Brady Hoke Monday Press Conference: Ohio State Week
11/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 24, 2014
• Game Notes 
| Game Central
• Press Conference: Brady Hoke 
| Players | DC Greg Mattison | OC Doug Nussmeier
• Inside Michigan Football
Opening statement ... "Thanks for coming. This is one of those weeks where there is a lot of excitement and obviously when this rivalry, which I believe is the greatest one is sport, that obviously would make it the greatest rivalry in college football, so it is fun. It is fun to prepare; it is a game that the intensity level by both teams is always at its highest. We all want to play our best, and that is our goal, to play your best game on that last Saturday in November. Very balanced team we are going to play, when you look at what they do from an offense, defense, special teams standpoint. There is a great deal of pride when you play in this game, coach in this game. That is special. You talk to the guys who have played in it, and they can tell you how special it is. We have got to improve, we have got to improve every week, and that is one of the goals we have always had. At times we are making strides, and at times we are not as good executing as we would like to be, but this is a game that is like no other, and we are excited about it."
On Ohio State QB J.T Barrett ... "You look at the progression from the first start to going through the season, and I think he has done a great job in how they manage and what he wants and has to do offensively. He is athletic, obviously, and I think the way he has thrown the ball, the precision on that. I know last week was one of those games, the way it started, that was not as good. I think he has overcome a lot when those things have happened, and I think he has been a guy that has done a great job for them."
On how preparation for this week is different ... "I think it is always a little bit different preparation, number one because of the game itself, and being The Game. Both sides have a lot of passion and those kinds of things. I think in rivalry games the preparation that you put in, how hard you are going to play is a big part of what happens."
On how this rivalry is different from other rivalries around the country ... "I think the intensity and the masses themselves. Buckeye graduates and Michigan graduates, that is huge, how they feel. The size of the stadiums they both have, the atmosphere in those stadiums and the passion in the stadiums."
On speculation about his future this week ... "They can speculate and do all of that. I honestly, if we get distracted and I get distracted in what we are doing, that is not fair to those 115 kids. From that piece alone, I think I have said it, I have never been worried about a job. I am worried about the job we do for those kids."
On his feelings toward Ohio State ... "I think there has always been a respect. I think that is from the Ten Year War. There was a ton of respect that those two great coaches had. That is what this game is about, and you respect each other because of the traditions both universities have.
On what worked against Ohio State last year and if there is carryover ... "Number one, I do not think the carryover from year to year, in a lot of ways they are two different teams. There are different individuals on the teams; there are different leaderships and attitudes on the teams. Every team is different. What happened last year was a group of guys went out, played awfully hard together and executed and made some plays when they had to."
On the atmosphere in Columbus ... "Michigan State can be a different environment, but I do not know if you can simulate, you try to, you try to all week, but going in to the Horseshoe, there nothing like it. The question about rivalries earlier, the Civil War in Oregon is a pretty good rivalry, 50 miles apart between the two schools. But when you look at the stadiums and the crowds that are in those stadiums in Michigan and Ohio, that is where the difference is."
On talking to the seniors before this game ... "What do you tell them? You tell them to go out and play their best football and prepare to play their best football. (Devin Gardner) rushed the ball pretty well. It is not all Devin (Gardner.)"
On what a win would do for the season ... "Either team, whether it is Ohio or it is Michigan, winning that last game always means a lot. I do no think there is ever a time with any senior class going out or any football team in my experiences in this game, where it has not meant something. You want to be able to go back and say my senior year we beat Ohio."
On where the defense has made strides over the season ... "I think moving (LB) Jake Ryan into the middle. He is a Butkus Award finalist now (for the nation's best collegiate linebacker). I think that and the maturity of the front. A lot of those same guys played some in that game last year that are now playing more snaps. That part of it and the front seven, probably as much as anything."
On what has happened since the win over Ohio State in 2011 ... "I think the one thing, we had 15 fifth-year seniors that year who were experienced, who really understood the rivalry and also understood playing for Michigan. I think as we look at our teams, have we been as good as we want to be? No. We have to do a better job on all fronts. I think we have a lot of guys who have grown and matured during the course of this year. They have matured after some losses, and they have matured after some wins."
On the postgame speech after Maryland ... "We were disappointed, disappointed for a lot of reasons. Number one you want to compete and you want to win. Secondly, our seniors and trying to send them out of Michigan stadium with a win. At the same time, we talked about what's ahead of us and being a team and everyone having a role to prepare for this week."
On evaluating this football program ... "I think I could, but I don't know if I will right here. I don't think this is the right place for it. We'll have another press conference some time here."
On if he's treating this game differently ... "I don't think so. Believe me, I've been through this game 13 times, or this will be the 13th time. The one thing I know is that if you don't put all your focus and everything into your preparation and emotion for this game, as a coach you're kind of missing it too. It's a fun week, and that doesn't make sense to some people, but when you have an opportunity ... for both teams this is truly an honor and privilege to play in this game, or coach in this game because it is THE game. When you look at it, it's the greatest rivalry there is."
On how the team has stuck together through the adversity of the year ... "I said this earlier in the year: we've had very good leadership throughout the team. We only have 12 seniors, so there's been a lot of leadership from the guys who have played a lot of snaps and from some younger guys. This team has been resilient, unified -- and I know I've said that before -- but truly they have. This is one of the teams that goes out and works extremely hard every time we go out to practice. The respect that they have for each other I think is a big part of it."
On the 3:1 ratio of underclassmen to upperclassmen ... "I can't answer all the reasons why it got to this to some degree. I know we only have three fifth-year seniors from a class that was a pretty big signing class. Some of those guys have graduated and opted because of playing time to go to some other places. There's always attrition. That happens, especially in new programs. There's been a schematic and philosophical change offensively and defensively. From a three-man front to a four-man front, the needs and the wants you want from that and obviously more of a pro-style offense. We still like to have a quarterback who can be good with his feet and create plays. There are a lot of different reasons, and it is where we are and the kids that are here want to be at Michigan."
On the importance of this game for guys who grew up in Ohio ... "I think it's always been different. I don't know how many are on their roster from Michigan, but those guys understand it. Every year since they were growing up there was somebody in their household that was going to tune into that game."
On if the 1997 game was the best played in the rivalry ... "That was a game that meant a lot. There are some heartbreakers in there too, but they're all an exciting fun game."
On RB Derrick Green ... "He won't be able to go."
On what he told the players last year before the Ohio State game ... "I really can't remember what I told them. I probably told them -- for our seniors -- last game here at home. I'm sure I did that. I don't think it's what you tell them right before they go out. I think it's messaging all through the week about the game. That message, from year to year, is the same because you're talking about this rivalry and what it means."
On what Michigan needs to do to win on Saturday ... "Execution and consistency is what we need. I think that's part of it. At the same time, every team is different, and that's part of it."
On why Ohio State is having success ... "That may be a better question for Urban Meyer. I couldn't tell you; I'm not in their locker room."
On the difference in QB play between the two teams ... "I would say that number one, here's a guy (Devin Gardner) who has been in two different systems, really three different systems since he's been here. It's not easy. A year ago we didn't support him as well as we needed to in the offensive line, that's part of it too."
On if a win would be more satisfying with OSU in playoff contention ... "I don't know, and I'll be honest with you, we haven't talked about that part of it. We've talked about what the rivalry is."
