English Class: September 2008 Archives

"On Saturday we play another conference game at Eastern Michigan. They've improved. They've got some nice schemes, nice things they do on offense.

"They can move the ball. They moved it against Maryland and against Michigan State on offense. I won't necessarily say they've got weapons, but they've got some schemes that are working for them.

"We're both 0-1 in the conference to this one is very important. They beat Central Michigan, they beat us and Western Michigan also last year. You don't want to start out 0-2 in the league.

"It's possible (to come back from 0-2) because the league is really even. I don't know if anybody's gonna go undefeated. But starting 0-2 is not a situation we want to get ourselves into."

"During the game, in between plays you may see all the defensive players checking these cards we have on our arms. Basically, the cards just list our different personnel packages. The coaches will call in one of those personnel packages and a number and that tells each player their assignment.

"As an example, if they call in 'dime,' it means we're going with three down linemen. If the call is 'dime 1' that just means we all go, or rush the quarterback. The same number might mean something different for the defensive backs and linebackers.

"Sometimes I'll line up at defensive end on the right or left side. That's usually determined by our personnel and the matchup with the other team."

"With the bye week last week we had Saturday off. I spent most of it in my apartment and chilled, but I went back home (to Aurora) and had dinner with my family.

"I wanted to go see (alma mater) Marmion because we didn't have anything Friday night, but the time we got done with practice, it was too late because they were playing at Marian Central up in Woodstock.

"I'm looking forward to seeing a game there under the lights. I always wished for that when I played there. It was always a thing t hey said was coming, but it didn't happen in time for me. I'm glad they finally got them. They've made some nice renovations at the stadium.

"We've got some of t hose midweek games in November, so I'm gonna try to get back and catch a game if the season is still going for them.

"This week, we play our first home game. We're anxious for it to get here. It's a little tougher playing on the road. Then, we've got two more road games after this. On the bright side, though, we've got a nice stretch of home games after that."

"I took advantage of our bye week this week to have surgery on my broken thumb. Had it Tuesday morning and they put three pins in. It's just bandaged up right now. I'll go back on Monday and they'll cast it up and the cast will be on for six weeks total from the day of surgery before it will come off and I can go without anything. It's feeling pretty good, now.

"I played with a cast at Western Michigan and that was a little different. You can't do as much in terms of grabbing and shedding a block but it's one of those things you have to adjust to.

"In high school the only time I missed was my sophomore year. I was getting real bad stingers every time I'd hit someone. It's like a pinched nerve and just stings. They put me in a neck brace for two weeks and I haven't had that problem since.

"In college, I've had three surgeries now, but still haven't missed a game because of them. I had the (ACL) knee surgery (after getting hurt in the Poinsettia Bowl in 2006). This past winter when I tore my pectoral muscle lifting I had to have surgery, too.

"I don't sit around and think much about (injuries). It's just something that comes with the game. I've had some but it's not like I've missed time from them.

"The way I look at it, I'm doing what I love and it just so happens this comes with it. I know football is gonna affect my life when I get older, but that's a chance I'm willing to take.

"With the bye week, we have Saturday off this week but we'll be practicing on Friday and Sunday. I don't think (players) mind. They want to get better. We've gotta change some things up so we can change the Ls to Ws."

"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."