University of Tennessee Athletics
VOLS ENJOY FRIDAY NIGHT AT GAMEWORKS IN YBOR CITY
December 30, 2006 | Football
Dec. 30, 2006
Tennessee Player Quotes
Quarterback Erik Ainge
On Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny:
"Everybody knows he can play football. Playing in the SEC, I play against linebackers that can run and can tackle all the time. I think the biggest difference with him, from what I can see, he's always in the right spot. He's always doing something, moving the defensive linemen, getting them lined up, getting them set up. He's always in the right place whether it be trying to stop the run or dropping into pass coverage. I think that's what makes him so dangerous."
On the Nittany Lions' defense:
"They do a lot of different things; they have kind of a different mentality. I think the biggest thing you see is obviously when you look at their defensive statistics they're pretty remarkable. And when you go through and watch the film they're always in the right spot. Really, their whole defense, they're always in the right spot. You don't see them giving up many big plays. They always keep everything in front and they tackle well."
On his development this year and struggle last season:
"Sometimes you've got to go through something like that before you really appreciate what you've got. After having the freshman year I had, being ranked second going into that next year, I think we took it for granted as a whole team, not just myself. So after going through that I think just our will to work, my will to work, and coach Cut (Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks coach David Cutcliffe) coming in and teaching me all the stuff that he knows and letting me kind of take it from there has really helped me out a lot."
On the pressure of playing quarterback at Tennessee:
"There's a lot of pressure but it's still a game. You're still out there with your best friends running around throwing the ball, scoring touchdowns. It's a business, but it's still a lot of fun. Pressure is feeding your family or trying to get a job when you got fired and you know you have to pay the bills. I think that's pressure. We're just out here having fun. We're in Tampa, Florida, 75 degrees, it's not much pressure."
On what he expects in the Outback Bowl:
"I think it will be a good game. I'd like to say obviously we hope to win, but I think it will be a good football game. Whether it's high scoring or whether it's real low scoring, I think it will be a close game."
Linebacker Marvin Mitchell
On his injury and the progress of the team:
"This year we just took strides and wanted to turn the program around. Coach Fulmer gave me the opportunity to lead the guys and be a captain and just turn around the things. Playing with injuries is just a part of football. You've got to do those things to help out your teammates and show the success of the program. I'm back to 100 percent and just ready for this game."
On Penn State tailback Tony Hunt:
"Tony Hunt is a big back. I've seen him when I first got here. I was shocked how big he was. You don't see those kinds of guys in the SEC, you know, 6'1", 6'2" guys, 230, and he's a powerful running back. We'll have to do a great job tackling and stopping the run."
Defensive back Jonathan Hefney
On the Penn State passing game:
"They run a lot of play action plays. We just have to be firm in what we're doing in the secondary and don't bite up on the play action fakes. If we sit back there, we can make the plays."
On finishing the season with 10 wins:
"It's very important to get a 10-win season because it will help us out at the start of next year. We should be focused and ready to play next year."
Tackle Arron Sears
On the Penn State defense:
"They're one of the most athletic defenses I've seen all year. They've got some great linebackers and their defensive tackles are pretty good too. They remind me of the Florida Gators because their front seven was just as good as anybody I've seen all year."
On his last game as a Tennessee Volunteer:
"I'm trying to avoid the sense it will be over, but when I hit the field Monday it's definitely going to hit me that it's over."
On establishing the run versus Penn State's defense:
"They present a big challenge. In their last two football games they gave up something like maybe 100 total yards against two very good football teams. So we've got our hands full. We've got to be able to come out and run the football and be able to pass the football against a really great defense."
On the effectiveness of the Tennessee offense:
"Our goal on offense was to average 30 points a game this year and I think we came pretty close to it. At the end of the season we just got out of sync a little bit, but we've been practicing good since we got down here for the last couple of days and we're just trying to get that edge back, and I think we have. We're going to wait until Monday gets here and see how it goes."
Linebacker Ryan Karl
On the anticipation of playing in the Outback Bowl:
"I'm just ready to play football; I'm tired of practicing. I just want to get the game over with and come out with a victory."
On playing Penn State:
"The two programs have so much tradition. I think this is going to be one of the best bowl games of the year. All the history behind the two teams, you just want to go home saying you beat a team like Joe Paterno and Penn State."
Receiver Robert Meachem
On his previous bowl experiences:
"I went to the Peach Bowl my freshman year, I didn't get to really play in there. I was just taking everything in there. I've been in the Cotton Bowl. I'm beginning to understand what being in a bowl game is like, but last year we didn't make it to a bowl game."
On playing in the Outback Bowl:
"You can't take anything for granted, you can't take any play off; you have to play every play hard. You can't be 5-6 again. By us making it to the Outback Bowl this year, it's like a sigh of relief. It's like the monkey is off our back."
Defensive tackle Turk McBride
On the Penn State offense:
"You just look at their offensive line; they're so athletic. They're so versatile; they can do more than one thing. They just can't blow you off the line; they can move you around and get you out of position. They have a great running back that can find a hole. Their quarterback is the anchor of their team. He's a hard-working quarterback that just won't take no for an answer. Their receivers are very talented."
Penn State Player Quotes
Linebacker Paul Posluszny
On his last game as a Nittany Lion:
"I think once we play the game and that's over, that's going to have a different feeling to it, knowing that was it, that was my last game at Penn State."
On a victory in the Outback Bowl against a ranked opponent:
"I think this is huge for us. We have an opportunity to play against a great team, a ranked opponent and it's our last shot to get a big win against a team of that type of caliber. It's going to be a huge game for us not only for this year, but to lead into next year at all."
On reflecting on his collegiate career:
"I don't reflect much. I'm sure after the game it will really hit home, but I'll just worry about that then. I just think there's too much to concentrate on now, just the game and everything we have now. I'll just worry about how I feel after the game later."
On whether Dan Conner will stay at Penn State:
"He's asked me a couple questions here and there but the way he handles it is going to be the right way. I think he's going to make a good decision with his family and whatever he decides to do will be the right thing."
On his Penn State career:
"I think I'm very fortunate the way it worked out. Even with the injury and all, I think everything worked out in the best possible way it could."
On his experience in Tampa and playing in the Outback Bowl:
"It's a really nice city. We've had a lot of opportunities to do a lot of different things outside of football. It's been a fun experience for us. It's a January 1st game against a great opponent. Things happen for a reason and we're happy to be here."
On comments made earlier this year by quarterback Anthony Morelli:
"He needed to say some stuff and that was fine. It shows that he had a really strong character, he's emotional, he's fiery, he's motivated. If you need to do that every once in a while; that's fine. It didn't really affect us. After that happened he just seemed relieved, focused, and ready to get back and get on the playing field."
Defensive tackle Jay Alford
On the importance of pressuring Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge:
"It's going to be big. They like to throw the ball a lot. If we get the pressure back there maybe we can cause a few picks."
Receiver Derrick Williams
On the Penn State offense:
"We have a young offense where mostly everybody's coming back. We're gelling for this bowl game and we're gelling for a great start for next year. I think that everything's going good right now. I think that Anthony is doing a great job. We went back to the basics and just worked on our timing and now everything is looking good."
On the Nittany Lions putting pressure on themselves:
"All the guys on our team, and I know that all the guys probably on Tennessee, they know pressure, you know. You've been in games like this all your life. They have tough games in the SEC and I know we have tough games here in the Big Ten. You're not going to put too much pressure on yourself. They only thing I say is go out there and play."
On airing out the Penn State offense:
"As a receiver I want to open it up any play. I wouldn't run the ball at all as a receiver. That's the wrong question to ask me."
On the Tennessee defense:
"Tennessee's defense is a great defense. Like I said, we played against the Ohio State's and the Michigan's, and those are some of the toughest defenses that you can play against. The talent that Tennessee has, it's going to be a tough game."
On the change in quarterback Anthony Morelli:
"We've been out here practicing, and Anthony's looking the best that I've ever seen him look. He's more relaxed, he's out there having fun. He's not letting things get to him. You couldn't ask for anything better right now. He's showing everybody really what he has right now. I think next year he's going to be a remarkable quarterback."
On playing in the Outback Bowl:
"Right now it really hasn't clicked in. I think more toward Sunday or Saturday I'm going to get the nerves and I'm going to want to go out there and make a play. But right now I'm just going out and having fun. I can't wait for GameWorks tonight, play some video games. Like I said, I was the video game king. Right now that's what I'm nervous about, defending my title."
Cornerback Justin King
On Tennessee receiver Robert Meachem:
"He runs great routes; he's a big strong guy. He's got great hands. I've told people before, he's a variation. He takes a little bit of attributes of all the great receivers I've played against this year and it's all molded into one."
On Penn State's team speed:
"You don't try to take too much offense to that because they're talking about the league. I think we have our fair share of fast people and I'm really not too concerned about that. I know what I can do speed-wise and I'm sure other fast people in the Big Ten know what they can do speed-wise."
Tackle Levi Brown
On tailback Tony Hunt:
"He gets better as the game goes on. He runs hard. Every time he touches the ball he tries to put himself in a position that we get a first down or a touchdown. He really doesn't worry about whether he's going to get the ball on a play, if he has to block, he'll block. Anytime he gets the ball he tries to be a game-changer for us."
On the motivation to play well in the Outback Bowl:
"It's just another game for us to go out there and prove that we're a good team. There are a lot of people still doubting us this year and whether or not we should be here. Both teams have a lot to play for. I think they're in the same position as us, they had some close games with some higher ranked opponents and they didn't get those wins."
Quarterback Anthony Morelli
On the Volunteer defense:
"They've got a lot of speed like Ohio State and Michigan and some of those teams. We just have to be prepared to pick up blitzes and check off when needed and just play our type of football."
On Penn State's preparation for the Outback Bowl:
"We had nine practices up at school. We've had a lot of practices. We've come together well. There's not much more we could ask for with all this practice time preparing for a big game like this. I think we're going to be fine."
On Penn State's offense:
"We're just focusing on what all they're going to throw at us, what they've been doing in different situations all year. We're just putting in plays that we think will work, different packages, things like that."
Linebacker Dan Connor
On teammate Paul Posluszny:
"He's been a mentor since I've been in school. He took me on my official visit to Penn State and right away we hit it off. We kind of set the goal that we wanted to put Penn State back on the map as Linebacker U. He's led the way. He's brought up the young linebackers, brought those around him to play at a high level, and made Penn State what it is."
On what he and Posluszny have in common:
"I'd say nothing. The only thing we had in common was how we approach the game, how we play the game and our style of play. Off the field, we're complete opposites. If we didn't play football, I don't even know that we'd talk to each other."
On selecting football as his sport of choice:
"I like playing basketball. I like baseball and track, but this was the one I enjoyed playing the most. This was the one I was best at. There was never too much of a doubt what I was going to do."
On playing against Posluszny in high school:
"That was the state championship game my junior. He ran for about 180 some yards, just ran the ball down our throats. They beat us bad; it was a tough loss. That was kind of my first introduction to Paul. He was an unbelievable player and just a tough guy. Him going to Penn State, knowing it back then, I looked at it and said maybe this is the school for me if they're getting this caliber of athlete."
