Press Conference Comments from Michigan Football Players

Player Comments from
Weekly U-M Football Media Luncheon

Previewing Rose Bowl vs. Southern Cal (Jan. 1)

Fifth-Year Senior Defensive Lineman Grant Bowman

On playing in the Rose Bowl ... "It is nice. The Rose Bowl is where Michigan should be. We haven't been there since I have been in school, and to be able to end my career out there, I don't think there is a better way to do it."

On the aura of the Rose Bowl ... "It is a very special feeling. Everybody talks about how this is the greatest game you can play in. I don't know why, but I am sure I will find out. Everyone says how neat it is and how great the experience is and how there is nothing like it."

On what this means to him ... "Even when I signed to come to Michigan I thought about the Rose Bowl because that is what you expect as a Michigan player. To finally be able to go out there, the expectations are building. There definitely would have been a big empty part in my career if I never would have had this chance to play in the Rose Bowl."

On playing USC in the Rose Bowl ... "I think it is really neat. We don't get to control it so we are going to play who we play. For me personally, I always watched the Rose Bowl growing up and it was the Big Ten vs. the Pac-10. It always seemed like a really great tradition. It is as it should be."

On USC ... "We haven't had a chance to study them because we haven't got the film, but man, their quarterback's numbers are unbelievable. The offensive points that they put up, for me as a defense player it looks like it is going to be the biggest challenge of the season and that is how it should be."

On the comparisons between Michigan and USC's offensive units ... "I think that we play against the best offense in the nation every day at practice. Obviously, we have some very special players in John Navarre, Braylon Edwards and Chris Perry that we face every day, and that makes for some great preparation for our defense."

On USC coming in with more to play for ... "Once you get out there and hit heads for the first play you aren't thinking that you are not in the national championship game so you have to play harder every play. Once you get out there and start playing you know it is the team who prepared the best and watched the most film is the team that has the advantage and that is the bottom line. There is a lot of stuff surrounding who is No. 1 and who should be playing for the national championship, but once you step on the field you have to play football and that is what it comes down to."

On the entire experience of the Rose Bowl ... "I was talking to Scott Draper, the Director of Football Operations, and he was telling me that we will be staying in Beverly Hills and might be going to the Jay Leno Show. We know that this whole trip is about the football game, but those extras are very nice."

On Chris Perry's chances for the Heisman Trophy ... "I don't watch every game every year, but if I had a vote, I would vote for him. I have never seen somebody be able to make so many plays for his team to create so much out of nothing. I think he is the quintessential college football player. He is not just a running back and he is not just a pass receiver. You don't get to see him when he is a blocker. I don't think we have ever had a better blocking running back. Not many running backs can do that and do it like he does. It is amazing how he is tough and determined and I don't think you can ask for anything more in a football player."

On if it has all sunk it yet ... "I think it has sunk it. After the Ohio State game, when I realized I played my final home game it sunk in. I just want to be able to prepare and play the best game that I ever have played right now."

Junior Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards

On facing USC ... "All year this team has been talking about how we want respect, but it seems like we can't ever get respect. Whenever we do something big it's always that we're not the team of old, or Ohio State wasn't as good as they've been. We haven't been able to earn everyone's respect outright. So when we found out we were playing USC it was like what we've been asking for. This is our chance because everyone knows USC is one of the top three teams in the nation. So if we can play a good game and be the victors in the end, we'll get all the respect we ever wanted."

On the tradition of the Rose Bowl ... "Going to the Rose Bowl nowadays the way the BCS is situated, you may not play the Pac-10 champion. There was talk of us playing Texas and Florida State. For it to become a game of this magnitude playing USC, the Pac-10 champ, along with the tradition behind the game, the phantom touchdown in 1978. So all the things that go into that, plus them coming to the game being the No. 1 team in the nation in the coaches and media's polls adds so much to it. Now it's on another level. That's not going to change how we go into the game, but it makes it more of a hype game."

On what his father, former U-M running back Stan Edwards, told him about playing in the Rose Bowl ... "I didn't tell him but I saw Classic Sports, fathers and the players, and he told me all about it. I've also seen all the pictures. We really haven't talked about the Rose Bowl in its entirety and what it means but I'm sure we'll do that before the game. The only thing he's really said is that he played in the Rose Bowl, it's a big bowl game, and there's nothing like it. But I can pretty much figure that out on my own."

On quarterback John Navarre ... "One thing about Navarre that we knew coming into this year was that he was a much more mature quarterback and was capable of handling the pressure that comes with starting at the University of Michigan. We talked last year and the year before that John was trying to gain his confidence. We knew once he gained his confidence there'd be no stopping him. It seemed like it was this summer when John gained that confidence and we knew going into this year he was going to do everything in his capability to lead us to a Big Ten championship and possibly something more. John is a leader now. He can care less about what people say because he realizes the bigger picture. You can't worry about what people say because if you spend too much time worrying about that, it takes away time that you have to get better, time you have to do other things. John just brushed everything off and became the man that we needed him to be. As a result, we're champs. A large part of it is because of John Navarre and his leadership efforts this year."

On playing the No. 1 team in the nation ... "A team like this, we won't back down from anybody. We can play with anybody in the country. The way we played in the last five or six games, we are a very tight-knit group, and it is going to be hard for any team to bet against us because of the way we are playing on offense, defense and special teams. We are a team to be reckoned with."

On the importance of Jason Avant ... "You saw what Jason meant to this team this year. He is a clutch guy. You can always count on Jason to make the big catch, make any catches. To have him back on the field, on the other side, will mean a lot for us. It will be good to have the trio back out there. Jason is coming around and will be ready for the game. That will mean a lot for us in terms of having other options to go to. That's not saying that the guys who stepped up did not fill their jobs. Carl Tabb did a magnificent job against Ohio State. But Jason adds that dimension of a big receiver who can catch the ball and get open in the soft spot."

On the USC defense ... "I watched the (USC-Oregon State) game thinking that we may be playing them. They have a good secondary. They are very athletic and of course they are fast. They bring a lot of speed to the table, but they are nothing that we haven't faced throughout the course of the year. They will definitely be one of the better secondaries we will face this year. They have a good defensive back in Will Poole. He is a real athletic challenge, but that is what it's all about."

On the perception of him vs. USC's Mike Williams ... "I look at it as Michigan vs. USC for the Rose Bowl. To be amongst the greats to play here, and amongst the great teams that walked through here like the 1997 team. A lot of people perceive it as Mike Williams vs. Braylon Edwards, but to be honest I could care less. If we get a win and I have zero catches and he has 200 yards, I am cool with it."

On Chris Perry for the Heisman Trophy ... "Just what he meant to this team this year, without Chris Perry we would not be in this situation. Chris is a guy who is unselfish. They should look at everything not just at statistics. They should look at what the guy meant to his team. Chris does not care about if he got the ball. His pass protection was unbelievable this year. A lot of the touchdowns I had were credit to him saving John (Navarre) from being sacked. When Navarre is dropping back to throw the ball, Chris doesn't mind blocking, he doesn't mind catching the ball out of the backfield. Chris is a guy that you want on your team, because he is going to do the little things it takes to win ballgames. Chris is a good guy. He is fun to be around, he is a good team guy. I would love to see Chris win the Heisman."

Senior Defensive Back Jeremy LeSueur

On his impressions of USC ... "They have a lot of speed. It is a great team; they are the No. 1 team in the nation. They have been playing great throughout the year. They have a lot of weapons in the backfield and out at the wide receiver spot."

On this being the biggest challenge the secondary has faced all year ... "There is no question this will be our biggest test. They have great players over there on offense. Their entire backfield, quarterback, running backs and receivers are great players. I think this will be our biggest challenge this year."

On the Southern Cal receiving corps ... "They are good. I feel that ours is good as well with Braylon (Edwards), Jason (Avant), Steven (Breaston), Carl (Tabb), Tyrece (Butler), all of them. We are just going to go out there and play our game."

On USC wide receiver Mike Williams ... "I really haven't watched him too much this year, but what I have seen is that he is very is a big guy and is fast with great hands. He is the whole package, so I just have to come out focused and play my game."

On Williams' one-handed touchdown catch against Oregon State ... "Speaking from a fan it was a great catch, but we have guys on our team that have made impressive catches as well. Jason (Avant) had a great catch at Northwestern, and when Marquise (Walker) was here he used to make catches like that every day in practice and then in games. It was a great catch, but we see them all the time."

On the matchup with USC ... "It is funny, this is a long season, but we can't ask for anything better. It is the Big Ten champs playing the Pac-10 champs. This is just like playing a national championship game. They are the No. 1 team in the nation right now and it is going to be fun."

On the opportunity to face a great player in Mike Williams ... "Anytime a player gets a chance to play against another great player, you want to bring your best because you want to do the best for your team. You want your team to win the Rose Bowl and go out on top. You have to take it personal. You have to do your job to make it happen. You want to step up your game and perform well against that other player."

Fifth-Year Senior Tight End Andy Mignery

On the team's reaction to the Rose Bowl announcement ... "I'm very excited. When Coach (Lloyd) Carr announced it yesterday, it was the first thing he said to us right after practice. The whole team went in an uproar, and we have a huge challenge in front of us to play the No. 1 team in the nation so it is a championship game."

On facing USC ... "This is as big as it gets. We put everything into that Ohio State game, we put everything we had into that Notre Dame game, the Michigan State game and this is going to be the exact same situation. We're going to put everything we have. This is a one-game season, and I'll tell you, I'm excited with the way things worked out in the BCS. We're playing the No. 1 team in the nation and it's right there in front of us. We are playing a great team; USC is an amazing team, I watched them on Saturday. They've got some unbelievable weapons on offense so it's going to be a challenge."

On USC not playing in the Sugar Bowl ... "I definitely think that they should have the chance to be in that game without a doubt. I heard (USC) Coach (Pete) Carroll and he handled it extremely well last night on ESPN I believe. It's just the way things worked out, and hopefully in the near future they will clear some of those glitches up."

On any extra motivation involved in this game ... "They are going to have a lot of motivation coming from Coach Carroll. They are going to come out and in their minds they are playing for the national title, too. They are going to have just as much motivation as us and we're going up against the No. 1 team in the country. We're going to be excited."

On the similarity between USC and Michigan ... "I think we have been playing some very good ball the past six games. We have a lot of weapons on offense and they have a lot of weapons on offense. Our defense has stepped up, every big game that we've had, our defense is right there for us. When they need to step up they do. I think we match up very well with USC. Then again, they are the No. 1 team and we are No. 4 so we will be the underdog for this game."

On playing USC in Pasadena ... "That's like us playing in Detroit. I believe our Michigan fans will be there in the thousands and we are going to match that intensity."

On how he anticipates the game unfolding ... "I think the way both of our offenses are playing, USC's and ours, it's going to be a lot of high-powered offense. The big plays and the team that doesn't turn the ball over is probably going to win this game."

On staying sharp leading up to the bowl game ... "It's going to be tough because we had a lot of momentum coming off this season and then all the sudden, we are dead for four weeks or so. Like John (Navarre) said, we have to get better. In order to win this game, our timing has to improve. That goes along with practice. Our timing is so crucial on the offensive side of the ball, and we can't get complacent because we're Big Ten champs. Our goal now is to win that Rose Bowl and let the chips fall."

Fifth-Year Senior Quarterback John Navarre

On the announcement of the matchup with USC ... "We found out yesterday at practice, and I think a lot of guys on our team, including myself, are very excited. We are just excited about the tradition of USC and the Pac-10/Big Ten Michigan matchup."

On playing the No. 1 team in the nation ... "They are one in both polls and we are going to treat this as a championship game and as a chance for us to go out and show the country that Michigan is for real and we can play with top ranked teams."

On the Rose Bowl experience ... "I'm very curious. The guys who have been here in this program, most of the coaches, like (quarterbacks coach) Scot Loeffler talks about it every day and has something new to say about it every day. He makes you more curious and more excited and the anticipation grows every time he tells a story. That's the case with every position and we are just excited to get out there."

On what the Rose Bowl symbolizes ... "I think it's a marker that signifies a certain accomplishment here at Michigan. The Rose Bowl is the Big Ten Championship. I don't think the BCS took anything away from it, I think it's still what it is today and it's the tradition of the "Granddaddy of Them All," and the people who have been out there can't stop talking about it."

On his initial thoughts on the Trojans ... "I think they are a very dangerous ballclub. They have great team speed. That will be a very fast defense that we will have to face. The key will be preparation just like it has been all season."

On if U-M is playing its best football of the year ... "I would have to say so. I think we are playing very well and clicking on all cylinders and we have been getting better each week. It's the same as last year. We played very well in the Florida game at the Outback Bowl. I think if we do some of the same things that we did last year and keep striving to get better, it's going to be the same case."

On why Heisman voters should consider Chris Perry ... "I think consistency. He's been a consistent performer week in and week out. He's so versatile. He runs so well and has great hands. He was a huge threat for us this year as a receiver. I think his versatility and his consistency throughout the season is a big pitch for him and gives him a good chance."

On the long layoff ... "The practices here are very important to get our timing back and get back in rhythm. Once we get out there, there has to be a mentality that we are going to prepare the hardest we have all year, the practices are going to be as sharp as they have been all year and we are just going to step it up. The key is that we know we have to get better. We can't go off and play the same way we have been playing. The key is preparation and focus on getting better."

On how the offense plans to prepare for the Rose Bowl ... "I think we can get better, and we have to. We have to eliminate turnovers and strive for perfection with excellence as our goal. We want to be an excellent offense, we know we can't be perfect, but we want to strive towards that."

On the USC offense ... "I think it's similar to ours. They have some of the same type of concepts we have. They have great speed and great young talent. The quarterback is playing well with a great receiver and good running game. They are just very dangerous and can score quickly and showed that on Saturday."

On USC having a home-field advantage ... "I don't think so. I think we'll have a significant amount of fans out there. They'll obviously have more but we have gone to hostile stadiums before and played well. If it is a hostile environment, we'll have to play through it."

On the opportunity to play in this game ... "I'm going to treat it as a huge opportunity to play well, help my team win and be a great Michigan ballclub, be Rose Bowl champs and Big Ten champs. So that's the way I'm going to treat it, just an awesome opportunity to go out and play well."

Fifth-Year Senior Center Dave Pearson

On playing USC in the Rose Bowl ... "It's going to be a great opportunity for us. To go out and play the No. 1 team in the country is something we are really looking forward to. I watched USC play this past weekend and I think it's going to be a great matchup. You always want to play the best so you can see where you rate against the best. We're all excited that it will be a Big Ten vs. Pac-10 championship. I'm sure they are a little disappointed that they are not playing in the Sugar Bowl, but it's a great opportunity for us and it will be a great game."

On the USC defense ... "I haven't watched a lot of film on them, so I don't know what kind of offense and defense they run. They're probably going to be one of the best teams we've played all year, so it's going to be a tough game."

On the offensive line facing tough defenses ... "I think we get fired up. Ohio State was holding teams to 1.6 (yards per rush) or something precarious so I think it's a great challenge for our offensive line, for Chris (Perry), for the fullbacks, and for the whole offense to go out there and really test ourselves and see where we measure up. It's a great challenge to go out there and go against a great defensive line and see if we can get the job done."

On the team's preparation for the Rose Bowl ... "I think our strength coach (Mike Gittleson) does a great job of keeping us in shape. For us seniors, we've been through four or five of these over the past few years and we're kind of used to it. You just have to work hard. Once we get out there, we'll have some practices and get our timing and all the rhythm back. You just have to approach it where you have to get ready to play a football game."

When did you find out about playing USC in the Rose Bowl ... "We just found out yesterday who we were going to play. All along we were just thrilled to go to the Rose Bowl. Being the outright Big Ten champions that's exactly where we wanted to be this year, and going against USC, their ranking and all that is going to give us an opportunity to really showcase our abilities and see what this team is all about."

Did you think this team would be in this position right now ... "We really did. That's why we're confident for the Rose Bowl because the last few weeks of the season I think we were playing as well as anyone in the country. USC is playing extremely well right now too so it's going to be an exciting matchup."

On traveling early to the Rose Bowl for practice and fun ... "It definitely makes a difference. You get out of this cold weather and have to remember how to play in the heat and get your body accustomed to that. It's great for the players after all the hard work they put in the season to be able to get out and enjoy California and some of the sights out there. It's great for the players. California's a great place to be going this year, for sure."

On Chris Perry being a Heisman Trophy candidate ... "Chris is a tough kid. That's probably what impresses me the most. He does whatever it takes for our team to win. I just watched the film from the Ohio State game and he made some unbelievable cuts in that game even some big plays where there wasn't great blocking up front. But I think what impresses me the most is how unselfish he is when he pass protects for John (Navarre), picks up the guy off the edge and catches the ball in the backfield. The kid wants to win and wants to be remembered as a great tailback here at Michigan, and that's what he's done."

On the comeback at Minnesota and whether he ever thought it looked bleak ... "You have a lot of things going through your mind, but you know, if you go out there and keep hoping our playmakers will make some plays and our defense will step up and get the stops that we need. We have all the confidence in John (Navarre) to bring us back from any deficit, especially with the receivers we have. So the offensive line just has to go out there and protect for them and hopefully they can get the job done like they have all season."

On the Minnesota game ... "It was definitely a big turnaround because we just came off a big loss and another loss would really destroy our season. So coming back gave us a lot more confidence and it was kind of a new beginning for us. We could say, alright we got by with one here, now we have to go out and do the job every week or we're going to be faced with another loss."

On the close-knit nature of the offensive line ... "You can't have a good offensive line if you're not playing as a unit. All five guys that are up there realize that you can't play well unless the guy next to you is playing well. We're all in it as a unit. We just have a great time when we play together; opening up holes for Chris and making sure no one touches John. It's exciting for us every time we step on the field."

On the offensive line's development as the season progressed ... "We've definitely improved. It's a lot of little things that make the difference between two-yard losses and 15-yard gains. Those are the things we've improved on. We've opened up bigger holes for Chris and made sure that guy doesn't come late and hit John."

Senior Running Back Chris Perry

On playing USC ... "It is going to be a great game. They have a lot of great athletes on their team and we have a lot of great athletes on our team. It is going to be a great matchup that a lot people want to see."

On last year's bowl game as a personal turning point ... "I think so. I think it was a very big turning point for me to go out there and have a very good game against a very good team such as Florida. It gave me a lot of confidence catching and running the ball against a good defense. I think it gave me motivation to come out and do better this year."

On if there were times he thought he would not finish his career at Michigan ... "There were a few times early in my career that I thought I would not finish here. I thought maybe I made the wrong decision, but that is all in the past and I feel strong with my decision."

On why he thought he made the wrong decision ... "I was not playing as much as I wanted to. After I came here and trained up, I thought I would play a considerable amount and it didn't turn out that way so I thought I made a wrong decision. Ultimately it came on my shoulders and I needed to change some things that I did. That's what I did and that's why I am successful now."

On if this season has been better for him than he thought it would be ... "I really don't want to comment on that because the season is not over with. I still have a lot of goals that I want to achieve and it is too early to say I have achieved them. The season is going well, but I am not satisfied yet."

On specific moments in the season ... "They stick with me a lot. Fifty-one carries (against Michigan State), I didn't think it was that big of a deal. You guys, the media, made it a big deal. I feel like with 51 carries I should have had 300 yards, so I do not think it was that big of a deal. The 'Perry, Perry' (chant by the fans) at Ohio State, that was a big deal. It was such a big deal that I didn't want to focus on it during the game because it would distract me. It was a great feeling and I do not know when I will have another feeling like that."

On facing USC's run defense ... "It is a challenge that we are going to have to step up to. They have great athletes on their defensive line. Their whole defense has great athletes all around. We are going to have to come up with a game plan, watch them and try and figure out their weaknesses and go out there and exploit them."

On if he thinks anyone can stop Michigan's running game after its performance against Ohio State ... "I don't know. USC has had success stopping everybody, so for me to go out there and say they are not going to be able to stop our run game would be stupid. They are a great team, so we are going to go out there, practice real hard, try and improve each day and get ready."

On playing on the West Coast ... "It is kind of a home game for USC, but we have a lot of fans out there as well. The difference between the regular season and now is we are going to get out there two weeks ahead and have time to prepare and get acclimated. I am really not worried about us playing on the West Coast or playing on the road. By the time we get there and get done practicing, we will be just fine."

On how he has changed over his career ... "I don't think I have changed. I think everybody else sees more changes than I do. I think I have stayed the same person. I think I have matured more. I think that is something that you have to do at the University of Michigan, or any university. That is a part of life that I think that is something I accomplished while being here."

On playing through injury ... "The injuries I had last year, like a sprained ankle, you cannot do much about it. It is just the luck of the draw. This year I have been fortunate not to be in that position to have that kind of injury. I am just happy that I have made it through the season so far without any serious injury."

On if there is a different mood on the team from other bowl trips ... "I think we have a little bit of a swagger. Being Big Ten champions, we have to have a little swagger. It is debatable if the Big Ten is the best conference in the nation, but I feel it is the best conference in the nation. I think we are going to Pasadena with a little bit of a swagger, but by no means do we not respect what UCS has accomplished this season. We have to go down there and work real hard because they are a great team and any team can beat any other team any given Saturday."

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