Wide Receiver Niles Paul

Nebraska Football Weekly Press Conference
Pre-Kansas State
Monday, Oct. 4, 2010
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.) 

On if the players are antsy to get the Big 12 season started
"Definitely, we're anxious. We can't wait to get out there and play. We've been practicing extremely hard. You can tell everybody has the same mentality, and we can't wait to get down to Manhattan."

On how much attention to detail has been emphasized at practice this week
"It's been a real big emphasis. We actually did our base package two days in a row, just to make sure we get everything down because we want to be as perfect as possible."

On how important it is for the offense to get back on track
"It's extremely important. We made some big mistakes last game, and we didn't come out with the same intensity we usually come out with. We expect to get back on track this week."

On if conference play makes it easier get intense for a game
"Definitely, we're playing against people that hate us, and we don't like them too much, so it kind of explains itself."

On how guys on the team are treating the farewell tour in the Big 12, if at all
"I don't think we care too much. We just want to play football. We're out here just focusing on the process taking it game by game."

On how important it is to put a good showing out on national television
"We're not worried about who's watching the game. We're more focused on each other, and making sure we perform to the best of our ability. We don't care too much about whose watching us."

On if there is added importance to playing a Big 12 north opponent first
"I think playing any Big 12 north school is important to go in there and send a message. That's exactly what we want to do, send a message this Thursday."

On what he has seen from Kansas State on film
"They are a very aggressive defense, and they like to get after it, but we like to get after it too, and we feel like we can be aggressive right back and come out with a high level of competition and try to dominate them, especially on the perimeter."

On if he is pleased with his involvement in the offense in practice or if you can really tell the difference
"No, you really can't tell the difference because it's practice. You get so many reps, and so many balls that you can't tell the difference."

On if he has high expectations for this week
"Oh yeah, I have high hopes. Like I always said, it's going to come now, it's going to be a game where it comes down to the passing game, and hopefully Coach (Shawn) Watson trusts us and puts the ball in our hands to go make plays and win it."

On how Taylor Martinez has looked in practice this week
"He's looked the same as he has in every week of practice. I don't think it's really affected him too much, what happened during that South Dakota game. He's fine."

On what the biggest difference is playing on a Thursday night
"I think the weekend practices. Nobody really wanted to practice on Sunday, but we did."

On if they enjoy playing on the road
"We actually talked about this in the locker room. I honestly think we play better at away games. I feel like its less pressure from the fans. Not saying that the fans are necessarily a bad thing, but I feel like we can all focus on our game and play to the best of our ability."

On the atmosphere in Manhattan
"I wouldn't say it's the worst Big 12 north school, but it's definitely No. 2 or. 3. They definitely talk a lot of trash and it's important to just block them out and focus on you, and just really focus on the game because they do talk a lot of trash."

On what the Missouri game last year did for his confidence
"I'm a confident person all the time, so my confidence didn't really change. I may have gloated a little bit in the locker room for 30 minutes, but my confidence pretty much stayed the same, consistent. I didn't get too high, just focused on playing my type of game."

On why the team likes that animosity on the road
"It's just fun to go to somebody else's stadium and kind of hit them in the mouth. It's just a fun feeling you get."

On if he thinks they will open up the passing game once conference play begins
"Yeah, definitely because teams are going to start scheming our offense, and we're going to start opening up the playbook, and start passing the ball, taking more shots. Coach is going to give us an opportunity to make big plays."

On how excited he is for the offense to open up
"I can't wait for it. I'm a receiver. I want to make big plays."

On if he watched a lot of college football on Saturday
"I don't know about the players. I played a little Halo on Saturday. I didn't watch too much college football."

On if the South Dakota State game helped them this week
"Definitely, we got after it this week in practice. We practiced extremely well. I think we're kind of back to that week one of camp where we're just excited to be on the field again."