Player Comments from Weekly Press Conference
11/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Weekly Football Media Luncheon
Senior Running Back Clarence Williams
On what he has been through this year ...
"There have been a lot of ups and downs. The way you measure an individual is how they deal with adversity and how they deal with things when they aren't going well. I think I've handled myself very well. I kept a positive attitude, always believed in myself and I think things have turned out well. I've prayed, believed in myself and increased my work ethic. I don't think anything is wrong with my skills; I just needed an opportunity to go out and play. I overcame everything, it's all behind me now and I'm a better person because of the adversity I faced earlier."
On what it is going to be like playing Ohio State ...
"It's going to be a special game. One, because it's Ohio State and two, because it's my last game against them. Ohio State is going to bring out the best in everybody. Our minds are focused on Ohio State and that's it right now. We want to win this game because this is the biggest game on our schedule year in and year out. We prepare harder for this game than any other week. We watch more film and just think and concentrate on the game ahead of us."
On what has to be done to beat Ohio State ...
"We definitely have to run the football. Any time you can have a successful running game it can open up so many other opportunities."
Junior Defensive Lineman Rob Renes
On Ohio State's offense ...
"Ohio State is the best team in the country. Ohio State is still the same team that was rated No. 1 throughout most of the season. They are undoubtedly one of the best teams that I've ever been fortunate enough to watch. They are so versatile on offense that our defense cannot concentrate on just one or two guys. They have more than one guy who can make a play offensively and their quarterback does a great job of commanding their offense. They have an offensive line that is much improved from last year and they were already good last year. They can put a lot of points on the board very quickly."
On what needs to be done to beat Ohio State ...
"We're going to have to do our best job as a defensive front if not to stop, at least to slow down their offensive attack. We're going to have to get after them up front and get some great pressure on (quarterback Joe) Germaine. If he has time to throw the ball, he's definitely going to hit one of his big play guys. (Wide receiver David) Boston has made some great plays not only catching the ball but running after he catches the ball. We're happy that we've been playing our best football as of late and that we have an opportunity of playing an outstanding Ohio State football team. We're going to go out there and play our best football and have a great day of it."
Senior Inside Linebacker Sam Sword
On the magnitude of the Michigan-Ohio State game ...
"It is as big of a game as I've played in since I've been here. To go to the Rose Bowl two consecutive times would be a great way to end my career here at Michigan. It is a great challenge for this Michigan team to go down to Columbus and clinch a second consecutive trip to Pasadena. We know the only way we can go back to the Rose Bowl is to beat Ohio State next weekend. I'm pretty sure that they don't want us to go to the Rose Bowl, so it's going to be a great challenge for us."
On what it is going to take to beat Ohio State ...
"It is going to take a total team effort. Offensively we're going to have to play the best game we've played this year, and defensively we're going to need to do the same. There's little room for error when you go down to Columbus. They're a great football team. The game is going to be decided by what happens on the field, not by what some expert says about how many points they are going to beat us by. We're going to try to keep the game close and get into the fourth quarter and see what happens."
On Michigan's turnaround after losing the first two games ...
"It was real disappointing those first two weeks and I had to be more vocal, to do whatever I could to try to rally the team. I felt like I was letting the team down with how I was playing. Playing with more intensity, playing with fire, has been the key to our turnaround."
Senior Wide Receiver Tai Streets
On the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry ...
"It's a huge game. It has been a great rivalry while I have been playing here and I am excited just to be a part of it."
On Michigan's recent success over Ohio State ...
"It is hard to explain. I guess we just happened to play better on those given days. Ohio State has had some great teams over the past few years, so it is something that is difficult to explain. Both of our teams are well-prepared and it is always a tight game, but somehow we have been lucky enough to come out on top lately."
On playing in Ohio Stadium ...
"It is a great atmosphere to play in and that is how you want your home crowd to act in terms of being loud and into the game. I always enjoy playing in that type of environment. Ohio State is probably the loudest in the Big Ten and it is great because that type of atmosphere is what college football is all about."
On Ohio State's defensive backs ...
"They have a great defensive backfield. This will be the best secondary we have seen all year and they present a great challenge for our wide receivers. It is our job to accept that challenge and try to get open to make things easier for our quarterback (Tom Brady)."
On the intensity of the Michigan-Ohio State series ...
"This is definitely a very hard-hitting game. In order to survive you have to tough, because you know Ohio State is going to bring everything they have. If you are tough or competitive, you want to play in this game because there are 22 fierce competitors out on that field."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
