Quotes From Football Head Coach Mike Leach
October 09, 2000 | Football
Oct. 9, 2000
On the Nebraska offense and defense
"They're playing really good on both sides of the ball. Some people have thrown it on them a little bit, but they're still a great defense. They're also a team that's big and physical, and seem to tire out their opponent as the game goes on. I think the most important thing is to play hard for 60 minutes. They look pretty good. It's not like, `Oh my gosh. There are some glaring weaknesses.' I think one of the strengths of Nebraska over the years has been that every player's not great, but they don't really have any holes out there. And they play well together and they play consistently. And they tackle pretty good."
On excitement playing the No. 1 team in the nation
"I think it's a lot of fun. I think the players do. I think the coaches do. I think everybody really looks forward to it. So I think it will be a good game."
On winning the battle in the trenches
"Their secondary are big people and their linebackers are big people. Protection's always an issue, and so is making something happen quick on their secondary and their linebackers."
On facing an option attack from Nebraska
"Assignment-wise, it changes things a little bit. You just have to address a different set of problems. I don't think it will be anything dramatic. We've seen some people run some option plays, and we've held up pretty good against it."
On MLB Lawrence Flugence
"He's playing really well. He's got a nose for the ball. He's gotten a bunch of tackles. He's a big, thick guy who's tough to move. He's really taken off. There's no question. In the spring, he did some good things. We discovered he's awfully tough to move in the spring. Guys would run into him, and it's like hitting a brick wall, and he's a pretty good tackler. But he's done nothing but get better."
On QB Kliff Kingsbury
"I think he's played really well. The last two games he's played really well. He really had a good last game, probably his most accurate game. He's still a little bit beat-up. I think he's better this week than he was last week."
On all the penalties
"We just have to emphasize it and zero in on it. We got rid of a bunch of those personal fouls this last week. Then we had a bunch of offsides, which those things tend to run in streaks. I don't know. It's been kind of frustrating, though. It's not like there's one guy doing it every time. They're passing it around a little bit."