Player Comments from Weekly Press Conference
11/23/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Weekly Football Media Luncheon
Senior Defensive End Juaquin Feazell
How difficult is it to get on a plane on Thanksgiving and go play a team that hasn't won in 17 games, especially after losing to Ohio State
"Well, losing to Ohio State is emotionally draining from the standpoint that it is a big rivalry game, and it (the Hawaii game) is a very important game for us to win at the end of the season. We have to go out and prepare the same way we would if we were playing any other team. We have to get better in practice because we can't take a team lightly just because of their record because they don't have anything to lose. It also affects the bowls as far as the standings and where we go."
On the mental preparation for the Hawaii game ...
"Coach Carr, in our meeting today, he showed us of the importance of this game and the week of practice. We just have to get better for this game. It's not a situation where we can just go out and say our season is over now. Our season is not over. We have another game to play and I think all of the guys know that."
Does the team feel like Big Ten champions
"Yeah, we are champions and we have something to be proud of. We lost our first two games and then we came back and didn't just fold and give up the season. We came back and earned the right to say 'we are Big Ten co-champions.' Unfortunately, we lost to Ohio State and lost our chance to go to the Rose Bowl, but we still have a share of the Big Ten championship."
On Wisconsin going to the Rose Bowl ...
"It's disappointing that we are not going to the Rose Bowl, not that they are going. They played well throughout the season and earned the right to go. They only lost one game in the Big Ten and that's just how things came out."
On the effect of playing in warm weather again after practicing in colder weather ... "I'm not sure how he (coach Carr) is going to go about practice this week. I'm sure practicing inside with the heat on is one avenue he could take. We know we have to condition and run and do the things that will prepare us to play in higher temperatures than we have been."
Senior Offensive Lineman Jon Jansen
On his injured hand ...
"It's sore right now, but it's going to be fine."
Where is the team emotionally
"Right now, we are really glad that the season is not over because we don't want to end the season on a loss. We're looking forward to going out to Hawaii and playing strong. Hopefully we will be able to end this season with a win."
Do you feel you are going to have to talk to the team to try to get them ready for this game
"No, I don't think so. In talking to the guys after the game and from talking to the guys today, it seems like everyone is interested in playing this game. We've had a successful season and we are co-Big Ten champs. Right now, we are a bit low because we lost to Ohio State, but we can't stay that way because we have another game coming up, which I think is great for us."
How appealing is a possible matchup with Florida (in the Citrus Bowl)
"There can be a lot of things that may happen in the next couple of weeks. They still have some games, but I think it would a great matchup."
On the play of the special teams ...
"One of the most important aspects of a football game is the special teams. We've struggled at times this year in that aspect and it came back to get us in the Ohio State game, but those weren't the only mistakes made in that game, so it's not the special team's loss and that is not our only problem. There are a lot of things we need to work on this week and sharpen up to play Hawaii."
Is Ohio State the best team in the country
"In my opinion, I think so. They have so many skilled guys at so many positions and they just make big plays. I just think they are the best team in the country right now."
Was the loss to Ohio State due to what Ohio State did or to what Michigan didn't do
"It was a little bit of both. Ohio State forced us to do some things we didn't want to, and we knew we were going to have to go out and play our best game of the season to beat a great team like that and we didn't do that."
On why Michigan gave up on the run ...
"There were a lot of things going on out there and we had to put some points up on the board and we had to do it to win the game, so we had to throw the ball a little bit more than was in the game plan."
On the Hawaii defense ...
"They have a quick defensive front, but then their linebackers are quick. They run a different defense than we usually see, so we are going to have to figure out what we will have to do to best attack them."
On playing in the different weather and getting acclimated to Hawaii in two days ...
"It's definitely going to be a change. There are different challenges we have to face. We are going to be in a different time zone and different weather, but we've played in some warm games in the beginning of the season. We've played in the morning, we've played at night, so I don't think it will be too much of a factor for us."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
