Player Comments from Weekly Press Conference
9/21/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Weekly U-M Football Media Luncheon
SENIOR OT JON JANSEN
What does this rivalry mean:
"Wherever you go for the next 365 days of the year, you'll hear about it. This game is important to the whole state of Michigan."
On the running game:
"The running game was much improved this weekend. Saturday will be a big test to measure our improvement by. This is Big Ten football a t its best and we will face one of the nation's best defensive lines."
On OL Steve Hutchinson:
"It was great to rest him for a week. That gave us the opportunity to get other players some playing time and also get Steve healthy at the same time. Steve will be ready this weekend and he should be as close to healthy as he's been in a while."
Is playing Michigan State the way you would like to start the Big Ten schedule
"We will begin the Big Ten Conference games the way they schedule it. It doesn't matter to me who we play and when. We just want to continue to improve and work hard at defending our Big Ten title from last year."
JUNIOR LB DHANI JONES
On knowing what the MSU-UM game is all about:
"I think that having Maize and Blue blood in my family, I knew what it was going to be about when I stepped onto the field as a freshman. I didn't know how hard they were going to hit or how hard we had to hit, but I found out on the first play."
On his shift to outside linebacker:
"There are some positions which need to be filled, and I don't really care where I play. I just want to get out there and help the team win. Changing positions doesn't bother me at all. That is one of the great things about Michigan: everyone has an open heart and will play where they are needed."
On the Big Ten season bringing a new start:
"I think that every week is a fresh start. You learn from the last game and then move on to the next week. If you want to progress through the season, you have to learn from the previous week, then leave it behind and move on to the next game."
On Sedrick Irvin:
"He is a great tailback. He is a fast, elusive running back who is often difficult to get ahold of."
On preparing for MSU:
"You never know what a team is going to do on game day, so you have to prepare 110% for every team."
SENIOR TE MARK CAMPBELL
On the MSU game bringing everyone together:
"It is definitely a big week for us. It will show us how far we have progressed."
On defenses taking away the tight ends:
"The tight ends have always been a big part of the Michigan offense, so I think that every defense wants to take away our tight ends."
On freshmen realizing what it means to play MSU:
"I think after the first play, you know what it is all about. It is not something that can be said. It can only be shown."
On the effect of a loss (relative to the Big Ten title):
"Any loss from here on out is dangerous, but we are not concerned with what any other team is doing. Right now, we are focused on playing Michigan State.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
