting ourselves because a lot of time we come in on Sundays and we see the mistakes we have made that have really cost us games.”
Center Tony Brinkhaus:
On his final game:
“It is kind of crazy to think that this is going to be my last press conference but I have had a great time at this university and I don’t have any regrets.”
On staying positive:
“It’s hard because we haven’t been winning, but we’ve stayed positive every week and I honestly have gone into every game thinking that we had a chance to win. Maybe that’s just because I’m an older guy and I’ve been around, but you just can’t control the past and you can only control what is to come and I think we’ve done a good job keeping our heads up and getting ready each week.”
On whether the Iowa game gives the team more confidence that they can beat Wisconsin:
“There is no such thing as a moral victory here. A loss is a loss, but I think that even granted our record doesn’t show that we’re a very good team right now I think we’ve played in a lot of games this year. If we put together four quarters of football, I think we give ourselves a chance to win. If we don’t, we’re probably not going to win. We just need to put it together for four quarters.”
Linebacker Mike Sherels
On the positives of the year:
“There have been a lot of positives this year, beginning with this group of guys and the coaching staff. The progress they have made toward their future and particularly this program is good to see.”
On the rivalry with Wisconsin:
“It’s very special. There’s definitely a point of pride right there and there’s a history to this game. It’s one of the most bitter rivalries in all of sports, so it’s one that you don’t have to really prepare to get up for.”
On preparing for the game, given the team’s record:
“This week, it’s our last game. We have 16 seniors on this team and a bunch of other who don’t want to go out with a loss. This is our last chance to end the year on a high note; to go and get some momentum going into next year for the other guys. For the seniors, our motivation to win kind of speaks for itself. We’ve had a disappointing year, and we have a chance to get a trophy and to get something out of this season and to go out on a high note and be remembered for something.”
Players Mentioned
OC
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LB
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