Jacob Hickman Quotes (Sept. 1)Jacob Hickman Quotes (Sept. 1)
Football

Jacob Hickman Quotes (Sept. 1)

Nebraska Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Pre-Florida Atlantic

Jacob Hickman
Offensive Lineman

On how much the offensive line has grown
“We really understand the scheme and what coach is trying to get through to us. The biggest thing from the year before versus last year is trying to get the technique the way coach wanted it versus how we were used to doing it on the old staff. Midway through the season we really saw a progression of us understanding it, and we had a lot better running attack from that point on. I think we’re going into the season this year with that understanding already. It’s a big thing for us to have and it could point to early success and winning games.”

On if it’s easier to play now that he is more confident
“It’s always easier to be aggressive when you’re confident. When you go out there and you’re thinking too much, then you have the problem where you’re taking tentative steps and you’re not really going to fire out on guys. If you know what you’re doing and you’re confident in your technique, you’re really going to fire into guys and be more aggressive.”

On being business-like on the field
“I’d say it’s just me. I didn’t really consciously say I’m going to be this guy. It’s just the approach I’ve always taken. It’s work at times, afterwards you can be happy about what happened, but you have to go out there and do the right things. It’s easier for me to be focused and mentally sound when I take it as a work approach and afterwards I can laugh and joke about it.”

On what he’s learned about the emotional side of Coach Pelini
“We really feed off Coach Bo. I’ve had coaches in the past, but not to his level of emotion. It gives you a little extra to play with. He’s one of those coaches you want to play for, so when he gets emotional, you can really feel it affecting you. With head coaches in the past, you didn’t have the same kind of mutual goal and the emotion wasn’t felt to the same level. With Coach Bo it really is and you take it to heart.”