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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Gophers Meet the Media
10/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
University of Minnesota head football coach Tim Brewster is excited about going to Penn State this weekend to face the nationally-ranked Nittany Lions for a number of reasons.
Penn State is No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 14 in the Associated Press rankings. The Nittany Lions are 5-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play. Their only blemish is a 21-10 setback to undefeated Iowa.
“Obviously we've got a tremendous challenge,” Brewster said about this week’s game. “We're facing a great coach. We're facing a great team on the road in their house. Everybody understands what an environment it is when you go play at Penn State.”
But that environment is one of the reasons Brewster is so looking forward to this game.
“I love it,” Brewster said. “I love the challenge that going on the road and playing a really good football team presents to your team. I think it says so much about your team, how you prepare and how you respond to that situation.”
Brewster is also excited to coach against legendary Penn State head coach Joe Paterno. Brewster didn’t get to play against a Paterno-coached team in his collegiate career and this is his first opportunity to face him as a head coach.
“It's very exciting for me,” Brewster said. “It's very meaningful. You're going into truly one of the great football venues in America today in Penn State. You're gonna play in front of over 100,000 fans, against a living legend. That's pretty exciting.“
The Gopher players are looking forward to the opportunity presented to them this Saturday, as well. See even more of what the Gophers had to say in the video below.
“We’ve got a tough test this week,” All-America candidate wide receiver Eric Decker said. “Penn State is a fun place to play. They’re a good team, they pose some challenges for us. But we’re excited about it.”
“We just need to stay focused and take advantage of opportunities,” senior linebacker Lee Campbell said. “Last Saturday, we took advantage of opportunities. The ball came our way and we caught it. We had an opportunity to block it and we blocked it. I think it’s going to be a big-time defensive battle.”
Senior cornerback Traye Simmons is looking forward to playing on the rather large stage of Beaver Stadium in front of a national television audience (ABC regionally, ESPN mirror for the rest of the nation). Simmons felt he had his best game of the season in a big environment at Ohio State last season, so he is hoping to replicate that this week.
“I think I play my best games when the flames are hottest,” Simmons said. “I’m anxious to play in Beaver Stadium.”
However, Simmons knows he and the Gopher defenders have their hands full with the Penn State offense, which is led by quarterback Daryll Clark.
“He’s a very good quarterback,” Simmons said. “He’s consistent as far as making the right throws. His receivers are real good. They complement him a lot . He can scramble. He’s a very smart quarterback, who won’t force the ball at all."
-Andy Seeley
