Ball State Football Weekly News Conference Quotes, October 6: Game 6 at Western Michigan
Coach Uremovich
Opening Statement: "It's going to be a big challenge this week. We're playing what I think is the hottest team in the MAC right now. [Western Michigan] has won three in a row. Defensively, they are in the top five in the country in sacks and in the top 25 in tackles for loss. Offensively, their quarterback makes a lot of plays on his feet. They have an experienced tailback, a good offensive line and they are good on special teams. We're going there for their Homecoming, so it's going to be a good crowd. We need to get back to work and get these guys ready to go."
Q : "What was the energy like in the film room following Ohio?"
A: "It's an educational experience for us, because we have to treat film the same whether we lost or won. Sundays should be very similar, regardless of the outcome. At that point, the game's over, and we need to focus on getting better every week, which is what we're trying to do. We talked about how you have to look at the film and not just gloss over things because you're happy that you won. You should still objectively look at it."
Q: "With [Western Michigan] being on a three-game win streak, what's it like going against a team that you know has momentum?"
A: "They are obviously playing really good football. I know they're playing with a lot of confidence, and you can see that on film. We're going to prepare the same way, regardless if they have won three in a row or lost three in a row, but we do know what we're walking into. We're walking into the homecoming crowd of a team that's in first place in the MAC and have won three games in a row. They're very well coached, and they're very physical. It'll be a good challenge for us."
Q: "What did you see in the film from Ohio that you want the team to improve on?"
A: "We need to start faster. On the first play of the game, we had a couple missed assignments, and that's disappointing, because it's the first play of the game and they ran a play we've been practicing all week. Offensively, we have to start faster as a team. That's kind of been a recurring theme this year. We've got to get some points on the board earlier, instead of waiting for the second half."
Q: "How do you think the offense could start faster?"
A: "It's as simple as execution. It's not like we were calling a bunch of different plays in the second half. There were some adjustments that we made, but there were plays to be made in the first half that we didn't execute."
Q: "How does a dual-threat quarterback change the way you approach a game?"
A: "The thing about [Broc Lowry] is he's a very talented runner, and he's a bigger downhill runner. He runs the ball like a tailback. He leans, he falls forward and he runs people over. He can throw the football, too. He's not just a guy that is going to sit back there and run it all day. They have good receivers, and like I said, I'm very impressed with their offensive line. You can't just sell out to stop them, because he can throw the ball over your head and the wide outs can get behind you. They've got good players at all the positions you want to have, so we've got to play well across the board."
Roman Pearson
Q: "The defense has looked better and better every week. What do you think is the reason for all the improvement?"
A: "I think we just come in every week with the mindset to continue to build. We talk about progressing each week, and I think that's what we've bought into."
Q: "Saturday was a big win. What were the emotions like that day?"
A: "It was crazy, honestly. We've put so much work in these past two weeks, and for it to pay off was just amazing. Especially when we got to the locker room, and everyone was jumping around, smiling and laughing. It's just a great feeling, especially in a close win in the MAC.Â
Q: "What do you think flipped the script from the first half to the second?"
A: "[Coach Uremobich] told us that we just needed to execute the things that we were coached on and settle down. We went out there in the second half, got ready and got stops. That was really key for us, just falling back on our training."
Q: "For the defense to be able to compete against a team with such a good offense, what does that say about where this defense is right now?"
A: "I think that game kind of just made a statement of who we are and how tough we are, especially in the second half. Finishing the game like against a really good team was pretty cool."
Q: "With Nathan Voorhis being named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, what's it like being on a defensive unit with him?"
A: "It's great. I mean, we know he's going to make a play eventually. It doesn't matter if the other team doubles or whatever, he's going to make our job easier. He's a great player. He's a great leader, and we just kind of fall back on him. It's great to see him go out there and make whole bunch of plays."
Tristan Cook
Q: "The offensive line is still relatively young. What about this group has made you guys be able to come together and improve week in and week out?"
A: "The biggest thing is we're family. Beginning of the year during fall camp, we prayed before every practice, and now we do before every game. We stick together, everyone in the offensive line room. We talk about P.V.O., positive vibes only. That's always our mindset. That's always how we are. It's just awesome to see us come together in unity."
Q: "How important is that unity when you guys are playing?"
A: "As a whole, it's very important. All five guys have to do their job at the same time for the play to happen. If one person makes a mistake, the whole thing is going to collapse. When all 11 guys are on the same page, we make big plays."
Q: "The offense didn't give up a sack versus Ohio. What does it mean to achieve that?"
A: "That's our expectation. Our job is to protect our quarterback. That's one of our weekly goals. It's an awesome thing, but obviously, we move on, and it's the goal for next week and the rest of the weeks going forward."
Q: "What motivation does last week's performance give, knowing what this line can do?"
A: "I would say it's motivating for sure. I would also say we need to stay confident in each other no matter the situation. We've got to continue to fight, stick together as a unit and understand that we can play well against any team in the MAC."
Q: "What's it like as an offensive lineman when the offensive unit as a whole is just marching down the field?"
A: "It's a fun feeling, definitely. You're out of breath a little bit, but as soon as you line up, you're just going to war with your guys, and that's an awesome feeling. You get closer inch by inch to the end zone, and all you want to do is get to the end zone. That's ultimate goal."
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Coach Uremovich
Opening Statement: "It's going to be a big challenge this week. We're playing what I think is the hottest team in the MAC right now. [Western Michigan] has won three in a row. Defensively, they are in the top five in the country in sacks and in the top 25 in tackles for loss. Offensively, their quarterback makes a lot of plays on his feet. They have an experienced tailback, a good offensive line and they are good on special teams. We're going there for their Homecoming, so it's going to be a good crowd. We need to get back to work and get these guys ready to go."
Q : "What was the energy like in the film room following Ohio?"
A: "It's an educational experience for us, because we have to treat film the same whether we lost or won. Sundays should be very similar, regardless of the outcome. At that point, the game's over, and we need to focus on getting better every week, which is what we're trying to do. We talked about how you have to look at the film and not just gloss over things because you're happy that you won. You should still objectively look at it."
Q: "With [Western Michigan] being on a three-game win streak, what's it like going against a team that you know has momentum?"
A: "They are obviously playing really good football. I know they're playing with a lot of confidence, and you can see that on film. We're going to prepare the same way, regardless if they have won three in a row or lost three in a row, but we do know what we're walking into. We're walking into the homecoming crowd of a team that's in first place in the MAC and have won three games in a row. They're very well coached, and they're very physical. It'll be a good challenge for us."
Q: "What did you see in the film from Ohio that you want the team to improve on?"
A: "We need to start faster. On the first play of the game, we had a couple missed assignments, and that's disappointing, because it's the first play of the game and they ran a play we've been practicing all week. Offensively, we have to start faster as a team. That's kind of been a recurring theme this year. We've got to get some points on the board earlier, instead of waiting for the second half."
Q: "How do you think the offense could start faster?"
A: "It's as simple as execution. It's not like we were calling a bunch of different plays in the second half. There were some adjustments that we made, but there were plays to be made in the first half that we didn't execute."
Q: "How does a dual-threat quarterback change the way you approach a game?"
A: "The thing about [Broc Lowry] is he's a very talented runner, and he's a bigger downhill runner. He runs the ball like a tailback. He leans, he falls forward and he runs people over. He can throw the football, too. He's not just a guy that is going to sit back there and run it all day. They have good receivers, and like I said, I'm very impressed with their offensive line. You can't just sell out to stop them, because he can throw the ball over your head and the wide outs can get behind you. They've got good players at all the positions you want to have, so we've got to play well across the board."
Roman Pearson
Q: "The defense has looked better and better every week. What do you think is the reason for all the improvement?"
A: "I think we just come in every week with the mindset to continue to build. We talk about progressing each week, and I think that's what we've bought into."
Q: "Saturday was a big win. What were the emotions like that day?"
A: "It was crazy, honestly. We've put so much work in these past two weeks, and for it to pay off was just amazing. Especially when we got to the locker room, and everyone was jumping around, smiling and laughing. It's just a great feeling, especially in a close win in the MAC.Â
Q: "What do you think flipped the script from the first half to the second?"
A: "[Coach Uremobich] told us that we just needed to execute the things that we were coached on and settle down. We went out there in the second half, got ready and got stops. That was really key for us, just falling back on our training."
Q: "For the defense to be able to compete against a team with such a good offense, what does that say about where this defense is right now?"
A: "I think that game kind of just made a statement of who we are and how tough we are, especially in the second half. Finishing the game like against a really good team was pretty cool."
Q: "With Nathan Voorhis being named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, what's it like being on a defensive unit with him?"
A: "It's great. I mean, we know he's going to make a play eventually. It doesn't matter if the other team doubles or whatever, he's going to make our job easier. He's a great player. He's a great leader, and we just kind of fall back on him. It's great to see him go out there and make whole bunch of plays."
Tristan Cook
Q: "The offensive line is still relatively young. What about this group has made you guys be able to come together and improve week in and week out?"
A: "The biggest thing is we're family. Beginning of the year during fall camp, we prayed before every practice, and now we do before every game. We stick together, everyone in the offensive line room. We talk about P.V.O., positive vibes only. That's always our mindset. That's always how we are. It's just awesome to see us come together in unity."
Q: "How important is that unity when you guys are playing?"
A: "As a whole, it's very important. All five guys have to do their job at the same time for the play to happen. If one person makes a mistake, the whole thing is going to collapse. When all 11 guys are on the same page, we make big plays."
Q: "The offense didn't give up a sack versus Ohio. What does it mean to achieve that?"
A: "That's our expectation. Our job is to protect our quarterback. That's one of our weekly goals. It's an awesome thing, but obviously, we move on, and it's the goal for next week and the rest of the weeks going forward."
Q: "What motivation does last week's performance give, knowing what this line can do?"
A: "I would say it's motivating for sure. I would also say we need to stay confident in each other no matter the situation. We've got to continue to fight, stick together as a unit and understand that we can play well against any team in the MAC."
Q: "What's it like as an offensive lineman when the offensive unit as a whole is just marching down the field?"
A: "It's a fun feeling, definitely. You're out of breath a little bit, but as soon as you line up, you're just going to war with your guys, and that's an awesome feeling. You get closer inch by inch to the end zone, and all you want to do is get to the end zone. That's ultimate goal."
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