Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Football Player Quotes
June 21, 1999 | General
August 4, 1998
Rob Peters, senior, quarterback -
On the decision:
"It's really nice to have it over. It's a big weight off our shoulders."
On the nervousness of the team waiting on the situation:
"Everybody kept a good attitude about it. In the back of your mind, you
know it is coming and you don't know what is going to happen. That's the
scary thing. The fact we had no idea from anybody. The fact that it's out
and it's outlined, you can see what's happening and what's going to happen
is a great relief."
On losing scholarship players over the next few years:
"It's definitely going to cause some problems down the line as far as
depth. We'll still be able to go out and get the good front line players
though."
On opportunity to play for a bowl this year:
"It's a big deal to get the chance to play in a bowl. We've got to go out
and win football games now. The fact we know what's happening and what's
before us makes a big difference. "
Rickey Williams, sophomore, running back -
On whether he thought the NCAA ruling was fair:
"I think it was fair. If we get a chance to go to a bowl, that is fair
enough for me."
On if he never thought he'd get to play in a bowl:
"Yeah, I think all of my teammates had worries and concerns if we were
going to get to play in a bowl, especially last season's freshmen. But,
Coach Dykes told us to relax and said that we can take this on together as
a team. That helped to ease me, knowing that Coach Dykes was on my side.
He gave us the confidence to get past it. "
Donnie Hart, senior, wide receiver -
On the NCAA's decision:
"It's a situation where it allows you to go to a bowl game and have some
success. The thing that you realize is that there is a lot of work ahead
of you. Nobody is going to put you in a bowl game because the NCAA said
you could go. We've got to go win six football games and hopefully win a
few more. It gives us a chance to go through two-a-days focused on what we
need to do."
On the team's preparation for the upcoming season:
"Our team's attitude has been good all Summer. Our guys had really come to
grips with the situation and knowing that we were here to play football
regardless what somebody said above us about going to a bowl game. We have
a lot of pride on this team. We are not going to go out and have our heads
kicked in for 11 games because we couldn't go to a bowl game."
John Norman, sophomore, free safety -
On the NCAA decision:
"It's a great relief to know everything is done, and we can get on with the
season. We have our goals and we look forward to achieving them. It (the
investigation) was a big distraction on and off the field and we're glad
it's over. We are going to practice every day and have fun. We can focus
on what we have to do. I'm glad they didn't take away the bowl game, the
NCAA did what they had to do."
