Player Comments from
U-M Football Orange Bowl Preview
12/16/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Tom Brady | James Hall | Anthony Thomas
Senior Offensive Lineman Steve Hutchinson
On playing in Florida ... "I like it. It's where I'm from. For the last couple years, we've been going to good bowl games and I don't mind going to good bowl games."
On the tradition of Michigan's and Alabama's programs ... "Alabama has a great tradition that goes back almost as far as the University of Michigan's. They've had a big program over the years and this year they are one of the top teams in their conference and we're one of the top teams in ours. It's going to be a great game. When you play in a big game like this with such tradition, it is going to be a hard-nosed battle in there. The team that wins definitely will play their best football that day."
On the team's success riding on this bowl game ... "As a team we'd like to win 10 games. To have a 10-win season is pretty good for us. If you make it to a BCS bowl, you've obviously had a good season. Our season isn't a total failure if we don't win this game. We want to go out and win every game, especially a bowl and a game that would make us have another 10-win season."
On preparing for the game in Florida ... "I think the past couple of years we've gone down there to get acclimated to the weather change. I know last year that had a big thing to do with being up here, practicing in the cold to getting down there and getting another week to get your body used to that heat. I think that's a big thing. Down there you just have to concentrate on football as opposed to up here where you are worried about finals and school. Down there it's all football and I think that helps us get ready."
On Alabama's defensive line ... "They played hard, everyone up front. Every team we have seen has given them challenges up front. It's a total effort from the defensive line. Every player that has shown up there is pretty good. We're going to have to block them all if we are going to run the ball and protect the quarterback."
On what the Wolverines need to do to win the game ... "I think we have to block them up front when we run the ball. We have to be able to run the ball. The last few games of our conference schedule we have been able to run the ball effectively when we had to, and that's a plus. We want to be able to run consistently -- something we haven't done all year -- and protect the quarterback. It's fundamental."
Junior Offensive Lineman Jeff Backus
On playing in a Bowl Championship Series game ... "At Michigan the goal was to always get to the Rose Bowl. That has changed a little in the last couple of years just in the fact how college football is changing. Once the national championship was out of our hands, it did refocus our goals of getting to the BCS."
On Alabama's performance in the SEC Championship game ... "I was impressed. I didn't think they would score that many points or that it would be that much of a blowout. They played a great game. We have our work cut out for us definitely. The defensive line put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, which allowed the [defensive backs] to make some plays. The linebackers were running all over the field. They've got good team speed."
On what Michigan needs to accomplish to win this game ... "I think being Michigan we are going to try to establish the run every time we go out to play. If we can't get it going, we've shown this year that we've been able to come through in the passing game. Everybody on our team has all the confidence in the world in (quarterback) Tommy (Brady) and the receivers. We've just got to protect them."
On playing in a bowl game as opposed to a first-round college playoff game ... "I'd rather play in a bowl game. I'm not really into all of that (playoffs). It lasts too long and it takes us away from actually being college students. Once you get into playing until the end of January, you've got two and a half months of school left. The majority of the school year we would be playing football and it takes up basically all your time. I don't think it gives you a fair chance on your academics."
On Michigan's football tradition ... "The minute you take your official visit or are being recruited here, they really let you know how much tradition there is. Bo Schembechler came here and established one of the top football programs in the country. Michigan is very proud and they want their players to be proud of that and respect it. I think the program teaches everyone involved in it how to be a decent person and realize you're not bigger than the program. You need to be responsible and not do anything to ruin the tradition."
Senior Strong Safety Tommy Hendricks
On Alabama wide receiver Freddie Milon ... "He's a quick guy. He's a threat every time he touches the ball. He really has a lot of talent, as do most of the players Alabama has. Freddie Milon stands out as a guy that you have to contain."
On Alabama ... "The last time we played them I don't remember them throwing as much as they do and giving as many looks as they give. They have a lot of great athletes so they can do a lot with their offense. They put guys everywhere, so we have to be prepared going into this game."
On Alabama commenting on Michigan's speed ... "People always have stuff to say. It rubs you the wrong way sometimes, but that's not what is going to drive us going into this game. For the seniors definitely, we want to go out winning. This is our last college football game and we want to win this game. We want 10 wins. That's the motivation for this team, not that the SEC thinks we are too slow or anything like that."
On Alabama running back Shaun Alexander ... "I like Shaun. I like the way he runs. He has the ability to not only power over guys, but he has the ability to make guys miss. He has great size. The thing that surprised me is his agility considering the size he is. He can break away from you, too. If he gets you in the open field and doesn't get in front of you, it's going to be hard to catch him. He is an outstanding back."
On preparation for the bowl game ... "I think we have plenty of time to prepare. We usually only have four days to prepare for a team, but we have two weeks. That's ample enough time to study film and pick up the things they like to do. I think the biggest thing is going to be for the young guys to not get so eyed-popped about being in Florida and trying to stay out all night. You have to be disciplined and realize that while we are there to have fun we are also there to play a football game. That's probably going to be one of the biggest things to prepare for and win this game."
Senior Quarterback Tom Brady
"It's going to be nice to head down to Miami. We have to take care of what we have here and then head down."
On preparing for a bowl game ... "It's sometimes very difficult to prepare for a bowl game. There's so much time. You have like 40 days between our last game and this game, so it's a challenge to stay focused and keep your timing. A lot of it goes into preparation and how much film you are watching. There are so many distractions once you get down to the bowl that the team that is usually the most focused and puts in the most work and has the sharpest practices is going to be the team that plays its best."
On bowl games ... "It's almost like the summertime. You have passing drills with the receivers and you go against the defense and in practice you try to make sure everything is game speed. I'm sure we'll be doing some scrimmaging, something to simulate the game. When you haven't played for so long it's easy to relax and take time off. But if you do, when you do come back you're usually not as sharp."
On the Alabama defense ... "They are very aggressive and they're very good. You can get a sense for how they are going to play us from how they played in the big games. The team we'll be seeing is the team that played Florida and Tennessee. And that's when they played their best football."
On his Michigan career ... "This is the end of the career for me. This is going to be a game that all of us seniors are going to remember for the rest of our lives. It's been more than I certainly could have asked for. To be the quarterback here and have the experiences that I've experienced, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world."
Senior Rush Linebacker James Hall
On the Alabama game ... "It's very important for us. It's an opportunity for us to get our 10th win and end the season on a high note. Ten wins is a great season, so it's an opportunity to have a great season."
On Michigan's ability to beat Alabama ... "If we prepare well enough and stay focused to the game plan and we are able to execute on New Year's Day, we'll have the ability to win the game."
On Alabama's Outland Trophy-winning offensive lineman Chris Samuels ... "He's a great challenge for us up front. It's a great opportunity to go up against the best in the country. With this being the last game for many of our guys up front, what better way to go out than to face the best in the country."
On Alabama's reputation in the South ... "It's equal to Michigan's reputation up here. They have a great football tradition. We have Bo Schmebechler, they have Bear Bryant. They have produced so many great players and great teams. They've won a national championship in the '90s, so have we. It's really the equivalent of Michigan up here."
Junior Tailback Anthony Thomas
On preparing for the bowl game ... "Every time I step out on the field, I need to play my best. Last year before [the Citrus Bowl], Coach (Fred) Jackson came out and told me the only way we were going to win that game is if I went out and was the Most Valuable Player. Fortunately I met the challenge."
On the view of the Big Ten Conference in the South ... "The only thing they talk about is the SEC. That's in their veins. They don't know much about the Big Ten because they don't go through the things that we go through up here."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
