ENGLISH CLASS: Opener reflections

"Looking back at our (31-27) loss to Minnesota Saturday night, we played real hard on both sides of the ball but we made some mental errors that decided it. Defensively, three or four big plays we allowed hurt us but we had a lot of good things we can build off.
"We found a playmaker in Nate Palmer (who had TD catches of 91 and 52 yards). And (QB) Chandler Harnish, I was really proud of the way he played.

THUMBS UP, HONEST
"Really, it's not too bad. I've got a cast on it but I'm not gonna miss a game and I haven't missed any practice. Basically, my thumb is broken, but it hasn't hindered me too much at all.
"I know the play it happened on but I don't know exactly how it happened. I made a tackle in the backfield. It was weird, I didn't feel anything right away. All I can guess is that I had too much adrenaline going. I didn't feel it until the next play.
"I don't know if I caught it on the guy I tackled or jammed it on someone else. There was a pile of guys and I could have hit one of them or hit it on the ground.

LATE START TIMES
"It is a little bit frustrating to wait around (for a 6 p.m. kickoff). I don't really like watching other teams that are playing their games (on television, while waiting in the hotel). I usually try to get some rest.
"The ideal time (for kickoff) for me is a 2 or 3 o'clock game. That way you get to sleep in late enough that you don't have to feel like you're getting up too early. You can get up by 9:30, have a meal by 10:30 and be ready to go.
"I don't like the 11 (a.m.) kickoffs, either, because then you have to be up by 6:30 to get ready."

INDOOR ARENAS
"The Metrodome wasn't too bad. The temperature (inside) wasn't bad at all, it wasn't too hot. It was actually hotter in there on Friday afternoon when we had our walk-through just to get a feel for the place and see what the turf was like.
"Last year (at an indoor arena) at Idaho, it was harder for me to breathe. I think it was warmer and this week I played 50 plays and last year in that game it was like 90 (actually more, as Idaho ran 41 times and passed 54). That's a big difference and that could have been the reason why."

ROCKY TOP
"We had the day off Monday for the (Labor Day) holiday but we hada short meeting that night. Then, most everybody went home and watched Tennessee-UCLA on TV. (The Huskies play at Tennessee on Oct. 4th).
"I watched the line play, for the most part. It was a good chance for me to get a little early look at their offensive linemen. They're big and they look pretty good."