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Hery Einstein
and thats what the ?? were for . Thanks for the correction though
What pipe? i dont smoke or do drugsSheesh.That's Darren Sproles of Kansas State. Put the pipe down for a change...
and thats what the ?? were for . Thanks for the correction though
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G-FORCE
Heisman
http://niuhuskies.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082906aac.html
Aug. 29, 2006
DeKalb, Ill. - On Tuesday, August 29th, Northern Illinois University football coach Joe Novak talked to the media about the Huskies upcoming season opener this weekend versus pre-season #1 Ohio State. The game will kick-off at 2:30pm (Central) and will be televised by ABC Sports. Coach Novak discussed his team's readiness and preparation in anticipation of the game with the Buckeyes. The following is a transcript from the press conference.
Head Coach Joe Novak
On Preparing for the Opener "We're ready, it's game time... game week. Like everybody in the country, I'm sure every college football team is anxious for a game. The format for our pre-season has changed in the past two years. We used to go two-a-days the whole time up until game week. But, two years ago the NCAA felt that was really tough on the kids and they mandated that we alternate two-a-days and go to a two, one, two, one type of schedule, which is really good. We really think it's great. The only thing it does is it lengthens your pre-season, because you are still going to get 29 practice opportunities. So, we are actually into our fourth week with our players and we had three weeks of pre-season camp and then game week, so that's a little bit longer then usual. Even though that's still only 29 practices when you're not practicing, you're meeting so you're keeping them busy."
On Training Camp "We're anxious to play and I know Ohio State is too. So is every other team in the country. Right now, we're probably about as healthy as we've been since spring. We've had some bumps and bruises during two-a-days, as everyone does. But, as we get into game week here, we've backed off practices and time and contact. So, we're probably as healthy as we've been and we're anxious to play."
On Ohio State QB Troy Smith "We're going to try and defend him as well as you can, you're always conscious of trying to keep him in the pocket. He scrambles, he'll run, and he scrambles to throw well also. Most quarterbacks, if pressured, will come out of the pocket and run with it. Some quarterbacks never want to leave the pocket; but he'll do both. He's unique that way. He'll scramble to make people run. He just creates time to let people get open and makes some plays off of the passing game too. So, it's a little bit of both with him, which makes things difficult. Certainly you are trying to keep containment. When he gets outside of the pocket and there's no containment on him, which is when he's really dangerous. Certainly at times we will need to bring some extra people to help."
On Garrett Wolfe "He's looking great. We've been real smart with him and his practices. We don't knock him around and the players know enough not to knock him around too. He's anxious and ready to go. He sat out all spring and he hasn't had much contact here, so his shoulder is at 100 percent and couldn't be any better. He's just ready to play. We've got him right where we want him now."
On Defensive Preparation for Ohio State's O-Line "Everybody knows about Troy Smith and Teddy Ginn and his kind of speed you can't simulate, but it's really a balanced football team. Antonio Pittman, their tailback, is a real good player. They have a freshman named Chris Wells, a 230 pound running back and they say he's the next coming. Up front they're all about 6-10 and 500 pounds from the way it sounds. Probably some of the biggest offensive linemen I've ever seen. So, it really is a well-balanced line even though you hear so much about Smith and Ginn."
On Ohio State's Philosophy "I've watched Jim Tressel's team for a long time and he likes to run the football. They'll throw it around a bit, but he likes to run a power game, which is very basic and [they] do it very well. So, Pittman and Wells are going to get a bunch of carries too. Again, it's really a balanced football team. You can't just zero in on double coverage, because that takes away from your run support. So, it's a difficult offense, it really is because like I keep saying, they're balanced."
On Ohio Stadium "The upper classmen have been in this type of environment before. I do know this, Ohio State is even more intimidating then Michigan. Ohio State is just as big, only it built upward. So, it's more intimidating. But, the veterans know what's going on. Some of the young kids, it may take them a while, we'll see."
On Playing the Top-ranked Team "I know [NIU] played Miami a couple of years ago when they were number one, but the fact that Ohio State is kind of local and in the Midwest and the whole tradition of Ohio State football, I'm sure there are some nerves. I think they are probably the best football team that Northern has ever played. It'll be a real challenge and a fun one too."
On Saturday's Match-up "We have got to go in there and play well and not turn the ball over. We've got to handle the noise and all of that stuff, but this is just a game. What a great opportunity it is for our kids to go play at Ohio State, the number one football team in the country. It's a great college football moment and we are just going in there to enjoy it. Nobody expects us to win and yet again we do, we think we have a chance. We know we have to play very well and we have to catch things right and we think we just have a chance. If we go 1-0 or 0-1, we have 11 more games to play and it's very important so, we'll give it our very best, but we have a lot more football to play."
On Naming Phil Horvath "You know, I think it has been a little bit of a relief for both of them. A disappointing relief for Nicholson, he took it hard, he's a competitor. He's a great team player, he's been doing well in practice and he'll play some. It [the competition] was really even, it really was. I was hoping that one of the two would separate and that's what I was waiting to see."
On Ohio State's D-line "I've been around the MAC and the Big Ten my whole coaching career, and that [last year] was the best team I've ever seen. Speed-wise, size-wise and it's obvious by the number of kids they had drafted in the first round. They were a great defensive football team. They can run better then most football teams I've seen, and they lost a lot of kids. But, I do know that they've got some good players coming up. I know they have young kids that don't have a lot of experience, but they're talented."
On Jim Tressel's Legacy "Jim Tressel has done a great job doing the thing you need to do at Ohio State. He's gone in and has recruited the Ohio kids, thus keeping them in Ohio. There's enough talent in that state, year-in and year-out to be Big Ten champs. He's got a lot of kids who haven't had a lot of experience; but, I'll guarantee you they are great football players. They just have a good football program."
On Players to Look for "Pitcock, the one tackle, is a great player, you know that shows their experience on the field. So, we're going to get tested real soon right off the bat and it's going to be interesting to see how we handle that inside... with our three new guys inside (Matt Rogers- right guard, Eddie Adanski- center and Chris Acevedo- left guard).
Is Ohio State Preparing for Week #2 "I think the world of him [Jim Tressel], great guy and great coach. I think the coaches understand that you never want to overlook anybody; but I think you have a hard time selling that to the players at times. I can't control what Ohio State thinks."
On Nerves "Honestly, I've been unusually calm myself and I think I'm trying to relay that to the players. This is a no lose effort, we have everything to gain by a win."
On NIU's Team "I like them in practice, what I haven't seen is them in a game. You never know how they'll react in a game. These kids have all been good in practice. I'm excited about their potential and ability. What they do in front of 105,000 people on Saturday, we'll see. But, I think we have more speed then we've had here and I think Britt Davis' potential is limitless. Until this past week, we had five receivers in the NFL camps and I honestly think Britt Davis has the ability to be as good or better than any of them. Last year he was just learning the position, he didn't get moved until this week last year."
On Practice Sounds "Rick Calderon, here on campus, gets the opposing team's football sounds from the Internet and he pumps the music through the stadium during practice. You can't really hear anything on the field when he does that, and it helps the kids. We've also put pictures up of the stadium, so when they see it for the first time on Friday, they just won't be in awe. We are going to have a walk-through on Friday night because I don't want the kids to see the stadium for the first time on Saturday afternoon. I want them to hear those sounds. Saturday when they're warming up. I want them to feel like they've been there before. It's little things; but, I think it will help."
On the Secondary "We had some bumps during two-a-days. We have Hasbro who missed a bunch of practices, he had a back issue but he's been back practicing. He and his brother will start at the corners. Melvin Rice had an issue with a hamstring, but he's fine. But, right now we are as healthy as we've been back there. It's a concern the depth we have in the secondary; but, I think we have seven that can play back there and we have a chance to win with them."
On Growing up in Ohio State Territory "As a kid I didn't [go to Ohio Stadium], as a college student I did. It was Northwestern and Ohio State, and there was a banner flying around the stadium saying, Good-bye Woody. As a high school coach in Ohio, we played a semi-final game there.
On Britt Davis "We've got to get Britt Davis as many touches as we can, he's one of our play makers. We have to get him some touches and he'll be in the kicking game. Again, he's a playmaker and we've got to get him some touches."
On Being Viewed as Underdogs "That's what we get for playing the #1 team in the country. Pre-season doesn't mean a lot, it just make it tougher. Right now we are 0-0."
On the Topic of Underdog or Favorite "The record of the press picking the Mid-American Conference champion is really bad, so I prefer to be the under-dog; but, I hope they are right this year. It'll be the first time they would have been right in a long time."
On Keys to Beating Ohio State "I think the turnover ratio has to be a big. If we're minus or even equal in the turnovers, that won't be good for us. We need to hold onto the ball. We've got to keep the game short and the new clock rule will be interesting. I've guessed that it will take 8-10 plays off the game. Other coaches have guessed 15-20 less plays and that will be a big impact. Fewer plays in the game will favor an underdog. The longer you play it, will favor the better team. You shorten the game down by either controlling the clock offensively or by taking plays out of the game. We are doing that with the new rule and it will favor some underdogs. I think you'll even see a few more upsets then usual."
On Exposure of Opening Game "I'd love to win this football game. But, what we haven't done is win a MAC Championship. That's our goal. I don't want our kids or fans putting so much stock in this game that we overlook the MAC title game. Our kids are excited and have practiced well for this. I think it's a great opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the country. Everyone will know how we played this week"
On Patience in Building "We weren't just bad a few years ago, we were awful, it was embarrassing at times. I think the athletic director at the time understood the concept of getting worse before you get better. Our fourth year we ended up 5-6, and I think some things started to turn and luckily they were patient with me. Most administrations know that you can't turn a football team around over night."
Aug. 29, 2006
DeKalb, Ill. - On Tuesday, August 29th, Northern Illinois University football coach Joe Novak talked to the media about the Huskies upcoming season opener this weekend versus pre-season #1 Ohio State. The game will kick-off at 2:30pm (Central) and will be televised by ABC Sports. Coach Novak discussed his team's readiness and preparation in anticipation of the game with the Buckeyes. The following is a transcript from the press conference.
Head Coach Joe Novak
On Preparing for the Opener "We're ready, it's game time... game week. Like everybody in the country, I'm sure every college football team is anxious for a game. The format for our pre-season has changed in the past two years. We used to go two-a-days the whole time up until game week. But, two years ago the NCAA felt that was really tough on the kids and they mandated that we alternate two-a-days and go to a two, one, two, one type of schedule, which is really good. We really think it's great. The only thing it does is it lengthens your pre-season, because you are still going to get 29 practice opportunities. So, we are actually into our fourth week with our players and we had three weeks of pre-season camp and then game week, so that's a little bit longer then usual. Even though that's still only 29 practices when you're not practicing, you're meeting so you're keeping them busy."
On Training Camp "We're anxious to play and I know Ohio State is too. So is every other team in the country. Right now, we're probably about as healthy as we've been since spring. We've had some bumps and bruises during two-a-days, as everyone does. But, as we get into game week here, we've backed off practices and time and contact. So, we're probably as healthy as we've been and we're anxious to play."
On Ohio State QB Troy Smith "We're going to try and defend him as well as you can, you're always conscious of trying to keep him in the pocket. He scrambles, he'll run, and he scrambles to throw well also. Most quarterbacks, if pressured, will come out of the pocket and run with it. Some quarterbacks never want to leave the pocket; but he'll do both. He's unique that way. He'll scramble to make people run. He just creates time to let people get open and makes some plays off of the passing game too. So, it's a little bit of both with him, which makes things difficult. Certainly you are trying to keep containment. When he gets outside of the pocket and there's no containment on him, which is when he's really dangerous. Certainly at times we will need to bring some extra people to help."
On Garrett Wolfe "He's looking great. We've been real smart with him and his practices. We don't knock him around and the players know enough not to knock him around too. He's anxious and ready to go. He sat out all spring and he hasn't had much contact here, so his shoulder is at 100 percent and couldn't be any better. He's just ready to play. We've got him right where we want him now."
On Defensive Preparation for Ohio State's O-Line "Everybody knows about Troy Smith and Teddy Ginn and his kind of speed you can't simulate, but it's really a balanced football team. Antonio Pittman, their tailback, is a real good player. They have a freshman named Chris Wells, a 230 pound running back and they say he's the next coming. Up front they're all about 6-10 and 500 pounds from the way it sounds. Probably some of the biggest offensive linemen I've ever seen. So, it really is a well-balanced line even though you hear so much about Smith and Ginn."
On Ohio State's Philosophy "I've watched Jim Tressel's team for a long time and he likes to run the football. They'll throw it around a bit, but he likes to run a power game, which is very basic and [they] do it very well. So, Pittman and Wells are going to get a bunch of carries too. Again, it's really a balanced football team. You can't just zero in on double coverage, because that takes away from your run support. So, it's a difficult offense, it really is because like I keep saying, they're balanced."
On Ohio Stadium "The upper classmen have been in this type of environment before. I do know this, Ohio State is even more intimidating then Michigan. Ohio State is just as big, only it built upward. So, it's more intimidating. But, the veterans know what's going on. Some of the young kids, it may take them a while, we'll see."
On Playing the Top-ranked Team "I know [NIU] played Miami a couple of years ago when they were number one, but the fact that Ohio State is kind of local and in the Midwest and the whole tradition of Ohio State football, I'm sure there are some nerves. I think they are probably the best football team that Northern has ever played. It'll be a real challenge and a fun one too."
On Saturday's Match-up "We have got to go in there and play well and not turn the ball over. We've got to handle the noise and all of that stuff, but this is just a game. What a great opportunity it is for our kids to go play at Ohio State, the number one football team in the country. It's a great college football moment and we are just going in there to enjoy it. Nobody expects us to win and yet again we do, we think we have a chance. We know we have to play very well and we have to catch things right and we think we just have a chance. If we go 1-0 or 0-1, we have 11 more games to play and it's very important so, we'll give it our very best, but we have a lot more football to play."
On Naming Phil Horvath "You know, I think it has been a little bit of a relief for both of them. A disappointing relief for Nicholson, he took it hard, he's a competitor. He's a great team player, he's been doing well in practice and he'll play some. It [the competition] was really even, it really was. I was hoping that one of the two would separate and that's what I was waiting to see."
On Ohio State's D-line "I've been around the MAC and the Big Ten my whole coaching career, and that [last year] was the best team I've ever seen. Speed-wise, size-wise and it's obvious by the number of kids they had drafted in the first round. They were a great defensive football team. They can run better then most football teams I've seen, and they lost a lot of kids. But, I do know that they've got some good players coming up. I know they have young kids that don't have a lot of experience, but they're talented."
On Jim Tressel's Legacy "Jim Tressel has done a great job doing the thing you need to do at Ohio State. He's gone in and has recruited the Ohio kids, thus keeping them in Ohio. There's enough talent in that state, year-in and year-out to be Big Ten champs. He's got a lot of kids who haven't had a lot of experience; but, I'll guarantee you they are great football players. They just have a good football program."
On Players to Look for "Pitcock, the one tackle, is a great player, you know that shows their experience on the field. So, we're going to get tested real soon right off the bat and it's going to be interesting to see how we handle that inside... with our three new guys inside (Matt Rogers- right guard, Eddie Adanski- center and Chris Acevedo- left guard).
Is Ohio State Preparing for Week #2 "I think the world of him [Jim Tressel], great guy and great coach. I think the coaches understand that you never want to overlook anybody; but I think you have a hard time selling that to the players at times. I can't control what Ohio State thinks."
On Nerves "Honestly, I've been unusually calm myself and I think I'm trying to relay that to the players. This is a no lose effort, we have everything to gain by a win."
On NIU's Team "I like them in practice, what I haven't seen is them in a game. You never know how they'll react in a game. These kids have all been good in practice. I'm excited about their potential and ability. What they do in front of 105,000 people on Saturday, we'll see. But, I think we have more speed then we've had here and I think Britt Davis' potential is limitless. Until this past week, we had five receivers in the NFL camps and I honestly think Britt Davis has the ability to be as good or better than any of them. Last year he was just learning the position, he didn't get moved until this week last year."
On Practice Sounds "Rick Calderon, here on campus, gets the opposing team's football sounds from the Internet and he pumps the music through the stadium during practice. You can't really hear anything on the field when he does that, and it helps the kids. We've also put pictures up of the stadium, so when they see it for the first time on Friday, they just won't be in awe. We are going to have a walk-through on Friday night because I don't want the kids to see the stadium for the first time on Saturday afternoon. I want them to hear those sounds. Saturday when they're warming up. I want them to feel like they've been there before. It's little things; but, I think it will help."
On the Secondary "We had some bumps during two-a-days. We have Hasbro who missed a bunch of practices, he had a back issue but he's been back practicing. He and his brother will start at the corners. Melvin Rice had an issue with a hamstring, but he's fine. But, right now we are as healthy as we've been back there. It's a concern the depth we have in the secondary; but, I think we have seven that can play back there and we have a chance to win with them."
On Growing up in Ohio State Territory "As a kid I didn't [go to Ohio Stadium], as a college student I did. It was Northwestern and Ohio State, and there was a banner flying around the stadium saying, Good-bye Woody. As a high school coach in Ohio, we played a semi-final game there.
On Britt Davis "We've got to get Britt Davis as many touches as we can, he's one of our play makers. We have to get him some touches and he'll be in the kicking game. Again, he's a playmaker and we've got to get him some touches."
On Being Viewed as Underdogs "That's what we get for playing the #1 team in the country. Pre-season doesn't mean a lot, it just make it tougher. Right now we are 0-0."
On the Topic of Underdog or Favorite "The record of the press picking the Mid-American Conference champion is really bad, so I prefer to be the under-dog; but, I hope they are right this year. It'll be the first time they would have been right in a long time."
On Keys to Beating Ohio State "I think the turnover ratio has to be a big. If we're minus or even equal in the turnovers, that won't be good for us. We need to hold onto the ball. We've got to keep the game short and the new clock rule will be interesting. I've guessed that it will take 8-10 plays off the game. Other coaches have guessed 15-20 less plays and that will be a big impact. Fewer plays in the game will favor an underdog. The longer you play it, will favor the better team. You shorten the game down by either controlling the clock offensively or by taking plays out of the game. We are doing that with the new rule and it will favor some underdogs. I think you'll even see a few more upsets then usual."
On Exposure of Opening Game "I'd love to win this football game. But, what we haven't done is win a MAC Championship. That's our goal. I don't want our kids or fans putting so much stock in this game that we overlook the MAC title game. Our kids are excited and have practiced well for this. I think it's a great opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the country. Everyone will know how we played this week"
On Patience in Building "We weren't just bad a few years ago, we were awful, it was embarrassing at times. I think the athletic director at the time understood the concept of getting worse before you get better. Our fourth year we ended up 5-6, and I think some things started to turn and luckily they were patient with me. Most administrations know that you can't turn a football team around over night."
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aside from the obvious corrections of Sproles and KSU, it's only been brought up about 6 times now.
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Back some 100 pages ago I made the precise comparison... I'll see if I can find it... for you
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link
Thanks i found this comparison. I noticed that that was posted 3 months before i started posting , so i never would have found it.
"But then. Sproles had almost 2000 yards in 03, was the clear focal point of his Offense. In my mind this qualifies Sproles as slightly (In effort to offset the "slightly" older D) better than Wolfe. Not to mention, by the time Sproles played against OSU, he had, in fact put up big numbers against, largely, Big XII competition. Whereas, Wolfe has yet to gain 1 yard in 2006. His last years stats were largely against MAC competiton. I'm no fan of the Big XII, but it's more powerful than the MAC, I think we can agree."
:osu:
Thanks i found this comparison. I noticed that that was posted 3 months before i started posting , so i never would have found it.
"But then. Sproles had almost 2000 yards in 03, was the clear focal point of his Offense. In my mind this qualifies Sproles as slightly (In effort to offset the "slightly" older D) better than Wolfe. Not to mention, by the time Sproles played against OSU, he had, in fact put up big numbers against, largely, Big XII competition. Whereas, Wolfe has yet to gain 1 yard in 2006. His last years stats were largely against MAC competiton. I'm no fan of the Big XII, but it's more powerful than the MAC, I think we can agree."
:osu:
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txbuckeye1983
We are the innovators, they are the imitators
Thanks for that write up on Coach Novak's press conference G-Force. Gotta respect an old Ohio boy like Joe Novak.
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official.site
PLUMMER TO SERVE AS HONORARY CAPTAIN FOR NIU GAME
Ahmed Plummer, who starred in the defensive backfield for the Buckeyes from 1996-99, will served as Ohio State's honorary captain Saturday when the Buckeyes take on Northern Illinois. Plummer recently completed his NFL career and is back on the Ohio State campus working as a volunteer strength coach with the football team. He played six NFL seasons and 70 games with the San Francisco 49ers from 2000-05. He recorded 270 tackles and 12 interceptions as a professional. Plummer led the Buckeyes his senior season with five interceptions and tied for the team lead with nine passes broken up.
PLUMMER TO SERVE AS HONORARY CAPTAIN FOR NIU GAME
Ahmed Plummer, who starred in the defensive backfield for the Buckeyes from 1996-99, will served as Ohio State's honorary captain Saturday when the Buckeyes take on Northern Illinois. Plummer recently completed his NFL career and is back on the Ohio State campus working as a volunteer strength coach with the football team. He played six NFL seasons and 70 games with the San Francisco 49ers from 2000-05. He recorded 270 tackles and 12 interceptions as a professional. Plummer led the Buckeyes his senior season with five interceptions and tied for the team lead with nine passes broken up.
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the game
Ive already told you guys "good luck" a couple times so I'll just add that the part of the interview regarding what you would have to do to beat the Bucks was pretty accurate. I will also refrain from telling you what your chances are with it too. haha
:osu:
Ive already told you guys "good luck" a couple times so I'll just add that the part of the interview regarding what you would have to do to beat the Bucks was pretty accurate. I will also refrain from telling you what your chances are with it too. haha
:osu:
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Threads can be searched for specific purposees. You can locate the 'Search this thread' drop-down area at the top of each thread, on the right side. Then type in 'Sproles', or whatever you're curious about.
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