The Big Ten is having a presser with both coaches this afternoon via Zoom.
Opening Statement from Kirk
It's been a special year for us and this is a special team. It's a group of players that like and trust each other and it's been fun to be a part of it. It's a great thrill to be playing Michigan and we look forward to the challenge.
Q: About quarterback, after evaluating and an early decision to start?
Will probably announce on Tuesday. Like what he has seen from both quarterback and like our situation there.
Q: You talked about the adversity. How has that prepared for your team?
We are used to being underdogs. Every season has their own set of challenges. You never know how they will present themselves. Injuries and last week we had the flu issues. That's part of the deal and the part that has been pleasing to me is the way they have pulled together through all this. Pleased with the way his team has handled all of this.
Q: How do you compare this one to 2015?
Not much star power. Our highest ranked senior was Austin Blythe was a 7th rounder. Not a huge senior class this year either and they set the tempo for the younger guys. Leadership always starts at the top and we have a lot of good juniors too. There's a big gap with like 70 guys on the roster who were really kind of new to this in the spring. We have gotten great leadership and younger guys have been good at following. Chemistry on the team has been great all year.
Q: Asked about what it was like yesterday and where you were watching things play out?
Guessing if you put some money on us when we were down 21-6 it would have paid off. Anyway, he had family over yesterday and the game was on. When the final whistle went off it was really great. Took the hard road to get there.
Q: What is the status of the flu bug?
Hopefully better. Early reports are good. Seems positive.
Q: Asked about the relationship with Harbaugh and Michigan sticking with him?
That's an old school approach to actually sticking with a coach. Credit to them for sticking with him. Remember him as a player at Michigan and the 1985 game and being a part of that. Worked with Jim in Baltimore. Great guy to work with there.
Q: On watching Michigan yesterday?
Great game. Classic Big Ten weather. Great crowd. It was everything that is good about Big Ten football. Good on the lines on both sides of the ball. Playing good defense and they have good special teams plays and specialist. Tough team to prepare for.
Q: Probably haven't seen a lot, but what about their run game?
There is crossover tape and we watch them and they run the ball, and we do too so it gives us a look. All three of their backs look really good. Good play from the backs and the line and tight ends are good. Good quarterback play too. Will have our hands full.
Q: Asked about the gut feel changing QB on Friday. How will you judge this week?
Will keep pushing it forward. Left after the game and getting together later today with the team. Will let everyone know on Tuesday.
Q: Connor Colby went out and also Mason Richman?
Some guys playing hurt and some guys impacted by the flu bug, Just how long you could stay in there with it. Feels like everyone will be ok by this weekend. There were a couple of guys with flu who spiked before the game and went out and played as much as they could.
Q: How hard was it to get out of the two game losing streak?
No one hurts more than the players when they lose. It was difficult to go through and there was a bye week in between it so it compounded it. Guys stayed with it and kept working. They kept trying to improve and the rest of the story is that the last four games it wasn't a walk in the park and they had to get go the full 60. Season is not over and you keep the focus on pushing forward.
Q: Circle back to the guys like each other. With everything, how proud are you that they ran the race the right way?
Really proud. They are totally bought in. They believe in each other and care about each other. Guys have stayed positive. Talking to Hankins and he is so excited to be a part of this even if he can't play in the game. They have been tested and when the bumps hit that's when you find out about a team. They have run the race and it paid off and now have a chance to play another game. What else could you ask for?
Q: On Shudak and how he has peformed?
We have a really good kicker here in Keith Duncan, but if you took the jersey off it was a coin toss between him and Keith. Last year if we had longer field goals, it would have been Caleb. Could have gone anywhere and performed and I think sometimes we taken him for granted. He is a steady influence and a great mentor to our younger specialists.
Q: Finding an offensive identity?
Our challenges started up front this year. We knew we would be young at tackle. Tyler Linderbaum is as good as I have worked with at any level. Thought we had two good guards in Schott and Ince, but Ince had surgery in January and was slow to get to full strength. Then Schott broke his foot before camp. So we had Tyler and four guys who hadn't played on the line. Hardly Monsters of the Midway, but we are making progress. Mentions Michigan defense and impressed with Hutchinson.
Q: What challenges does the pressure present for the tackles?
Was just watching some of the game. That was a huge part of the game yesterday and the impact it had. Hutchinson is really good. He talked about Reggie White and Howie Long as guys who caused problems in the NFL on every play and never took a play off. They kept you up and night. That's what you are looking at with him. Kind of like JJ Watt too. Good player, but he has a great motor.
Q: Asked about the composure of your team...lost TD on the catch, then a fumble. How do they keep their composure?
Not a fan of the replay system these days. Kind of broken and it impacted the game on Friday. What it gets back to is guys believing in each other and when something happens you have to just move on, keep playing, and find a spark. A week ago it was kickoff return and then two days ago it was the punt block. It's a 60 minute game and you keep playing. Now we have to find a way to do it one more time. Going to have to compete at a very high level to beat Michigan.
Opening Statement from Kirk
It's been a special year for us and this is a special team. It's a group of players that like and trust each other and it's been fun to be a part of it. It's a great thrill to be playing Michigan and we look forward to the challenge.
Q: About quarterback, after evaluating and an early decision to start?
Will probably announce on Tuesday. Like what he has seen from both quarterback and like our situation there.
Q: You talked about the adversity. How has that prepared for your team?
We are used to being underdogs. Every season has their own set of challenges. You never know how they will present themselves. Injuries and last week we had the flu issues. That's part of the deal and the part that has been pleasing to me is the way they have pulled together through all this. Pleased with the way his team has handled all of this.
Q: How do you compare this one to 2015?
Not much star power. Our highest ranked senior was Austin Blythe was a 7th rounder. Not a huge senior class this year either and they set the tempo for the younger guys. Leadership always starts at the top and we have a lot of good juniors too. There's a big gap with like 70 guys on the roster who were really kind of new to this in the spring. We have gotten great leadership and younger guys have been good at following. Chemistry on the team has been great all year.
Q: Asked about what it was like yesterday and where you were watching things play out?
Guessing if you put some money on us when we were down 21-6 it would have paid off. Anyway, he had family over yesterday and the game was on. When the final whistle went off it was really great. Took the hard road to get there.
Q: What is the status of the flu bug?
Hopefully better. Early reports are good. Seems positive.
Q: Asked about the relationship with Harbaugh and Michigan sticking with him?
That's an old school approach to actually sticking with a coach. Credit to them for sticking with him. Remember him as a player at Michigan and the 1985 game and being a part of that. Worked with Jim in Baltimore. Great guy to work with there.
Q: On watching Michigan yesterday?
Great game. Classic Big Ten weather. Great crowd. It was everything that is good about Big Ten football. Good on the lines on both sides of the ball. Playing good defense and they have good special teams plays and specialist. Tough team to prepare for.
Q: Probably haven't seen a lot, but what about their run game?
There is crossover tape and we watch them and they run the ball, and we do too so it gives us a look. All three of their backs look really good. Good play from the backs and the line and tight ends are good. Good quarterback play too. Will have our hands full.
Q: Asked about the gut feel changing QB on Friday. How will you judge this week?
Will keep pushing it forward. Left after the game and getting together later today with the team. Will let everyone know on Tuesday.
Q: Connor Colby went out and also Mason Richman?
Some guys playing hurt and some guys impacted by the flu bug, Just how long you could stay in there with it. Feels like everyone will be ok by this weekend. There were a couple of guys with flu who spiked before the game and went out and played as much as they could.
Q: How hard was it to get out of the two game losing streak?
No one hurts more than the players when they lose. It was difficult to go through and there was a bye week in between it so it compounded it. Guys stayed with it and kept working. They kept trying to improve and the rest of the story is that the last four games it wasn't a walk in the park and they had to get go the full 60. Season is not over and you keep the focus on pushing forward.
Q: Circle back to the guys like each other. With everything, how proud are you that they ran the race the right way?
Really proud. They are totally bought in. They believe in each other and care about each other. Guys have stayed positive. Talking to Hankins and he is so excited to be a part of this even if he can't play in the game. They have been tested and when the bumps hit that's when you find out about a team. They have run the race and it paid off and now have a chance to play another game. What else could you ask for?
Q: On Shudak and how he has peformed?
We have a really good kicker here in Keith Duncan, but if you took the jersey off it was a coin toss between him and Keith. Last year if we had longer field goals, it would have been Caleb. Could have gone anywhere and performed and I think sometimes we taken him for granted. He is a steady influence and a great mentor to our younger specialists.
Q: Finding an offensive identity?
Our challenges started up front this year. We knew we would be young at tackle. Tyler Linderbaum is as good as I have worked with at any level. Thought we had two good guards in Schott and Ince, but Ince had surgery in January and was slow to get to full strength. Then Schott broke his foot before camp. So we had Tyler and four guys who hadn't played on the line. Hardly Monsters of the Midway, but we are making progress. Mentions Michigan defense and impressed with Hutchinson.
Q: What challenges does the pressure present for the tackles?
Was just watching some of the game. That was a huge part of the game yesterday and the impact it had. Hutchinson is really good. He talked about Reggie White and Howie Long as guys who caused problems in the NFL on every play and never took a play off. They kept you up and night. That's what you are looking at with him. Kind of like JJ Watt too. Good player, but he has a great motor.
Q: Asked about the composure of your team...lost TD on the catch, then a fumble. How do they keep their composure?
Not a fan of the replay system these days. Kind of broken and it impacted the game on Friday. What it gets back to is guys believing in each other and when something happens you have to just move on, keep playing, and find a spark. A week ago it was kickoff return and then two days ago it was the punt block. It's a 60 minute game and you keep playing. Now we have to find a way to do it one more time. Going to have to compete at a very high level to beat Michigan.
