Player Comments from
Weekly U-M Football Media Luncheon
9/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Steve Frazier | Evan Coleman | Hayden Epstein
Senior Defensive Lineman Josh Williams
On defending the option ... "I think we've made some changes, some positive changes to counteract that. I think we prepared the last three weeks for that particular play. We executed in practice and we recognized it in the game and executed it there. So I think it's just practice, repetition."
On playing defense with Grady Brooks and Larry Foote in at the same time ... "I think that helped us a lot. That's what we prepared for, that's what we've practiced for the past three weeks, playing that way with those two guys. They helped us a great deal."
On improvements between Game 1 and Game 2 of a season ... "I think the first game everybody has some jitters, some anxiety. Sometimes the young guys play for the first time, start for the first time. It's just a first game getting that excitement out on the field. I think that the mistakes that are made in the first game, everybody calms down, relaxes a little bit and changes those the next week in practice and improvements are made that way. ... More so mental probably than the physical."
Senior/Junior Linebacker Grady Brooks
On his first career start ... "I was relaxed after a while. I had Tommy (Hendricks) screaming in my ear, the coverages and what I needed to do. That was like my angel over my shoulder. He helped me out a lot. I credit coach (Jim) Herrmann with a lot. He just told me to go out there and play. He said that I would make mistakes and to just remember he had faith in my ability, in what I can do. That took a lot of pressure off me knowing I could go out there and make a mistake or make a play that maybe I wasn't supposed to and know that I could come off the field and have the coach by me."
On playing outside linebacker ... "It was great. It was more of just going out and showing the rest of the world that I can produce and play football. I've always known I could. It's just finally good to know that I have a position and a place where I can show my talent."
Senior Safety Tommy Hendricks
On emphasis placed on good tackling ... "Tackling is attitude. You have to want to make the tackle in the first place. During our two-a-day camp, we worked a lot on technique in our tackling, a lot of hitting drills and just focusing in on the technique behind tackling. We worked a lot on pursuing the ball so we could get 11 guys to the ball."
On communication in the defensive secondary ... "For the first game, I thought we communicated pretty well. For the most part, guys were where they were supposed to be. Notre Dame is going to make some plays, they've got great athletes over there. For the most part we were in our right places."
Senior Offensive Lineman Steve Frazier
On Michigan's no turnovers and four penalties ... "We were pleased with that aspect of the game, for sure. It was a major emphasis during camp and it paid off."
On tailback Anthony Thomas ... "It would be tough to find a game that he ran better. He did a great job. He was exciting to watch."
On the benefits of the offensive line having played together before ... "Certainly we watch (Jeff) Backus and (Steve) Hutchinson, they can read each other's minds on the line because they've been playing together so long. But outside that, you know each other's strengths and weaknesses and we know when you're working together on combo blocks and things like that, what you have to do to help your partner out and he knows what he has to do to help you out. I think that (quarterback) Tommy (Brady) did a great job. I was excited for him, for sure. When the coaches called on Tommy at the end of the game, he came through like he was expected to."
Sophomore Fullback Evan Coleman
On the huddle before the winning touchdown run ... "Quarterback was in the huddle and he said, 'It's third-and-one, we've got to go' and I said, 'Brady, man, that's a long one yard.' He said, 'Evan just put your head down.' I said, 'Anthony, I'm going to get you in the end zone.' Anthony ran hard all game and came through when we need him to."
On preparing for Rice ... "We can't slack off. Teams sneak up on you and that's the last thing we need, for a team to sneak up on us. This week in practice keep the tempo real high, real fast and prepare like we did last week."
Sophomore Kicker Hayden Epstein
On his knee ... "It felt good. It felt great being out there. My knee held up real well. It felt solid. I think (the coaches) didn't want me to get smacked, but I did out there. They were okay with me getting back up. They don't really want me getting hit again though."
On playing in the Notre Dame game ... "I wanted to play the whole time. That was my goal. A lot of people said it wasn't doable and I couldn't get there and I did. I always wanted to shoot for that."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
