Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald:
Opening Statement...
"Players of the game. Offensively, Macan Wilson. He had a career day. Made a lot of big plays. He's had a really solid season for us. On offense, big play maker was Justin Jackson. Really got the run game going. Started up front. Thought our O-line played very well, but Justin made a bunch of big plays. Defensively, Kyle Queiro was very active. Had his hands on two other balls, with opportunities for big plays, but really had an outstanding game, and I thought fit really well in our run game as well. Big play maker was Tyler Lancaster. He didn't make a bunch of sacks and so on and so forth, but the consistency that he's demonstrated inside I think has allowed our linebackers to float pretty freely. Special teams was Blake Gallagher. He represents our kickoff team. I thought we had a solid day against a really outstanding kickoff return team. Practice players were Jace James on offense, Joe Spivak and Chris Bergin shared the defensive player of the week and Bryce Jackson on special teams."
"Saturday will be a special night from the standpoint of Veterans' Day. We've got an unbelievable honorary captain coming back in Tom Ruby. Played in 13 games for us throughout his career while he was still actually active as a Navy seal. He was two time academic All-Big Ten while he was here. To have Tom back, and I think he's going to bring two of his sons with him, to be our honorary captain will be absolutely outstanding. It will be great to see Tom."
On red zone efficiency...
"I think offensively for the most part, taking care of the ball first of all. Being able to run it somewhat efficiently down there. Pretty consistently kicking our red zone field goals. Defensively, I think our guys are just executing well. It seems like we've tackled well. There were a couple of one on one tackle opportunities on Saturday. A couple of big plays by Nate Hall. On third down they ran a kindof a half roll tight end throwback. He was the only guy on that half of the field. Really good discipline. I would just think that we've been able to tackle well down there. And then Godwin's interception, I don't know if that was in the red zone, but for example on Saturday, just creating turnovers down there and holding guys to field goals is key."
On the offensive line...
"I think they've had a solid four weeks. I thought they handled Saturday pretty well. That was a hostile environment to say the least, and I thought they handled it pretty well."
"I just think they're working hard."
On Purdue...
"They're playing at a very high level. I'm really impressed on tape. First of all, Jeff's an outstanding coach. You can go back in your offensive studies and you look at what he was able to accomplish at WKU was really impressive. He was an outstanding player and now an outstanding coach. His staff came with him almost intact, and they know what they're doing, they know what they want to do, they know how they want to do it, and I think they've done a really good job using a really talented roster. We thought Purdue was really talented last year as we were getting ready to play them, they were just beat up. To see where Jeff and his staff have taken this group of guys has been really impressive. Real physical up front, on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Using the run game to set up play action pass and doing a great job with it. Seeing their ability to have some imagination and run some trick plays to make some big plays has been impressive, so you got to be sound there. And then defensively I think Nick Holtz has done a great job. I've known him a long time. I think that defense has taken on his personality, rugged, physical, on the same page, present a lot of problems schematically. I was really impressed with the way they played against Nebraska and Nebraska's comeback in those last two drives was really impressive, and I really thought they played really well on Saturday. Especially when David went down I thought they really responded well to their captain going down. What a great competitor and my heart is broken for him. I know that injury all too well, and what a great competitor, a great leader. He gave an amazing speech at the kickoff luncheon. You just hate to see anything like that happen to a young man. As you look at their kick game, Tony Lavine has got head coaching experience, does a great job with their kick game also. We've got our hands full with all three phases. Again, its going to be another tough hard fought game."
On NU receivers...
"For the most part I thought we played pretty physical when we didn't have the ball in our hands. I thought most of the balls that were catch-able, I don't know if I had any drops in the game. I thought from a consistency standpoint I thought they were pretty solid."
On the first November night home game in school history...
"I did not know that factoid, so thanks for sharing it. We'll play whenever they'll tell us to play. We don't get to find out until when, next Sunday. As a coach, whenever they tell us to play. As a dad, I'd like to kick off at 8 a.m.. I'd like to wake up, and have food on the bus to go so I can enjoy my Saturday with my kids. I don't think the Big Ten office has gotten that memo from me. I'm a big 11 o'clock fan. Huge. Big fan. Always have been always will be. I think it's a great time to play. Whatever time they tell us to play we're going to play."
On Purdue's change over the years...
"I would say that every team that I've played or coached against has been extremely competitive. Starting with coach Tiller, incredible football teams. Absolutely outstanding. Coach Hope had it going there a little bit, and then they made a change, and I think they were just beat up for most of coach Hazel's career. They had a lot of injuries. They were very talented, but a lot of injuries and just kind of couldn't get over the hump. But you always saw a tough, physical team that was very talented. I said it in the offseason privately, but I said that was an outstanding hire for Purdue. Outstanding coach, and a guy that's done it at a high level as a player, done it at high level as a coach, has an identity of what he wants to do and how he wants to do it in all three phases. I think they're going to be very very good for a long time under Jeff's leadership. It's going to be a challenge for us starting here on Saturday. I think they're playing outstanding football and those guys are highly motivated, and playing very physical. We're going to have to match that if we're going to have a chance to compete."
On fourth down conversions...
"I think during the week as we get ready for our opponents you study everything. I think for the most part I think people are making decisions that are best for the situations that falls in the game. I don't get a chance to watch a whole lot outside of ourselves and our opponents, so I can't answer that from a trend standpoint. I think people are just trying to find ways to win."
On the team's closeness...
"We must be in November you guys are giving me deep, probing questions. First of all I think that group has worked really hard. Its not unique to this group of guys. I think Marty has created a culture in that room, I think it starts in recruiting. We're looking for really unselfish, team first guys that want to play defensive line here. Marty's a great technical teacher. He's a phenomenal attitude teacher. Like our program, there's an expectation that there's a commitment to each other, that there's a brotherhood that's created between each position group, and then within the team. To see the leadership from guys like Tyler and Jordan, and then to see the production from a lot of first time players, some maybe a little bit older, but the group collectively is playing I think very consistent fundamental football. I think that starts with the way they practice. I think we have complete buy in and ownership within the room. Those guys own that room. Marty's done a great job, but those guys have really done a terrific job."
On playing linebacker behind a good line...
"The reason why my name is on the stadium twice is because of an unbelievable defensive line, it wasn't because of me. There's nobody that has more appreciation for defensive lineman than me, and all of the guys who have played d-line here, during my time here, even as a linebacker coach, understand my affinity for them, and what I think this game demands and expects of them for us to be successful defensively and successful as a team. This group has really been productive, and it goes back to the way they've worked. They're going to have their hands full. Purdue is real physical upfront. They're running four backs, three backs, doing a lot of different things schematically. It's going to be a great challenge. Just another week ahead of us here."
On special teams...
"Outside of your snapper or punter and kicker, and maybe some kick return guys, punt return guys, the rest of the guys out there that's an unselfish commitment to the game and to the team. We've had a lot of guys step up. We were a little bit too young to start the season and it showed in some areas out there, but I think collectively that group has really improved. We've been able to plug and play some guys as we've had some injuries, and those guys have really stepped up. I thought Blake was outstanding on Saturday, and he's been solid throughout the year. We're like everybody right now, we're beat up. We've been through a grind here, like everybody. We're in week two of November, and you've just got to find a way to tough it out. Might have to change practices a little bit this week, rest some guys. Like everybody we're beat up, so those guys are going to have to continue to step up more and more. Especially our young guys. We're playing a ton of young players, and this is when they're going to really be counted on here these last three weeks to help us find a way to win."
On Thorson's interceptions...
"The one in the red zone, we can't have red zone turnovers. Probably should have come off Flynn earlier. And then the throw was a lot high to Bennett, and I'd like to also see Bennett to go up and get the ball, so I thought it was a combination of both guys. It's so awesome to be the all-time winningest quarterback in program history and have guys hating on him. That's what I told him. You've been incredibly successful and you've won a lot of football games, and that's world you live in, that people are going to come down on you because you don't have a perfect game. You've just got to shut the noise off and go play. After the pick in the third quarter I asked what he saw, what he thought, and he said I just sailed the ball. I said good, just grip it and rip it, let's go. I've got full confidence and full trust in Clayton. He's a hell of a football player, he's a great competitor, he's a ridiculous, relentless teammate. I'm fired up that we've got him because he's won a lot of football games for us."
On the team's young players...
"I may have to change practices up a little bit. It's still Monday afternoon. They've got to step up, that's the bottom line, and that's not unique to us. It's that time of the year for everybody across the country where everybody is beat up, you're physically and mentally in a place that you've got to find a way and trust in your training and trust what you've done to get to this point and find a way to scratch and claw and win. That's the challenge. Most of these guys are used to being done playing by now, they're already in wrestling or basketball season. Just continue to embrace the grind, and keep trying to get better in practice. Keep working hard fundamentally and keep grinding to get better in practice."
On Jeremy Larkin...
"It's kind of what what Trevor had with Peyton Manning. I'm not saying that JJ is going to be a first ballot hall of famer in the NFL, but you've got one of the greatest players in program history, and when you're a younger player, to be able to watch and emulate his process is a true blessing. I think Lark and all of those guys in that room have learned a ton because Justin is a great teammate. The way he goes about his physical preparation, is mental film study, his practice habits, he's developed so much in our program to the player that he is right now. He's been a great player in that room to show those guys exactly what it takes to be a great player in this week."
"Lark, Johnny Mo, Corey, all of those guys. I mean the whole group. Jesse. That group, they were awesome this offseason. They were the first guys in the weight room, first guys out running, last guys to leave. They've grinded now for a long time, just similar to our D-line. I think they've had great chemistry for a long time, in a room that traditionally - I'm not saying here, we've been fortunate, but across the country - that room is pretty selfish typically. As a linebacker head coach would say, that group is usually pretty selfish. We've been fortunate in my time that we haven't had that issue. Maybe it's a little bit a byproduct of the guys we recruit, but those guys have been awesome. That group has played really well, I'm really thankful for them. That group has played really well this year. Johnny's got a big role in the kick game, Jesse's got a big role in the kick game, Austin's been really assuming his role in the kick game. I think Lark has been outstanding. Justin, just exudes toughness."
On Larkin playing in overtime...
"It's just ebb and flow of the game, and its his turn to go. I think we've got two guys who are playing at a real high level right now. He almost averaged seven yards per carry on Saturday. I think he's a heck of a player."
On depth chart changes...
"Just for you to ask me for me not to tell you anything, that's all. Just seeing if you were paying attention."
On Nate Hall...
"I'm really proud of Nate's toughness. A couple weeks ago that was a pretty gruesome injury that he had. He comes back in the game and makes a huge play to win it. That week he didn't practice a lot and to see the way he went out and played was awesome. Saturday I thought he was really active again. Veteran guy. He's only a junior but he's a veteran guy, he's been in a lot of battles. Just need to keep him coming on, because he's playing really well."
On the linebackers...
"That group's got real good chemistry right now. I think Brett's playing real well to. I think Brett Walsh is playing outstanding football. The veteran guy in the room, the senior who's been through a lot in his time here, and just the way that group has been playing I think has been fun to watch. I think they've improved, and they're going to have their hands full this week with Purdue's offense. No doubt about that, especially their rushing attack."
On Tyler Lancaster...
"Full go."
Senior defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster
When and how did this group develop into one that Coach Long calls the closest group he's ever had?
"Just over the years, especially when they came in as freshman [gesturing towards Jeremy and Brad], we just hung out and everything we've done, on and off the field, and that's really toppled over to this year, now that, like I've been with him for two years now [motioning towards Joe], two, and this is the third, and pretty much their whole class, the class before mine, and my class, we've just been bonding over those years. And the Freshmen that have just come in, they were thrown right into it. And they've accepted it, they come over, we go to each other's places. Honestly this is just, it's just the closest-knit group because we made it so. And that translates to the field like we trust each other. So I could look at Sam Miller, he's a freshman, but he's been hangin' out with us, he's been with us. We're as close as a family, and I trust him on the field, and he trusts me. It really helps on and off the field."
Coach Long says to you guys that the team's gonna go as the D-line goes. How do you translate that? What does it mean to you?
"Yeah, as the defensive line, I think we have to have the most physicality on the field, no offense to Brad down there, but we consistently get double-teamed, every single play matters for us, so if we bring that attitude of physicality, I'd say it really does start with us.
Tyler, how have you helped Joe become introduced into the defensive line and mentored him over these two plus years now?
"Not only Joe but everybody else - I think it starts from the top down. Ever since they get in we're told to know the defense, we have to be able to teach the defense, and when they got in, it was our job to teach them exactly what they needed to know and in turn that helped us study everything. So in mentoring them it's really teaching ourselves how to be better players but that's just translated - like he's now a mentor to the guys younger than him, I'm a mentor to the classes younger than me, it's just gonna be a tradition in the D-line room. As soon as the guy younger than you comes in, it's your responsibility to get them caught up, learning yourself on the way."
You guys obviously go up against the offensive line in practice a lot. Have you seen a different look from that unit the last couple weeks?
"So this late in the season we're all against the scout O-line and they've really brought it. They also looked themselves in the in the mirror after we obviously weren't doing so well earlier in the season. And they started to bring it you know Sam Gerak especially, I'm gonna shout him out, he comes at us every day in practice. And he might even after the play be in our face trying to fight us, and you know sometimes we start fighting back. But actually it just it really helps us get prepared for the game and bring that physical mentality that we have to have for the game. So the practices are harder than the games, and we make it that way on purpose. And shout-out to those guys."
Sophomore defensive lineman Joe Gaziano
When and how did this group develop into one that Coach Long calls the closest group he's ever had?
"Yeah, for sure, I definitely agree with what Lanny's saying. Going off that, I think that coach has done a great job recruiting guys that fit our culture, and the way that we play reflects that because the trust on the field, like Lanny's saying, is very important. But also, playing against, with guys that I know are gonna bring a fight to the battle, they're not gonna give up when we need 'em most, they're gonna step up to the plate and make a play when we need them to."
Coach Long says to you guys that the team's gonna go as the D-line goes. How do you translate that? What does it mean to you?
"For me, it just means that we need to make plays and we need to make plays early and often and throughout the whole game because it's a physical game, especially playing Big 10, and we need to set the precedent that we're gonna go out there and, in the first quarter bring the fight and make sure that we're on top of our game so that the rest of the team - the linebackers can flow off of us, and the DBs can play well in the back, and we'll have a cohesive unit on the field. And then when we bring the energy, it helps the offense as well to be able to drive down the field and get points on the board."
On a different vein, this is the first November night game in Northwestern history, at least here at Ryan Field. Is that something you guys would like to do Are night games preferable for any of you?
"Any time of the day that we're playing, it's time for us to get up for a game, so it doesn't really matter if it's 2:30 or 11 o'clock or 6 o'clock - we're definitely getting excited for it. I know personally I prefer an 11 o'clock game just because I think getting out of bed in the morning and getting right to the field, it kind of calms those nerves a little bit. You get going in a little bit of a routine. But we have, definitely, a protocol for each time slot for every game, so we'll be prepared regardless of what time kickoff is."
Joe, two questions for you. Number one, do you have a nickname?
"Just first three letters my last name."
You like that?
"Yeah, I mean I get called a lot of names. Gaz. People pronounce my last name wrong. So actually I think it was a one clip from the Big Ten. someone had pronounced my name wrong. I don't know who it was, but they put an 'r' in there or ended it with an 'i' or something like that. So people have been giving me a hard time, saying that anything that is Italian is my last name. So they're calling me Joe Fettuccine Alfredo or Joe Grazostoppi [unintelligible] and stuff like that. So I get called a lot of names, but I'd answer to a lot of them."
Secondly, how have you transformed, both physically and mentally, since you first got here?
"Yeah, you know, my first year I expected to play going into the Stanford game, and I think Dean and Deonte and the older guys including Lanny did a great job getting me prepared for that. Thankfully, I got a redshirt year, and so I took that year to, you know, get as strong as possible as I could in the weight room. And credit to coach Hooten and staff for developing – I was just a gangly kid freshman coming in and they put on some size, put on some strength, and then last year was a big step for me, first year playing, and I think CJ was another great leader for me that taught me a lot of great technique - you know, things that I can use and pass rush and stuff like that. And Ifeadi was great, he helped me work my hands, and then this year, taking on my own role as a starter was a huge jump for me. But I think I was ready to take it on and I took it and ran with it, trying every game to develop my skills and become a better pass rusher and better run defender. And I think that throughout this year I've learned a lot as well so hopefully I can continue that progress on the upward trend."
You guys obviously go up against the offensive line in practice a lot. Have you seen a different look from that unit the last couple weeks?
"Yeah definitely, credit to the scout O-line for their physicality, and it's top-down in the O-line room. You know Brad's teaching out to the younger guys and they're bringing it onto the field. And iron sharpens iron, we're getting better out there when they're giving us a good look."
Did the sideline feel more comfortable or otherwise different during OT against Nebraska following the OT wins against Iowa and MSU?
"I think, you know, when you've been through, you know, overtime before, it makes you more comfortable in that situation. I think we were still on edge, as we should be, because it is overtime and anything can happen in that type of period - it's a 25-yard field and you got to make a play. And I think that going into this one we felt more confident, but it's important that we don't get complacent in that type of situation."
Redshirt first-year running back Jeremy Larkin
Jeremy, can you describe the mindset at the beginning of overtime last week? This is your third in a row you're a veteran now of overtime games, is there overwhelming confidence at that point?
"There's definitely some confidence after having four overtimes a week before. and I would say that my mindset going into it was just, "what can I do to help this team come out with a victory in this game?" And I know going in we were we were looking at what we could do, what was our plan going out there. I know I didn't necessarily know how much or if we were going to get into the overtime until like the actual minute of the snap - when we were going out there, they sent me in, and I was just trying to figure out just what I had to do. It was just pretty much going out there and doing my job."
Did Justin [Jackson] tell you to go out there?
"Yeah he did tell me to go in actually because he felt that my speed would actually help for that play, so he told me to go in there. It was a nice thing, to help with, uh, I appreciate it.
Jeremy, what do you learn from Justin Jackson, either by listening to him or just watching him and how he goes about his business?
"How he goes about his business, like you said, just how he goes about his business. One thing I've really been able to like learn from him is how he prepares for a game and the extra film that he watches throughout the week, how he recovers through every day, from after practice, from after the game, and then just the type of leader he is. He's a very vocal guy, constantly telling us how we have to be better, we have to be the most prepared group, we have to this and that. Just how he is as a leader, as a person, he's a great guy, and that's just one thing I really learned from him."
And how's that make you better this year?
"Just looking up to him, I guess, trying to one day be nearly as good as him. I mean it's kind of tough, but uh, [laughing] just try to be that type of guy."
Senior offensive lineman Brad North
Brad, does it feel like the offensive line has continued to improve, and maybe turned a corner in the last couple weeks?
"Yes, I think that every week since Maryland, we've just taken steps to getting better, and we kinda put that on ourselves as a unit. We also have a saying that the offense will go as we go [looking towards Tyler, then smiling], so I'm pretty sure every [position group] room says that, but I think ours is a little more true, just because honestly nothing can happen if we're not there, so [laughing], I would just think that we've challenged ourselves and set a precedent in how we need to put finishes on the board and we need to finish every block possible, and we just changed our attitude and our culture just over the last few weeks, and obviously it's showing good results."
Brad, from your position as kind of the leader and the veteran in the room does it feel like some of the younger guys are settling in more to their roles and getting more comfortable?
"Absolutely. I mean we have actually have a pretty experienced offensive line now that I think about it. I mean Blake's got like 30 some stars you know I had my 20-somethings and etc. I mean the youngest guy we have in there is Rashawn [Slater] that's played a lot and I mean he's done a very, very good job and you know he's kind of taking on that role and I was proud to see his development and his progress over these last few weeks and really just all season going back to what we were talking about earlier."
Brad, when you guys were 2-3 you said everyone has to look himself in the mirror figure out what's going on and come back better guys. What did you guys see when he looked in the mirror and what did you change to be better?
"Personally, I looked at myself in the mirror and then I said the way that I've been playing over those past five games wasn't good enough, especially since I'm supposed to be the leader. I'm the oldest guy in the group you know, I have a higher standard than most of those guys in there, and regardless of whether they have more snaps than me or not, I'm the oldest guy, and so the younger guys look up to me and they're gonna go as I go. And so I had to kind of take into account my own accountability and just say that what I was doing wasn't good enough. I kind of took it upon myself, and I think everybody in our room took it upon themselves to just take it one day at a time one snap at a time. And I mean honestly I mean it's paid dividends, and we just kind of decided to play more physical, and I think that's kind of shown over the last few weeks as well, and just making sure every week that we play and prepare like we're just getting a week better."
When Fitz decides to go forward on fourth and one in overtime, what message does that send the offensive line?
"We better score [grins]. I think that it just gives us a lot of confidence, and [shows] just that he believes in us, that we're gonna get the job done. And I'll tell you the truth, we were out there for fourth and one and we're like, 'we're gonna go for the win right here' and we kind of like all looked at each other and we're like, 'alright, we're gonna get it done this time.' and so obviously it worked out."
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