Player Comments from Pre-Citrus Bowl Press Conference
12/15/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Michigan Football Press Conference
Sophomore Offensive Lineman Steve Hutchinson
On Arkansas' defense ...
"In watching film they remind a lot of Ohio State in terms of their quickness defensively and the fact they like to blitz. They are also big up front defensively and present the type of team you want to play in a bowl game because it will be a challenge. Their defensive line is big and quick, which means they can get good pressure on the quarterback, so we will have to be ready."
On the anticipation of playing Arkansas ...
"We are excited to play Arkansas because of how good they are. The fact they should have beat Tennessee along with winning nine games in as good a conference as the SEC makes them a team we are excited about playing. You hear a lot about the SEC and the Big Ten nationwide, and we are looking forward to a matchup with an SEC school."
On Michigan's running game ...
"We always want to run the football. However, we have struggled at times with our running game so it is important for us to work hard and be able to establish a running game against Arkansas."
On getting acclimated to the weather ...
"That is why we are going down early like we did at the Rose Bowl last year, because it takes about a week to get used the heat."
Looking back on the 1998 season ...
"Obviously the season did not start the way we wanted it to, but we battled back and won a share of the Big Ten championship, so this team has nothing to hang its head about. In addition, this bowl game is very important because we do not want a four-loss season again and 10 wins represents a very successful season to me."
Senior Wide Receiver Tai Streets
On the importance of playing in the Citrus Bowl ...
"It is extremely important for us to win this game because it is in a great bowl against a SEC team. I can tell from film that they have a great defense and we will need to play our best game of the year to win."
On playing in his last game as a Wolverine ...
"I have not thought about that very much. I have been just trying to focus on preparing to play the best game I can in the Citrus Bowl. I am sure it will be emotional for me afterwards, but I have not given it much thought."
On Arkansas' secondary ...
"Their secondary is fast, talented and very well-coached, so it is going to be a test and we will have to be ready. They like to cover man-to-man, but I am sure they will mix in at least a little bit of zone."
On having a month to prepare for Arkansas ...
"If you use your time wisely then you should be more prepared for this game than any other during the course of the season. Aside from the first game of the season, this game gives you the most opportunity to prepare for your opponent."
Junior Linebacker James Hall
On playing an SEC team ...
"It is an opportunity to play a great team from a tremendous conference. There is always a lot of talk across the nation about which conference is the best and this provides us with a great opportunity to improve the Big Ten's reputation."
On Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner ...
"He looks like a great athlete on film and he does not make many mistakes. His decision-making is very impressive and he has a quality offensive line in front of him, which will make it tough on us. We definitely cannot let him just sit back in the pocket and pick us apart. We went into last year's Rose Bowl with the same mentality, because we did not let (Washington State's) Ryan Leaf just stand in the pocket and deliver the ball. We need to do similar things this year."
On the importance of having a 10-win season ...
"Although it might not be fair, the perception is that a 9-4 record would mean we had a mediocre season. So we want to win 10 games to go along with our Big Ten championship to make this a extremely successful season."
Junior Quarterback Tom Brady
Comparing the Big Ten, SEC and Pac-10 ...
"There are great teams in all of the conferences. They are definitely different styles. The Pac-10 favors the pass a lot more while the Big Ten favors the rushing attack. The SEC favors passing also. From what I've seen in SEC teams -- we played Alabama a couple of years ago -- they are a little bit smaller in terms of size, but every bit as fast and a lot of times faster, so we definitely have a challenge against Arkansas."
On the importance of the Citrus Bowl ...
"It's as important as any big bowl game can be. We are 9-3, we've won nine of our last 10. To win this game would put a nice touch on the end of the season. That would be 10 wins, and winning 10 our of our last 11, beating a very good bowl opponent, beating some very good Big Ten teams after starting out 0-2. It would just cap off a championship season."
On the Arkansas defense ...
"From the three or four games I've seen, they do pressure the quarterback a lot, they run some man blitzes. They don't have an incredible amount of coverages like some of the teams we've played, but what they do run they run very effectively. They could have beaten Tennessee. They have played some very good football on defense."
On the weather factor ...
"The weather in Big Ten football is definitely a factor. It does get cold, though fortunately it hasn't been too cold this year. It makes throwing the ball difficult, but when you get down there in the warm weather on the nice field, it makes for perfect conditions for a passing attack."
On the Michigan receiving corps ...
"Dave Terrell is definitely maturing with each game. He's going to be a spectacular player. He's got a great attitude. He wants the football. He's just going to get better because he works hard and has fun out there playing. Marquise (Walker) will be another player. You haven't seen as much of him, but he is going to be a great player. DiAllo Johnson has progressed throughout the season, in practice and in the games. Our receivers have played great all season and I don't expect that to change January 1st."
On his progress as quarterback ...
"Maturing and becoming a championship quarterback is a process. It's not a certain play or certain game. I think over the course of the season you learn to develop a style and swagger so your teammates respond and you are able to lead the team. Playing quarterback isn't necessarily just about throwing touchdown passes. It's about getting victories for your team. As the season goes along and the games get more difficult, you have more responsibility to put yourself and your team in a position to win games."
On the all of the festivities and ceremonies that go along with the bowl game ...
"At times, it's awfully fun, but there are times when you just want to relax. A week and a half before the game when there are activities going on, you just have to remember that is part of the bowl experience and those are the memories you will take away with you. It's all fun for the players as a reward for a great season."
Junior Defensive Lineman Rob Renes
On the Arkansas quarterback ...
"The big thing is that he gets in such a great rhythm and he's fortunate that he has that capability because of the guys that are in front of him. They have an All-America candidate at center and two great guards. The center makes really good decisions and a lot of that has to do with the type of game they play and the balanced attack."
On preparing for the warm weather ...
"That's a two-part process. We've been preparing for the bowl since we found out where we were going. They (the coaches) have been trying to mimic some the things with conditioning and weather conditions. That is another reason we are going to try to go down there a couple days earlier, so we can get acclimated."
On the practice schedule for a New Year's Day game ...
"I like the timing and the way we did it last year. In the Alamo Bowl, we were practicing on Christmas Day, which is kind of a drag especially for the young guys only to have meetings on a big holiday, not to be beating up on each other."
On playing in a bowl game ...
"Anytime you get to play in a bowl game, you really look forward to it. Knowing that it's going to be an SEC team that makes it even better, not only an SEC team, but also one of the better SEC teams. Arkansas really hasn't been given the credit they deserve. I think everybody knows they played a really tough game against Tennessee, and Mississippi State is a great team. The guys from the South understand what football is all about down there. We know they are going to give us their best punch and by the same token, we are really excited to be playing an SEC team."
On improving the Big Ten record against the SEC ...
"In my four years here, we have only won one bowl game and that's the thing that disappoints us. The SEC is so dominant for a good reason. They have great football down there. A lot of guys like the sun and the fun, they are just good year in and year out. I'm definitely not going to sit back and say we as Michigan or we as the Big Ten are going to step back and say they are the almighty. We were Big Ten champions again this year."
Is it easy to get caught up in all of the surroundings when you go to a place like Orlando
"You have to give our coaches a lot of credit. They keep us focused. There are a lot of great things, but that's when the seniors have to step in and remind the younger guys that we are down there for a reason. If you want to win, you have to stay focused."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
